<p>I was recently accepted to both colleges..but I was wondering which one is a better school..I am half black/half white and I plan to major in Psychology/Sociology and go to medical school. Which one is a better school academically and which one is more WARM and OPEN to people of all backgrounds?? What do you think??</p>
<p>Tufts' MOST group is very active on-campus. I have a good amount of friends in it; and theyre very visible on campus even if you're not a member. Check it out: <a href="http://ase.tufts.edu/MOST/%5B/url%5D">http://ase.tufts.edu/MOST/</a></p>
<p>I think Tufts is generally more well-regarded academically, but you'd be fine at either school.</p>
<p>thanks a lot. What about going to the South vs. Going up North?? And which school has the better Pre-Med track??</p>
<p>I will speak for Tufts because I don't know about Vandy, but Tufts has above-average acceptance to med school and the natural sciences are all top-notch. Money for undergrad research also abounds at Tufts, especially in the sciences.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is a conservative school with a campus life dominated by sororities and fraternities.</p>
<p>Tufts has an international focus and some strong programs, both undergrad and grad, in health sciences. It is more accepting of diversity.</p>
<p>I work in the field and have known students who have gone to both schools. Both are good schools but Tufts is probably better suited to your ultimate academic goals and would be more open and welcoming to you as an individual.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is politically moderate; northerners have this misconception regarding Vandy's political leaning and their ignorance shows in posts like the one above me. </p>
<p>Tufts is more racially diverse, but that does not mean that Vanderbilt is unwelcoming to minorities. The MOSAIC event is something that Vanderbilt is very proud of and it perpetually seeks to increase racial diversity on campus. Minority applicants have increased by 15% from last year.</p>
<p>While Tufts is certainly a good school, it cannot compete with the likes of a Vanderbilt academically. Tufts is more known for its International Relations department, but Vanderbilt is known to be very strong in the sciences. Small class sizes, word class profs who actually have to teach undergraduate classes in order to maintain their research grants, and one of the nation's finest cancer centers in the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center make Vanderbilt very attractive to pre-med students. </p>
<p>Also, I have spoken to both former and current pre-med students alike at Tufts, and the general consensus is that there is a lot of grade deflation. This is a big caution sign for those interested in attending a top med school. Med school admission, unlike undergrad admission, centers solely around GPA and MCAT scores. From what I hear, the average GPA for pre-med students at Tufts is a 3.0. A GPA that low will clearly make it more difficult to attend a top med school. But, like I said, this may be the truth, and it may not. Take it with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Here's one CCer on the pre-med at Tufts:</p>
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<p>I suggest visiting both schools. Vanderbilt has the reputation of being a "word hard/party hard" school, while Tufts is known to be boring. Vanderbilt students have the reputation of being preppy and beautiful, while Tufts students are studious and quirky. Both great schools and you really can't go wrong.</p>
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While Tufts is certainly a good school, it cannot compete with the likes of a Vanderbilt academically.
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<p>You've got to be kidding me. Your comment about Tufts also not having strong sciences, is also pretty ridiculous and almost hilarious.</p>
<p>Also, you say:</p>
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Tufts is known to be boring.
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<p>Actually, Tufts has the same "work hard/party hard" rep that you ascribe to Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>Finally:</p>
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Also, I have spoken to both former and current pre-med students alike at Tufts, and the general consensus is that there is a lot of grade deflation. This is a big caution sign for those interested in attending a top med school.
