Tufts Blogs

Stepping onto the Tufts campus as a first-year student can feel like entering a completely new ecosystem. The air is charged with excitement and everywhere you turn, there are new faces. It is a thrilling blank slate, but if I am being completely honest, it can also feel a little daunting. How do you find your footing? How do you carve out your unique community in a sea of exceptionally talented peers? 

The answer for me lies in two words: showing up. Looking back at my own journey, the trajectory of my entire Tufts experience was shaped by the leaps of faith I took during my first few weeks on campus and the community relationships I built over the course of my first year.

When I arrived at Tufts, I actually didn’t participate in a Pre-Orientation (Pre-O) program. At the time, I didn't entirely realize what I was missing out on. However, once the semester got underway, I naturally found myself visiting the Africana Center. It quickly became my home away from home — a great space of cultural pride and mutual support. I became deeply embedded in the community, working alongside peers and staff who challenged and uplifted me.

My involvement was so transformative that by the time my first year wrapped up, I knew I wanted to help curate that same sense of belonging for the incoming class. That summer, I had the incredible privilege of working as a co-coordinator to organize SQUAD (Students’ Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora), one of Tufts' Pre-Orientation programs.

Stepping into the organizer's shoes gave me a profound appreciation for what Pre-O actually achieves. SQUAD is more than just an early arrival program; it is an intentional, immersive space designed to introduce incoming students to the rich history, joy, and academic excellence of the African diaspora at Tufts. Seeing the magic of bonds forming over late-evening scavenger hunts, shared meals, and collaborative activities made me realize that Pre-O is the ultimate catalyst for community building. Today, over half of all admitted first-year Tufts students choose to participate in one of our Pre-Orientation programs. It is easily one of the best ways to seamlessly transition into life on the Hill.

Whether you arrive early for a Pre-O or dive straight into regular Orientation, the university sets you up really well to integrate into the community. My own Orientation week reminds me of so many landmark college memories. I still remember the warmth of the Illumination Ceremony, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with my class, holding a candle on the Hill, and feeling a profound sense of shared destiny. There was also the sheer, energetic creativity of Tufts Torn Ticket’s performance of Footloose, which gave me an immediate taste of the artistic vibrancy that thrives on this campus. And right in the residential halls, the events organized by our Resident Assistants broke the ice perfectly. Through these events, I met people who are still my closest friends today.

As someone who has navigated this transition as both a first-year student and a Pre-Orientation coordinator, here are my top 3 pieces of advice:

1. Sign Up for Any of the 8 Pre-Orientations: Tufts offers 8 distinct Pre-Orientation programs catering to a massive array of interests; from outdoor exploration to civic engagement, identity-based community building, and leadership. It is an unparalleled opportunity to build a support network before classes even start.

2. Go to As Many Events As Possible: When Orientation week begins, it can be tempting to retreat to your room to decompress. Resist the urge! Go to the socials, the community meetings, the comedy shows, and the academic panels. You don't have to stay at every event forever, but putting yourself in the room is how connections happen.

3. Maintain Open-Mindedness: Try things you have never done before. If a residential event sounds outside of your comfort zone, go anyway. Tufts students are famously multi-dimensional; you might find your next lifelong passion or a best friend in the most unexpected setting.

Ultimately, your time at Tufts is defined by the spaces you inhabit and the community you build. Whether you are finding your family within your dorm hallway or at the dining halls, remember that Tufts is ready to welcome you. All you have to do is take that first step.