Tufts campus welcomes pre-frosh

Gillian McCafferty is a typical 17-year-old visitor to Tufts. A motivated, successful high school student, she is choosing from a number of highly selective schools which have offered her admission.

McCafferty is one of 3,700 accepted students who must decide where to attend Tufts by May 1. As students are weighing their options, many of them make a crucial visit to the Medford campus.

"I think I decided the second I stepped on campus," McCafferty said. She is also entertaining offers of acceptance between Northwestern, Boston University, Colby, and George Washington.

"I see a lot of opportunities here, and I love Boston, there's so much to do here," said McCafferty, a native of nearby Magnolia, MA.

The kinds of opportunities available from Tufts were a common theme among those participating in the recent April Open House. During April Open House, accepted students can tour the campus, attend several presentations by faculty, and also spend a night with a current student to learn more about college life.

Last year 774, or approximately 20 percent of accepted students, participated in one of the three April Open Houses offered.

According to David Brunk, Assistant Director of Admissions, the April Open House is important because students can have a structured program to learn about the opportunities on-campus and about student life.

"I want to know what kinds of classes are being offered," said prospective student Shouhei Yanagami on her reasons for coming to visit Tufts. "I'm trying to get into Med School so I need an undergrad program that is good for that."

Yanagami was generally pleased by what she had seen on-campus, which included a panel discussion. After Tufts, she plans to visit Colgate for its open house, another possible choice.

Sheehan Perera, who applied as a transfer student from SUNY Geneseo, was attracted by the school's International Relations program. "The program here is a lot more in depth. I can study International Economics and Development which isn't offered at [SUNY Geneseo]." He was so impressed by the program that Tufts was the only school to which he applied to transfer.

But April Open House is about more than just academics. Los Angeles native Katie Chun was deciding between Tufts, Connecticut College and the University of California at San Diego.

"I'm spending the night and seeing what happens on campus. Wherever I go, I know I'm going to get a great education, so the other things are pretty important," Chun said.

Other deciding factors included the presence of a diverse community, as many students came from what they described as "homogenous" hometowns.

Jessica Prowell from Roxbury, NJ, decided to spend an extra evening on campus through the Students of Color Outreach Program (SCOPE). "I came just to meet people, and to stay the extra night."

SCOPE offers additional programs for minorities, including a second overnight stay. Other universities have similar programs; Prowell recently attended one at Lafayette College.

Eighty students participated in SCOPE this year, which was offered during last Friday's April Open House.

Students were generally satisfied with the programs offered through the April Open House and SCOPE. Brunk said student surveys issued at each April Open House had returned positive results, and the program this year was similar to last year.

New York City native Lun yan Ton, however, suggested that more dorms should be open for inspection, including those that would be exclusively for freshmen next year. Currently, guides give tours through Miller Hall, which will be mostly sophomores next year.

Not surprisingly, potential members of the Class of 2007 were highly involved during high school. McCafferty was involved in her school's newspaper, Key Club, Math Team, played field hockey and piano, and did volunteer work. Her workload is typical of the April Open House attendees.

Prospective students plan on continuing to stay involved in extracurricular activities in college. Yanagami was looking at Tufts community service, internship, and research opportunities in making her decision.

Other visitors on campus weren't there to make any decision at all. Instead, they were admitted early and their decision has already been made. Robert Gaudet, who was accepted back in December, was touring the campus just to learn more before arriving here in the fall.

1,030 students, parents, and relatives have attended during the two Open Houses, exactly the same number as last year. The final April Open House will be held next Wednesday.

The programs offered eased McCafferty's concerns about college. "All the people here were really, really friendly," she said. "I was a little intimidated when I first arrived, but after I had lunch with a student things were great."