 Constance |  Duncan |  Joshua |
Read the Tufts students' answers to questions from prospective students at our Ask a Tufts Student page!
 | Constance "CJ" MourningYear: 2010 |
Extracurricular Activities
TCU Senate (Services Committee Chair), Leonard Carmichael Society, TAAM, CHILD, National Student Partnerships (NSP), Senior Events Coordinator, Social Justice Arts Initiative (SJAI), Special Olympics, and CHILD, (Caring Helps In Living with Disabilities)
Why Tufts?
When I first arrived on campus for a visit, I was lost, confused and alone, and one of the admission officers came up to me and helped me figure out where I should be, and helped me straighten things out with the financial aid office. Grateful, but still not sold on the idea, I began to walk around the beautiful campus and started to introduce myself to random students who all seemed to truly like Tufts and all it had to offer. The beautiful campus, the helpful staff and great students were what finally convinced me that Tufts was the place for me.
Best Academic Experience
Last semester I took "Developmental Psychology" and one of our assignments was to observe children in their natural state, then write a paper describing their behavior and thought processes. At first it was odd to just observe the children, because they couldn't know what you were doing, but after you got over that aspect, the assignment became really fun. Watching the children was adorable, and writing the paper truly made you apply what you've learned so far in the class.
Favorite Tufts Moment
For spring break my friends and I decided we wanted to do something to help other people out. We got together and talked for hours and in the end decided to team up with the Leonard Carmichael Society (Tufts' community service organization) and go to New Orleans for Spring Break. After a few meetings everyone interested had bought their tickets and got together to see who was going. It was amazing looking around the room and seeing how it was filled with people I didn't know and probably would never have known if it wasn't for the trip, yet we were all united in the fact that we wanted to do something good. As a result we all walked away as friends.
College Life in Boston
To be honest I don't go into Boston very often - there's just so much to do on campus, I never want to leave because I feel like I'm going to miss something. But the few times I have gone into the city, it was mainly exploring and shopping, which is always fun.
After Tufts
I know I want to do something good for the world, but exactly what, I'm not sure yet. I think I want to be a lawyer for a few years, so I'll probably go to law school, but after that is still a mystery. I know I'll end up doing something good and serving people. Hopefully throughout my years at Tufts I'll be able to figure out exactly how.
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Extracurricular Activities
TCU Senate parliamentarian, Tufts Observer news editor, Media Advisory Board chair, Tisch Citizenship and Public Service Scholar, Institute for Global Leadership - Synaptic Scholars Program
Why Tufts?
I chose Tufts because students and faculty pursue the highest academic standards using civil service as their guide. It’s quality education that answers to a higher calling.
Best Academic Experience
My best academic experience here involved researching the development of the American civil rights movement through feminism. I wrote a paper that described how increasingly masculine rhetoric of Malcolm X and Bobby Seale alienated many women from the movement in the mid-1970s, and why many then engaged in the peace and women’s rights movements instead.
Favorite Tufts Moment
I ran with President Bacow, went to an arts festival on Boston Harbor, and listened to an on-campus lecture from Nicholas Kristof — all on the same day. Going to sleep that night and thinking about my day was my favorite moment so far.
College Life in Boston
Boston is a bustling city, but it’s humble enough to be inviting after just the first visit. It’s easy to feel welcome but impossible to take advantage of everything it offers. Some of my favorite days here have included lunch from Faneuil Hall in Columbus Park, a walk through the Public Garden, dinner at a small Italian restaurant in the North End, and, occasionally, Shakespeare on the Common. The city and its surrounding communities also offer great volunteer opportunities, and Tufts is a national leader among colleges in promoting active citizenship around campus. I am working this semester to implement an action plan to improve opportunities for health care, affordable housing, equal rights for workers, and education in East Somerville.
After Tufts
Travel is a priority after graduation, but it’s not enough for me to swoop in someplace for a few days, spend some money, and take the next bus out. I want to travel for research or volunteerism, and maybe learn a few more languages while I’m at it. Tufts certainly has the connections and the funding opportunities to make any travel experience shine. After that, I think grad school is a must.
 | Pamela RoyYear: 2011 |
Extracurricular Activities
Tufts Women's Rugby Football Club, Intramural Field Hockey, Admissions Student Outreach, TU3 (Tufts Unitarian Universalists), Armenian Club
Why Tufts?
I chose Tufts because I felt like I could really fit in here. I'm the kind of girl (woman, student, athlete, etc.) who likes to throw herself into everything she does, and I wanted to be at a university where I could jump right into anything. I love being at a place where there's always something going on - be it a guest speaker to hear, a new club meeting to attend, an exciting intro class, an ultimate frisbee practice happening on the Res Quad, etc. While looking at Tufts, I thought the students seemed like me: curious, involved and passionate, excited about both the community around them and the world, and willing to throw themselves into all sorts of activities - whatever that may be (and here, it truly can be anything under the sun).
