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INFOGRAPHIC
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FEATURES
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22 | How Do You Ask a Question? A journey into the archives helped Harrison Clark ’22 understand the joys and challenges of being a Black artist.
30 | Reaching Across the Curriculum to Create a Major Your passions are key. Through interdisciplinary studies, Tufts students can unlock a major that fits them perfectly. 3 10 14 18 28 29 36 38 39 INFOGRAPHIC ATHLETICS CLASS HIGHLIGHTS AROUND TOWN LIVING ARTS APPLICATION ADVICE ADMISSIONS INFO FINANCIAL AID
FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION BY ANUJ SHRESTHA, BACK COVER PHOTO BY ALONSO NICHOLS/ TUFTS UNIVERSITY
GREETINGS FROM THE DEAN
CHANGE IS CONSTANT. That’s certainly true here at Tufts. In recent years, we have seen our academic programs change—most notably with the addition of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 2016, expanding our ability to provide a world-class art education to talented scholar artists around the world. Across our undergraduate program, we now offer over 150 majors and minors, including new programs in Native American and Indigenous studies, data analytics, and museums, memory, and heritage.
We have seen our campus facilities change, too. In just the last few years, we’ve opened a new 175,000-square-foot Science and Engineering Complex, renovated several residence halls, and unveiled eight new international-regulation squash courts. We are also far along in the construction of our newest academic building, the eight-story Joyce Cummings Center, located adjacent to a soon-toopen campus T station that will serve as a direct subway line into downtown Boston.
And we have seen our student body change. Across our three undergraduate schools, Tufts welcomes first-year classes of just over 1,600 students each fall. Our most recent first-year class is the most ethnically and racially diverse on record, with 45 percent of US students identifying as students of color, and another 12 percent identifying as foreign citizens.
As a student at Tufts, you will change in exciting ways. You will enter as an intellectually curious, academically engaged, collaboratively-inclined student, with the whole university in front of you. As you dive Most of what you’re about to read was written by these Tufts students. Listen for their voices as they introduce you to the Tufts community, page by page.
deeply into our curriculum, as you make friends with classmates from across the country and around the world, and as you explore what it means to be a member of a civically-engaged residential university community, you will learn new things about yourself and about the world. You will discover new passions. You will join clubs you didn’t even know existed. You you to work alongside them to discover new knowledge that changes our understanding of the world. After four years here, you will emerge ready for the world that awaits, one that continues to change each day.
In this issue, which celebrates the notion of “change,” you’ll read about our interdisciplinary studies major, a unique opportunity to alter the path of your studies to align with your particular interests. You’ll also read about how Harrison Clark ’22 uncovered personal truths in the Tufts archives— about Black student life and the agency of Black artists—while tracking how Tufts has changed as an institution.
This issue also offers several forays into the impact of COVID-19 on our program, including Professor of Chemistry Joshua Kritzer’s work to support student research projects that have evolved due to the pandemic and the research being done by Jack Chau ’22 to better understand perceptions of COVID across the US.
Finally, we will offer some guidance about how to approach college applications during a unique year. While some admission requirements are changing (we introduced an SAT and ACT test-optional policy this year), our commitment to evaluating each applicant in a holistic and contextual manner that seeks to identify a mutually strong match between your aspirations and what we offer has not changed.
I hope you are looking forward to college and all of the change that comes along with it. I also hope I have the chance to read your application, and to learn more about how Tufts might be positively changed by your contributions to our community.
Welcome to Tufts!
Best,
JT Duck Dean of Admissions
MEET THE STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP will take classes with faculty members who will invite SIWAAR ABOUHALA ’23 from West Harrison, NY BLAKE ANDERSON ’24 from Sioux Falls, SD JOSH COHEN ’24 from Sarasota, FL MARIE KAZIBWE ’24 from Mount Kisco, NY SUSANNAH MURRAY ’24 from Santa Fe, NM CHRIS PANELLA ’21 from Hollywood, FL VALERIA VELASQUEZ ’23 from Columbia, MO
OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS Tufts University / Bendetson Hall 2 The Green / Medford, MA 02155 617.627.3170 / admissions.tufts.edu / jumboeditor@tufts.edu
Produced by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Edited by Kella Merlain-Moffatt, Admissions Counselor Design by Hecht/Horton Partners
CHANGING IT UP
College can be an exciting time to explore new trends, ideas, and identities, ultimately leading to changed aesthetics, talents, perspectives, and interests. We asked current undergraduate students to reflect on different ways they’ve observed changes in themselves from the day they arrived on the Hill. From the silly to the serious, from skiing skills to style choices, we’re inspired by what they’ve shared.
OUTLOOK ON LIFE “I was very focused on having the ‘perfect’ experience… Throwing my expectations out helped me create my own experience and find a more go-with-the-flow attitude.” “I learned to think deeper, ask questions, and be more curious.”
“Every single year, my sense of self and my understanding of how the world operates has grown. I feel capable of navigating my way through my future.” “Success without happiness isn’t success.”
ON SURPRISING CHANGES “I completely changed what I want to do in the future.” ON WHAT THEY CALL “HOME” “I no longer feel like I need to be in a certain location to be home… If anything, I’m excited to see where I might call home in the future.”
