Tufts University Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Dana

Tufts is an amazing place to go to school -- specifically because of the community. This university is particularly open to pretty much every type of person, and it's super easy to be yourself and find your own niche. The size of the school is especially conducive to this: it's big enough that you're always meeting new people, but small enough that you'll see all of your friends in the library or the dining hall.

Hayden

I absolutely love Tufts. It has offered me incredible opportunities in and out of the classroom and prepared me to be successful no matter what I decide to do after I leave. I have met the coolest group of people I've ever experienced here - everyone has a story, and everyone has a passion, and everyone is willing to share each others' experiences. It is certainly not perfect - no place is - but it seems to me like Tufts students are willing to talk about the things they are upset about and often to fight to make them better, so I think the school will continue to improve as students continue to push for the things that are important to them.

Mel

Tufts is definitely not worth the money. The best thing about Tufts was that it made me realize I could do better. It´s a university for victims of the Peter principle.

Jenn

So When people ask me where I graduated from they're either impressed or clueless. I find it hilarious! Over all, I loved Tufts. It was just the right size with around 5,000 Undergrads who are definitely catered to by Administration. It's a real campus but close enough to resources to get away( ie. "The Joey" our shuttle, Public buses, Davis and Medford Squares, I-93, Rt.28, T- Station etc). It was as diverse as I could expect of an elite institution and with all the culture and special interest houses there was always a place that felt like a second home( ie. Latino Center, my real second home!) School pride is still there, no one denies being a Jumbo! Of course the school could use some changes, such as some of the old buildings or some of the Greater Boston Area- pest issues but over all: It's a great school and I'm so happy I spent the last four years and will become a Double Jumbo by staying another year for my Masters!

James

I feel that Tufts is the perfect campus. It is divided into 2 schools: the school of liberal arts (about 1000 per grade) and the school of engineering (about 200 per grade). This gives you the perfect mix of liberal arts and engineering students and personalities. It also gives you a wider variety of classes to choose from. The campus itself has around 5000 undergraduate students with about 4000 graduate students. One of my favorite things about the campus is that it is actually a campus. Everything is located really close together with only a few main roads running through or by the campus. It is also a short drive or even short train (T) ride from Boston itself. I grew up in Mass so I know what the weather is like and I love it out here. In the winter it gets cold and snows enough for you to go sleding on campus (the whole campus is on a hill). If you want to go skiing it is a pretty short drive up to NH, VT, or Maine. In the spring and the fall the weather is perfect. I hate the heat and it never seems to get too hot (unless you are here in the summer).

Brett

Pretty much anyone that's heard of Tufts reacts very favorably when I say I went there. The size of the school was just right for me-- small enough that you really have a place for yourself and can find a niche easily, and large enough that it's not like high school, and you're always meeting new people. On the other hand, it certainly is small enough for those "it's a small world" moments, when you meet someone for the first time and then find out that you know half of the same people anyway and can't figure out how you didn't meet before.

Eddie

Tufts campus is a nice size and looks real nice, but the fact that you have to walk up and down a hill all day gets pretty tiring (literally). The school is a nice size where you get to meet a lot of people, but if you don't want to see someone, you can avoid them pretty easily. I wouldn't say that Tufts has a ton of "school pride", but almost everyone goes out and "celebrates" the big school events like Homecoming, Spring Fling, and NQR.