Best Academic Experience
My Arabic class has been one of my best academic experiences in all my schooling, hands down. It's a completely new subject for me, and in roughly a month and a half, I have learned so much more than I expected of this new language and culture. The class is incredibly interactive - we speak, greet each other, act out skits, read signs, do dictations and translations, watch movies - all in Arabic! I was hesitant about picking up such a different language as an adult and as I continue my Spanish studies, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made here so far.
Favorite Tufts Moment
I have two favorite moments: arriving as a Freshman at Wilderness pre-orientation and playing in and winning our rugby Homecoming game. Wilderness was one of my best weeks ever; I met some of my best friends there and had an amazing time hiking, not showering, and singing on the trail...not to mention how much better I felt about starting college after being welcomed by the crazily loud and excited support staff. The homecoming game was just as exciting; it was one of the first times I've felt like a real Jumbo. I'll never forget how happy I was after the game, surrounded by the teammates I love and the crowd of amazing fans and family.
College Life in Boston
Having both a campus and the city of Boston is such a benefit of life at Tufts. The public transportation, and especially having the Joey [campus shuttle] and a convenient T Stop in Davis, makes the whole city available. Personally, I love going into Boston to hang out on the Common on a pretty day or to go to concerts. So far, I've started to get the hang of Newbury Street and Harvard Square - the garment district is next! And Davis Square can't be overlooked - just thinking about burritos from Anna's or J.P. Licks' pumpkin ice cream is enough to make anyone's mouth water.
After Tufts
I've always been interested in doing something involving international relations or politics, and being at Tufts, even if only for a short time, has influenced my plans. Since taking Arabic, I've been thinking that I definitely want to continue my Arabic studies, maybe go abroad to Egypt or Jordan, and to have a career that involves the Middle East and possibly diplomacy. Even if I don't end up going into Foreign Service, I know I could use the linguistic and cultural knowledge in other ways. The possibilities seem endless to me right now!
 | Joshua WilmothYear: 2010 |
Extracurricular Activities
Tufts Daily Newspaper Sports Photo Editor, Exposure member, Tufts Dance Collective Choreographer, various event planning for the Office of Student Activities, Tufts Tour Guide, Darkroom Monitor
Why Tufts?
When I visited Tufts, everyone I saw around campus was smiling. Wherever I went, all the students I saw seemed to be having a great time; it was exactly how I pictured college life to be. Tufts also provides many opportunities that are very unique, things that are very important to me now that I never considered during the application process, such as a photojournalism for social rights group, becoming friends with international students and the joint degree program with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Also, the food is amazing.
Best Academic Experience
My first semester freshman year, I randomly decided to take an Ancient Egyptian Archaeology class. My professor turned out to be an amazing and passionate man who was, without a doubt, head over heels in love with Ancient Egypt. From the corny jokes to his impressive ability to answer every obscure and random question in class, it was inspiring to learn from someone who cared so much about his class. More often than not, the professors at Tufts not only care a great deal about their subject, but also about transferring this excitement to the students. It no longer surprises me to walk out of a class room loving a subject so much more than I did before.
Favorite Tufts Moment
My favorite moment at Tufts would have to be the first snowfall of my freshman year. It was the morning that I had a huge exam in my biology course, and I had been up really late with some friends studying for it. After hearing another student from Florida run up and down the halls screaming "Snow!" at the top of her lungs at 8 AM, almost my entire floor got dressed and ran outside, including everyone I had been up late with the night before. It was great to see everyone drop everything they were stressing out about, sacrifice that extra hour we could have used for last minute cramming, to go outside and have fun. We all did pretty well on the exam as well (I think it was from all the snowball head shots).
College Life in Boston
Being so close to Boston is an amazing opportunity that I really try and take advantage of at Tufts. I personally go into the city probably around two or three times a week. I'll go in for a concert, dinner, a movie, but most often I'll check out an art museums. I would say that the best thing about being close to Boston is that we're not actually in the city, so it's great to have a campus and separate social community, while being close enough to utilize Boston whenever you want.
After Tufts
I'm seriously considering enrolling in the Peace Corps or teaching English abroad immediately after graduation. After that there's either veterinary school or a graduate program in Animal Behavior. I'd like to work on breeding programs for endangered species in captivity, or do field research on endangered wildlife. I'll build a photographic portfolio during this time, and eventually break into the wildlife photography/photojournalism field. Eventually I'd like to settle down and teach art and art history in high school, but that's way down the road.
