<p>If you want to get a LAC-style education, where the undergraduate experience is of utmost importance to the faculty, staff, in terms of resources, etc. but still want the pluses that come with top-notch research opportunities afforded by the graduate schools' facilities/professors, etc. then Tufts is really a great place to go to. Lying somewhere between a LAC and a research university, I've always thought it as being the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>And if you look at the SAT scores, rank, personal accomplishments of the kinds of kids that get into Tufts these days, you're not even talking "just a step below Ivy"—very often these kids are Ivy material.</p>
<p>Tufts is a pretty unqiue place to study Art History/Studio Arts as it has the dual-degree program with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) -- a similar partnership to Brown's with RISD. A five-eyar program whereby you get a BA from Tufts and a BFA from the SMFA. And if you don't want to do five years, you can just go to Tufts and take courses at the SMFA (they're all open to Tufts students). The Art History program at Tufts is staffed by very impressive art historians. There are also really great study-abroad options (especially Paris), and connections to internship placements. </p>
<p>As far as diversity, Tufts is as diverse as most of its peer schools. There is more racial/ethnic diversity than there is socio-economic diversity, but that changes every year as more and more kids come to top private schools with near-full or completely full scholarships. There's a sizeable international population; furthermore, the school's strong program in international relations makes for a very broad-minded overall undergraduate (and graduate) population.</p>
<p>The psychology program is pretty strong, also a very large major in the liberal arts college. If you are well-read in psych you may recognize Prof. Robert Sternberg, former head of the APA (American Psychological Association) and at the top of his field (among other things, he's very well known for his theories on creative intelligence and love/hate). Other professors are great, too. As far as job placement, grad school placement -- the program, particualrly the Clinical Psych major, emphasizes internships throughout your undergraduate career which places you in a good position once you graduate. Tufts psych majors I know who graduated this year are starting their PsyDs at Stanford, Columbia, and working at psych wards before going back to school.</p>
<p>You can find out more about the student life/atmosphere by reading past posts. Particularly in the Tufts 2011 forum on this website.</p>
<p>Tufts was my second choice when I applied to colleges this past year after University of Pennsylvania. Tufts is very well respected and known for its more interdisciplinary curriculum. I believe it has also been noted recently for trying to get a more personal view of its applicants by providing an optional essay in the application. It is definately known for being outside the box to some extent and is known to produce and attract well-rounded students. I recently heard that Tufts was actually invited to join the Ivy League but school authorities decided against it. Either way, I was not accepted and would be jealous of anyone who was because it is a great school.</p>