HotHead22

Amherst College or Tufts University. I got 3 days and this is the hardest decision of my life. First of all, I know that Amherst is obviously a lot better of a school academically but I'm still leaning a little towards Tufts. Here's what's goign through my head:

Education is number one.
- I love Boston, I love how Tufts is right outside the city. I'm afraid although Amherst is right next to all these other colleges, I'm going to feel bored and isolated.
- I went to a small high school and really did not like it. Tufts has 5K Amherst 1.6K.
- I've heard that the social life at Tufts is a bit better than Amherst. That's a big plus.
- Tufts is known to be filled with bitter ivy league rejects.
- Food at Amherst sucks... at least when I visited. Tufts food is awesome..
- Dorms at Amherst are amazing... Tufts dorm are nothing special.
- After leaving Amherst, I feel like I could get any job I want, I don't know if I can say that about TUfts.
- I'm very undecided but I'm leaning towards going on the business track. Not international relations.
- Tufts girls are hotter.
- I visited Amherst during the fall break so it might be alittle skewed, but I honestly felt that I was the only person on campus when I was there. I don't want to feel like i'm in the middle of nowhere.
- Amherst is RANKED NUMBER 1 LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL IN THE NATION.
- Tufts is ranked NUMBER 28 University in the Nation.
- Is Amherst's prestige and top-notch academics compared to Tufts enough to overpower my gut feeling of going to Tufts?

If anyone has any suggestions on which one they think I should choose, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm dying of stress.

hebrewhammer

I'll respond to a few of your points:
I don't think that Amherst is "obviously a lot better of a school academically." Once you get to this level, there isn't too much difference in academics.
From what I've heard talking to a friend at Amherst, it sounds like our general party situation is better.
I have yet to meet a bitter Ivy reject, although I've only been here a few months.
I spent a week over the summer at Amherst a few years ago, and while I obviously didn't learn much about campus life, from what I remember their dorms aren't really any better than ours (at least where I stayed) and their food isn't significantly worse, although we may have more variety.
I don't see it being really any harder for you getting a job coming out of Tufts than coming out of Amherst.
Don't base your decision on the "hottness" of Tufts girls. No offense to them, but that is not this school's strong point, although I don't really know how Amherst compares.


Rankings/prestige only mean as much as you want them to. It sounds like you want to go to Tufts, but you're letting Amherst's prestige get in the way.

cli04

I think you just did your owe justification that you obviously want to go to Tufts. The only thing that is pulling you back from making that decision is the outside opinion (which is other people's opinion, such as college ranking by usnews). Tufts satisfies most of your desires than Amherst.
so....
go with what you want, instead of what others (the general public's opinion) thinks because it is you are spending your $160,000 and 4 years for education not them.