Emily

In my opinion, Tufts is a compromise between all different aspects of college, which more or less gives it the best of all worlds. We're medium sized - you're constantly meeting new people and have the resources of a bigger school, yet you'll see a half dozen familiar faces walking to class and have many small classes. We're just outside of Boston - we have quads and a campus bubble, yet all the best parts of Boston like big events, restaurants, internships, are accessible from the T. We have both a liberal arts and an engineering school - everyone interacts with shared classes and there's virtually no walls between the schools like you see at big universities. Last, there are plenty of research opportunities for science/social science majors, but small classes and engaging professors like a typical liberal arts school. Campus is gorgeous in the spring, summer, and fall, but little gloomy in the winter and on rainy days. Students mostly stay on campus, but some go into Boston a few times a week while others rarely make the trip. Everything you need is on campus, but it's nice to eat off campus/go to something cool in Boston. Generally, people are impressed by the Tufts "name" too. The "Tufts must be 'tuft' to get into!" joke gets old quick though. Outside of New England, there's less name recognition, but the more pretentious students will tell you that the people who matter know the Tufts name. Sometimes they'll joke about our endearing/somewhat embarrassing mascot, Jumbo.

Emma

best thing: the people. I'd change: the tuition. Just the right size!! When I told others they were usually impressed. I spent my time at the campus center, my dorm/house, friends houses, the quad in nice weather, the gym. Administration is corrupt, but the president is wonderful. Controversy all comes from the one conservative magazine. No school pride for sports, but pride in the school.

Harper

Goldilocks would have given TUFTs two thumbs up! We're not too small, not oo big; not too academic, not too athletic; we are ambitious but not enough to forget the social implications of our decisions. That isn't to say we're perfect, just that we are slightly better balanced; self-deprecating, yes but never losing sight of our dignity.

Harper

I feel that Tufts is the perfect size school. Its not too big or too small. Unfortunately, around my area not too many people know about the school. It is not very popular in New York. Tufts is situated in the perfect place. The area is nice and quiet. But if you want to go into the city its only a 30 minute train ride away. I also like the fact that Tufts is situated around a number of other colleges. So there is always something going on. I really like the administration and professors at Tufts. They are very easy to talk to and ultimately want the absolute best for you. The hardest thing I faced at Tufts was the culture shock. Being a minority from a community full of people who look like me, it was very hard for me to adjust at Tufts. The majority of the students are white and are people that I am not used to being around. Most students are very accepting of me despite my difference in appearance but are few are very prejudice and racist. Yet I try not to let these few ruin my experience at Tufts. I'm not too big on the food. The parties are okay. And I wish the library was bigger. But other than that I absolutely love Tufts. I am glad that I came here

Sally

The best thing about Tufts is Spring Fling. This outdoor concert in Spring is usually the highlight of my year with artists such as Common, The Dropkick Murphy's, T.I., and Spoon being past acts. Additionally, Tufts dining services are wonderful compared to those of other schools. One thing I'd change about Tufts is the advising system. I found my advisor to be completely useless and basically had to figure a lot of stuff out on my own based on trial and error. This was especially hard at first since I am in the combined degree program between Tufts and the SMFA and there is little to know communication between the schools, and our individual advisors at both schools know little about the other school. I like the size of Tufts in general. I think I'd prefer it to be a little bigger, but it is definitely big enough that there are always new people to meet. However, I am always surprised at how everyone seems to have mutual friends and is interconnected. When I tell people I go to Tufts I get in general two reactions--the first is "Oh you must be smart! That's such a good school." The second is usually just total lack of recognition of the school at all. I guess at least those who do know of it think highly of it! I spend most of my time on campus either in class, the library, the dining halls, and in the dorms. Davis square is cute and relatively easy to get to--although when it gets cold everything seems incredibly far. I will say that I thought Tufts would be the perfect combination of campus and city. While I'm glad to be on a campus, it does take longer to get into Boston than I would like--roughly 30-45 minutes travel time if you don't have a car. Additionally, public transportation shuts down so early that often times my friends and I just opt to stay on campus or within walking distance. I would definitely like to explore Boston more. Tufts administration is kind of slow. You really need to be on top of your side of things and preferably early with paperwork, etc. as they will certainly not be. There is little school pride I'd say. Well, most of us take pride in the school, but we are certainly not a "ra ra" school. Few people attend sporting events besides Homecoming. The most frequent student complaints seem to be about lack of social life. There is often (especially during the winter) going on on campus--or if there is it is not well advertised. Off campus and frat parties tend to get broken up really quickly.

