Tufts Blogs

Tufts prides itself on its diverse student body, with students from all different places, cultures, and backgrounds. It’s our differences that makes the Tufts community so unique! We draw students from all 50 US states and from countries all over the world, with the majority of Tufts students being from outside of New England. That being said, about 20% of Tufts undergraduate students are from Massachusetts. Being an in-state/Boston-area student has many benefits such as proximity, convenience, and comfort. We know how to use the trains, are used to the frigid weather, and love Boston sports teams. Going to college fairly close to home could be seen as a downside to prospective students, but Alexa '27 (Lynn), Evan '28 (Bedford), and I (Newton) will show you the perks of being wicked local while at Tufts.

Pros

Already being familiar with the area: "Among my friends during Pre-O and Orientation, me and a couple of my peers from nearby loved showing our friends around Boston and introducing them to the quirks of the local culture. It’s such a vibrant place, especially for college students and young people, and already being familiar with the great perks and opportunities that the area offers was nice. But being at Tufts in Medford and Somerville, I live much closer to the city than I do at home, and am directly adjacent to tons of great, happening neighborhoods just within walking distance of campus. These are places that, before, I would have to drive into from home, so at Tufts I’ve enjoyed exploring Boston even more, with convenient access to public transit to get around!" –Evan

Being able to see family: "One of the biggest pros of going to college in Boston as a Massachusetts resident has been being close to family. Whether it’s grabbing a quick lunch with my parents, being here for my brother’s birthday and having loved ones nearby during the chaos of college life. Being close to home has also meant learning to set boundaries. I told my parents when I was accepted that they can not come to my dorm on a random weekday to get food. Over time, I’ve gotten better at creating space for myself and carving out my own college experience without losing the support system that comes with being just a short drive away. It's a balance, but one I’ve come to appreciate." –Sophie

Being the designated local friend/host: "Although there are a good handful of students who are from Mass, you’ll befriend plenty of students from all over the world. So, it’s nice to already know local areas, places to eat and see, and win brownie points with your friends because you’ll be able to help them discover Boston and more. Additionally, it won’t feel boring or repetitive because you are making new memories with new people! For example, I have lots of friends who are staying at Tufts for the summer for work, so I had all my college friends come to my house for a 4th of July BBQ before going to see the fireworks on the Charles River Esplanade. I do this every year, but it was a lot more special to integrate my home friends, my college friends, and my family into one big event and be surrounded by all the people I love. I find it really nice that I always have that option to host my college friends and show them a piece of my home and childhood. It only made us all closer." –Alexa

Having friends from home come visit you when they’re home for break: "Another perk of staying in Boston for college is that friends from home come back to the area during their school breaks. Since not all schools have the same academic calendar, I’ve had friends visiting while I’m still in classes — which means spontaneous dinners, study breaks turned into catch-ups, and little reminders of home woven into my campus life. It’s been such a joy to host friends in my new version of Boston and share how my local life has grown since high school." –Sophie

Easier move-in and move-out: "This is one of the more obvious perks of going to college close to home! I just finished up my first year, and I was very happy to not have to worry about luggage, shipping boxes, and where to store my things over the summer. We just loaded up the car on the morning of move-in and were on our way! It was also nice knowing that anything I might be forgetting from home was only a 30-40 minute drive, and a polite request that the item be brought to me by a parent or sibling, away. For moving out we actually took two trips on different days, which helped to break up that task a bit." –Evan

Summer housing for Boston-area jobs and internships: "There are many job opportunities here in Massachusetts and so many companies (like those in Boston) hire interns from the local universities. So instead of having to find an apartment during the summer, you might be close enough to commute to work and still enjoy home-cooked meals. All of my internships during college have been very accessible from home and I have the luxury of starting internships earlier or later because I don’t have to worry about rent and how long I can stay in an apartment." –Alexa

Potential cons

Not being able to explore a new place to live: "One of the downsides of being a Massachusetts resident and choosing to go to college in Boston is that I didn’t get the ability of starting over in a new place. Many of my high school friends were navigating unfamiliar cities, adjusting to different cultures, and discovering hidden local gems. Being from Massachusetts, I already knew how to get around the city on the T, where to find the best coffee, and which streets to avoid during rush hour. It sometimes felt like I was missing out on the excitement that comes with learning to love an unfamiliar place. Through my semester abroad in Copenhagen I was able to immerse myself in a new environment and adapt to a different pace of life, discover new daily routines, and fall in love with a city I had never set foot in before. While Boston may have felt familiar at first, I’ve realized that there’s still so much of Boston I haven’t experienced. Post-grad life also leaves plenty of room to explore — whether that’s moving to a new city, traveling more, or continuing to find new corners of Boston I’ve never seen." –Sophie

Temptation to go home more: "I definitely had my fair share of visits home during my first year, especially during the fall, but that was nice because it was my sister’s senior year — she’s a year below me — so I was able to be around for a lot of her last high school events and stuff. But whenever I would get picked up to go home, I really did miss Tufts. Tufts is very residential, with an on-campus housing requirement for your first two years, and with those juniors and seniors living off-campus typically living in the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to Tufts. And my friends from California, Texas, and Minnesota certainly aren’t going home on the weekends! From the start, and increasingly so as I became more involved on campus, I really wanted to stay here as much as possible. During the year, I definitely went the 5 miles inwards towards Boston with my friends more often than I went the 15 miles outwards towards home." –Evan