<p>Hey, I am applying early decision to Tufts and I was wondering some things…
First, what is the party/drinking scene at Tufts?
And, is ultimate frisbee popular on campus and is it easy to get on the team and play?</p>
<p>Ultimate is pretty popular here, and from my understanding the team is pretty easy to join.</p>
<p>The on-campus social life admittedly isn’t the best, but you’re in Boston, so it shouldn’t matter. Most ppl go out and party on the weekends, but Tufts is no party school. If you don’t drink, it’s fine also, because Tufts offers plenty of non-alcohol events, plus again there’s Boston, so you can go into the city with friends.</p>
<p>The social scene at Tufts is like wine: it gets better with age. Freshman/sophomore year you’ll be on-campus a lot, and sometimes there’s stuff to do, sometimes there isn’t. Try to get into Boston more often and you won’t notice the nights that are quiet. FYI, Thursday and Saturday are the big nights here. Fridays you should head into the city/another school. Junior year, you’re either abroad having the time of your life, or you’re in Boston and you and all your friends are turning 21. Having a valid ID opens up tons of doors for you – jazz clubs, bars, lounges, comedy clubs, etc. Senior year, let me tell you – I’m loving it. People come back from abroad and want to make new friends all over again so your circle of friend expands in ways it hadn’t since freshman year. By now certainly everyone is 21 and life is good. 
</p>
<p>Oh, and Tufts Ultimate is pretty big. They call themselves the “E-Men”. Check out their website: <a href=“http://www.tuftsemen.com/[/url]”>http://www.tuftsemen.com/</a></p>
<p>There is an awful lot of drinking here. For real, Professors Row be looking like Michael Jackson’s Thriller video on Thursday night. The fiends start coming out of the woodwork pretty early, lol.</p>
<p>It does get much better with age though. The music scene in Boston is somewhat dissapointing I think.</p>
<p>Ultimate is a club sport, so they have to accept everyone who tries out, but unless your exceedingly good, you’ll be placed on the “B” which is sort of a farm team. Eventually if you improve enough they will place you on the ultra competitive squad. There’s actually been a big debate going on in campus this past month regarding the social scene. Students feel like the university and city police have been intruding too much into social life and breaking parties up early. The university however has been very receptive to the opinions of the students and a forum was recently held where people could vent their frustrations to the university police. With that said, it’s not hard to find a party on the weekends, whether it’s a house party or just people having a dance party in the dorms. I think tomorrow at ATO for example they’re having a schoolgirl/nerd theme party. And ignore whoever says the music scene in Boston is lacking. Unless you listen to some obscure genre like post modern prog industrial hardcore rock or something and refuse to expand your horizons, finding something to listen to in Boston isn’t hard. There are tons of venues for techno/classical/indie/pop/rock stuff.</p>
<p>Yeah, agree about the music scene: most any respected music publication will say that the indie scene in Boston is better than in New York (I was surprised, too). That being said, all the major acts definitely stop by here, too.</p>
<p>What indie scene? Hip hop? Punk? Thrash? What? You guys do know that indie means “Independent” don’t you…it’s not a particular brand of music, lol. Oh man.</p>
<p>While New York has clearly lost all the edge it had in the early 90’s and is now one of the wackest cities in the country I’ll let you know right now that there is simply no way Boston has a better punk or hip hop scene than New York, no way, and New York’s isn’t anything that special anymore either. What publications are you talking about exactly?</p>
<p>The thing is you can’t rely on major acts because most major acts nowdays are terrible. If you’re really into music then you rely pretty heavily on acts that aren’t getting love from major labels. </p>
<p>Anyways, this is just nitpicking. Obviously you’ll be able to find spots with whatever music you like here…</p>
<p>We are well-aware taht indie is short for independent. I am into grime, country-folk (a la Neko Case, Fiery Furnaces), bluegrass, and have never not found what I want to hear.</p>
<p>The BSO is really nice for all the classical lovers out there. For early music and ensemble work, Boston is the best place other than San Francisco.</p>
<p>“We are well-aware taht indie is short for independent. I am into grime, country-folk (a la Neko Case, Fiery Furnaces), bluegrass, and have never not found what I want to hear.”</p>
<p>That’s cool. However, you didn’t answer my question: what “respected music publications” say that the indie scene is better in Boston than it is in New York? </p>
<p>I’m sorry but that statement doesn’t make any sense. Are they saying that every independent scene across the board is better? What publication covers that wide a range of music that would enable them to make such a sweeping claim?</p>
<p>No. I’m pretty sure it was a Village Voice article (again - not 100% positive so that’s why I didn’t name it) that said that Boston is more conducive to fostering independent music because the venues are more open to booking bands who don’t have an underground following yet. In that sense the Boston scene is more vibrant, diverse. I guess I can see what they mean – if you ever go to a concert @ TT the Bear’s in Central Sq., the more obscure bands don’t pack up the house, but TT’s is OK with it. For example, I saw the Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players there once. About 70 big fans – but nowhere near full. I thought, ‘THis sucks, TT’s will never book them again." But, lo and behold, a year later they were back, playing to a similarly-sized audience. I guess the Boston club owners aren’t so driven by sure-fire 100% sold-out gigs like the Manhattan venues (ie, Bowery Ballroom and the like) are (Brooklyn would be an exception, in certain places where gentrification hasn’t yet killed the artists’ scene).</p>
<p>“Brooklyn would be an exception, in certain places where gentrification hasn’t yet killed the artists’ scene”</p>
<p>Definately agreed and I was thinking of the BK specifically. BX for hip hop too just annihilates Boston regardless of what the village voice says. Not sure if the Village Voice is an authoritative source on anything but I can see your piont. </p>
<p>Giulliani turned that city into one giant amusement park. The whole of Manhattan is almost identicle to DisneyLand.</p>
<p>Personally I liked the grimey, dark and dangerous New York of the early 90’s, not this new family friendly version where it’s cool for MidWesterners and EuroTrash to walk all over the place shopping without fear of getting mugged. </p>
<p>Psh, New York lost all it’s attitude…it’s just like Boston now. I can’t tell you how much I miss the NY of my childhood :(</p>
<p>All things come to pass though I suppose</p>
<p>Yea we don’t want Eurotrash or midwesterners in NYC not getting mugged. It’s like a part of the experience right? Guilliani cleaned NYC up.</p>
<p>WORD that mainstream bands suck now. Still, come classics are around too - Clapton was here a few weeks ago and my roommate went to see the Chili Peppers tonight.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m glad to know that one doesnt have to party if they don’t want to.</p>
<p>BenSpace, out of curiosity? Are you applying ED to Tufts?</p>
<p>Yea, I just sent in my app two days ago.</p>
<p>Nice… Good luck, Ben!</p>
<p>HOLY CRAP…Two names…</p>
<p>METHOD MAN</p>
<p>SAIGON</p>
<p>Wow dude, just wow. Can’t believe I didn’t get a ticket to this ****.</p>
<p>Best of Luck, Ben :D</p>