Back in the early 00s, I started the college search process with the help of a big book, basic college websites, and many many conversations with my teachers. While I could visit two of my top choices at the time, I wasn't able to visit one of my top three as it was over a day trip away, but I didn't let that stop me from applying! There are plenty of ways you can get to know a college even if you can't visit the physical campus.
Roam the campus online: Take a virtual tour and get to see where you would walk to class, or how you might decorate a dorm room. You can even watch videos of campus life – from class tasters to club sports, this can be a lot of fun!
Explore your interest(s): Look up some extracurricular pages on Facebook, read through the classes of a major or minor that pique your interest, check out Jumbo athletics, check out a TED talk by students or professors. Are there things that stand out about the college?
Listen to student voices: read the current and past editions of Jumbo (our admissions magazine), the student paper, the student magazine, and student blogs. Your fellow students are going to be a very important part of your life when you attend a college, so see what they’re interested in and how they talk about it – do you get a certain vibe or see trends? Students take a lot of time to show how they interact with campus and the local community through these media and you can learn about anything from our recent on-campus Bug Feast to the best Latin Food in the area (thanks Daniela!)
"Meet" a student: there are students from all around the world and in the US who would be happy to answer your questions about Tufts. Check out the map and ask them about their experiences. You can also contact your admissions officer to ask if they can put you in touch with a student who is from your state or shares your interest in, say, Film and Media Studies.
See if we're coming to you. We travel all over the US and around the world every fall. We visit schools, attend college fairs and National Portfolio Days, and host Beyond the Numbers interactive workshops. Check out upcoming events here (please note that this calendar is continually updated with new events during the fall). If you're on our mailing list, you will be notified if we're visiting your school or hosting a Beyond the Numbers in your area.
Whew! There are many ways to get to know us, and I hope these were helpful. As always, if you have any specific questions you have and you can't find them online, please feel free to reach out to our office!
P.S. I'm officially neutral on the Dewick vs. Carmichael dining hall debate - one is roomier, one is cozier!