<p>My S is trying to decide between Tufts and U Mich. Both great schools, but neither was his top pick (that's another story). He is leaning towards Tufts, but worried that it will be another duplication of his four years at boarding school (same type of people, etc). U Mich would probably be much better in the diversity dept, but the size seems a bit overwhelming.</p>
<p>No, I don't think Tufts is overrun by "boarding school" type people—not anymore than any other school in the Northeast, anyway. I think more than 50% of each class comes from public schools, if that's any indication.</p>
<p>What does your son want to study? Would he prefer Boston or Ann Arbor? Finally, size when considering both these schools is important. Tufts has a 8:1 student/faculty ratio which though it's a research university, makes it liberal arts college-sized.</p>
<p>Thanks Lolabelle </p>
<p>One big factor for him was to try and escape the lousy weather in New England (where he has been for the last four years). Georgetown was #1 for many reasons (big but not too big, in a city but with a campus, etc). Anyways my guess is the weather is equally dismal between Tufts and U Mich. The Medford campus is a little bit of a concern since he would like to be in a city. Can you get in and out of Boston easily ? I understand there is no direct T service that is close to the campus. Is it a bus/T thing ?</p>
<p>Not to worry. The T is a short walk, and Davis Square is a nice urban area with shops and restaurants.</p>
<p>There are about 12 really convenient bus lines; and the Davis Sq. T stop is a 5-minute walk away so there is direct T service! There's also a shuttle that runs every 15/30 min (depending on time and day) to Davis Sq. for the ones who are too lazy to walk the 5 minutes!</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, I picked Tufts over Georgetown. ;) Anyway, Tufts is also "big but not too big" (though smaller than Gtown) and "in a city but with a campus".</p>
<p>Coming from public schools on Long Island or South Shore is not "coming from public school." Not in this sense in which this OP seems to be concerned, not in any sense in my humble opinion. You really have to have come from either a rural or urban area to have fully experienced what it means to be a product of American public school. </p>
<p>That said the majority of folks at Tufts are of the boarding school type (again, you'd really have to be from a true public school to notice this so no sense arguing with me unless you grew up in Alabama or the Bronx or something) but I don't see why that's something to be afraid of, or avoid even. I think there is a common misperception in America to steretype the rich/elite and even the upper middle class as rude, arrogant and just downright mean. This absolutely, by and large is not the case at all. In fact this stereotype is more applicable to the poor if it's applicable to anyone. </p>
<p>Sure, boarding school types can be a bit put off by certain things, but that's just because they've been so sheltered their entire life, it's not done to be mean. </p>
<p>Also, what does your son mean by "diversity" exactly? Is he talking racially? Well, there certainly isn't going to be as many African Americans at a liberal arts college as there will be at a public school just outside of Detroit but is race really the best thing to base a decision on? Moreover, I don't know that the "diversity" that you experience at a state school (Considering its prestige UMICH might be different) is diversity that is beneficial to you. You'll meet more students with problems, more students with addiction, more with children, more over 35, more who don't care about a thing in this world...sure, that's unequivocally a more "diverse" enviornment than you'll find at Tufts, but how is that so-called diversity going to benefit your son?</p>
<p>Instead of basing a decision on some vague notion of diversity your son should instead consider which group of students are more likely to contribute to his intellectual developement.</p>