Tate

People are very nice at tufts....the size is just right, personally i would want it a little smaller just because i went to a very small high school. People either are very impressed by tufts or do not know the school at all. i wish the student centers and facilities were a little nicer, i never really hang out in hte campus center. davis square is very cute, and the t stop is right there, but it is not a college town...maybe the bus into boston should be a little more regular.

Leah

Its the perfect size - small enough to walk across campus and see familiar faces but big enough that you still meet new people all the time. People are generally impressed when you say you go to Tufts, but some people have never heard of it. It's got a great location, close to Boston, but still has a campus feel. The student body is decently diverse, at least as far as experiences go, but is still pretty white. You can find someone interested in just about anything.

julia

Great size, beautiful campus that is close enough to the city but still tucked away. The borderlands are somewhat more dangerous then i thought as there have been muggings, assaulta, and even a stabbing of a tufts student this year. The very close davis square provides many good restaurants as well as the necessary cvs and starbucks. There is little school pride and not a great comradarie amongst the students but people are all involved in activities, great academics, and partying. People who are well educated are very impressed when you say you go to Tufts, but the average Joe has never heard of it before.

Eric

Tufts is a fairly small school. This of course has a lot of implications. It means that you know a very big percentage of your graduating class. This is a lot of fun, especially during senior year. It means that when you tell people that you go to Tufts about half of them say, "Oh that's a good school," and the other half have never heard of it. There is a lot of school pride in the fact that there is always a lot of Tufts apparel being worn on campus. On the other hand, it is a Div III school so there is little in the way of sports team pride.

Ben

we're a work hard play hard kind of school. kids go out and party but know when to get their business together so they can get down to work. i really like the size of tufts (about 5000 undergrad). its not way too big that you get lost but you definitely meet new people all the time. when people hear i go to tufts i get one of a few responses. 1. never heard of it. 2. oh wow that's a good school. 3. oh tufts? haha *chuckle to themselves* is it pretty "tough" over there.. then they nudge me knowingly (this is usually somebodies dad who thinks he is way too clever for the mortal world). being so close to boston is really nice. granted i wasn't able to get into town as much as i would've liked (my own fault i suppose) whenever i did get into town i had a blast and its really easy to get in (campus shuttle drops you off at a T station). the "college town" is boston. eat your heart out, everyone else. as far as the administration goes, i don't really pay too much attention to the inner-workings of tufts but one lady did embezzle 300 grand from the school last year (it was really intense and she got fired, obviously). moving on, school pride! tufts kids love tufts. jumbo is our mascot and everyone is in love with him (it's an elephant). you'll feel patriotic about pachyderms when you come. don't worry about it. as far as things i dont like about tufts.. not really anything. some kids bitch about crappy dorms (only 1 or 2 in particular and you only get stuck in those if you have a bad housing lottery number.. so keep your fingers crossed and maybe pay someone off.. whatever)

Emily

Whenever I tell someone from back home that I go to Tufts, I normally get a blank face or a "So a UC wasn't an option?". Not many people know of Tufts in California; it's not exactly a "brand name" school in the west. Even though I have to end up explaining where and what Tufts is a million times, I would never think of going anywhere else. I love Tufts. I love the size (you often see people you know around campus, but if you really wanted to, you could be anonymous), I love the people (everyone is interesting and friendly), and I love the academic environment (it's studious but relatively laid back).

