#TBT How I heard
Location: A suburban New Jersey high school in the Spring of 2009.
The hallways of my high school were buzzing with anticipation, excitement, and pure unadulterated fear. Lunch was spent theorizing when our respective colleges would be releasing their decisions with after school reserved for the run home to see if any new letters had arrived.
I had heard a rumor that Tufts would be releasing at some point on Friday, though to be perfectly honest that rumor had also been circulating about the past Thursday, Wednesday, and the coming Monday as well. Still, I sprinted to my guidance counselor’s office for the 8th time that day, logged into my email, and there it was: Your decision is ready to be viewed.
I clicked the link in the email, I logged into TAMS, my cursor hovered over the “Click here to see your decision!,” indecision swept over me. What if I don’t get in? Is this where I would want to find out? I should just go home and do this in the comfort and solitude of my room. No, I’ve come too far, it happens now. Fearing what my browser would tell me, I clicked the button.
What came next felt like it was from some awful comedy movie based around college admissions. A notice popped up on my screen… “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for your paper letter?” YES! YES I AM SURE! After spending 5 minutes going back and forth, this was that moment of comic relief to break the stress in a tense moment. This time, it took me less than 3 seconds to select “Yes”.
I read the first three words (let’s be honest, that’s usually all you read on the first pass), and turned to my guidance counselor. Jumping up with the biggest grin while still in shock, I told her “I’m in!” I still remember telling my friends and my parents: I was going to Tufts University, home of the Jumbos and the greatest people I would ever meet, my future best friends and mentors, my home for the next four years.
Standing on this side of the process, I am so excited for all of you to come join us. You’ve made it.
Where were you when you heard? Did you open your email alone or with friends? Were you at home or were you still in class? Who was the first person you called/texted/emailed/snapchatted/vined when you found out? Tell me your story!