Stay at Tufts or transfer to UChicago?

Transfer Students
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I just finished my freshman year at Tufts and received a transfer offer from UChicago, and I can’t decide what I want to do. I really liked my year at Tufts (made great friends, liked the friendly environment), and if I stay, I’d be able to TA for a class and also be part of a lab. Essentially I’ve already sort of settled myself in. If I go to UChicago, I’d have to start over, but some of the classes sounded really cool (which is why I applied in the first place), and the people I’ve talked to who study there say the community is really friendly and it’s pretty easy to get into labs/ make connections (and that the career advancement center is quite strong).

For context - I’m double majoring in CS + biochem and I’m interested in the biotech industry (though I’m also willing to do anything purely CS, but nothing purely bio/ chem). If I go to UChicago, considering not a lot of credits would transfer for the Core, it’d be hard to double major, so I’d have to drop one, or do one major one minor, or I could consider doing one extra year (financing is not an issue) if I really wanted to. Tufts is great in that lots of biotech companies are right in Boston, but I’ve heard that it doesn’t necessarily matter much, and it’s totally possible to get Boston internships in the summer while studying in UChicago.

But I’m also not entirely set on biotech. I’m open to exploring any fields related to CS and bio, like consulting, or even finance jobs that need knowledge on the healthcare sector or something. With this in mind, does it make more sense to go to UChicago, simply because it has a stronger brand name and might open more doors for me if I wanted to switch fields? Like, sure, I could switch fields regardless of where I went for undergrad, but having a T10 school brand name could just make my life easier.

Yet I’m also aware that a lot hinges upon how positive/ negative your overall experience is. I.e. being happy makes you more motivated and passionate in what you do, which obviously helps in the career prospects aspect. I made amazing friends at Tufts, and they’re why my freshman year was so good. At UChicago, I could replicate the experience, but I could also just get unlucky, so there’s that uncertainty.

Essentially, the June 1 deposit deadline is creeping close and I’m still very torn between the schools! I’d really appreciate any advice/ perspective on any of this!!

Side question: if I deposit at UChicago, do I have to go? Is it possible to place a deposit first to buy some more time, and then potentially change my mind later and stay at Tufts instead? Additionally, I’m on the waitlist for a few other schools, so can I potentially give up a UChicago deposit and go to one of those other schools if I get off the waitlist?

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Reading your post, you should stay put at Tufts. For many students considering a transfer, it might not be better, but it won’t be worse. In your case, it’s unlikely to be better and could easily be worse. You have had a very successful freshman year and can use that as a platform going forward.

You mention a difference in prestige. I don’t think there is one between these two - both excellent, highly selective schools.

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To me, this is a tough one. UChicago is the bigger name and may open more doors (or more easily open them…) – that’s what 101 Nobel Prizes, having a tradition of many top programs, and your own wing of Econ will do for your academic reputation.

But you’re looking at CS and/or Biochem, not Economics or Physics or History – so while UChicago is top-notch at all they offer, I’m not sure I would give up a sure thing for a “maybe” – I’m talking happiness here.

If you did think you would change your mind in terms of major, UChicago would likely be preferable… but if you think you’ll stick with IT/Biochem, I think you’re justified in staying at Tufts.

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I’d say depending on how strong your interest is in biotech, Tufts is arguably preferred since it’s in a real hub of biotech companies. I wouldn’t discount location for jobs in industry. And the fact you’re happy there goes a LONG way.

If you do think maybe finance or something else is more interesting, then UChicago might be better depending on what that other thing is. A real interest in finance or consulting would be where UChicago would make a difference.

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I have the same basic perspective as gardenstategal. I tend to think of it in risk terms.

People don’t always thrive in college, or not the college where they start. When you are not in college yet and deciding where to go, there is some such risk you can’t avoid, but you can at least load the odds in your favor by carefully choosing your college.

OK, but then when you are already thriving at a college as good as Tufts? That is a big win.

