"Where is Tufts?"

"How do you spell that?"

"Isn't it one of those Ivy League schools?"

"Why are you going so far?"

"Wow, that's an amazing school!"

These are the types of comments you tend to hear when you tell people outside of the East Coast that you are attending Tufts University. For me, Tufts was my dream school and I can even remember the day that I received my acceptance letter. I was on break from Starbucks and had my phone in my hand as I waited eagerly in the broom closet. So far, I had gotten into some really great schools such as the University of Southern California, a dual engineering program at Syracuse, and a full ride to Howard University. Yet, I kept waiting to hear if I got into my dream school on the hill crowded with elephants and snow. A few minutes later, I checked the admissions portal and saw that there was a notification in my account. With a hesitating tap of the screen, I was surprised with a letter of admission and my nervous jitters turned into pure joy.

Looking back, one of the reasons why I fell in love with Tufts was how the school had this reputation of being both exceptional and collaborative. I was looking for a school that offered a world-class education without the cutthroat attitude of other elite universities. I've come to appreciate this aspect of the Tufts experience as it's great to know that I can reach out to other students and alumni with the confidence that I being helped and not hurt. Not only does this contribute to the warm and loving vibe that exists on campus, but also prepares students to work in a team effectively, an important skill for a future in almost any field.

Tufts is full of opportunities and it doesn't take much to locate a recruiter from a top company on campus. Also, students are extra friendly and are quick to make you feel right at home. Overall, I'm loving the Jumbo life and can't wait to see where this journey takes me!