Tufts is still a Match for me
Roughly three years, nine months, and seventeen days ago, I sat in my AP Calculus class, sitting unusually still while I clicked the refresh button…
Good news! It’s April! Being in the first generation of my family to go to college, I still remember how stressful applying to colleges was and how good it felt in April to receive my college decisions. To all the first gen seniors reading this blog, congratulations! You have applied and been admitted to college. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back and jump for joy because YOU DID IT!
April is an exciting time but I know as the May 1st enrollment deadline looms around, so do a second set of worries, about choosing a place to call home for the next four years. In this blog, I'm going to address some questions that popped into my mind when I was making that decision and shed light on the first gen community at Tufts.
"What will my first day be like and will I fit in?"
As a first gen student, stepping onto campus on day one may seem terrifying. You don't know what to expect and you may not have any family there with you. My parents lived very far away and were not able drop me off at college. Despite self-identifying as an extrovert, I was crazy nervous. Let me let you in on a secret though… Everyone feels nervous as a freshman, regardless of background. When you step on campus for the first time, instead of letting your nerves take over, try thinking about it as a moment of pride. You should be so proud to be the first in your family to go to college. You have worked so hard and have accomplished something great. I know that as an office, we are so proud to see you join our community of intellectual, diverse, and down to earth students.
“Will I find people like myself on campus?”
Tufts has around 600 first generation undergraduate students on campus that come together in a variety of ways. Some students think a lot about their first gen identity before going to college and are very cognizant about this "label" in both positive and negative ways. On the other hand, I wasn't so aware of this identity because barely anyone in my community identified as first gen. First gen students at Tufts come from all different backgrounds, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and geographic locations. We all had different privileges and obstacles on the journey to college. Whatever it is, at Tufts, you will be able to connect with the first gen community through our First Gen Student Council organization and the F1rst Center. Beyond that, Tufts is a place where students are proud to celebrate their different "diversities," connecting with the many different communities that are important to them - from our long list of cultural and spiritual groups to the Group of Six, a collection of university centers that work to promote diversity goals on campus.
If you want to learn more about the many sides of diversity at Tufts from a student perspective, you can reach out to any of our Diversity Interns.
“Who can I turn to for help?”
Transitioning from high school to college isn't easy - from getting acclimated and making friends, to keeping up with academics. It is especially hard when your parents don't have first-hand experience to help you by guiding the way. I was very thankful that at Tufts it was easy for me to find mentorship with older students and administrators from the Group of Six. My advice to you is to not be afraid to seek help, ask questions and find your own support system, whether that means going to your professors' office hours, checking in with your academic advisor, getting involved on campus, or taking a first-year seminar.
The best decision I made coming to college was choosing to do a pre-orientation program. Doing a Pre-O is a great way to get familiar with campus early, to meet student leaders, and to make friends with peers with similar interests. Tufts offers several Pre-O programs centered around themes such as GO (Global Orientation), FOCUS (First Year Orientation CommUity Service), SQUAD (Students' Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora), and more. Tufts' newest Pre-O is BEAST (Building Engagement and Access for Students at Tufts), which will focus on helping first generation and low-income students prepare for college, navigate new financial responsibilities, build communities, and get to know Tufts.
Choosing where you will attend college is a big decision. For me, it was important that the college I chose felt like a place I could call home, a place where I felt connected with not only the people but also the vibe of campus. While I hope I have answered some of your questions about the communities at Tufts, I'm sure you still have more! By attending Jumbo Days, talking to current students, or reading our blogs, I hope that you can get a sense of the community at Tufts. It may also help to reach out to a teacher, school counselor, mentor, older students from your high school, or alumni from a college access program (if you are part of one) to learn about their own college selection experience.
Good luck with your decision and I hope we see you in the fall!
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