Reviews

Tufts is often called a baby-ivy meaning that the quality of education here is at par with or better than what students receive at Ivy League schools. The only difference is that it isn't quite as famous as schools like Harvard or Yale. Classes are very challenging but not impossible. I also have learned quite a bit outside of the classroom by being involved with extra-curricular activities that connect with my potential areas of interest, and Tufts certainly has a variety of groups to become involved with.

Tufts is bustling with activity 24-7. Students that attend here have diverse interests and that is definitely reflected through activities and events on campus. There are a plethora of dance shows, theater productions, intelligently themed parties, trips abroad, places to eat, and traditions in which many students participate. It is also worth noting that I have met more intelligent, motivated, and quirky individuals than I could have imagined. I love the intellectual atmosphere that combines with a work hard, play hard overall shared sentiment to foster an environment that is simultaneously stimulating and fun.

Tufts is expensive. Very expensive. However, it is manageable. The school does its best in giving out money to students who need it in such an economic situation, and the education that students receive is unbeatable.

Make sure to stay over on campus if possible. I suggest attending April Open House: it allows many students an intimate look into the university and often helps wondrously in making the dreaded decision. Also, pay attention to those supplementary essays. I know they're annoying and there are so many, but honestly try your best. Show the admissions officers that you are quirky and they will adore you.

Quirky and intelligent. Tufts is a very, very diverse place. There are students that lock themselves in their rooms weeks before an important exam and others that don't start term papers more than eight hours before the due date. There are party animals and theater patrons, city-dwellers and country boys, athletes and musicians, mathematicians and poets. Talk to anyone. They'll have a story.

Despite the fact that I am enrolled in mostly introductory courses, where the general class size is unavoidably larger, everyone--the professors and TAs--are nevertheless incredibly accessible. Next semester, however, when I am beyond the introductory courses, the average class size will only be about 15 people. Office hours are always there, no matter what your schedule looks like, and there are free private tutoring sessions, as well as drop-in and lecture-sized tutoring sessions. There's a class for everyone and all of the professors know what they are talking about.

Tufts is in the perfect location: far enough from the hustle and bustle of Boston, but close enough that it's only a short ride on the subway away. While there may be a few sketchy neighborhoods in Boston, Medford (where Tufts is) is safe, quiet, and mostly residential. And unlike Harvard, where there are hundreds of tourists filing through the campus and Harvard Square all through the year, we Jumbos get our campus, as well as an entire square (Davis Square), mostly to ourselves. There's a smorgasbord of clubs and teams--everything from Muy Thai Boxing to Hip Hop for Social Change to Quidditch to a very dedicated Ultimate Frisbee following.

Tufts is definitely a school that comes at a high price and isn't exactly known for having the greatest financial aid package. But so far, coming here and making the financial sacrifice has been worth every penny and every inch of the 2600-mile move across the country. The dorms are nice, the campus is clean, the food is amazing, and the education is top-notch.

Applying to this fierce university means that you have to be willing to put in a lot of time and effort into your work. Tufts students definitely know how to have fun, but we are also always on top of our studies. In terms of Tufts' application, be creative and be yourself. It sounds so cliché, but there are no two Tufts students alike; we're a very eclectic bunch. For example, I submitted a large cardboard cut-out of a paper clip and used its attributes to indirectly describe my own personal qualities. Sounds silly, but it worked! So play your quirkiness to your advantage.

Students who are into a racially diverse campus would love it here; there are international students on every floor of every dorm, with several languages being spoken in a single hall. Tufts students have to understand the meaning of hard work; most of us live in the library because we study so much (but that doesn't mean we don't have a ton of fun on the weekends!). Most Tufts students are very caught up on the latest news--national, continental, or international--, whether it's politics, music, sports, technology, business, or finance. Everywhere you go there will always be students reading The New York Times or Business Week.

The students here are brilliant and genuinely nice. So many opportunities, from clubs, to internships, to research projects. And if you can't find them here, Boston is just a T ride away.

Be true to your self- show your personality, humor, passion, and individuality in your application. Definitely try to visit the school if you can. Tufts advertises itself as a campus that is simultaneously small and liberal arts-y and an up-and-coming research school. It's a weird balance that is best to experience yourself.

You will have to study. You will be surrounded by brilliant, self-motivated students who want to learn as much as possible. You will have teachers that pound you with reading. But, that's college. The good thing is that there are always people who want to help!

