Tufts Blogs

“Where are you going to college?” This question continues to be the elephant (or Jumbo - pun intended) in the room for many high school students across the world. Whether it comes from a parent, teacher, coach, or friend, this seemingly simple question can have a surprising amount of weight. Of course, most of the time, the process is not just as simple as choosing one school and starting to prepare for the next four years. 

When I was a senior in high school, some of my friends knew where they were going as early as September, while I did not make my decision until a week before the May 1st enrollment reply deadline. The closer I got to the deadline, the more people in my circle continued to give me advice, and while I was grateful for their support, sometimes it felt like the advice they gave was based on what they wanted for me, not what I wanted for myself. 

Now as an Admissions Counselor, I have learned that everyone’s college search follows a different timeline, and that is perfectly okay. Knowing this, if there was one piece of advice I could give my younger self, it would be to ask the questions that matter to you. What did I want to get out of school? What does research at the undergraduate level look like? How easy is it to participate in interdisciplinary opportunities and combine my academic interests? How accessible are the faculty? Those are the types of questions I think would have altered the list of schools to which I ultimately ended up applying. 

Academic Fit

How many students are in my classes? Are those classes exclusively lecture-style, or are some discussion style too? Can you take classes outside of a designated major? The answers to these questions will quickly start to give an idea of what kinds of institutions will be the best fit for your academic goals and strengths. If students are looking for a smaller, more traditional liberal arts college, you can generally expect an interdisciplinary approach to your education. You will most likely be asked to take courses outside of your major, often to fulfill degree requirements, and have peers in your classes from departments that possibly do not even relate to your own. On the other hand, if you attend a “tier 1” research university, you can expect access to top-notch research labs, opportunities to work alongside renowned faculty, and maybe even get your name on a publication or two. Spoiler alert: if these programs sound appealing, Tufts might just be the place for you!  

Another important consideration is what you want to study and whether each college offers it. What opportunities are available within it? Are there research labs? Certain concentrations? Pathways to internships, post-graduate jobs, or education? For students who are interested in gaining some mentorship skills, are there opportunities for you to be a teaching assistant or a peer leader? If you are not sure what you want to study, what guidance is there to help you figure it out? For example, is there some pre-major faculty advising structure to help you discover classes that are of interest to you and get you connected with the professors that teach them?

Social Fit

Being satisfied socially is arguably just as important as academic success. After all, this is the place you will be spending the next four (or more) years of your life. Do you want a campus where you see new faces every time you walk out the door, or a mix of recognizable peers? Campus fit is so important. Everywhere you go in college you are interacting with other students: in your residence halls, the dining halls, in class, on a walk home from a study session. The vibe of the student body is important, too. A college’s sense of community and collaboration can have a significant impact on your  experience. Whether through student-run organizations, campus jobs, volunteer organizations, a campus job, or Fraternity and Sorority Life, getting involved allows you to build meaningful relationships with your peers, and hopefully build friendships that will last a lifetime. Choosing a campus where students seek collaboration and relationship-building makes it much easier to feel connected and at home. 

Financial Fit 

Before finalizing a college list, you should consider another important question: are the schools you are applying to going to be affordable to attend if you were to be admitted? The good news is that schools offer many different types of financial aid packages. Some schools, Tufts included, meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduate students. To learn more about the financial aid process at Tufts, visit our Financial Aid website. It is important to understand the potential packages you and your family could receive. Are you offered grants? Loans? A work study opportunity? If a school offers funding outside of financial aid, what do they offer? If so, who is eligible, and where is the application? 

Hopefully the questions over the course of this blog provide helpful guidance, including considerations that are often overlooked during the college search process. As you start to embark on this next chapter of your life, take this opportunity to find what you want for yourself and start to ask what it is you truly want to get out of your college education. You have made it this far! Use the skills you have learned to trust yourself, and lean into questions to identify your own priorities, goals, and values, all while recognizing your “dream school” may not be someone else's. Let that individuality guide you to an institution that is uniquely suited for you!