Tufts vs. Wake Forest

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone! I was fortunate to be accepted into both Wake Forest and Tufts, however am having a difficult time making a decision. Since admitted students days are no longer happening, I figured I would try to get as many glimpses into both schools as I can. I would really appreciate your input on the advantages and disadvantages of both Wake Forest and Tufts.

I am unsure about what I will eventually major in however have always leaned towards business and environmental science (two very diff. subjects). I hope to be able to study lots of different things though which is why the liberal arts approach at both schools appealed to me. I am pretty comfortable in social environments and would be open to joining a fraternity, but have never been the most outgoing at parties or social events. Being near Boston seems like it would be a cool experience, but I am from the south and it seems like Wake Forest may grant greater opportunities later on in life should I move back here. I got to visit Wake Forest in the fall for an interview and loved the friendliness of the student body and their clear commitment to both academics and having fun. I haven’t gotten to get a good feel of what Tufts students are like, but I would imagine that they would be similar in many ways.

Here are my personal pros and cons for each of them:

Wake Forest:

Pros

  • Strong school spirit/sense of community (ACC Athletic Conference, 3 year residency requirement)
  • Beautiful campus and updated facilities (ZSR library and the campus center at Wake seem updated whereas Tufts facilities seem older and less mainstream - but maybe I am incorrect with this?)
  • Strong name recognition in the Southeast
  • Business school is top tier

Cons

  • Possible that frats and sororities dominate the social scene
  • Doesn’t seem like there is much to do in Winston Salem
  • Grade deflation seems rough

Tufts:

Pros

  • Seems very focused on exposing students to a wide range of subject matter + fostering intellectual curiosity
  • Boston location = internships, jobs, restaurants, escape from campus “bubble”
  • Strong name recognition in the Northeast
  • Greater socioeconomic and racial/ethnic diversity

Cons:

  • Boston is not extremely close and it seems like students don’t really go there too often
  • DIII sports instead of DI (not as much of a deal but could mean less of a community feel)
  • Super hilly campus
  • not as much school spirit as Wake Forest
  • not much name recognition in the Southeast

I would really appreciate your thoughts on both schools! Thanks in advance.

2

They are both top notch schools.

Think you’ve outlined some good points. A big difference is the spirit thing (if that matters to you). Partly due to ACC sports and to overall school traditions / 3 yr residential housing requirement, Wake is very much a large community. It may be small (5k UG) but it feels much bigger with sports and events. Tufts feels like a DIII school which is great. A lot of people like that.

3

OP: Does Tufts have a major in business ?

Any thoughts of attending law school or an MBA program ?

4

Tufts has an extensive Environmental Science/Studies program, but does not have a business major.

Wake Forest has an extensive business major, but does not have either an Environmental Science or an Environmental Studies Major.

For business related programs, Tufts does have an Entreprenurial Studies Minor (the most popular minor) and it has a partnership with Greentown Labs which is the largest cleantech start-up incubator in the country. The state of Massachusetts offers a paid environmental internship program for students who are Mass Residents and students who attend Mass Colleges/Universities. Tufts also is very strong in environmental and energy economics and the econ department offers a minor in finance.

The Environmental Studies major offers several tracks each with several paths including:

An Environmental Communication Track with a path for Environmental Communication in Business

An Environmental Science Track with a path for Environmental Science in Business and Consulting

For environment related programs Wake Forest does offer a minor in Environmental Science and a Minor in Environmental Studies.

5

Congrats on your acceptances! I’m a Tufts student studying environmental science, so I can weigh in.

Tufts has an environmental studies co-major (which I am doing with an environmental science track), and there is also an applied environmental studies major, which is stand-alone. Essentially, if you do the co-major, you must pair it with another major.

The ENVS program here is growing pretty fast, but nonetheless the professors are still very easy to get to know – and they will definitely get to know you, too. I have actually gotten some research opportunities and internships just from my professors reaching out to me. And if you are into environmental justice and rallying, there is a good amount of that, especially with Boston being in our backyard (btw, I go into the city pretty often).

In terms of facilities, the environmental studies major is housed in recently-renovated Barnum Hall, finished just last semester. There is also the Science and Engineering Complex, which I recommend you take a look at – beautiful building and LEED certified. I’ve also taken both environmental science and entrepreneurship classes at 574 Boston Ave, which is also LEED certified and made from recycled timber. Overall, the facilities are very nice. There are a couple labs or lecture rooms that need some help (Eaton Hall Computer Lab is amazing, but the rest of the building is quite the antithesis – although its exterior is stunning).

Honestly, though, you won’t really notice the appearance of the facilities after the first semester. I love the campus, hills and all (and the view of the Boston skyline), but I’m sure some find it abhorrent. Just preference.

I know next to nothing about Wake Forest, having heard its name for the first time while at Tufts (I’m from the west coast). But if I knew it existed in high school, I likely would have applied. Seems like there is a crossover between students, but, just so you’re aware, Tufts lives up to its reputation of quirky, artsy, politically-engaged, globally-thinking students. Tufts indeed fosters intellectual curiosity.