I'm a first year and my dorm is fantastic. I live in a double and was shocked by the size. Really pleased with the living situation.

Buffet style makes the Freshman 15 hard to fight. Sometimes it gets repetitive but you have to be creative.

There is a reason why college review boards consistently rate Tufts in the top 30 universities in America. The teachers and students alike bring much more to the table than I ever expected. The classes are hard in the way that demands attention and creativity. I never thought I would be one of those people saying they learned so much in the first semester of college, but such is the case. Not only are the classes educational, but part of becoming an adult is learning what college is all about. The first year is full of new adventures and decisions to be made. As the year progresses, applying what you learn is key.

Finding who you are is a huge part of college and at Tufts I can find myself. With the help of the students and administration, campus life is easy-going yet educational. That old adage you learn something new everyday becomes real at Tufts. The environment welcomes opinions, expression, and freedom.

At 50k + Tufts is one of the more expensive schools in the country. Despite being as expensive as the Ivies, you don't get that Ivy School credibility that comes along with the price. Disappointing? Yes. Worth it? A matter of opinion. I for one am tired of putting Ivies on that untouchable pedestal and have a hard time believing I am missing out on something by going to Tufts and not an Ivy. If you can handle paying for everything an Ivy has to offer minus the name then you've got yourself a college.

Definitely do not take classes for granted and come in with a plan for the next four years. Tips for prospective students anywhere are pretty much similar (get involved, etc.) but specifically for Tufts I would have to recommend declaring a major as soon as possible. I did not and I was stuck with a less-than-qualified advisor. You can always change your major but unless you declare one, you are probably going to be assigned an advisor who is really a professor with a bit of extra time. Also be aware that your first test in a class can really make or break the grade for the semester, so don't take it lightly like it is some high school test. Many times, that grade is at least 1/4 of your final grade.

If you are looking for an atmosphere of kids who really care about where their lives are going and who they are taking that trip with, then Tufts is a great place to consider. I am in no way the liberal activist that has put the Boston area on the map and I find there are just as many people like me here as there are political students. However, you have to be humble to go here. There is not a lot of Oh, look at us. How cool are we kind of stuff from the administration or students. School spirit for sports is kind of low but presents a decent opportunity for walk-on athletes. Just remember that not too many people your age will know the name Tufts right off the bat...but the people who matter will know.

Play up what makes you different. Scores and grades are obviously important, but everyone applying here is smart, so it's really your essays that are going to show the admissions officers what makes you stand out from the 18,000 other smart kids in the application pile.

I finally feel as if the work I am doing in my classes is worthwhile, rather than the pointless busywork of high school. By coincidence, I took many courses with low workloads my first semester, so I had plenty of time to complete my assignments and pursue outside interests. All of my classes were engaging and interesting, and I never felt like my time was being wasted.

Most of the dorms available to Freshman leave a little something to be desired, in my opinion. Most of the rooms in most of the buildings are of decent size, save for where I live (Metcalf West), where my room is the size of an oversized walk-in closet. If you live in a building with a communal kitchen, don't expect to be able to use it for anything other than simple baking projects- it will no doubt be small and the appliances will probably be old.

That being said, some of the dorms, especially the recently renovated ones- Lewis, South, and Haskell to name a few- are nice enough. Suite and apartment-style living is available to sophomores and upperclassmen. Sophia-Gordon, an all-senior dorm, is absolutely gorgeous, apartment-style living. Living on-campus is required freshman and sophomore years, but most upperclassmen tend to live off-campus.

Tufts dining is fantastic, they have such a wide variety of options that I never get tired of the same old food. There are always sandwiches, soups, and salads available, in addition to the two or three entrees offered per meal. There is also a wide selection of vegetarian foods at every meal.

If you are interested in it, there is almost always a club for it. If there isn't, starting one is ridiculously easy. Acapella is wildly popular- we have 9 groups as of Fall 2013. There are a whole host of sports teams, from the more traditional football and volleyball to Quidditch, with all levels of commitment from varsity to intramural. There is an extremely active theatre community, as well as tons of groups aimed at social justice issues, women's and LGBT activism, and political and environmental issues. There are also dozens of newspapers and magazines published on campus every semester.

It's as present as you want it to be. You can make greek life your whole world, attend the occasional party but not really get involved, or ignore it and almost forget entirely that it is there.

I have never felt unsafe on campus, and TUPD takes campus safety very seriously.