Matt

The Big Picture, eh? College town; I mean, no shit, it's Boston. Size is fine for me; being an engineer, you don't meet many people anyway. When I say I'm from Tufts, most people ask where it is. I don't blame them because I'd never heard of them either. It was just luck. Where I spend most of my time?! I'm an engineer! I spend my time in my room doing homework or in the lab doing research! I don't have time to sip on a mocha latte at Brown and Brew discussing the latest in Middle Eastern politics! Outside of the lab and my room, I spend most of my time outside, probably hacky sacking, seriously enjoying the little time in the sun that I have. Tufts' administration can go to hell. They continue to make increasingly retarded decisions about how to spend our money, and I've heard multiple cases of an administrative body taking zero responsibility for their mistakes. Not to mention our tuition continues to rise. As if forking over 40 something grand a year isn't enough... Recent controversy? Look at the Primary Source. They got targeted because they wrote some pretty offensive crap targeting African Americans and Muslims. What angered the hell out of me was how Larry Bacow himself threatened to shut the newspaper down, which he later recanted. I mean, I was kinda scared that an organization was about to lose their freedom of speech because they were "offensive." Thank God Bacow ended the argument with, "The appropriate response to offensive speech is more speech, not less." School pride I haven't seen, but then again, I spend most of my time working. The Alumni Association I believe is making a movement to help students feel "more attached" to their university because alumni donations have dropped by a pretty crazy amount. It's all about the moolah, baby! Overall, academics are strong. Common sense, on the other hand, is not.

Amy

The best thing about Tufts is the student body. Everyone is friendly. I took one of my friends on a tour as a prospective student, and he was frightened by how "nice" people were. I'd say we're all a bit quirky to boot. The proximity to Boston, Davis Square, and Harvard Square is a huge plus. Even though students complain about the lack of a "social life" at Tufts, there's a different social life in every sphere if you look for it. It's a cozy size, so people get to know each other but can still continue meeting others for the entirety of their four year academic career.

Renee

What's the best thing about Tufts? The people, the professors, the opportunities, and the way these all collide to give you an exemplary undergraduate experience. People are interesting, funny, intelligent, passionate and driven. The professors go out of their way to help you, clarify things and give you advice. The opportunities to go and do more than you ever thought you were capable of are everywhere, just waiting to be snapped up. You just have to seek them out. It's a truly incredible environment for learning, about academics, people, and the way the world works. Name one thing you'd change. Some of the dorms could be more aesthetically pleasing. The people in the dorms tend to make up for this, though. Is your school too large, too small, or just right? Just right: walking around campus, you see people you know, so you have a sense of community and connectedness; but there always people you don't know, so you always have the feeling that you might meet another new awesome person tomorrow. How do people react when you tell them you go to Tufts? I generally answer the "where are you at school?" question with "Tufts? Up in Boston?" Those who have heard of it so "Oh wow, of course, great school!" Those who don't know what it is smile politely and say, that's great. Where do you spend most of your time on campus? Wherever I'm living, campus center, library, Brown and Brew, dining halls. College town, or "what college town?" Great college town, in that Boston is super-accessible. I object to the way that Tufts students get asked their opinions of Medford and Somerville, but not of Boston. It's a great dynamic atmosphere for college students, especially with all the other colleges nearby. And really, there are definitely some great places to check out in Somerville, from Davis to Teele to Union Squares. What's your opinion of Tufts's administration? I like it. I haven't had red tape problems, and at times when something was going wrong, I was able to meet with my dean immediately, who set it straight within moments. I've gotten good advice from various deans, and hey, they've even served me pancakes during finals. People in the admissions office and the Provost all recognize me, remember my name and say hi even though I met them as a high school senior and haven't had much contact with them since then. What was the biggest recent controversy on campus? Depends what you call "recent". The Primary Source debacle was a big ongoing thing last year that made national news stations - someone in the conservative magazine wrote a satirical Christmas carol that was interpreted as racist by many. There was a huge backlash among the student body, and the administration had to come out and say that they support free speech but that the comments were objectionable. They even created a new office to promote diversity. It ended up being prosecuted by Tufts judiciary. But a lot of kids also mocked the overly-political-correct nature of the whole thing. Is there a lot of school pride? I think there's pride in Tufts as an academic institution, but not in the sense of support for athletics. People go to homecoming, but no one really attends sports games just to go and support the athletes. The athletes are generally smart kids in your classes, who play sports for their own personal enjoyment. But usually Tufts students prioritize other things over sports games, like homework, club events and trips into Boston. It's funny, because you'll often see kids walking around wearing sweatshirts from other schools - but these are the same kids who run for Tufts offices because they love it and think it can be made even better. We show our pride in more subtle ways. Every once in a while I'll hear someone say, "Dude - I love Tufts." and then rush into an explanation of the latest cool opportunity they stumbled upon. Is there anything unusual about Tufts? I think what sets us apart is this theme of global focus and active citizenship. We're not just learning, we're often learning in order to put our knowledge to use for the good of others. The community service organization is the most popular extracurricular activity, and International Relations is the most popular major. Even my friends who are premed and comp sci majors spent a semester in China and Australia. It's great to be part of a student body that cares about the world and wants to do more to change it. What's one experience you'll always remember? Attending the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, courtesy of four amazing Tufts organizations' funding. He was confirming all the ideas I had had about energy and poverty alleviation. We eight students were the only undergraduates at the conference, and President Larry Bacow himself met with us in the Tisch Library Tower Cafe to discuss our trip. I left the trip with a meaningful research topic, a fistful of business cards from the likes of the CEO of BP-Alternative Energy, the UN Environment Programme's Energy Director, CEO of Masdar, and the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Not to mention seven really great friends! What are the most frequent student complaints? Many tend to whine about the hill, which gets tiresome to trudge up every day, especially in bad weather. Others target the dorms in their complaints. Some say that the campus is cliquish, but I have found no problem making new friends if I seek them out, especially since new freshmen are always entering, and juniors are always returning from abroad.

