Tufts University Top Questions

The "Ivy envy" stereotype is totally inaccurate. It seems this stereotype started as a rumor but really isn't very applicable to the student body at all. People are at Tufts because they want to be, not because it was a last resort. The stereotype of Tufts students having their faces in their books all the time is also quite false. I, like most of the people I have met at Tufts, would have gone crazy if all we did was work. But there is a great balance at Tufts and everyone manages to have an amazing time socially while surviving academically. The liberal stereotype is very accurate, and it would be a rare sighting to come across a conservative student at Tufts. The socioeconomic stereotype is pretty exaggerated; students come from different background and situations and Tufts is, by no means, a snobby or especially preppy school.

I met a wide variety of people while at Tufts. One of my best friends is from Korea and studying to become a doctor. Another one of my friends went to high school in Geneva. Another grew up in Japan. The people at Tufts are very diverse and have very interesting backgrounds, you just have to strike up a conversation with them to hear their interesting stories. It's true that many students who apply to Tufts also apply to Ivies, but Tufts is many people's first choice too.

Yes

These stereotypes were completely inaccurate. First the social life at Tufts depends completely up to you. If you want to hang out at the fraternities or sororities you can do so. Or if you want to go to the club in Boston it is also possible. In my perspective the social life at Tufts is totally up to you. Now there are many international students, but not as many as you would imagine. Also, many times the international students mingle solely amongst each other and so you do not really feel their presence on campus.

Yes

There are nerds, but that's true anywhere you find smart students. For the most part, the student body is indeed liberal, but there is a pretty decent mix. I, personally, am conservative, and I don't feel at all threatened or intimidated or challenged by other people's beliefs in any kind of negative way. As for "ugly"... I can't say I find the young men particularly attractive... but as a girl, I'm hoping I don't fit that stereotype!

It does seem to be a trend, but we learn to embrace the fact that we are all at Tufts, and I like that even better. The students are very smart!

For the most part

yes

There are plenty of attractive people, but most of us are dorks. It's good to embrace it.

Yes. The social scene is actually fine, the prevailing opinion being that not enough places to get smashed = weak social scene. That is bollox.

Somewhat. I think it's true that Tufts was the safety of choice for a number of Ivy League applicants. That said, there are a number of kids who wanted to go to Tufts above all other universities.

Not accurate- I know plenty of people who turned down Ivys to come to Tufts. Also, every school that is a very competitive school that is not an Ivy is going to have this stereotype.

No, although for example, Tufts has a huge Hillel, Tufts is much more diverse than many other small colleges/universities, probably because of its larger size and relatively urban location, as well as a strong commitment to diversity.

unfortunately they are

What I have seen at Tufts has ranged from high calliber students who show passion for intellectual stimulation to students who don't want to participate, don't do there work, or even just don't show up to class. Does that make a new ivy? I don't know because I can't say if the actually ivy schools are any different. What I can say is that I've much more enjoyed the classes I've had with a high percentage of the former, and as I've moved away from introductory lectures to smaller upper level courses, I've started to experience this more often.

It is pretty accurate to say that Tufts students are those who were rejected by ivies. However, in many ways I think this is a good thing, as these kids do not have the attitudes of many Ivy League students.

You can find those types, but you can also find a lot of different people here

Both of these stereotypes are only half true. Yes, Tufts is typically liberal, and we have plenty of tree-huggers and plenty of pot smoking. But that's not to say that we don't also have plenty of conservative students, and drugs are up to you: if you want them, you'll find them, but there's not omnipresent. As far as the "bitter ivy-league rejects" stereotype goes, yes, lots of kids at Tufts applied to and were rejected from the ivy leagues, but I don't think there's all that much bitterness. In general, people are really happy to be at Tufts. Almost everyone I know loves Tufts!

Tufts students definitely do party. I would say at least half of the student body goes out regularly. We work hard, but we also hit the bars, frats and house parties whenever possible. The girls are not as good looking as at state schools or as in California or in the south, but they are much better looking than girls at some of the other small New England Schools.