Tufts is certainly a place that fosters discussion. Though it's about as homogeneous as you'd expect a small, northeastern american university to be, its minority groups and their opinions are well-respected and represented, and Tufts students are, almost to a one, very accepting. Academics-wise, class size has been my favourite aspect of the Tufts education: in the first semester of my freshman year, three of my four courses had twenty students or fewer.

Come to Tufts open minded and willing to discuss, defend, and adjust your opinions. Social justice and change are massively prevalent subjects on campus, and it's difficult to get away from them. In-depth discussions outside of class time have been frequent in my experience.

Again, the class sizes at Tufts are certainly a plus. The very largest lecture classes go no larger than 300 students (intro to psych/econ, etc.). Because classes are so small, professors are actually able and available to give students a lot more one-on-one help, and taking advantage of this can be key to success. The classes at Tufts will challenge you, and in my very brief experience as a humanities student, I've found that each of my classes have emphasized discussion and student contribution. This appears to be the case in my friends' courses as well, though the extent to which a class is lecture or discussion-based depends on the professor.
Work is frequent and rigorous, but anyone who cultivates good time-management skills will likely be just fine.

Some Tufts dorms have been recently renovated; some, like mine, haven't. Recently refurbished halls like Haskell and South are gorgeous, while halls like Bush are beginning to show their age. It's the people, though, that make the dorm, and a student living in a soviet apartment block with a fun group of kids will always have a better experience than a student in a palace with standoffish people. Thankfully, the former situation- not the soviet apartment part, the fun group part- is much more probable here, and there really isn't anything about even the worst dorms that I think warrants complaining.

Absolutely superb, considering the traffic that goes through the halls each day. Dewick and Carmichael both serve an amazing variety of food, including options for vegetarians and those that suffer from allergies. Considering the fact that we're talking college cafeteria food, the cooks and staff do an excellent job, and I actually look forward to every meal.

There's always something going on on-campus- if you're part of a few clubs, you probably have something going on any given night- but if you want to get away from Tufts for a while, Davis square, a fifteen minute walk away, is where you'll find most of the students' favourite restaurants and small shops. Don't forget that Boston and Cambridge are both right there, in and around which are a number of other college campuses. Boston is, understandably, a huge destination for bands and artists of all varieties. Big acts often come through town, though you can find a plethora of great musicians playing smaller venues all over the city. Make sure to get downtown at least once or twice a month: a common regret among upperclassmen seems to be that they haven't yet gotten off campus on the weekends frequently enough.

Tufts is a school for nerds who are uninhibited by pretension. Everyone has the right to pursue their interests with the full support and respect of the community.Tufts is everyone's Disneyland.

Be honest with yourself. Take classes you enjoy, and write a common application that is true to you and your personality.

Tufts is a tough-fts school academically. That being said, such rigor comes with phenomenal professors who hock their departments better than any snake oil salesperson ever could, thereby making every single class a tornado of excitement, interest, and knowledge.

Everyone who I have talked to about dorm life raves that their experience in their particular dorm was the best experience anyone could ever have; everyone in their dorm went on an incredible journey together (e.g. finding the treasure of one-eyed Willie) and their brief time in their particular dorm was the best time of their life. It sounds like the end of a coming of age movie, and I guess it sort of is like that.

Tufts has AH-MAZING food. It's always of a terrific quality and variety. The best thing any prospective student can do is come to Tufts and try for themselves.

Step 1: find someone who is currently enrolled at Tufts
Step 2: get on their facebook
Step 3: go to their events page
Step 4: be stunned by the sheer mass of facebook events they are invited to
Step 5: randomly click on one event
Step 6: attend

Tufts is the perfect school for students who are fed up with grade grubbing and apathy. Tufts is the perfect school for students who are hungry for passion. Tufts is perfect for students who are smart, easily excited, and humble.

Tufts is a community of Global Citizens-- students and faculty who want to make this world a better place from our campus community to the global community. People here each have unique passions that could work to isolate us all; however, Tufts magically connects us all as friends and family, bridging our differences into a sense of admiration and sparking perspective-altering discussions.

Orientation is a whirlwind of meeting hundreds of people, feeling lost, not sleeping and trying to figure out who to eat with. Its crazy and overwhelming. Some people love it and some hate it. Whatever the case may be, it ends, and campus feels much more comfortable--like a home. You will have so many new friends and any familiar face is more than happy to wave back. You get to build your entirely new community from scratch--a unique opportunity. Take advantage of it and talk to anyone, even someone who seems completely opposite to you. You'll probably find yourselves bonding over your love of Harry Potter or Beyonce. Its amazing! Welcome to Tufts!

