So You Heard Tufts is on a Hill?
In my four years as a Tufts student and nearly one year working for Admissions, there’s one question I get asked more often than any other: “How bad IS the hill really?” Lately, the question has baffled me. Why would it matter that Tufts is on a hill?
Frankly, I only think about the best parts of being on a hill. Some of my favorite memories are watching the sunset from the top of the hill by Tisch Roof, where you can see all the way down to Boston. There’s something magical about the city lights twinkling in the distance as the sky fades to pink and orange. Just a few weeks ago, I grabbed a bunch of my friends, bundled up in layers, and we went sledding down President’s Lawn. I’m smiling now thinking about the little kids from the neighborhood, fighting as they raced to see who could get down the fastest. Once the weather warms up, I know I’ll return to my favorite perch—an Adirondack chair on the lawn—picnicking with my friends, soaking in the sun, and watching the trees bloom.
The hill is part of the fabric of Tufts.
Sure, it’s quintessential to the Tufts experience to complain about the walk up. How often do you need to go uphill for class? Are you going to head downhill to Dewick for dinner or make the trek uphill to Carm? Almost all of us have joked at some point about how strong our legs are from the daily climb. The first two weeks of every semester remind me just how out of shape I’ve gotten over break, but beyond that, it’s never been something I’ve seriously thought about. If anything, the banter about the hill brings people together—it’s one of those shared experiences that bonds Jumbos.
My freshman year, I lived in Hill Hall, infamous for the long set of stairs that precede each exit and entrance. And though I was constantly asked how bad the stairs were, all I really cared about was that Hill had some of the biggest rooms on campus. Maybe it’s my background as a lifelong New Yorker, used to walking everywhere, but now that I’ve reached the end of senior year, I’ve pretty much forgotten about the hill altogether.
So yes, Tufts is on a hill. But that’s just part of the charm :)