“My perception of home is fractured, in a good way. Different parts of me feel at home in Medford, in DC (where I’m from), and in Waterford, CT. I have an expanded/ more abstract sense of home, which I find nice in a lot of ways.” “The word ‘home’ still means my hometown, but the feeling behind it now spans a continent; I feel home both at Tufts and in
California. When I say ‘home,’ I’ll always mean San Jose, but I now experience the verb ‘to be at home’ in two places now for the first time.” AESTHETICS “My jeans have progressively gotten higher waisted.” “BANGS/much more cottagecore art student vibes.”
NEW TALENTS “‘¿Cómo estás?’ and ‘Wie geht’s?’ are now both acceptable greetings.” “Joined the ski team… I had a lot of fun!
Still not a great skier.”
INSIDE OUT
A REAL YET RANDOM, PLAYFUL YET SERIOUS SPIN AROUND CAMPUS— AND JUST BEYOND
BOOSTING THE JUMBO VOTE
IN THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS, college-aged voters at Tufts doubled their turnout. This year— with some help—that number may easily grow. With critical choices to be made politically, socially, and culturally, this election is crucial to every voter. Tufts is proud to be a champion of civic engagement. Through the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, every Jumbo gains an understanding of what it means to be a dynamic citizen. Although this election year may look different, JumboVote has worked hard to ensure that, as an institution, we do not lose our responsibility to engage in civic duty. JumboVote is working to facilitate voter registration and increase voter education for all Tufts students who can and intend to use their voice this November. They even have cute masks to remind us all of our rights! Even our very own Jumbo is getting in on the fun—mask and all! This standard of engagement is important, and Tufts knows that. Jumbos use their voice; Jumbos make change; Jumbos engage. EXCOLLEGE: DECONSTRUCTING AVATAR
LONG AGO, the four nations lived together in harmony, then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked... So what happened? By dissecting, discussing, and learning about the show Avatar’s influences, creation, and artistry, as well as its contribution to Asian American representation, we will uncover the depths of this “kid’s show.” With the instruction of Emma Downs ’22, students may even discover how to master the elements and the forces within themselves. FIRST PEOPLES—ORIGIN STORIES
WITH THE KNOWLEDGE that Tufts sits on the lands of the Mashpee Wampanoag, Aquinnah Wampanoag, Nipmuc, and Massachusett Tribal nations, we pay respect to the Indigenous people on whose land we are guests. Students are encouraged to learn more about the histories, cultures, and politics of First Peoples through the minor in Native American and Indigenous studies (NAIS). The minor introduces students to comparative settler colonialism studies and to the politics of Native American studies as well as to global critical Indigenous studies and methodologies. It encourages attention to local tribal communities and activist research, in particular through its inclusion of a capstone internship option.
TUFTS VENTURE ACCELERATOR
THIS SUMMER, 78 students hailing from as near as Medford and as far as London and Tokyo, took part in the Tufts Venture Accelerator Program. For 10 weeks, students participated in virtual entrepreneurship workshops that explored topics ranging from startup methodology to market research to prototyping and user-interface design. With the guidance of mentors and skills solidified by the extensive program curriculum, students were challenged to take their ideas to the next level by creating a pitch and a fully-developed business plan. The program closed with a “Demo Day,” where students competed for a prize and presented their business pitches to a panel of judges. With connections and new tools on their belts, students came out of the Tufts Venture Accelerator Program more prepared than ever to use their entrepreneurial skills in the real world.
TUFTS TWEET
@TUFTSALUMNI “It goes without saying that, for both of us, Tufts was a wonderful experience, not just for the education but for the friendships, and because we found each other.” Alumni Andrew Warren ’16 and Maria Martinez ’16 recently got engaged in the place the couple first met.
INSPIRED BY the deliciously British TV program, The Great British Bake Off, and uniquely challenged by the extended arrival quarantine for on-campus students, the residence staff of Bush Hall, an exclusively first-year residence community, designed a creative and playful social experience for new students. As participants in ‘The Great Bush Bake Off,’ resident bakers were provided with all of the ingredients necessary to make a simple, delicious dessert in their own microwaves (no proofing, kneading, or sifting required!). Afterward, via a hall-wide Zoom call, residence staff walked bakers through the process of incorporating their ingredients (applesauce, cake mix, chocolate chips, and a splash of water) in a mug and microwaving their creations. Although this bake-off lacked the hallmark criticisms of judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry as well as the many charming accents from the United Kingdom, ‘The Great Bush Bake Off’ serves as a testament to Tufts’ commitment to fostering community and meaningful inclusion.