So taking the risk on whatever might happen at Chicago doesn’t make sense to me. If you weren’t thriving at Tufts, sure, maybe worth a change. But things are going so well, so why risk it?

By the way, with your interests you might well end up going to grad or professional school at some point, perhaps after working a bit. That will be an opportunity to try out another institution, if you choose. Maybe even Chicago!

But again, the way I see it, if you are already doing well at a place like Tufts, you are already on track to be able to do something like that in the future, as you may desire.

Roll the dice with Chicago instead? Who knows?

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I did have an OK experience at UChicago, and some people have better ones, so you might want to take this with a grain of salt.

Doing an extra year for a double-major is discouraged/prohibited. You should aim to finish in 3 after you transfer. Biochem and CS are difficult at UChicago, doing one as a transfer while completing the core will be enough of a challenge. Two should not be considered, given the lack of overlap.

UCHicago will generally have strong placement into finance/consulting, probably better than Tufts. Not sure how easy it is to get finance as a transfer since the recruiting process for a lot of traditional roles is early. Switching fields is also not as easy as it seems even at a T10, unless you have a clear narrative (like Bio major → Life sciences consulting is doable but many consulting firms IME want someone with more business-y experience/major). Perhaps it’s more doable at HYPSM but I’m not sure.

So depends on whether you want the finance/consulting placement stronger or a better community. Note that you have to be sociable to make friends after freshman year since groups already formed, which is generally true but I think at UChicago so many people get busy later and carry-on with their older friends from freshman year. The workload being high (esp. in CS or bio/chem/pre-med circles) also makes social life tougher because once midterms come around people don’t really have time to hang out.

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Why did you choose to apply to transfer in the first place? You sound very happy at a good school in a good location for your interests. Is there something you want that you aren’t feeling you are getting at Tufts?

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The risks seem to outweigh the advantages in prestige here. I see no reason to transfer from Tufts in your situation, and I am more “into” prestige/ reputation and benefit of top schools than most people on CC…

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My personal opinion is that this is an interesting and useful double major. The point is that software engineering is not just about writing software. It is about solving problems. There are lots of problems in lots of many different specialized areas that require computers, including problems in biochemistry and biomedical sciences in general.

Tufts is a great university. Thinking specifically about biomedical issues, Tufts has a very good graduate school of biomedical sciences in Boston. It is right next to Tufts medical school, and I have heard that they are very good at bringing research ideas to reality to create solutions to medical problems. My personal opinion is that you are already at a great university.

This is huge. Lab experience at Tufts is likely to get you at least some research experience, which is very important.

And yes, there is a lot of biomedical research being done in Boston and the Boston area. I do expect that you would be able to get good internships regardless of whether you stay at Tufts or move to Chicago, but it sounds like you are getting a start on this already at Tufts.

This is very true.

This is what I think also. It sounds to me like you are already in a GREAT situation. I would just plan to take full advantage of this over your full 4 years at Tufts, which it sounds like you are already doing.

There is a very real risk in transferring, and I do not see the point.

I agree with this also. You are comparing excellent with excellent. The experience you have, such as any research and/or lab work that you get to do, will matter. Whether you get a degree from Tufts or from Chicago will not matter.

And if at some point in the future you are looking to pursue a graduate degree (such as a master’s degree or PhD or some other doctorate), Chicago will still be there, and will be very aware of how strong Tufts is. It is very, very common, for students who go on to any graduate program, to change schools between undergrad and graduate school. Switching schools for graduate work is not 100%, but it does seem to apply to a solid majority of graduate students.

What I do not know, is if you put down a deposit at Chicago whether this will get back to Tufts and they will assume that you are not returning.

Personally I would just plan to stay at Tufts, get your bachelor’s there, optionally get some work experience, and then think about whether you want to pursue a graduate degree. If you do choose to pursue a graduate degree, then think about specifically what you want to do and which university is the best fit for that (whatever it is – this would be some time in the future).

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This is a no brainer.Stay at Tufts.

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