<p>My D was accepted Friday to U. of Mich. and is considering applying ED II to Tufts. We haven't visited Tufts and I'm concerned with all the comments on the Tufts "vibe". We don't have time to visit before the deadline hopefully I've convinced her to do RD. </p>
<p>In any case any comments about U. of Mich. vs. Tufts (she's looking at pre-med/biology)? She's wants a school with high academics, but a social life too. Loves Boston/pre-visit high academic/LAC, but likes the sports/school spirit of U. of Mich. Unfortunately rejected at Northwestern, which seems like a good mix of the two.</p>
<p>I think applying ED to a school you haven’t visited is unwise. There’s definitely not much of a sports scene at Tufts. I don’t get the impression that any of the sports get spectators - certainly not like U Michigan football! My impressions of Tufts are highly colored by my son’s major - International Relations. For him it’s been a real growing experience, I can’t believe how pro-active he’s learned how to be in terms of networking with people out in the real world. He seems to have a pretty quiet social life, but then his friends in high school, mostly seemed to hang around, cook or go out bowling.</p>
<p>I agree with not applying ED sight unseen. Tufts was a college that on paper looked like the perfect college for my daughter, and she liked it a lot when we visited, but on accepted students day, she just didn’t fall in love. It was a real dilemma for her because she felt like Tufts “should” be her choice (and I’m sure she would have been happy there if she had chosen it) but ultimately she chose another school.</p>
<p>Tufts and U Mich are about as diametrically opposed as two schools could be! Tufts is a small LAC while UMich is a huge state university. If I had to guess I would say that Tufts has much smaller classes and more student/professor interaction whereas UMich has much larger classes with many more TAs, but that is a generalization. I find it difficult to believe that one person would “love” both equally. She should definitely calm down and apply RD.</p>
<p>Why would she apply EDII to Tufts if she got accepted at Michigan…depending on when or how quick the EDII notification is you might not even know the ‘cost’ part of it. Why not just apply RD if she’s uncertain about Michigan and maybe you can squeeze a visit in to Tufts if she gets accepted. Ann Arbor is no Boston, but school spirit is a huge part of UofM. Both are great schools but why get locked into an ED situation and all that could potentially mean.</p>
<p>The only reason she considered ED2 is due to a coach there saying it was easier to get in than RD. I totally agree applying RD and visiting, just needed reinforcement :)</p>
<p>@amtc amazing even though the schools are at opposite ends of the spectrum she does like both types of schools - small LAC and the big school rah, rah. She thinks she likes Tufts slightly more on paper. Same as @simpkin’s D. </p>
<p>I want her to make an informed decision, but am seriously concerned with Tufts “vibe”. I want her to have a well rounded college experience as she is both academic and social.</p>
<p>Tufts is not really a small LAC but a small university with ~ 5000 undergrads. LACs are usually more in the neighborhood of 2000 or fewer students. The size was one aspect that was very appealing to my D – not too big, not too small. She loved the location too – very near but not right in a city. I’m not sure what you mean by the “vibe,” makenahunter – they seemed to be really pushing their “quirkiness” at the accepted students day. It is definitely not a rah-rah kind of school, not known for an intense party scene – these were pluses for my D. We both really liked it and I think it would have been a great place for her but somehow it just didn’t click.</p>
<p>Tufts is definitely not an LAC! It’s a medium sized research university with a number of grad schools. A bunch of the professional schools are not at the main campus making it seem smaller than some schools of similar size. Location is great - 10 minutes from the subway, but a residential neighborhood. </p>
<p>My impression is that the vibe is fairly academic. They like to think of themselves as quirky, but they aren’t as quirky as they think. They are serious though about the idea that you can be an active citizen now, you don’t have to wait till you graduate. Lots of students combine interests with IR.</p>
<p>EDII does not give you any edge worth mentioning for Tufts, as stated by at least one admissions officer. If she’s interested in applying, she should do so through regular decision.</p>
<p>You certainly won’t get the school spirit/rah rah big university sports atmosphere common at UMich at Tufts. If anything…my impressions from visiting Tufts on several occasions is that with the exception of certain niche sports like Lacrosse…Tufts students don’t seem to pay much attention to their sports teams. The campus also tends to go dead on weekends because most students end up going to Harvard, MIT, other Boston area universities, and Boston itself for parties/socializing…especially considering all of that’s only a T-ride away. </p>
<p>As for academics, my rough estimate is that it’s probably a draw with a slight nod to UMich due to its status as a large public elite research university. She can’t go wrong going to either school…but she will need to work strenuously to stay ahead of the grading curve in the weeder pre-med/intro STEM courses.</p>
<p>Have to dispute cobrat’s impression of a dead campus on weekends. Not true. All Boston college kids socialize some between campuses, but Jumbos primarily stay around Tufts. There is a small but active frat/sorority scene, there are always concerts and other performances. Many upperclassmen live in the houses and apartments surrounding campus - and there are many private parties and get togethers there and in the dorm. They tend to be smaller gatherings - not the hundreds that can attend a party at a state school.</p>
<p>Sports is not a huge thing although probably the majority play something - either varity, club or intramural. The a cappella groups definitely have a bigger fan base than most athletic teams. Lot’s of school spirit though, and most Tufts kids absolutely love their school.</p>