Tufts is an incredible school with really rigorous classes. However, our professors are friendly and happy to help with anything! They all have designated office hours, however, most will not hesitate to schedule another time that is better for you. We also have many resources for help. And, any and all your friends will be more than happy to help you bounce ideas off them.
Basically, its hard, but doable with the support systems you build.

Okay, so you probably will be living with an entirely new human you have never met, right? Let me say this, its going to be weird, maybe even for a few months. But, you will often find amazing friends in your dorm--even if you and your roommate aren't too close. Most roommate relationships are overall positive, some people don't work out so well, but its really easy to switch up housing if anything is a problem. RA's are wonderful resources, mine was the nicest and most helpful person to just rant to about classes and papers and last minute projects that were stressing me out. We're definitely going to stay friends.

Our food is good--especially the Butternut Squash Bisque. That's to die for!
We also have a lot of theme nights: Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving, Pajama Party (Breakfast for Dinner), Under the Sea, Dim Sum Brunch and many more. We also have regular Stir Fry Nights.
There are also non-dining hall options, we have a few cafes, a to-go/convenience store like spot called Hodgdon, and late night dining at the Commons.
You'll never go hungry. If you do, make sure to order a Blue-Zone from Helen's! You will never regret it.

Tufts is a prestigious university dedicated to assuring that its students get the most out of their Tufts education. The staff is extremely helpful and willing to help students for as long as they need. Tufts is highly recommended to any senior and it is certainly an unforgettable experience!

When applying, be yourself as much as possible. The admissions officers value nothing more than a true genuine personality being shown on your college application. As a Tufts student, you should now be prepared to read a lot. The university is very large so don't be afraid if you don't make new friends right away, they will come to you. Don't sign up for 8 am classes if you do not consider yourself a morning person!

Tufts is not an easy A school. You earn what you work for and it definitely requires dedication. However, if you balance and manage your time wisely you can still find time to have fun!

Dorm life at Tufts varies depending on the buildings you live in. Overall, the dorms are great opportunities to meet new people and provide excellent bonding opportunities. However, you will be placed in an all Freshman dorm your first year. After that, your dorm is depended on by a randomized lottery system which can put you in a bad situation if you have a low number. Regardless, each dorm has been renovated and fine to live in. What makes the difference now is if you like to walk up hills or not...

Tufts dining was ranked #9 in the US for a reason: the food is great There are vegetarian options, meat-lovers options, a deli, a pizza station, a huge salad bar, and more! There are 2 main dining halls, Carmichael and Dewick, and a to-go place, Hodgdon. Tufts Campus Center also has many stations where you can get a bite!

There are many things to do here for fun! If theater is your thing, Tufts offers a wide range of group performances, from African Dance Collectives to Acapella groups. If you are more of a party person, you can find some around campus on the weekends! Many clubs will sometimes get together and organize trips into Boston. Honestly, your fun is up to you and what you make of it!

Tufts is expensive. However, they meet need up to 100% and offer excellent financial aid packages. Do not let the price of this school discourage you from applying!

TUPD (Tufts University Police Department) does a great job of protecting its students!

tufts is a phenomenal research university. it's a great community made up of interesting and friendly students and professors, and it's welcoming to students with every academic interest imaginable. you'll like it here.

get to know your professors. if they're teaching here, it's because they're good at what they do and would love to share it with you, in and out of the classroom.
don't be afraid to get involved, either - there's so much to do on campus that it can be intimidating, but find something you think might interest you (club/athletic activity/whatever) and jump right in!

your academic experience is what you make it, and you can make it extremely worthwhile here. many classes require a good bit of effort, but pay off in how much you learn therein; plus, professors and tas are always around to help facilitate the learning process. challenge yourself academically here, and you'll end up with a degree that really shows you're an intellectually capable person.

not much to say here - dorms are nice, amenities are accessible and work well, ras and hallmates are friendly.

dewick and carmichael are both fantastic dining halls that offer great food and a lot of options. i find myself wishing they were open later, though.

easy access to all of boston from the davis square t stop. boston speaks for itself fun-wise, but on campus there's also tons to do: there are concerts in the breathtaking distler performance hall very often, we have an active theater constituent, so plays happen a lot. there are also plenty of parties to go around. you'll never be bored, so long as you have access to tuftslife.com :)