The Tufts Admissions Magazine admissions.tufts.edu
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we, robot
Highlights from the robotics labs of Tufts scientists and engineers
hall pass Revealing results from a survey of dorm-dwelling Jumbos
top profs Three teachers you won’t want to miss
Why TUFTS? Personal tips to help you navigate the big decision
Type Cast tufts drama takes on the bard at the balch arena theatre Issue 5 SPRING 2013
Contents
the PRINCE OF STARTUPS BEYOND THE SCRUM
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“I was not about to miss an opportunity to get them to become better engineers.” eleven enviable internships
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“No matter what kind of week you’re having, belting out gospel music gets your spirits lifted every time.”
nine ways to use your charlie card
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“Now that’s putting descartes before the horse!” “at the end we all got certificates for life in elephant training.”
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Greetings
M Lee Coffin, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. Read the Dean’s blog at admissions.tufts.edu/blogs.
The Tufts Admissions Magazine
Office of Undergraduate Admissions Tufts University, Bendetson Hall 2 The Green Medford, MA 02155 617-627-3170 admissions.tufts.edu jumboeditor@tufts.edu On the cover: Ed Rosini ’16 of Montclair, NJ, in costume for Measure for Measure.
ost people think of a year
as a 12-month period as we take one big loop around the sun. Most of us think a year starts on January 1, with noteworthy nods to the Chinese and Jewish new years, among others. A school year starts on September 1 (or thereabouts), while accountants track the start of a new fiscal year on July 1. (I’m not sure why...) But college admissions follows its own calendar. Instead of 12 months, the typical admissions “year” is a 15-month journey running from February through May 1 of the following year. For three of those months (February, March, and April), two years overlap into a Venn diagram of recruitment, selection, and decision-making as high school seniors wind down and the juniors take flight. And, of course, some students contemplate a transfer application during this window, so, technically, three cycles converge during this complicated quarter. This issue of Jumbo embraces that admissions traffic jam and gives everyone something to consider. Whether you’re an accepted student pondering a seat in our Class of 2017, a junior who’s checking out
the options for ’18, or a transfer candidate for ’15 or ’16, there’s something in here for you. As always, Jumbo showcases the personalities that define our community and its vibe. We’ve highlighted people, programs, and organizations (I couldn’t think of a third, alliterative P) as varied as professors conducting research in robotics and Machiavelli, our Ultimate Frisbee squads and national champion women’s field hockey team, the 200-member gospel choir, and an entrepreneurial fraternity brother. Choosing your college is a very personal task. There are lots of numbers to guide you, but, in the end, your choice of where to enroll (seniors and transfers) or where to apply (juniors) reflects your instincts about “fit” more than your appreciation of the data that describes the place. Jumbo – and our coordinated website at admissions.tufts.edu – offers insight about the former (and a smidge about the latter). People matter as you weigh your options. Jumbo tells their stories.
Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
Meet the Student Communication Group This freshman team is here to give you the student perspective, so look for their voices throughout this issue.
Joshua Grelle Plano, tx
Imogen Browder C a l aba s a s , C A
Ma y a Z e i g l e r Law r e n c e v i l l e , G A
Possi b le Maj ors:
Pos sible M a jo r :
P o s sible M a jo r :
P o s s i b l e M aj o r :
P o s s i b l e M aj o r :
P o s s i b l e M aj o r :
P os s i b le Maj or:
International Relations and Chinese
English, Community Health, pre-med, minor in Drama or Media Studies
International Relations
Sociology and English s ec r et ho b b y: I like to watch and memorize Oscar speeches.
Mechanical Engineering with an Entrepreneurial Leadership minor s ec r et ho b b y: I love folding origami in a mathematical context! I’ve been experimenting with sonobe units lately.
Peace and Justice Studies and Environmental Studies
Climb the giant elephant statue in the middle of the academic quad.
Political Science or Economics f avo r i t e c l as s : My favorite class (by far) would have to be French. I really had a great semester with the best French teacher at Tufts!
advi c e f o r i n c o m-
t o p i t em o n t u f t s
Take classes that you told yourself you’d never take. Step outside your comfort zone.
b u c k et l i s t :
t o p i c o f l as t di n i n g hal l c o n ver s at i o n :
a d v i ce for incoming
College is one of the only times in your life where you get to be the “you” that you want to be, not the “you” that other people see you as. You get a chance to reinvent yourself. Don’t take that for granted. f r e shmen:
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t opic o f la st d in in g h al l co n v e r s a t io n :
The effect of my (English) accent on the way people see me, which led to a side conversation on the importance of international influences.
m o s t “ t uft s y ”
My bud, Thomas. He’s in a band that is a cross between screamo and rock (I think), wants to major in comp sci and philosophy, and has a penchant for singing loudly and speaking philosophically at any given moment.
fr ie n d :
Nic k W h it n e y A l ba n y , NY
t o p i t em o n t u f t s b u c k et l i s t :
i n g f r es hmen :
Wan Jing Lee Si n g ap o r e
Take a dance class, just because it’s the last thing anyone would expect me to do.
Ni k h i l S h i n d a y Sa n ta B a r ba r a , C A
How the moral of Alice: Through the Looking Glass is that paradigms are meant to be challenged.
