Tufts Blogs

Everyone shares the same feelings. The feeling of excitement is where most students finally have the freedom away from their parents. The overwhelming amount of worry is where students may consider the difficulty of their academics or how they will interact with their peers to make everlasting relationships. As a rising junior and someone who has been in that exact position, I think it would be helpful to see things I wish I knew as an incoming first year to make the best out of your first academic year. 

Join a Pre-Orientation (if you still have the time to join!)

One of Tufts's many perks is that it offers several Pre-Orientation programs. Pre-orientation allows students to come to Tufts a few days earlier than the rest of the incoming students to do different activities on and off campus. Tufts offers eight programs, which include FOCUS, TWO, SHAPE, BEAST, SQUAD, FIT, GO, and CREATE (all of which are acronyms for their programs). It works by placing students in a group of about 7 to 9 other students, and they will do different activities, like going into Boston or going on a camping trip. I did FOCUS, which is our community service program. Regardless of whatever pre-orientation program you choose, I can promise that it is worth it! I met my closest friends through my group and still reminisce about all the time we spent together, really getting to know each other while doing community service in the Greater Boston area.

Try things you never would try

I have always been a STEM person, which has meant for me that the humanities or arts are things that I am not good at. What I admire about Tufts is the distribution requirements, which allow students to take classes from various subjects that are not necessarily under their major. My friends from my pre-orientation group told me about Colonial North America and the Atlantic World, taught by Professor James Rice. As you can tell, I ended up loving this class. Although there were some readings and papers to write, I ultimately enjoyed learning about a topic whose narrative constantly shifted and getting a clear sense of what we know as historians. I loved this class so much that my friends and I discussed it. I still email Professor Rice about everyday happenings and have developed a strong, meaningful connection. With that said, I never would have thought that I would enjoy a history class, but the classes here have shifted my view. 

Don’t lose your hobbies to studies

Adjusting to college is hard, especially when managing your own time! My friends and I would always stay late in the Joyce Cummings Center until 1:00 AM, trying to cram in all the work we needed to get done. During the first semester, I felt like I did not have the time to join other clubs. The idea that I came here to get an education and succeed weighed on me. But as time passed, I realized this did not have to be the case. I started to attend different clubs like the Tufts Engineers Without Borders club or the Japanese Culture club, and was able to manage my time. I do not regret the time I spent doing all my studies, but I am glad I realized sooner that coming to college is not just about doing well in school, but also a place to build meaningful connections with others and have fun. My dad always told me that during his college years, this time is time dedicated to exploring and figuring out what you want to do. He was right about that, and I continue to pursue my hobbies, which you should too!

Make use of your meal plan

I cannot stress enough how useful the Tufts Meal Plan is for students. You can virtually get food anytime (except when they are closed overnight) and have various options. Besides our main dining halls, we have a bunch of grab-and-go options. My favorite is the panini sandwich at the Kindlevan cafe, mainly because I am always at the engineering complex. First-year students are enrolled in the Premium Meal Plan, which is 400 meal swipes per semester, or in simpler terms, eight meals per day! The meal plan does not carry over into the following semester, so students should try to use up all their meal swipes. Personally, I used up all 400 meal swipes during my first and second year, so you can say that I used up all my meal swipes! The dining options here are great and can be a great way to socialize or destress from all the work your classes assign! I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this meal plan, as getting your nutrition is essential for success! 

Attend Office Hours

My last piece of advice is to utilize the resources available. The greatest thing about Tufts is that everyone here, whether the students or the professors, is welcoming. All professors host office hour sessions where you can get individualized attention for whatever concerns you may have. I often go there to receive help for the content we learn in class, but I also chat with them. Even so, teaching assistants are another great resource as they are very knowledgeable about the course material and happy to help students. My calculus TA was especially helpful, and we also bonded over yerba mate! Besides the teaching staff here, students have access to the StAAR center, which gives free resources for students to use, such as peer tutoring and a writing center. All the tutors there are very knowledgeable about the content and are always willing to help.

Everyone here wants you to succeed, and I wish I had known about all these things before entering college. Hopefully, this guide eases the uneasiness of entering a new environment and ensures you have the best time here!