DINING HALL HACK: TAKEOUT MADE EASY
FOOD HAS ALWAYS been a connecting point for people. Though this year at Tufts features many changes for the health of the community, eating is not canceled! Tufts has always been known for its excellent dining facilities and employees, and this year has been no exception. Contactless pickup is as easy as a QR code and a “thank you very much!” Whether you are enjoying a mid-morning coffee run or a late-night snack, simply place your order online and then proceed to one of the many facilities across campus. The pickme-up you need will be waiting for you when you arrive. Changes can present great difficulties—this year has proven that. However, joy can be found within the simple things that never change. So let’s eat! WHAT WE’RE READING: SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE BY IJEOMA OLUO
THIS YEAR MARKS the 10 year anniversary of the Common Book Program at Tufts University’s School of Medicine. This year’s selection is the New York Times Bestseller (deservingly so) So You Want to Talk About Race. In this book, Ijeoma Oluo offers critical, concise, and clear analysis on race in contemporary America, and how best to confront these issues through conversation. New chapters are denoted by different questions related to race, ranging from “What is the school-to-prison pipeline?” to “What is the model minority myth?” Given the heightened awareness of race and white supremacy in the United States, So You Want to Talk About Race gives us the information, perspective, and context necessary to continue anti-racism work at Tufts. Oluo joined our very own Tisch College as a featured guest in our Distinguished Speaker Series!
PREZ LAWN PICNIC—SIX FEET APART
IN THE FALL SEMESTER, you have to soak up the sun before the September breeze sharply turns into an October chill. Tufts has a campus that is overflowing with green spaces and lush trees to perch upon: the picnic locations are vast and always picturesque. There’s nothing better than grabbing a couple of friends and eating a Pax et Lox chicken salad sandwich while sitting on a picnic blanket and facing a killer view of the not-so-distant Boston skyline. Great conversations are bound to happen on the Prez Lawn, but if you’re in the mood for some solitary introspection, sit back and relax on one of the colorful Adirondack chairs with your earbuds plugged in, and let yourself feel all the feelings.
ANDI BOE ’22
ENGLISH MAJOR FROM BURLINGTON, VT
An English major with a passion for fiction and Modernist writing techniques, a pre-medical student committed to physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes, a teaching assistant in a biology lab for incarcerated individuals, and a Dance with Parkinsons instructor enter a restaurant. “Table for one?” The host inquires. How could this be possible, you may wonder? Well, all of these diverse and impressive involvements describe the same multifaceted Tufts junior: Andi Boe ’22.
Hailing from the rural, college town of Burlington, Vermont, and immersed in the “NESCAC bubble,” Boe had always felt a certain longing to continue her studies in the Boston area. “I wanted green space, access to Boston, and access to things happening, but I didn’t necessarily want to be in downtown Boston,” she shares. Tufts, Boe describes, emerged as her top choice after one memorable interaction with a current student. “Every school always talks about how passionate their students are,” she reminds me, “and it always feels very scripted.” Boe recounts traveling to Medford to visit her close friend, a Tufts student, and being approached by another student who, out of authentic friendliness, struck up a conversation. “She asked what I’m into and then proceeded to tell me all of the things she’s working on and how everyone at Tufts is super interesting, but also [has] involvements outside of the classroom that makes them tick.” Boe regards this connection as her come-to-Jumbo moment, “This was a completely unscripted moment from someone who had no incentive to make me want to come to Tufts—that was truly her way of making conversation, and that really stood out to me.”
Entering college with a clear affinity for English and the humanities, Boe filled her first year schedule with literature and writing classes that interested her, but still felt something missing. Reflecting on a serious sports-related injury she sustained senior year of high school, she tells me, “I basically had an epiphany last year and had come out of that with an interest in physical therapy but thought that I had boxed myself in my whole life to be an English major.” She continues, “It was not at all too late to follow my passion for physical therapy, and at Tufts, I didn’t have to switch my major to do that.” Although some may suggest those two disciplines are mutually exclusive, at Tufts, students are encouraged to pursue a curriculum that excites them, while also being offered opportunities to integrate healthrelated prerequisites into their liberal arts studies. “It’s fun for me to be able to go do my labs, write my lab reports, and sit down and work on chemistry for many hours, and then when I need a break from that,” she laughs, “I’ll go write my essay for English.”
Beyond the lecture halls and laboratories, Boe continues to channel her passions and intellectual curiosity into her many other involvements and responsibilities. Specifically, Boe served as a teaching assistant and student advisor for the Tufts University Prison Initiative of the Tisch College of Civic Life (TUPIT). As a part of this initiative, Boe worked alongside Tufts professors at MCI-Concord to deliver educational coursework to incarcerated individuals, who after three years of successful study are eligible to receive an associate’s degree in the liberal arts. TUPIT continues to support incarcerated individuals after their release in several capacities. Boe adds, “A lot of people from our cohort inside are releasing now, and this organization works to create resources for them to get back on even footing.”
This summer, Boe interned at Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers, where she applied her interest for physical therapy to lead several inclusive fitness programs under the supervision of physical therapy staff, including Dance with Parkinson’s and Chair Yoga.
With this issue’s theme of “change” in mind, Boe admits that she has experienced profound personal growth throughout her time at Tufts. “In terms of right now, it’s been really interesting to see how my Tufts experience has changed from my first two years,” she continues. “My college experience has made me more confident, especially in my own ability to feel self-sufficient.”
At Tufts, Andi Boe has become the kind of student that inspired her to apply. —JOSH COHEN ’24
