Tufts is very strong in the humanities and is certainly not a pre-professional school. Part of the philosophy of distribution requirements is to encourage broad liberal arts literacy, and to encourage students to consider different coursework than just targeted for assumed career requirements. SMFA is well respected as an art school and is associated with a major museum which gives the fine arts education additional credit. Access to big city art museums and galleries may be a real plus for you. Tufts ID gets you into the Harvard museums, and there is the Gardener and a wide variety of other places. Vassar is near NYC but it is more than a quick afternoon excursion to go to the museums there. Also, you might want to look at film and media studies as a major. It speaks to your “visual journalist” aspirations. But wherever you go, take time to explore before you commit to a major.