<p>Son still trying to make final decision. Will probably head to math and science but wants more flexibility and the stimulation of a liberal arts background. (Has always done very well in math and science.) Cares a lot about a comfortable social environment, including students with a broad range of backgrounds. Would like options besides partying and opportunities to date. Money close enough for all is not a deciding factor. Thanks for thoughts & insights!</p>
<p>Does climate matter to him?</p>
<p>life’s</p>
<p>Good news – your son is in a no-lose situation. He can get an excellent education in math and science at any of these schools.</p>
<p>From people I know – students at all three schools LOVE it there. (one of the reasons my D did not go to Wash U, in point of fact was that everyone seemed to love it and she only liked it).</p>
<p>IMO – Rice=Wash U > Tufts. But any difference is likely to be small, and if your son said he absolutely loved Tufts, he’s choosing a great school, and you shouldn’t worry in the least. I wouldn’t worry about the social environment, diversity or dating opportunities – they will be that at any of these institutions.</p>
<p>Expanding zephyr’s point: I think Rice> WUSTL. Both schools have great academics and friendly students but Houston is soooo much better than St Louis. :)</p>
<p>For math and science Rice. Rice ranks 9th in per capital Ph.D. productivity in science and engineering per NSF studies. Neither Tufts nor WashU rank in the top 50. Ph.D. productivity is a good measure of quality of undergraduate educational experience as even those who don’t pursue Ph.D.'s get the same illuminating education.
[nsf.gov</a> - NCSES Baccalaureate Origins of S&E Doctorate Recipients - US National Science Foundation (NSF)](<a href=“http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08311/]nsf.gov”>http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08311/)</p>
<p>Rice has residential colleges and also good diversity.</p>
<p>Both WashU and Tufts are schools with no common data sets and have reputations of using dubious admission practices to inflate their USNWR ratings. They are known as Ivy backup schools. In my day, they were safeties for Ivy matriculants. However, Tufts would be preferable to WashU from a social standpoint. Tufts is most liberal artsy of the three.</p>
<p>
I disagree about the usefulness of PhD productivity data.
[ul][li]A college that has many more applicants to MS/PhD programs than to med/vet/dental/pharmacy school isn’t somehow better or worse in the sciences. A college can place very well into PhD programs but simultaneously have few students interested in applying. </p>[/li]
<p>[li]PhD productivity doesn’t account for selectivity. Simply looking at the number of PhDs earned ignores nuances like the quality of grad programs attended and the success rate of applicants. </p>[/li]
<p>[li]Looking at all BA/BS degrees awarded, as the NSF does - instead of just the number of science majors - favors colleges with disproportionately high numbers of STEM majors. It’s no surprise that Caltech and Mudd top the list, and Rice also has a very large STEM population (45%).[/ul] [/li]Quite frankly, given the number of recent PhDs who’ve found themselves without decent job offers, I’ve sometimes wondered if the primary thing indicated by high PhD productivity is poor advising! ;)</p>
<p>As for WUStL and Tufts specifically, it’s hardly a secret that WUStL is hugely popular with pre-meds; 75% of biology majors are pre-med, for example. That may go a ways in explaining its seeming underperformance. I know little about Tufts, so I don’t know if it’s similar in this regard. </p>
<p>WUStL is admittedly a bit furtive with its admissions stats, but it’s undeniably an excellent university with a gorgeous campus, fun location, and great quality of life. One could certainly do much worse!</p>
<p>Wow, how do you justify accusing schools of “dubious admissions practices”? You just throw that accusation out there as if it were some proven fact. As for the CDS, read through the 180 pages or so of the Tufts Fact Book - there is a lot more info there than on anyone else’s CDS.
<a href=“http://provost.tufts.edu/institutionalresearch/files/2012-2013-Fact-Book.pdf[/url]”>http://provost.tufts.edu/institutionalresearch/files/2012-2013-Fact-Book.pdf</a></p>
<p>Oh yeah, back to the question. Some advice from the admissions office…
[Advice</a> for the Indecisive · Jumbo Talk · Tufts University Admissions Department](<a href=“Advice for the Indecisive · Jumbo Talk | Tufts Admissions”>Advice for the Indecisive · Jumbo Talk | Tufts Admissions)
[Procrastinator?s</a> ?Guide? to Finishing Your College Search · Inside Admissions · Tufts University Admissions Department](<a href=“Procrastinator’s “Guide” to Finishing Your College Search · Inside Admissions | Tufts Admissions”>Procrastinator’s “Guide” to Finishing Your College Search · Inside Admissions | Tufts Admissions)</p>
<p>I would give Rice the edge here. While the area around WashU is nice, St. Louis doesn’t offer nearly what Houston does for a college student. And then there’s the weather. I would rank Tufts a clear third in all aspects…</p>
<p>@BeanTownGirl I’m not the one who invented the so-called “Tufts effect” or the notion of “yield protection” associated with WashU, I merely stated both have reputations for such practices whether founded or not. Certainly Tufts could/should be much higher ranked.</p>
<p>WashU is big on pre-med and an unlikely candidate for OP’s needs.</p>
<p>If it’s between Tufts and Rice, Rice is more of a math and science place. Indeed, Tufts Fact Book shows only 14 math majors and 4 physics majors last year.</p>
<p>Rice>>Wash U>>>>>>>>>>>Tufts</p>
<p>I would go with Rice or Wash U.</p>
<p>rice—washu—tufts</p>
<p>informative is 100% correct!^^^^^^</p>
<p>I think your son should visit each and decide as all are in different parts of the country and have different focuses. All are great schools and you can’t go wrong. All have smart students and will have excellent opportunities.</p>
<p>Wash U more known for students pursuing pre-med. But Tufts and Rice both are highly regarded in sending kids to medical school. But it seems that your son’s focus is on Math / Sciences with a possibility of having some liberal arts stuff.</p>
<p>If I were your son, I would go for the one that has the best all around feel to it. Don’t focus on graduate schools. Most students don’t go to the same graduate school as their undergraduate school and the two things are completely different.</p>
<p>All 3 will have intelligent individuals (seriously, compare the schools average SAT scores - Tufts is actually higher than both on average, believe it or not - but they are basically all in the same range). And all 3 will provide great opportunities. As one user said, you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>That being said, you should focus on what fits best for your son. It’s easy to say one school is better than the other by virtue of looking up USNWR rankings. But it’s much smarter to look into each school and see which factors actually are important.</p>
<p>For example - your son wants to be happy. Both Rice and Tufts are known to have friendly and happy individuals. Perhaps there are regional differences that your son might prefer (the South, Mid-West, and North East are all very different).</p>
<p>Your son wants to pursue science and mathematics. All three schools are well regarded in the ‘medical sciences’ and their related fields (think biology or whatever). But that’s a small facet of the sciences.</p>
<p>Tufts tends to focus on more interdisciplinary stuff (e.g. connecting various fields together). For example, combining engineering with businesses to promote ventures and start-ups. Or perhaps using computer science for aiding development. You don’t have to go down that interdisciplinary path, but by virtue of being ‘liberal-artsy’ kind of school, there is an emphasis on thinking outside of the box. That tends to be the culture of the greater Boston area.</p>
<p>But perhaps your son doesn’t want that. Perhaps he is more interested in biology. Rice or Wash U might seem like a better place. Again, do your due diligence - visit the schools, and decide.</p>