Eleanor

To me, one of the best thing abuot Tufts is the motivation that the student body displays to get involved with something they are passionate about. Tufts as a university has responded to its students' collective initiativeby dedicating itself to maintaing a very wide range of avenues for students to live their interests, learn new things, and remain connected to the school. In a more non-conventional sense, the Naked Quad Run is my favorite Tufts tradition and something in which I will always remember (and cherish) participating. 1,000 college students running naked through the snow and ice to show their school pride is something that is unique to Tufts. Tufts students' openness to new experiences and dedication to self-expression couldn't be better personified in a college tradition than the NQR. I can't wait for next year!

Alex "The Pendulum"

Despite everything I enjoy about my Tufts experience, the one thing that seems to be the stay or leave decision for a lot of incoming students is the maturity level. Sadly, a great portion of incoming freshmen tend to be far more immature than one would expect. Even as early as move-in day, new students will be able to pick out a huge discrepancy in the maturity of the incoming student body, and for those of you that don't feel the urge to break everything you see and throw fits for the sake of attention, it can be a bit rough at first. I've had many friends and acquaintances over the years proclaim their hatred for the student body, but once they find the right group of friends, they never want to leave. Most people only get one chance at an undergraduate campus and it's the same everywhere: meet the people you identify with and you'll have a great time. Don't just meet new people; meet the right people.

Adam

Tufts is exactly what I looked for in a college. Students are passionate about their interests and motivated to learn, but at the same time recognize that college is about growing. Everyone realizes that we are at college to learn and expand our horizons, but at Tufts you see that this is best done both inside and outside of the classroom. Our professors are great and we learn a tremendous amount in class, but the relationships you make with friends and peers make college what it is. Tufts brings together a diverse student body of people who come from different backgrounds, have different interests, share different views on all issues and so on. Tufts students care about working together to make a difference and learn for the sake of learning. The typical student is competitive within himself, but never at the expense of another student. The student body is a collaborative and integrated group which forms a warm, welcoming community. On a more basic level, Tufts is the perfect size - 5000 undergraduates. The school is big enough that you have resources of a school five times its size but small enough that you can get around easily and stay close with friends and professors. Being 20 minutes from Boston is an amazing thing. The city is incredible and opens up Tufts students to anything they may want. It is a "small big city" that has a very young feel to it. Overall, Tufts is a very special place. Students are not afraid to admit its shortcomings. It is not hard to come across administrative red-tape and sometimes things take longer to fix or get done than students may hope. Residential Life at Tufts is often a huge pain - a well-known fact. And yes, we don't have an overwhelming sense of athletic school spirit. But does an school with only 5000 students? These few features, however, become insignificant to Tufts students. We're on a beautiful campus near an awesome city with a student body who is motivated, active and extremely happy. People are sometimes turned off to Tufts because it doesn't get the name recognition that Harvard or some other Ivies do, even though Tufts is equally as competitive as all of those school. This should never deter a student from considering Tufts, where they would get phenomenal academics and a very energetic student body.

