Welcome to Tufts! If you’re reading this article, you’re likely a newly admitted student — so congratulations! The Editorial Board of the Daily (us!) looks to impart some wise words on you (or current students who are reading this for fun).
- Don’t overpack before coming to campus. Coordinate with your roommate and buy what you need once you’ve moved in. Also, rent a mini fridge from Tufts because it’ll be a pain to try and haul it back with you or to find somewhere else to store it, and you can get a microwave.
- Talk to your professors! They want to make sure you succeed and have lots to share with you! Go to office hours. They are not scary, and the professors appreciate these conversations. Meeting with your professors in a one-on-one setting is a great way to build connections that will help you in both your academic and professional life (and with recommendation letters down the line)!
- Spend the warm days outside on President’s Lawn, the Reservoir Quad or the Boston Public Garden. Grab your Hodgdon Food-on-the-Run bowl or Pax et Lox Glatt Kosher Deli sandwich, a towel and some friends to enjoy a warm afternoon under the sun! You’ll never feel more college-y than when you’re lounging on the lawn while a tour group walks by.
- It’s OK if your first friend group falls apart. And it’s OK if your second friend group falls apart. Take time to meet people and find the people you truly enjoy the company of.
- Everything is temporary. The lows contextualize the highs.
- Talk to people! Even if it’s scary, say hi to the person next to you in line or sitting next to you in class. Everyone wants to make friends!
- Call your parents and loved ones. Call your mom. Call your dad. Call everyone! Your parents want to hear from you and make sure that you’re doing well. Make time to talk with your friends from home too.
- Don’t lock yourself out. Get a phone wallet and never lose sight of your student ID. This will also help you avoid the potential of your RA having to let you back into your room when you may have things out that you don’t want them to see.
- Take the reviews on Rate My Professor with a grain of salt. You may find that a professor with a one-star review is a fantastic lecturer or that a universally beloved teacher is your enemy. Talk to upperclassmen about their experiences with courses. We also highly recommend taking a student- or visiting lecturer-taught Experimental College class!
- Don’t share all of your personal secrets on Sidechat.
- Try our favorite food near Tufts: The Holland and the Vegan Club sandwiches from Diesel Café in Davis Square and the mango and salmon bowl from Tasty!
- Advocate to your RA if your roommate sucks! You don’t deserve to have a sucky living situation. Of course, there is no guarantee you’ll be able to switch rooms, but voice any concerns about your living situation you may have.
- Try our favorite on-campus food: the chickpea salad sandwich on a bagel from Pax et Lox and the Korean BBQ sandwich from the Commons Marketplace. Oh, and The Sink — for vibes, not for coffee (but do get the Beesting if you need caffeine).
- Prepare to see every single person you know at Late Night at Commons after a fun night.
- Find a hairstylist you like near campus. A lot of upperclassmen on campus cut students’ hair and will charge you way less than any salon in Boston.
- Find where you study best. You may find that you work best in silence or that you lock in when surrounded by people. The Editorial Board has chosen to keep our favorites to ourselves. We wish you the best of luck in finding yours.
- Travel outside of the Tufts area! Don’t get us wrong, we love spending time on campus, but it’s easy to get stir crazy too. Luckily, the Boston area has great public transportation to take advantage of. Travel further into Somerville and Medford; go into Boston, Cambridge, Arlington and beyond. And bring a friend!
- Head to Davis Square for studying and food and to Boston for day trips (specifically Chinatown or the North End for food). For shopping, head to Assembly Row for outlets, to The Garment District in Cambridge for thrifting and to Davis for Goodwill and Buffalo Exchange.
- Take advantage of MBTA buses. In addition to the subways, the buses can take you to many more areas around Boston and the surrounding region. Get to know the bus routes that go through Medford and Somerville — especially the 80, 94 and 96. The subways can only get you so far — the buses are sometimes even faster than the trains.
- Visit museums. Take advantage of the free access available to Tufts students, like the Harvard museums or our very own university art galleries. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts to check out special exhibitions and a wide array of pieces, including the work of SMFA students. For the best pictures, go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for a more unique art experience.
- Join The Tufts Daily! The Daily is the independent, student-run newspaper of record at Tufts. We bring together journalists, writers, photographers, creatives, entrepreneurs and more to make the newspaper. We can’t wait for you to join us!
