<p>For those who are already enrolled or who have chosen to enroll this year, why did you choose this? If parents know answers, that would be fine for input.</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>BUMP . Same question!</p>
<p>It seems to me that if you are asking this question, you have not been on campus. If you had you would understand why kids choose Tufts. Not only are the academics truly exceptional, but the physical beauty of the campus is actually exceeded by a wonderfully supportive, accepting culture. The takeaway: smart, accomplished kids who have good, open hearts, plus a faculty that cares. Are there exceptions to this rule? Of course. But the culture on this campus is IMHO unique for such a highly competitive school, and I’ve toured more than 20 highly-competitive campuses, including Yale, UPenn, Duke, Wesleyan, Northwestern, etc. Vassar is close in terms of culture. </p>
<p>Your college decision should not be crowd sourced. What is important to you? What questions do you have? Ask specific questions of existing students, join the fb groups, go visit in different seasons, etc. Personally I think visits outside of special admissions/accepted student days are more revealing. Your academic areas of interest, importance of sports, fraternities, specialized programs, rural/urban…etc. You know the drill. Don’t beg, be thoughtful and specific and after your questions are answered, your financial situation respected, trust your gut.</p>
<p>D1 fell in love with the school on her first visit. The school wasn’t yet in session so there weren’t many folks around, but you could hear students passing by saying “Hey, is that a new freshman?” and one finally approached us, introduced herself and asked if she could be any help or answer any questions. Talked to her for 20-30 minutes. Now years later it’s D1 who is the one going up to visitors to welcome them and sell the school.</p>
<p>She loves the people. She loves that they are wicked smart and incredibly interested in the world, that they’re by and large pretty humble (about some pretty amazing achievements), that students tend to be cross-disciplinary in their majors and their interests. She loves the unique Tufts events (e.g. Tufts Dance Collective) and academics (EPIIC!). I still get random texts from her saying “have I told you lately how much I love Tufts?” </p>
<p>As a parent, I’ve seen her at a place that’s giving her an absolutely top-notch education, tremendous travel and internship opportunities, great mentoring and connections, and has helped hone a curious mind. </p>
<p>The great thing about college in the US is that there are, what, 50? 100? more? places where a kid can get this kind of experience depending on your budget and what’s going to fit any individual student. If Tufts is going to be unaffordable, or if another place “feels” more like home, then go elsewhere. But this is a wonderful, wonderful place to go to college.</p>
<p>“but the physical beauty of the campus is actually exceeded by a wonderfully supportive, accepting culture”</p>
<p>Ditto…Can’t summarize it up much better…I visited campuses like Dartmouth, Cornell, Amherst, Northwestern, etc. and it was the "wonderfully supportive, accepting culture, that won us over!!!</p>
<p>For me, I had visited a lot of schools, but Tufts was always the one that stuck with me. The students were friendly and inviting, the campus beautiful, and the overall vibe I got from the campus just really fit me. I am what tufts is- quirky and passionate, yet driven and ambitious. I knew Tufts was the school for me because it was the college I went to that I kept yearning for after I left. I was just always so happy when I visited. </p>