Emma

When I tell people that I recently graduated from Tufts, they usually respond by saying "That's a great school." Tufts' reputation for excellence has soared in the past few years, particularly since it was named a "New Ivy." I think that Tufts is the perfect size. It's large enough that I don't know every one I see on campus, but small enough that I bump into my friends while hurrying between classes all the time. Also, Tufts is in a fantastic location. To get to downtown Boston, all you have to do is hop on the T (the train). In fifteen minutes you can be in the Back Bay, a hub of youthful activity. Also, Davis Square is within walking distance. There are many restaurants, bars, and shops in Davis. The most frequent complaint I hear about Tufts is that there is little or no social life because our Greek system is small. Personally, I liked the small scale of the fraternity and sorority scene, however, it is there for students who want to take advantage of it. There are usually two frat parties each weekend, and they're usually themed. Another complaint I hear is that Tufts lacks school spirit. I have to agree, the turnout at sporting events is small. There is ordinarily a good crowd at homecoming, but only a handful of people attend other games throughout the year.

Gregory

Tufts in Boston seems to be missing a campus feel

Alexandra

It is true that when I tell certain people that I attend Tufts University they either a blank look or they say oh that cool. Most of the time they have no idea what or where the university is. But sometimes you get the rare occasion that someone congratulates you becuase you are in such a fine institution of education. There is definitely some school pride but not even as much as one would imagine. People go to the on campus gate solely for the tailgaiting.

Harper

The best thing about Tufts is it's International Relations Program, affiliated with the Fletcher school which is supposed to one of the best in the nation and with worldwide acclamation. One thing I would change would be the strict Liberal Arts curriculum into a more business oriented one and especially the introduction of Finance courses which Tufts severely lacks. The size of the school is perfect... not too big... not too small 4,000 undergraduates and 2,000 aproximately Graduates. Most of my time on campus was spent at the camus center, thought, it's not great compared with other schools. The college town is Davis Square, small with a couple of bars and pubs here and there... not much to do but Boston is near, like 20 minute T ride. Tufts Administration is doing a great job to uplift the ranking of the school and make it stronger academically as well as increase its endowment. However, they have been in a great clash with frats and the campus night life reducing it as much as possible.

Amanda

The best thing about Tufts is the size, location, and diversity of its students. I would change, however, the location of the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering building... it's WAY too far away! It's the perfect size, and generally most people are impressed when I tell them I attend Tufts University. I spend most of my time in the Campus Center or in Davis Square, about 5 minutes away by the free shuttle. Students support each other more than any other affiliation I've ever been a part of.

KC

Tufts has the ideal location. It has a beautiful campus with lots of grass and trees, yet it is minutes from the T-station and 10-15 bus ride from Boston. It is nice to study in a more suburban atmosphere but have Boston so close by.

eric

The school is the right size for someone who doesn't want to attend a huge school (i.e. BU), but also, doesn't want to know everyone in the school by name. The student population is extremely competitive about their academics and have very little interest in campus life. They would rather spend their Friday night in a strange study group then at a frat or a bar.