Ma r y C r o s s C e n t e r C it y , m n
f a vori te c las s :
Intro to Philosophy. One minute we were debating the benefits of Utilitarianism, and the next, rearranging the desks to try to prove to our professor that we have free will. O ne w ord f or tuf ts :
Home
Infographic
Course Selection
start with your favorite high school class and see where it takes you
Entry Points
Next Steps
Mathematical Neuroscience
MATH 0150
Introduction to Finite Mathematics MATH 0014
Calculus
MATH 0016
PSY 0140
Mathematical Psychology
PHIL 0033
Logic
Symmetry COMP 0023
Game Development
ARCH 0163
Aegean Archaeology
World in Motion
HIST 0003
Slavery & Freedom in the Atlantic World
HIST 0102
History
EC 0063 Economics of the European Union
Making Social Change Happen
PJS 0111
International Law/ Current Events
INTR 0190
Literature of Chaos
WL 0150
Creative Writing: Fiction
ENG 0005
CHNS 0076
The Chinese Ghost Story
AP English HIST 0193
American Literature: First Contact to 1855 ENG 0023
BIO 0006
CLS 0045
Western Political Thought I
EOS 0004
Oceans Through Time
CEE 0136
Air Pollution Control
AST 0022
Stellar Astrophysics
From the Big Bang to Humankind
AP Biology CHEM 0008
Environmental Chemistry EN 0077
FAM 0035
Comparative Biomechanics
ITAL 0051
Dante’s Inferno
PHY 0010
The Physics of Music and Color
Figure Drawing
Studio Art
DR 0016 FAH 0031
Massachusetts and the American Revolution
Costume Design
Early Renaissance Italy MUS 0021
Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel
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Attention admitted students to the Class of 2017! C o m e t o J u m b o Da y s !
During any one of these three days in April, admitted students can sit in on a class, have lunch in our dining hall, hear from the dean, take a campus tour, and meet some really cool people, including many of the personalities in this magazine! Find more information online at admissions.tufts.edu/2017.
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Just another beautiful spring day on the Tufts campus.
Ins & Outs A Cappella Turns 50
National Champions When Tufts field hockey claimed its first DIII championship in 2012, it became the second Tufts team – and the first Tufts women’s team – to win an NCAA team title. Victory was especially sweet because it was the team’s third time in the Final Four with head coach Tina
McDavitt, who felt the pain of a double-overtime loss in 2008. The best indicator of a possible repeat next season was the performance of the team’s freshmen scorers. But in coverage in the Tufts Daily, players made clear that the win was “a total team effort.”
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number of women who enrolled in engineering for 2012–2013 Who run the world?
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Hanami
(Cherry Blossom Viewing) An end-of-year celebration for Intro to Japanese Culture with Professor Charles Inouye involves sitting under the trees outside Bendetson Hall, enjoying sushi, sipping warm sake (rice wine, for those 21 and over), and watching cherry blossom petals scatter in the breeze. Inouye tells his students, “If you resonate with these trees and feel the evanescence of life – the brief, fragile, quicklypassing nature of human existence – then you’ve come to understand the evanescence that lies at the heart of Japanese culture.” Throughout the 14-week semester, students have written a haiku, drawn a picture, and provided a reflection about their own journey through Kamo no Chomei’s Hojoki: Visions of a Torn World, Ihara Saikaku’s Woman Who Loved Love, and Haruki Murakami’s HardBoiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Inouye ends the course with a question, “If none of us can be sure about tomorrow, then how do we live today?” Very well, apparently.
In 1962, names like Chubby Checker, Elvis, and Dion topped the charts, and Tufts’ first a cappella group was born. All male, it was called the Beelzebubs. In 1963, the allfemale Jackson Jills came into the world. Since then, the Jills and Bubs have broken out on the national scene. The Bubs have been the voice of the Warblers on “Glee,” and they competed in the first season of NBC’s “The Singoff.” The Jills were mentioned by the band Fun. in their interview with Rolling Stone!
ExCollege Who Dunnit? EXP-0020-S: Forensic Science: An Exploration, Thursdays 6:00-8:30 PM This course integrates criminal investigation scenes and the modern crime lab to offer a study into the actual science of solving crimes. Topics include recognition of physical evidence, evidence collection, chemical and physical analysis of trace evidence such as hairs, fibers, bloodspatter, fingerprints, presentations of firearms,
fingerprints, shoe prints, and tire tracks. Professor James Jabbour, a retired police officer and current Director of the Forensic Science Program at Mount Ida College, teaches the course. He was involved in numerous cases that included crime scene recreation and reconstruction in preparation for presentation in court.
Spring Fling!!! The last Saturday in April features a campus-wide concert on the President’s Lawn. It’s called, you guessed it, Spring Fling. Tufts Programming Board handles the production, planning and running the show. Last year’s headliners: Guster, White Panda, and Lupe Fiasco – with the winner of Tufts Battle of the Bands as the opening act.
+ Mac ’n Grilled Cheese Invented and tested in the Tufts dining halls by Jumbo house chef Josh Grelle, this sandwich is the perfect blend of toasty crunch and creamy filling.
Ingredients 2 slices bread 2 slices Havarti cheese A few spinach leaves 1 scoop mac and cheese
Directions Make a grilled cheese on the Panini maker. The trick here is to put the spinach leaves on one side and the cheese on the other, so when you take your sandwich apart the bread doesn’t stick together. Once your grilled cheese sandwich is done, take it apart, put on the mac and cheese, and put it back together. Enjoy the cheesy goodness.
