Things I Wish I Knew Sooner
With one semester now firmly under my belt, I’ve been reflecting on some things I wish I knew about Tufts sooner. Coming into my first semester at Tufts, I thought I knew a lot about the school and what was available to me; the truth is, I didn’t. I wouldn’t change anything about my first semester, truly, but there are some things I wish I knew about sooner or utilized more during my first semester.
Something I wish I took more advantage of last semester is the number of amazing dining options we have here at Tufts. During my first month or so, I mostly stuck to the dining halls—Carmichael and Dewick—which are great, but we also have other dining options such as Kindlevan Café and Hodgdon Food-On-the-Run which offer more grab-and-go options like coffee and pastries. Nowadays, I usually go to a different dining location for every meal.
On a similar note, I wish I explored more study spaces last semester. I would usually just study in my room or in the Tisch Library, but there are tons of places on campus to study that have great atmospheres for whatever environment you need. Kindlevan Café or the Sink are great options if you like to work in a coffee shop-type place. If you need to get serious work done, there’s Tisch Library, of course, but there’s also the Reading Room in the Ginn Library (located in the Fletcher School). I’ve only been once myself but the room is beautiful and an excellent place to study if you need to focus. Lastly, a personal favorite of mine is the study area outside Barnum 008 in Barnum Hall. I love the big open windows and it feels like the perfect mix of a place where you can focus, but also chat with friends if you’re studying in a group.
Another amazing resource we have at Tufts is the SMFA (School for the Museum of Fine Arts) shuttle. I’m not a student at the SMFA, but the shuttle is free for all Tufts students, and it’s a great way to get to the Fenway area for free! Last semester my friends and I took the shuttle a few times—once to visit the Fenway Flea Market, and a few times to visit the biggest Target in Boston, which happens to be in Fenway.
Something I just discovered this semester is that you can order your textbooks online through the Tufts Bookstore. The staff will collect them for you and all you have to do is pick them up! This has saved me so much time as I no longer have to wander the basement of the bookstore searching for my course materials.
Lastly, I wish I had taken more advantage of the Campus Center last semester. The Campus Center is a great place to hang out with friends, do homework, or do a bit of both. The environment is very cozy, and sometimes, there are even girl scouts selling cookies inside!
*Cover image courtesy of Lillian Mckeever