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<p>Actually, med schools know about inflation at places like Brown and deflation at places like Tufts. Accordingly, they take this into consideration when looking at med school applications from different schools. Do well wherever you go, and you will be judged by how you performed by your own university's standards. I have friends who graduated pre-med from Tufts and are now at Harvard, Yale, NYU, Cornell, UC-Berkeley, JHU, Columbia, and other top med schools.</p>
<p>Stop making ignorant comments! If you only know about Vanderbilt, at a good enough level to make precise comments, then do waht I did above, and say that you cannot comment about Tufts, but _____ is what I know about Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Please learn to read!</p>
<p>I never said Tufts was lacking in the sciences; I simply stated that Tufts is "more known for its International Relations department," as opposed to Vanderbilt which is often regarded as a "science school."</p>
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<p>Really now. If that's the case then why do so many current students complain about the lack of a party scene on campus?</p>
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<p>I'm not making this stuff up. Search "social life" in the Tufts subforum for more information. Oh, and on a side note, you know the social scene has gone awry when the administration has to hold meetings with the police dept in order to improve the social life.</p>
<p>I also found this to be interesting. You might want to keep this in mind before you make a decision: "Racism at Tufts"
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=274728%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=274728</a></p>
<p>Again, both great schools. It's just different strokes for different folks.</p>
<p>Avant garde shut up. You're making generalizations based on a few posters.</p>
<p>The only way that Vanderbilt could be considered politically moderate is if you are from the deep South. I lived in the South for 12 years, now live in the Northeast, and am familiar with both cultures.</p>
<p>I also have known several students who attended Vanderbilt ... very good school but conservative and with a social life geared towards fraternities and sororities. Good school, but not for everyone.</p>
<p>Finally, Tufts is as well known for its public health programs as for its international programs. You are off base in saying Tufts is not as strong for pre-med.</p>
<p>^ ^ ^ Thanks, admiss! It's good to hav eaperson who works in the field reaffirm!</p>
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The only way that Vanderbilt could be considered politically moderate is if you are from the deep South. I lived in the South for 12 years, now live in the Northeast, and am familiar with both cultures.
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<p>I'm from Long Island, New York (not exactly the deep south), and Vanderbilt is definitely a political moderate school. The last survey showed their were more liberals here than conservatives, but most years its balanced perfect at 50/50.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has the stronger peer assessment scores (4.1 vs. 3.7) and more school spirit. The student body is gregarious, the campus is a national arboretum, and the hospitality is amazing.</p>
<p>Have you ever attended Vanderbilt? Or visited the campus?</p>
<p>I lived in New York for four years, and I currently live in the South. I'm also very familiar with both cultures. If you were familiar with the Vanderbilt community, or the Nashville area for that matter, you would know that Davidson county voted overwhelmingly for Kerry/Edwards in the Presidential Election of 2004 (54.8% for voted for the Dems). While the state of Tennessee may be red, Vanderbilt, Nashville, and the rest of Davidson county surely isn't. But don't take my word for it -- <a href="http://www.city-data.com/county/Davidson_County-TN.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.city-data.com/county/Davidson_County-TN.html</a></p>
<p>Lolabelle and kofi are quick to call me a generalizer without giving you the same due! I, at least, have facts to prove what I say. You, on the other hand, speak out of pure ignorance.</p>
<p>Yes, college towns often vote democrat when the rest of the state may vote republican. That is also not that unusual. Another example, Austin votes differently than the rest of Texas.</p>
<p>If you claim that a 50-50 split (if it is that) makes for a moderate political environment, since colleges are usually predominantly liberal, a 50-50 split would make it conservative. </p>
<p>As for ignorance, methinks thou dost protest too much.</p>
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<p>Your logic astounds me.</p>
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If you claim that a 50-50 split (if it is that) makes for a moderate political environment, since colleges are usually predominantly liberal, a 50-50 split would make it conservative.
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<p>Your initial comment said Vanderbilt was a "conservative" school, which is different from saying Vanderbilt is conservative compared to other top colleges.</p>
<p>Avant-garde, when Admiss said that if the split at Vandy is 50-50, then that means that Vandy is very conservative, it's not because her logic is flawed, it's because your comprehensive reading skills are. Most universities are OVERWHELMINGLY liberal -- not evenly split between liberals and conservatives. For better or worse, that's how it is. So if Vandy is 50-50 it is more conservative than most institutions of higher education.</p>
<p>I have never been to Vandy, but I did visit Tufts, and UGGHHHH, not for ME, but that doesn't mean it isn't going to be right for YOU. The best thing you can do when you need to decide between two schools is to visit them. You can get lots of advice on this board, but nothing beats a first hand look. Good luck!!</p>
<p>thanks a lot...im going to both open housess and will make my decision after that. i really appreciate it!</p>