Funny Business A clown car’s worth of Tufts clubs are dedicated solely to making audiences laugh. Cheap Sox specializes in quick-witted improv comedy. The members of Major: Undecided write their own sketches, create their own costumes, and produce their own show twice a semester. The SNL-type cast of The Institute creates videos and live sketch comedy. And the fun-loving and hilarious children’s theatre group Tufts’ Traveling Treasure Trunk ventures to schools and hospitals in the Boston area. Seriously good humor.
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Profile
German studies major Eddy Santana ’13 talks life at home and abroad.
Tufts requires students to take
Tufts in Tuebingen is an 11-month
a foreign language. Why do you
long program.
think it’s important?
You can’t build deep relationships or a deep understanding of a language in less time. Just when you start to get the groove, you have to leave.
It is an increasingly globalizing world, and you open the door to speaking with millions of new people when you speak their language.
What skills did you gain? what’s most challenging about studying german?
The masculine, dative, and feminine words. Impossible to know every word, and without knowing you cannot have proper grammar. What part is most fun?
Accents. The subtleties of telling apart an accent from someone in a place like Dresden and someone, for example, in Stuttgart. They sound so different once you have a good sense of the language. You studied abroad in high school and at Tufts. Why?
Life is too short not to explore the world. The earlier you get the abroad bug, the more you see while you’re young. I can’t imagine having half the fun I did if I did this later on in life.
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Understanding of history, language, culture. Independence. I learned how to cook, take care of myself, watch out for others, travel, manage my time, think in a different language, put myself in others’ shoes, eat different foods, make friends, be persistent, and appreciate my family, university, and friends back home. any plans post-graduation?
Teach for America in Chicago. There’s no place like home.
Departments
Africana Studies THE NEWEST MAJOR TO HIT TUFTS, AFRICANA STUDIES EXPOSES STUDENTS TO THE HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA. ON OFFER THIS SPRING ARE CLASSES THAT SPAN THE DISCIPLINES THE SAME WAY THEY SPAN THE GLOBE.
Immigration and American Society SOCIOLOGY 70 No phenomenon is remaking contemporary societies more than international migration. This course provides an introductory look into the topic of, and the major debates surrounding, international migration, using the United States as a local lens.
Caribbean History HISTORY 118 The Caribbean as a pivotal region in global history. This course focuses on themes common to the different islands/colonies/ nations of the Caribbean, including the origins of colonialism, slavery, transculturation, religion, and nationalism.
Studies in West African Music MUSIC 172 Traditional and popular music of the Dagomba, Ewe, Mande, and Yoruba peoples are the focus of this course, which is grounded in the discipline of ethnomusicology.
West African Dance DANCE 69 Dances of Senegal, Mali, and Guinea involving domestic, agricultural, and hunting activities. Movements range from the highly aerobic to lilting to those that require a high level of physical coordination. Cultural context is a significant element of the course.
Race in America AMERICAN STUDIES 12 An examination of the meanings of race in modern America, the ways in which racism as a system functions, the root causes and consequences of racist ideologies, and current and future activist approaches to achieving social change.
Professor’s Note
Regionalism in Africa POLITICAL SCIENCE 180 Black World Literature ENGLISH 20 Fiction, poetry, and drama written principally in English by black writers from Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Relation of modern black writing to African folk literature, classical Greek drama, European existentialism, and other contexts.
The intersection of domestic politics and international relations in Africa: examination of regional economic communities, regionally based solutions to problems, and new regionalism in the post Cold War era. Particular attention given to state building and national sovereignty as they impinge on regional projects.
Elementary Swahili I SWAHILI 01 Essentials of Swahili grammar, vocabulary, syntax, and usage. Emphasis on active command of basic spoken and written Swahili.
“In Merle Hodge’s Crick Crack, Monkey, a book I teach regularly about a young girl growing up in Trinidad, the main character, Tee, says ‘books transport us.’ And in class, I invite students to be transported – to other worlds, to places not only geographically far away, but experientially and imaginatively different.” Modhumita Roy, Associate Professor of English and Director of Women’s Studies, professor of Black World Literature (above)
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Good Sports
The Ultimate Intro Whether you’re a serious high school player or a shy newbie when it comes to ultimate, Tufts men’s and women’s frisbee squads will greet you with arms wide open.
As new as Ultimate is to college sports, the tradition at Tufts dates back to 1972. Since then, the Tufts Elephant Men (Emen) and Elephant Women (Ewo) have built an outstanding reputation in USA Ultimate Division I. In 2012, the Emen finished fifth in the country. “That’s among all schools,” notes Emen captain Gene Buonaccorsi, a senior from Amherst, MA. The Ewo had an equally outstanding year, tying for third having been seeded 16 of 20 in the national tournament. “The other teams in the top four were the top three seeds, so we moved up a little bit, which was really awesome,” says cocaptain Hailey Alm, a senior from Atlanta, GA, who has been playing Frisbee since high school. Alm attributes the Ewo’s success partly to attitude. “We’ve had a mentality of wanting to be a fun team but really wanting to have that competitive edge.” Then there’s great coaching and a real commitment from both teams to teach new players disc handling skills, strategy, and the rules of the game in a systematic way. While Tufts attracts top high school players, Buonaccorsi says, “there’s room in our program for pretty much everybody.”
