Tufts vs Duke

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I was very excited to attend Tufts for the fall 2007 until I received a call from Duke saying I was accepted off of their waitlist. Now I've had to consider both of these schools to figure out which would be a better fit for me.</p>

<p>A bit of background,
I applied to 10 schools, was accepted at 6, and chose Tufts. I was waitlisted at Duke, Cornell, WashU. and rejected at Penn.</p>

<p>I applied to the engineering schools</p>

<p>Tufts was one of the more expensive schools on the bottom line at approximately $22,000 per year after aid, but I chose it because I felt like it was the best fit for me.</p>

<p>Duke would be about $32,000 per year after aid, and we are appealing because we do not think they considered special family circumstances (both parents unemployed, etc) as tufts did, which is why tufts is 10K cheaper per year.</p>

<p>There are a lot of reasons why I like tufts better
-I love the area, being very close to a city with Boston, much better than durham
-while tufts is not known for it's engineering, it has a very small school of engineering with a lot of personal attention, and I am not sure that I want to be an engineer, I could also take advantage of their great IR program, or go into government, or economics.
-I've met a lot of people who are very friendly and outgoing, and I feel like I fit into the tufts community very well. I've never been able to visit duke.
-I would prefer the north (weather and culture) to the south.
-there is a smaller emphasis on greek life, which I think I would prefer.</p>

<p>There are some reasons I like duke better as well
-Much more school spirit, sports and academic prestige (engineering and overall, going by rankings, since i really have no other basis)
-I believe I would like Duke's campus better, but again the surrounding area is a concern.
-I've never been to duke, but it seems as though it would be more of my ideal college, at least from pictures.
-The social scene at duke seems better overall, and I definitely want that to be active, but as I said I'm not big on greek life.</p>

<p>I was waiting on the financial aid offer before I planned my visit to duke this weekend, and I really don't think I would want to accept Duke's offer as is, as I would have to take about 60,000 in loans as opposed to about 20,000 total from tufts (over four years)</p>

<p>I am appealing, as I said, but I'm posting this to put my thoughts on paper and to see if anyone has any insight they might add. thanks very much.</p>

<p>And I hope no one sees the title and goes "Duke!!!" without reading the post.</p>

2

<p>I would really try and get Duke to match the Tufts offer. Apples to apples in my opinion Duke is a much better choice.</p>

3

<p>If Duke matched the aid - I would certainly pick Duke. Visit before sayung "ohh.durham". It wasnt as bad as people made it out to be. I really liked the campus.</p>

<p>But the aid (at a 10K difference) really is an important factor.</p>

4

<p>Did any of you read the OP? Basically everything he lists as being important to him -- from individualized attention in a smaller engineering school, to location, to the fact that he may want to study international relations (for which Tufts is tops for) and not engineering, to substantially more financial aid -- points to him going to Tufts.</p>

<p>Go to Tufts and be happy, kid.</p>

5

<p>If duke were to match the fin aid offer, (theres a good chance they might), do you think it's unreasonable to chose tufts over duke? There are a lot of things I would love at duke, but i feel like tufts is the safer choice. I feel like duke would be an adventure, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy the south as much as boston.</p>

6

<p>Hmmm... What to choose between two Ivy wannabes?</p>

<p>My heart would probably lean toward Duke because it has lots of school spirit, while Tufts is probably even more of a nerd school. That being said, Tufts is in Boston, which is a pretty cool place. </p>

<p>I would think twice.</p>

7

<p>I turned down Duke for Tufts! And my cousin did the same thing this year. It happens more often than you'd think. And even if it didn't as long as it makes sense to you, that's all that matters. </p>

<p>Good luck</p>

8

<p>Duke is a ton better than Tufts academically...and more fun, and not a safety school for Ivies. Consider that Duke splits applicants about evenly with Penn, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Brown (based on statistics from the Duke admissions office which are the most accurate source).</p>

<p>Duke has the highest SAT scores, most national merit scholars, and best feeding rates into top 10 law, med, and business schools out of any school besides HYPSM, and even better than MIT in its feeder rates. </p>

<p>Tufts has none of those things, and judging from its alumni giving rates (which pale in comparison to Duke's) I would say that people enjoy Duke more.</p>

<p>Make the safe choice, and go to Duke. Don't listen to people who say "Man, I chose (insert name here) over (insert better school here)" because theres no way to verify. Duke is better on paper, not just based on heresay.</p>

9

<p>thethoughtprocess, I don't agree with your academic comparison of the two. Tufts is a very fine school as well, and I am more concerned with fit than choicing soley on the base of academics. thanks for you input, though, and thanks to everyone else who has answered so far.</p>

10

<p>If $$$ is not an issue > Duke by a mile on this one!</p>

11

<p>Where are you from? Basically, anywhere you live (maybe not VA), if one campus is a drive away, then the other is a flight away.</p>

12

<p>I'm from New jersey. Duke is a 9 hour drive, quick flight. Tufts is a 4.5 hour drive.</p>

13

<p>Dukes fin aid offer came today, and it would cost just about the same as it would for Tufts. I am going to everything I can to visit the campus, but besides that I have no idea what to do.</p>

14

<p>Duke’s seriously under enrolled now. You should/could re-negotiate for a better fin aid package for all four years and get a concession from them. Give them a call and tell them you will think it over for few more days - You got them on the ropes…… ;)</p>

15

<p>I actually have already done that. My initial financial aid package was 10,000/yr less than it is now.</p>

16

<p>Its obvious, Duke. Its better than Tufts in every way. Outside of HYPSM, Duke students have the highest SATs, most national merit scholars, and best feeding rates into top law/biz/med schools out of any University in America</p>

<p>I guess if you really like the Northeast...</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
My initial financial aid package was 10,000/yr less than it is now.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Great! Now that you've got the money part well taken care of, you should go to Duke! It's a much better school. </p>

<p>Congratz!!!</p>