Considering our mascot is Jumbo, it implies everything at Tufts tends to be big - from Zara Larsson gathering thousands of students onto our academic quad during Spring Fling, to the notes belted during our yearly a cappella group riff-offs to, our infamously hilly campus. And while each of these do make for core memories throughout the Tufts experience, the more “niche” parts of it, I’ve observed so far during my time here, also hold similar weight.
Let's start a major concern for the average college student: study spots. Sometimes it is refreshing to crack down on that academic work in a Pinterest-esque setting and luckily, Tufts has those! While lawn chairs have been strategically scattered across campus, overlooking breathtaking views down the hill and reclined just enough to be close to our beloved campus bunnies, a personal favorite of mine would be Tisch Roof. Amongst the nice greens and view of Boston, a little gazebo, with creeping flowers and greens, called Alex’s Place stands, and if you’re lucky, you might be able to snag a seat under the leafy canopy! It’s for sure a motivator.
Next, another popular point of interest has to be food. Nearby campus eateries like Tasty Cafe and Picante are Tufts student favorites, but what about hidden gems on campus? Well, for me, that would have to be Tufts’ own Mugar Cafe! Tucked into the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Mugar serves some of the best dishes on campus - in my opinion. I recommend grabbing some of their tasty treats - from their Starbucks coffee to their jerk chicken, the trip is always worth it, and I’m always surprised so many Tufts students haven’t given it a try!
And we can’t forget another aspect of Tufts people pour their heart into - our clubs. While we certainly do have some unique clubs that sound like they’re “niche” - like our Cheese club, those ones tend to ironically be the most popular. However, there are definitely some hidden gems among our 350+ organizations to choose from! My personal favorite? Tufts Animal Aid (TAA). Every Saturday at 10am, TAA invites neighboring residents to bring out their dogs, cats, and all types of pets to play on our President's Lawn! I can understand most people not knowing about it because it is relatively early on a Saturday, but ever since I woke ahead of my alarm on a random Saturday morning, I’ve never missed the furry fun.
I could go on listing things, but I’m sure you get the gist already. I will say this though, whether niche or not, you’re bound to find something at Tufts you’d passionately enjoy!