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sky
flick
Basic Lingo If you can’t talk the talk, how can you walk the walk? This introductory vocab list should make stepping on the field a lot less intimidating. d i s c Frisbee bac k h a n d Your basic
beginner throw. f l ic k The opposite of a
backhand. Players use the index finger, middle finger, and thumb to throw from their forehand side. h a n d l e r s Like quarter-
backs, players with the best throws who will spend the most time behind the Frisbee. h u c k A long throw down
the field, especially to a teammate running toward the end zone. s tac k The line of offensive
players, which can arrange
backhand
itself vertically or horizontally on the field, depending on the offensive strategy. m a r k The defender guard-
ing the player in possession of the disc. c u t Typically, a fast change
of direction or movement that a player on offense makes to evade a defender in order to receive a pass. s k y To catch a pass high
in the air, especially with an opponent nearby, as in, “She skyed her defender.” g o a l Like a “touchdown” in
football, a goal is scored in the end zone.
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Found
Hot Items Who knew you could learn so much about a place from a random assortment of objects and personal effects?
w h at : Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami w h e r e : mailbox
Before I came to Tufts, I told everyone how excited I was about the English department, which offers a class on Haruki Murakami. I’ve read several books of his, but not this one. A friend from home remembered and mailed it to me. -Wan Jing Lee
w h at : positive feedback w h e r e : dorm room door
My friends make signs to show their affection. Some of my best friends at Tufts made me this “GOOD JOB NICK!” sign after one of my first sketch comedy performances ever. -Nick Whitney
w h at : Tufts LGBT pin w h e r e : a plethora of bookbags
This tiny little pin exclaims that all are welcome here, and it is a daily reminder that Tufts is a community that accepts people as they are and provides resources for all social identities through the Group of Six: the Africana Center, Asian American Center, International Center, Latino Center, LGBT Center, and Women’s Center. Anytime I catch a glimpse of one of those bright pins I can’t help but smile, in love with my school for the compassion it shows. -Imogen Browder
w h at : piggy bank w h e r e : dorm room windowsill
w h at : Ugly Beatles Sweater
My roommate and I throw our loose Lincolns, Jeffersons, Roosevelts, and Washingtons into this jar. At the end of the year, we’re going to take the money and treat ourselves to dinner in Boston. (Or fast food in Boston). -Nick Whitney
w h e r e : goodwill
“Ugly” sweaters are a huge trend, and as the weather gets colder, Jumbos stampede to the sweater section of Goodwill. This one features the cover of the Beatles album, ‘Help!’ If that’s not a stellar find, I don’t know what is. -Mary Cross
w h at : Charlie Card w h e r e : most wallets at tufts
Tufts students are from all over the world and clamor for adventure, so a must-own is a Charlie Card, a oneswipe ticket to the fabulous city of Boston and amazing adventures just waiting to be found. -Imogen Browder
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Profile
what types of businesses are most interesting to study?
You can actually learn an awful lot from companies that fail. One of the problems when one uses case studies is that the vast majority are successful. There is more to be learned from case studies that have gone belly up. Enron is one of the classics. What’s interesting there is all the cases talking about Enron as ‘the new paradigm’ have now disappeared from the face of the earth. You can’t find those anymore. what other failed companies turn up in your courses?
In the course Organizational Design of Companies, I try to explain some of the major corporate scandals – such as at UBS, where the jury returned a guilty verdict, and various other banks. We look at a lot of cases where simple economic principles can explain what went wrong. Trying to pin down those principles is just fascinating.
cummings family chair of entrepreneurship and business economics
George Norman finds teachable moments in failure and success.
what can you learn from corporate success stories?
With major successes – tech companies like Google, eBay – the interesting thing is looking at how they generate cash. Apple is a company that nearly disappeared and is now one of the most successful companies anywhere. We also look at the really large successful companies like Walmart, where it’s this combination of price and quality that’s important – getting as much bang for the buck as possible. describe your tufts students.
Highly motivated, keen, and a lot of fun to teach. why?
The more you push them, the more they will react positively. For some strange reason, they seem to get my [Scottish] sense of humor as well.
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Profile
Economics is a hugely popular
how do you guys balance
major at tufts. did you choose it
startup, school, and sports?
before or after you arrived?
The balance is probably the hardest part, and it’s something we talk about a lot. We definitely sacrifice free time. We work on this at night and all day Friday.
After, and the one piece of advice I’d give incoming freshmen is to take as many intro classes as possible your first year. You’ll probably find something you love that you never thought you’d be interested in. I took a class on Web design last semester at the SMFA (School of the Museum of Fine Arts), and I never in a million years could have predicted that. web design should come in handy. tufts seems like a techstartup hub these days.
There are four startups being built within my fraternity alone. How’d you get into startups?
In August of 2011 a good friend of mine wanted to work on a startup together. We failed. But we learned a lot in a year. and now?
The new project we’re working on is for faculty. We realized there are a few problems in higher ed. Most professors are working on research that hasn’t been published. There’s nowhere to share what they’re working on and search for related work. We’re trying to build a platform to better connect them and foster a more interdisciplinary flow of information. sounds very promising.
We won the Montle Prize – a business plan competition at Tufts to support entrepreneurs. We won $15,000. who’s on your team, and how’d you meet?
It’s myself, Kenneth Cohen, and Mark Timmerman. Kenny was the first person I met on campus. He’s in a fraternity with a lot of my friends. I knew he was a developer and did coding. From there it’s history.
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did you pick up club rugby at tufts, too?