<p>That said I agree that applying ED sight unseen is a bad idea. Just make sure the RD app shows some love and that the essays are strong. Tufts likes to accept students that really like Tufts.</p>
<p>It sounds as though the size and location are the main things she finds appealing about Tufts as opposed to UMich. BC is in Boston, smaller than UMich, has strong academics (comparable to Tufts IMO) and has the rah rah school spirit she’s seeking; perhaps she should consider it in addition to Tufts, but apply to both RD! Our D is pre-med and was accepted at Northwestern. She also applied to Tufts; however, she too was wanting more of a sports/Greek centered school. She was accepted into the honors program at BC and really liked it too, but had always wanted a school with an active Greek population, so it fell off. In the end, she chose UVA, a school in many ways similar to UMich, but much, much smaller and is extremely happy. (As a southern girl, she found Evanston winters too intimidating, but other than that, NU was a great fit as well.) Good luck!</p>
<p>I grew up outside of Boston and now live and work in Ann Arbor. Boston is the quintessential college city. Ann Arbor is the quintessential college town. While Boston has a seemingly countless number of colleges, Michigan is Ann Arbor. But remember that Michigan has an undergraduate population of 27,000, roughly equivalent to the undergraduate populations of Harvard, Tufts, MIT and Boston College combined. So there’s certainly plenty of opportunities to meet new people.</p>
<p>There is nothing in Boston that matches the experience of a football Saturday in Ann Arbor (or a hockey game at Yost Arena). Michigan is a big public university but roughly 38% of it’s population comes from outside the state of Michigan. Growing up, Tufts was always viewed as a nerdy, quirky place for bright kids who didn’t want to or couldn’t get into the Ivies.</p>
<p>Tufts is one of many schools that sit in and around Boston. While the locals are loathe to admit it, Ann Arbor lives and breathes the university. This works to the benefit of students and residents.</p>
<p>I can see why you might like both, (after all I like steak and fish), but the experiences will be hugely different at these two schools. If your daughter is self-reliant and doesn’t mind being a little aggressive in exploring new places and things I think Michigan is a great place. If she needs a more “nurturing” place then Tufts is probably the better choice. I can’t imagine applying ED II sight unseen though.</p>
<p>Medical school is all about GPA and MCAT scores; maybe someone can speak to the grading pressures at Tufts. Finally, the last time I checked medical school was quite expensive, I would also consider the comparative costs.</p>
<p>This statement doesn’t sound correct, and it’s worth vetting. </p>
<p>For normal ED, you find out in mid December, BEFORE other applications or do. If selected well, you save a ton of work on other applications. </p>
<p>For EDII, they tell you after most other college deadlines. It doesn’t save you any work. </p>
<p>Why would ANYBODY apply EDII if it didn’t give you an advantage by signalling your commitment to enroll. It would seem as though ED II benefits those who want the admissions advantage of ED while allowing consideration of Fall grades for those who NEED consideration of Fall grades. Without the admissions advantage, what’s the point. </p>
<p>That said, I also agree that applying EDII would be crazy sight unseen.</p>
<p>As a mother of current Medical student, I can tell you that your D. should choose school that:
she personally loves more
cheapest.
Med. School will not care which UG she went to.
My D. always wanted to go to U of M, but did not even apply, too expensive. In regard to Northwestern, d. was accepted to Feinberg (NwU Med. School), but decided to go somewhere else. She did not care about Chicago either. You see, it all up to personal preferences. So, i would forget about Med. School for now and focus on 1. and 2. above. Any decision will be the good one. As I always advise my own D., if it get very hard to decide, flip the coin. My D. went to state UG on full tuition Merit scholarship. Very good choice, Med. School is very expensive!</p>
<p>They are very different schools. Having already been accepted to Michigan, I would go regular decision on Tuft. I have been to both campus. No much goes on at Tuft on weekends. Assuming same cost, I go Michigan.</p>
<p>This must be a very recent development as only 10-15 years ago, Tufts and especially UMich were considered to have much stronger academics…especially in STEM. </p>
<p>15 years ago, BC’s strengths were mainly in the humanities and social sciences and no one from my math/science public magnet who was an aspiring pre-med would consider BC unless they were offered a full scholly or weren’t accepted to schools with stronger STEM programs and “must be in Boston”. </p>
<p>Regarding Boston area schools, they tended to go off to Harvard, Tufts, MIT, and Brandeis.</p>
<p>If Med. School is in plans, UG does not matter. The only matter is that student is happy for 4 years of her life. Applicant needs very high college GPA (as close to 4.0 as possible) and decent MCAT score (33+ is nice), medically related EC’s and great social skills. The rest is very secondary. To accomplish this as cheaply as possible is very beneficial.</p>
<p>FWIW Boston College and Tufts are almost equal in rank by USNWR (31 vs 29), number in top 10% of class similar (80% vs 85%), and Tufts has slightly higher SAT ranges. I think the difference in atmosphere are much bigger than the differences in the academic abilities of the students. I think the schools have very different feels and may well be stronger in one or another field.</p>
<p>Like Cobrat, when I was in high school no one ever applied to BC that I can remember - but then I didn’t go to a school with many Catholics.</p>
<p>While MiamiDAP is correct that for med school GPA trumps pretty much everything, lots of kids who think they might be pre-med drop it, and not just because they do badly in weeder courses. For MD PHd programs my impression is (overhearing dh who does admissions for one program) where you went to school and summer research is much more important by the way.</p>