Harper

Campus is quite crowded and small. Tufts needs to setup a sprawling sattelite campus elsewhere as well.

Jesse

Situated right outside Boston, Tufts is a fairly small liberal arts school with about 4000-500 undergrads. After the initial thrill of parties during the first few weeks, things die down a LOT. In my opinion, the school should sponsor more campuswide events...maybe take a lesson or two from the Brits and the Aussies who subsidize events involving loads of booze.

Andrew

Academics are great, Boston is close (though the T stops running at around midnight, which sucks), there tends to be no school spirit whatsoever. We spend a lot of time working: if you're looking for a party school, don't come here. It's also possibly the most liberal place in the United States.

Will

Honestly, I'm from Texas. It is cold as fuck up there and I loath post-industrialism so the nature starvation is, for me, a huge deal. We are not truly in Boston, which was a surprise for me, and even though the T is in Davis Square it is a good walk or ride on the shuttle to get to the station so that creates a necessary separation between the two spheres that is a shame. Those things aside, the big picture of Tufts is one of action and energy despite the oppressive cold. The students are hyped up as hell about the things they are doing and there are more activities, clubs, protests and initiatives than you can shake a stick at. It is actually hard not to become over engaged (ie stressed) very quickly with all of the amazing opportunities available to you there.

Joshua

If I could change anything about the university, I'd make our administration a bit more responsive. My experience has been that requests can get lost in the red tape. It's hard sometimes to find help, even when you have a clear sense of what you're looking for.

Quinn

The school size is just right- enough people that you can always meet new people but small enough that you don't lose track of old friends. Also, the campus is compact and lively so you can walk anywhere quickly and there's just so much to do all the time. The campus itself is the college town- everyone is so involved in many extracurriculars so the clubs and performance groups are always sponsoring activities or putting on shows. Tons of school pride- everyone loves Jumbo! Everyone at home teases me because now everything I buy is brown and blue. Most frequent student complaint is that we need more machines at the gym- but they're building a new one so that'll be solved. Tufts is unusual because it is so international, half my friends are international students and the conversations we have are amazing. Sometimes it can get a little cliche, but one of my favorite moments was when some of my friends and I were sitting in a room hanging out and I realized that none of us were the same religion; we had Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and atheism. I always get a kick out of that.

Belle

The size and location of Tufts are both ideal. However, its facilities for a university of its high standard are somewhat lacking- but this is slated to change soon because of a number of recent donations. The dorms are not great (old) and the athletic facilities leave something to be desired. Tufts is definitely not in a "college town." It is relatively urban, and it is easy to get into Boston. A lot of people go to Boston to access the social scene there, especially upperclassmen.

Brittney

Tufts is a mid size school. Its great being so close to a city but not in the middle.

Brett

Tufts is a great place to attend college. You're in close proximity to the country's best college city, walking distance from a fun and active town square, and on most weekends, you don't even make it to these places because there is so much to do on campus.

Emily

The best thing about Tufts is how comfortable it is. The campus is absolutly beautiful, and everyone cares about their work. At the same time, there is a very work-hard play-hard attitude at Tufts that reminds students not to take anything too seriously. That being said, Tufts students are extremely ambitious- most people have internships, jobs, or both, and most people have traveled somewhat extensively and have done significant amounts of volunteer and community service work. The size of the school is just right, and it is located the perfect distance from downtown Boston. Students have a real campus, but at the same time can get into the city easily at any time. Nearby Davis Square is a good place to hang out and get some work done off campus without having to go very far.

Robin

Tufts is the perfect size- neither too big nor too small Has a great international focus, tons of kids choose to study abroad The locale is great- a green campus, but easy access to Tufts

Kara

Every day that I'm at Tufts, I realize how perfect the school is for me. The size is perfect: with 4,000 undergrads, you'll never be able to meet everyone and you'll definitely see people you don't know all the time. But you also can't go a day without seeing tons of people you know either, which I think is perfect. Tufts is also in the perfect location! We're outside of Boston, so we have our own beautiful campus, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. On the other hand, it's a piece of cake to get into the city- we're a 10 minute walk from the T and we have a bus stop on our campus. Plus, Davis Square, the town center near us, is really hip and has great little shops and restaurants to peruse.