It’s the first thing I went for. I played soccer all my life and captained the varsity team in high school. I was attracted to the fact that rugby was a club sport. It’s not as demanding as varsity, but the team takes it really seriously. If you do well you make playoffs; really well, nationals. It’s a big deal. We were a Division III team that marched to the New England Championship game. We were ranked top 10 in the country. This season we’re Division II, having been bumped up to a tougher league. We’re pretty confident for next year. you have an unusual spring lined up. what’s the plan?
I am taking the semester off to work for a technology startup in Cambridge, MA. The CEO is a young guy who was at Google in his 20s, then worked in national security, then at a venture-backed startup in Boston. I’m ready to work full time and see that grind, struggle, and hustle I always read about. where do you see yourself in 10 years?
That’s a really tough question. Right now, I’m optimizing a skill set. In 10 years I hope to be working at a company that I will have started at 25 or 26 and that will be a behemoth – or something someone else is willing to pay a ton of money for.
Whether he’s on the field or promoting his latest venture, econ major John Brennan ’14 means business.
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Innovation
In labs that focus on human-robot interaction, visual systems, and biomimetic devices, Tufts professors are creating the jobs of the future. The best part: Tufts undergraduates are working handson with tomorrow’s technologies – today.
robot 16
A head, a face, expressive eyebrows, and eyes that blink enable the robot Cindy to convey social cues. Studies show they can induce a feeling of rapport between a human being and a 400-pound collection of metal, wire, and plastic.
Matthias Scheutz: The Robot Whisperer At this point in the history of robotics, getting a robot to respond to a command like “Open the window” is fairly simple. The next step is to develop a software brain that can make the cognitive leap from hearing, “Boy, it’s hot in here,” to asking, “Shall I open the window?” Arriving at that question requires the capacity for “abductive reasoning,” explains Professor Matthias Scheutz, Director of the Human-Robot Interaction Lab at Tufts. He and his team are the architects of a control system – an opus of algorithms and hundreds of thousands of lines of code – that enables robots to process natural language in just this way, and act accordingly. The humanoid robot Cindy (pictured) is just one test subject. Once perfected, the control system can be put to use in a variety of robots, enabling the average people-person to engage a robot in a tête-à-tête.
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Karen Panetta: Engineering for Good The work of Dr. Karen Panetta, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the Simulations Research Laboratory at Tufts, is intended to protect people from harm. Her patented algorithms run in airport security systems. Her advances in imaging have helped doctors detect breast cancer. These days, she is working with undergraduate researchers such as Francesco Pittaluga ’14 (quoted below) to rig inexpensive, toy-store bought Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS) with sensors and visual processing systems that can capture images, compare them to a photograph, and instantaneously recognize facial features – technology that could be used to find a missing
person. She is also teaching her students to create the brains for searchand-rescue robots – robots that could save people from burning buildings and gather data from radioactive or otherwise contaminated sites. What differentiates Panetta’s robot brains from others is sight and speed. “They see better than humans,” she says, “and they process information on-board in ‘real time.’” For a soldier in the field who has only seconds to identify an oncoming vehicle as friend or foe, the ability to enhance a cell-phone image on the fly, for example, can mean the difference between life and death. Panetta’s passion for creating technology to help rather than harm humanity deepened on September
12, 2001 – one day after three hijacked airliners killed thousands on U.S. soil. “I had a student interrupt me in class and say, ‘We shouldn’t be here today. We should all be holding a day of silence,’” she recalls. “I said, ‘It’s nice to be respectful, but my response to actions like this is to make better, stronger, and more robust systems, and to do that I need to create the future’s best engineers, and best critical thinkers.’ “Every moment that I have with them is precious,” she says, “and I was not about to waste one class to miss an opportunity to get them to become better engineers. And I have to say that that changed my entire research from that day on.”
“i’m an undergrad working on a project that will be demo’ed for the fbi. I don’t think you can do that anywhere else.” Francesco Pittaluga ’14, a computer engineering major from Miami, FL, is co-authoring a paper with Dr. Panetta on facial recognition and UAVs.
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Barry Trimmer: Inspired by Nature While professors Panetta and Scheutz rig software minds to hardware bodies, over in the Neuromechanics and Biomimetic Devices Laboratory (BDL), Principal Investigator Barry Trimmer and an interdisciplinary team of biologists and engineers are modeling soft-bodied robots after the caterpillar Manduca sexta. “I think of animals as living prototypes,” Trimmer explains. “A lot of what we’ve been doing is to develop technologies of the
future,” he says. “We do a lot of work with the caterpillar. But we’re taking it in lots of different directions, so when I say it’s very futuristic, one of the things we’re doing is we’re growing robots out of living tissue.” In Trimmer’s imaginings, a horde of organic robots, sustainably fueled by fat and sugar, could crawl through rainforest canopies surveying the biosphere. Thousands of them could be shot across a mine field, sending wireless signals that would enable
people to map the locations of the bombs. Task complete, the robots would biodegrade in the field. Other than the power to shape the future, another bonus for the many undergrads in the Trimmer lab is the 3-D printer. “We’re printing robots,” he says, enthusing about a new half-million dollar machine that prints soft parts. “They’re only as big as your hand, but they’re already built. You don’t have to assemble them. We get to play with this stuff.”
