@UCBAlumnus Thank you!
Coming from an “under resourced” high school environment can place an otherwise strong student at a disadvantage - especially in engineering.
Programs like these are designed bridge the gap, improve retention and maximize the probability of success.
http://engineering.tufts.edu/best/
http://as.tufts.edu/BLAST/
Tufts engineering has a net positive attrition rate (i.e. more enter than leave) due to an inclusive culture that focuses on retention rather than weeding out as well as the minimization of barriers between the liberal arts and engineering . The bridge program for liberal arts was actually modeled after the program in engineering.
CS is strong and available as either a liberal arts or engineering major.
6.6% of the classes are greater than 50 students (a cross between a LAC and a research university)
A minor in entrepreneurial leadership is offered by engineering, and is the most popular minor among liberal arts students
Music/visual/dramatic arts are a big part of the culture with interdisciplinary courses/minors and majors with engineering and CS.
The area of natural/biomaterials is stronger than the area of traditional materials science.
Partnership with the largest clean-tech start-up incubator in the country (Greentown Labs)
Liberal Arts has strong language/culture core requirement (6 courses) to foster a global perspective and intercultural empathy.
No merit aid, but they meet full need for financial aid, with no loans for low income students
Highly selective, but very holistic, factoring in the effects of under resourced environments. Looking for the type of students that would benefit from the bridge programs.
Application essays are very important - even for engineers. Community service and work experience are important.
@Mastadon Thank you so much for the info-- that sounds like it could be a great fit for him. Based on his SAT scores from 7th grade in the Duke TIP program, I think he will be a competitive enough candidate for a highly selective school like Tufts, but thriving at a school like that is different from being admitted. It sounds like those programs could help him thrive-- we will look into them.