Tufts Blogs

I knew practically nothing about Tufts when I applied, and I mean NOTHING. I had no idea of the history of Jumbo or that he was even our mascot. I was unaware of the Fenway campus’ existence and pretty much clueless about what the Medford/Somerville campus looked like. If you asked me to point out Tufts on a map, there’s a chance that I would have picked somewhere in the wrong state. While this may sound exaggerated and quite embarrassing, it was truly the start of what became my rewarding journey as a Jumbo.

As I was completing my QuestBridge National College Match application during my senior year, I realized that I had no other schools I was considering ranking besides a few in the notorious Ivy League. Seeing that I had up to 15 chances to be matched with a top-tier college with a near full-ride scholarship, I intended to familiarize myself with more of QuestBridge’s college partners. However, a concoction of procrastination and senioritis stopped me in my tracks. Aside from checking whether the schools offered the majors I was considering, I did not learn many additional details about where I could spend the next four years of my life. Tufts happened to rank as the “37th Best National University” on U.S. News & World Report at the time, which was enough for me to add it to my ranked list.

When I opened my email and saw an admission letter from Tufts, I felt a surge of pride learning that I successfully matched with a top university through QuestBridge. This was an incredible accomplishment that I could only feel grateful for, especially since this marked the next milestone in making both myself and my mom proud as a first-generation college student. However, I couldn’t ignore the creeping doubts that later formed in my mind. I realized I knew little about Tufts and the reality of committing to a school I had never visited began to sink in. As excited as I was, the uncertainty cast a shadow over this dream come true.

Those doubts began to melt away the second I stepped on campus for Students' Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora (SQUAD), a Tufts pre-orientation program focused on fostering and celebrating relationships within the African Diaspora. Surrounded by students who shared my identity and experiences, I was immediately welcomed into a community that showed me I didn’t have to navigate this new chapter of my life alone. Through bonding activities, learning about Black history at Tufts, and simply conversing with people who understood me, I started to feel grounded and accepted. SQUAD not only gave me friends I could count on from day one, but it also reassured me that Tufts had spaces where I could be seen, supported, and uplifted, whether lounging in the Africana Center or embarking on side quests throughout Boston. What had once felt like an intimidating dive into the unknown quickly became the foundation of a home I could make my own.

Sometimes the best decisions aren’t the ones you meticulously deliberate over; they’re the ones you choose on a whim and grow to appreciate over time. Tufts took me in when I wasn’t looking for much and ended up giving me more than I could have ever imagined. Despite my initial uncertainty, I am fully confident that being a Jumbo was meant for me.