“In the lab you learn whether or not you love research. Tufts is great because there are tons of opportunities to figure that out.” Elise Ewing ’13 of Hopkinton, MA, used the Interdisciplinary Studies program to create a neuroscience major that combines math, biology, and computer science. She has been doing research in the BDL since her sophomore year.
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The Club Scene Jumbos who approach robots with a hobbyist’s spirit have two main outlets, and getting involved couldn’t be easier. One is the Tufts Robotics Club. The other is a popular service program called STOMP. Robotics Club president Quinn Wongkew ’14 of Salt Lake City, UT, got into the field in high school. “In the future every kid would like to be a roboticist,” he says. He names NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity and the space research of firms like Virgin Galactic as inspiration. The club, which holds meetings regularly attended by about 20 students, has been building chimney climbers and firefighter bots. STOMP (Student-Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program) pays Jumbos to model their skills for local K-8ers. Charlie Colley ’16 of Charlotte, NC, got involved after a chat with his orientation advisors, both seniors. “They said it’s a great job. So I put a résumé in and bada boom bada bing!”
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Living
Freshman Report Ahh, dorm living. for most, living in a residence hall is a new experience. There are no parents monitoring your study habits, no dorm mothers looking over your shoulder, no one to shout “lights out!” instead, you find yourself surrounded by strange neighbors who often become fast friends. who are these people? we sent out a dorm survey. what we got back is a candid snapshot of the kids in the hall. W h at s o u n d d o y o u h e a r at 8 : 0 0 A M o n a Sat u r d a y ?
“Those ambitious joggers out for a morning run.” Mary Cross
“The deep snores of Houston Hall, since 99% of us are asleep.” Elizabeth M. Burg
W h at ' s o n e t h i n g t h at y o u wi s h y o u c o u l d
d ai l y c o f f e e i n ta k e
cat - n ap attit u d e s
ci r ca d ia n r h y t h m s
have in your room? 3 cups
both
con
2 cups
early birds
1 cup
misc. our favorite answer: My Mom? by Vanessa Pinto
0 cups
pro
night owls
food-related our favorite answer: a donut machine by Aaron Berman Fernandez Room “rules”
decor-related with several respondents wishing for a disco ball
pets
“We don’t open the window if it’s below freezing.” Molly McLaughlin
“Room lights are turned off when someone is asleep, table lamps allowed!” Wan Jing Lee
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Housing Options a l l - f r e s h m e n o r m i x e d , a l l - f e m a l e o r c o - e d , u p h i l l o r d o w n h i l l – the possibilities are almost endless. You can choose the healthy-living option, or a
suite-style layout as opposed to a traditional hall. After your freshman year, you may even choose to live in the Arts House, Spanish Language House, Asian American House, or any number of other culture, language, or special interest houses on campus! Any way you slice it, you’re guaranteed fun dorm events like iPhone-photo-worthy open mic nights and weekly hall snacks...Yum!
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Top Ten
Awesome Internships There’s no better way to build a résumé than by doing an internship over winter break (A.k.A. a “Winternship”), during the semester, or over the summer. Tufts partners with employers around the country to make it easy. Here’s a list of this year’s top 10 internships – plus one for good luck!
NASA
Harper Collins Publishing English major and communications and media studies minor Lilly Lu ’15 recently completed a Winternship at one of the world’s leading English-language publishers, Harper Collins. Working under the senior director of publicity, Lu composed press releases for pre-published books and compiled tour sheets for traveling authors. The highlight, however, was the opportunity she had to view the colorful young adult fiction department. She was sent home with a tote full of 40 free books!
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee International relations major Kelsey Perkins ’13 performed many administrative duties as a legislative intern with the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. She also researched pending issues, attended briefings and hearings, and got an insider’s view of how U.S. foreign policy is made.
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is a philanthropic organization that raises money to support scientists doing the most innovative research around the prevention and cure of Alzheimer’s disease. A summer internship in the public relations office at the small nonprofit had philosophy and studio art major Madeleine Adelson ’13 updating the website, planning events, prepping publications for printing, and avoiding any and all coffee runs!
CBS Sports
Mad Men
JP Morgan
Mechanical engineer Riley Jack Meehan ’13 scored a full-time internship at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. That’s the lab that created America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958, and sent the first robotic craft to the moon! Riley was given an intensive summer project to spend the bulk of his time on, but he still took on a number of other tasks, from designing and analyzing instrument components to performing instrumental fieldwork.
American studies major Aaron Leibowitz ’14 spent his summer in New York City as the tape archives intern at CBS Sports – the cable channel known as “the 24-hour home of CBS Sports.” Leibowitz assisted employees, watched and reviewed tapes, and archived the collection. His favorite on-the-job experience, though, was playing on the softball team. Die-hard sports fans plus company athletics equals great connections. Home run, Leibowitz!
When Tufts stays connected to alumni with scintillating careers, magical things happen. That’s how it came to be that Lenea Sims ’15, a sociology and art history major and communications and media studies minor, landed a winternship in the art department of the Emmy Award winning AMC television series “Mad Men.” She helped create props in an effort to execute the set decorator’s vision and shadowed the show’s revered art director, Tufts alumnus Christopher Brown ’91.
Quantitative economics major and entrepreneurial leadership minor Jiajie (Charles) Su ’13 spent last summer at one of the oldest financial institutions in the United States, JP Morgan, working as a member of an internal consulting group for corporate technology. Their focus: the creation of a new idea-generation process. The most enjoyable part of the internship, according to Charles, was working with his small team (of about five people) and experiencing a close, cohesive office environment, even if working from 9 to 5 was a challenge!
