Anticipation. Anxiety. Excitement. Curiosity. Prospective students experience a wide range of emotions as they try to decide which college is right for them. Spending a night with a current student often helps one get a better feel for a school's atmosphere - from the dorms to the dining halls to the student body.
And for the pre-frosh already been accepted to Tufts, April Open House (AOH) is one of the most popular times to set up camp on a dorm floor and get a feel for life on the Hill. AOH visitors first showed up on Tuesday and overnights continue through Friday morning.
Samantha Katz, a high school junior from East Long Meadow, MA, came to Tufts this week for her first overnight college visit. She said she thinks there is "more freedom and independence and I saw that here," she said.
Katz was surprised with how the students she met at Tufts interacted with each other. "I'm impressed with by the sense of community here, how close the groups of friends are here...and how connected people were and how friendly," she said.
While Katz is just beginning her college search, students already accepted to Tufts might use overnight visits to help them make final decisions. For these high school seniors, stays involve more than simply looking at Jumbo and the view from the library roof. This week's AOH gives students the opportunity to stay overnight, visit classes and information sessions, and take tours, all with the goal of narrowing their list of schools from which to choose.
For Teresa Platt, an accepted student from St. Louis, MO, AOH is her second overnight stay at a university. "I visited NYU just before I came here. It's interesting to compare other schools together," she said.
As for her expectations of college life, Platt mentioned that what comes to most high school students' minds is the parties.
"[I think] the main difference between high school and college is the partying that goes on," Platt said. She admitted that the media is probably responsible for glorifying the college party scene.
Platt has not yet decided which school she will attend, but does have a sense of what to expect both socially and academically should she choose Tufts. "I knew Tufts students would not always be partying," she said, comparing it to one of her other acceptances - the University of Missouri - "where they party 24/7."
Those visiting Tufts through the University's official overnight program might not get to taste the full social scene, though. since hosts are told not to bring prospective students to events at which alcohol is present.
And while Platt doesn't see Tufts as much of a party school, she did praise it for academics, the student body, and location. "Everyone here is really friendly... I love how the campus is so close to Boston. It's a great location," she said.
Sara Arcaya, an accepted student from Ardsley, NY, has similar expectations of college life. "When people talk about college, they talk about the parties, the meeting people, and living with others." As for her opinion of Tufts, Arcaya was relived to find that some of her worries proved unfounded. "It's more chill here than I thought it would be. People here aren't pretentious," she said.
Both Platt and Arcaya were concerned about a stereotype that Tufts students are smart kids, but bitter about getting rejected from the Ivies. "I was afraid that the students [here] were just those who wanted to go to the Ivies," said Platt. "But it wasn't like that at all."
As the first day of AOH drew to a close, Platt said she had enjoyed her visit. "I think it's the most valuable thing. You get to see students just being themselves, not just admissions people who are praising the school."