Tim

If you are serious about your career and about school and you are looking for some excellent professors and solid programs, but you also want to have a great time during college drinking, partying and going out in Boston, this is the place for you.

Harrison

i loved tufts. the size was great, the proximity to boston was a huge plus and there are a lot of great professors. there problems, such an often terrible use of money but the administration is pretty good. tufts sports and school spirit are nearly non-existent and that is one thing i would definitely like to see changed. students often complain about the social life, but i think they are usually just being lazy. frats have parties most weekends, tuesday night is a big night at the local bars and boston is only a cab ride away. social life would also be better if the administration wasn't so tough on parties and if the tufts police (upon instruction from the administration) would relax a litttle

Nico

Tufts is small. There is no school spirit. There are many activities that attract the same types of people per event. Diverse groups do not mingle. There is no strong school pride. There are very few (none) school-wide sponsored events for African American students like at other Boston area universities.

Cat

The size honestly is just perfect. As a senior, I still felt like I was meeting new people all of the time, and that they honestly didn't have a pre-conceived notion of me, like everyone did in high school. But at graduation, I felt like I was surrounded by people I knew and loved. The location is also perfect, you feel like Tufts is your home and you identify with the place, but you can walk easily to restaurants and bars, and the T is close. What I would change is school pride. I am glad that we don't revolve around sports, but people could be a little more into school spirit.

Logan

Tufts is a rising star when it comes to universities and our degrees will mean A LOT more as the years go by because Tufts is getting more and more renowned. When I first told people that I was going to Tufts, nobody had heard of it! I was always really embarrassed when people didn't know about Tufts when it had been one of the biggest decisions of my life up until that point. The situation is different though when you get in and around the Northeast. People know Tufts, and they highly respect it. If you want a diverse student body with an excellent administration (everyone LOVES our President Larry Bacow), a tight-knit community of students that isn't too small but not gargantuan, and a perfect distance from a truly fabulous city, then come to Tufts! It will deliver!

andrew

Tufts is my dream college. I have had so much fun here and I would say without doubt that the first 2 months were the 2 best months of my life! By far the best part is the people. It is such a happy campus. I have a really diverse group of friends who come from all across the country and from around the world. It is absolutely incredible how interesting they all are. Everyone has a passion, a unique experience, a personality that makes me feel truly privileged to be with them. The campus itself is beautiful, and I can walk anywhere in less than 15 minutes. It's wonderful to have an open, green campus yet still get on the T and be on the boston Common in 25 minutes. Winter is about 2 months too long, especially you spend all day walking up or down the hill.

jen

Tufts has a great reputation for being a challenging liberal arts school. People are fairly impressed when I say I go to Tufts. The school has about 4000 undergraduates which is too small for my liking. People you've never met before somehow know things about you and know who you are simply by word of mouth. The social scene at tufts is horrible. We have about 6 frats on campus who throw parties on average every other weekend. Frats get really old really fast, however, because you see the same people everytime there is a party. People have house parties sometimes but those are lame because you never know who is going to be there. When I'm not in class or at practice, I spend most of my time in the library doing homework. We have had some safety scares on campus within the last few years (rapes, robberies, and one suicide), but for the most part Tufts is safe. The only time I've been scared on campus is when I walk home from the library late at night. Last year one of the republican newspapers on campus published a racist christmas carol in their december issue which sparked alot of controversy on campus within racially ethnic groups, the african american community specificially. Being an African-American woman, I have never personally had experience with racism on campus, but judging from the ignorance inherent in that newspapers' publication, I am sure there exist people on campus uncomfortable with whatever little racial diversity there exists at Tufts.