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
The Seastanding Institute
An ideal mix of musical talent and business acumen has led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to be hailed among the best in the world. Hence its appeal to Angus Finlay ’14, a music and economics major who jumped at one of the many opportunities to intern for the CSO in areas from artistic to corporate. What the internship lacked in pay it made up for in concert tickets!
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Biopsychology major Noha Ahmed ’14 spent last summer in a cancer research lab working with mice. He extracted RNA, performed cell cultures, and did other lab work. Just as exciting as what he did was where he did it. MGH ranks number one in the U.S. News & World Report honor roll, and the Cancer Center weighs in it at number seven. So it’s an amazing place to do a very hands-on internship. Not to mention the fact that it’s in Boston, the greatest city in the world! (We’re not biased.)
As a software engineering intern at Google, computer science major Baturay Akaslan ’13 devolved software for AdSense (a system that allows publishers to serve automatic ads that are targeted to site content and audience) while enjoying the relaxed working hours and lack of dress code that shape the company culture. A string of Jumbos has interned at Google to date, contributing to everything from Google ad sales to Google+.
Imagine a world in which groups of people test out new models of government on floating cities. That’s the vision of this nonprofit think-tank. They gave economics and environmental studies major Baoguang Zhai ’14 an internship grant to initiate Project OASIS – Ocean Algae for Seastand Integrated Solutions – which researches the current state of aquaculture projects. The grant enabled him to rub elbows with some of the most fascinating visionaries and innovators around.
Arts
From the African American tradition of Christian music comes a group that is neither all African American nor all Christian. Tufts Third Day Gospel Choir invites everyone to join in songs of praise and celebration. Under Choir Director David Coleman, the 200-strong chorus sounds as good as it looks.
gospel choir in one word
Nakami Tongrit-Green ’14 Minneapolis, MN Maj o r : Child Development r o l e : Alto, Soprano Na m e :
Hometown:
b e s t t h i n g ab o u t g o s p e l c h o i r :
Our
director, David Coleman! fa v o r it e c h o i r s o n g :
“There’s a Lifting”
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Na m e :
Alex Choy ’14 Pleasantville, NY Maj o r : Biomedical Engineering r o l e : Tenor
Na m e :
Corey D. Christian ’14 Boston, MA Maj o r : Chemical Engineering r o l e : Musician – Bassist
Na m e :
Hometown:
Hometown:
Hometown:
It doesn’t matter what your faith is to be a part of the class. It holds upwards of 200 students from different backgrounds! Professor Coleman also keeps every rehearsal fresh with his great sense of humor. fa v o r it e c h o i r s o n g : “Jesus Is the Man VII” by Choir Director David Coleman
Being able to praise God through music with 200plus students. fa v o r it e c h o i r s o n g : “He’s Able” by Deitrick Haddon, Darwin Hobbs (Fall 2010); “I Need You To Survive” by Hezekiah Walker
Seeing people from all sorts of religious and ethnic backgrounds get together to sing really joyful (and catchy) songs. fa v o r it e c h o i r s o n g : “Jesus Is the Man, Part VII”
b e s t t h i n g ab o u t g o s p e l c h o i r :
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b e s t t h i n g ab o u t g o s p e l c h o i r :
Jacob Wessel ’14 Santa Monica, CA Maj o r : Political Science R o l e : Baritone b e s t t h i n g ab o u t g o s p e l c h o i r :
Joseph Rego ’13 South Kingstown, RI Maj o r s : Biology and Community Health R o l e : Baritone b e s t t h i n g ab o u t g o s p e l c h o i r : No matter what kind of week you’re having, belting out and rocking to gospel music with 200+ others gets your spirits lifted every time. fa v o r it e c h o i r s o n g : “He’s Able”
Emani Holyfield ’15 Pasadena, CA Maj o r : American Studies Mi n o r : Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies R o l e : Alto b e s t t h i n g ab o u t g o s p e l c h o i r : Besides David Coleman, who is one of the most talented, humorous, and passionate choir directors I’ve had, it creates a space where so many different types of students across race, religion, and major can get lost in a fusion of soulful, jazzy, Christian song every week. fa v o r it e c h o i r s o n g : “For You”
Na m e :
Na m e :
Hometown:
Hometown:
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Arts
“TOO MUCH POWER! TOO MUCH SEX! A WORLD OF EXCESS!” so EXCLAIMS THE FLYER FOR THE BALCH ARENA THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MEASURE FOR MEASURE. “WHEN TROUBLED STATESMAN DUKE VINCENTIO GOES UNDERCOVER AS A MAN OF THE CLOTH TO SAVE HIS REALM... HEADS ROLL AND HEARTS OPEN AS THE PLAYERS MOVE FROM HUMAN MISERY TO THE MYSTERY OF BEING HUMAN,” it says. WE SENT OUR PHOTOGRAPHER BEHIND THE SCENES TO REVEAL the mysteries of the ACTORS (INCLUDING FIRST-YEARS!) WHO POPULATE DIRECTOR SHERIDEN THOMAS’s millennial CAST.
Biology majors Elizabeth Maloney ’15 and Julia Ouimet ’14 patterned and constructed Miss Overdone’s costume using an original design created by Marnie Kingsley ’13.
measure for mea 28
clockwise from left
Evelyn Reidy ’16 Elmhurst, IL Maj o r s : English and Drama R o l e : Mistress Overdone (a madam) Na m e :
Hometown:
a r e yo u at a l l l i k e yo u r c h a r act e r ?
I can’t say I’ve ever owned a brothel, nor do I plan to. But I do love being in charge like Overdone is! w h at ’ s h e r b e s t l i n e ?
“Thus, what with the sweat, what with the gallows and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.” Na m e : T it l e : Role:
Sheriden Thomas Senior Lecturer and Head of Acting Director
W H AT ’ S D I FFEREN T A B OU T yo u r a d apta ti o n OF M E A S U R E F O R M E A S U R E ?
I sought to bring the context of a larger urban community to the play, so I asked the costume designer to help create characters from today’s urban reality: a bag lady, an Occupy guy, a community of prostitutes and cops. There is a ticker above the set with headlines that help bring the political themes of the play forward. Ryan Willison ’13 Newport Beach, CA Maj o r : International Relations m i n o r : Drama R o l e : Duke Vincentio (the lead) Na m e :
Hometown:
w h at ’ s yo u r fa v o r it e t h i n g ab o u t t u f t s ’ d r a m a d e pa r t m e n t ?
The department cares deeply about its students. Here at Tufts we have a wealth of student theatre -- we have the opportunity to act, write, direct, design and build sets, make costumes, etc. Because we spend so much time working together, it feels like a family. Jem Wilner ’16 Putney, VT Maj o r s : Drama and Biology R o l e : Angelo (the villain) Na m e :
Hometown:
w h at ’ s yo u r app r o ac h t o acti n g ?
Some people like to refer to actors as Shakespeare once did: players, if you will. I am one of those actors who fondly refers to my favorite pastime as not acting but mere playing. There have been countless times when I have been in important rehearsals and we all just let loose, which often results in side-splitting laughter leading to rolling on the floor in blissful pain.
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Arts
clockwise from left
Allison Benko ’15 Fairfield, CT Maj o r : Drama m i n o r : English R o l e : Isabella (a nun) Na m e :
Hometown:
w h at ’ s yo u r fa v o r it e t h i n g ab o u t t u f t s ’ d r a m a d e pa r t m e n t ?
Through taking classes and doing shows, you get to know almost every faculty member intimately. Drama faculty also go by their first names, which adds to the closeness of the relationship between students and professors. Yessenia Sabrina Rivas ’14 San Antonio, TX Maj o r s : Drama and Psychology R o l e : Francisca, Barnadine; the show choreographer Na m e :
Hometown:
w h ic h o f yo u r c h a r act e r s ca n yo u i d e n ti f y wit h ?
Barnadine. She is a very strong character and doesn’t let anyone decide her fate. Spencer Rubin ’13 Aurora, CO Maj o r s : Drama and Environmental Studies R o l e : Froth Na m e :
Hometown:
who is froth?
Froth is supposed to be an “Occupier” [as in Occupy Wall Street]. It is in his nature to question his surroundings, his government, his community. w h at ’ s Hi s b e s t l i n e ?
“I have never come into any room in a tap house, though I am drawn in.” Grace Oberhofer ’15 Tacoma, WA Maj o r : Music R o l e : Julietta; composer of original music Na m e :
Hometown:
o f t h e r o l e s yo u ’ v e p l ay e d , w h ic h i s yo u r fa v o r it e ?
I was able to play Juliet last year in Bare Bodkin’s outdoor production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and she had just the most lovely persona I think I will ever get to play on stage. Linda Ross Girard Lecturer and Costume Designer R o l e : Costume Design Supervisor/Mentor C o u r s e s Ta u g h t : Costume Design, Makeup Design and Application, Evolution of Fashion Na m e : T it l e :
w h at ’ s s p e cia l ab o u t t u f t s ’ d r a m a d e pa r t m e n t ?
One-to-one mentoring is available to students interested in design, and students with a superior work ethic have the potential to design a department production.
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from left
Marnie Kingsley ’13 Washington, D.C. Maj o r s : English and Art History m i n o r : Drama R o l e : Costume Designer Na m e :
Hometown:
w h at ’ s yo u r fa v o r it e t h i n g ab o u t t u f t s d r a m a d e pa r t m e n t ?
I was able to start designing as a freshman and work on a show every semester. a n d yo u r b e s t t u f t s e x p e r i e n c e ?
Seeing my costumes on stage during dress rehearsal is always a rush. Every time I am affirmed that this is what I want to be doing with my life. Edward Rosini ’16 Montclair, NJ Maj o r s : Drama and History R o l e : Pompey (Overdone’s barkeep) Na m e :
Hometown:
ca n yo u i d e n ti f y wit h p o m p e y ?
Well, he is a pimp, so absolutely not. But there are aspects of his character, i.e., how ridiculous, noisy, and genuinely happy he is, that I suppose I can relate to. He’s a rather interesting beatnik. w h at ’ s yo u r fa v o r it e t h i n g ab o u t t u f t s ’ d e pa r t m e n t ?
The people. It seems like a cliché answer, but everybody is so nice and so welcoming that even as a freshman, I feel like such a part of the family. The department is a wonderful place to be.
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Around Town
The Red Line
Somerville Theater
New york city has the subway; San francisco, the Bart; And boston, the ‘t’. get yourself a charlie card and choose your own adventure.
Seeing your favorite musician play a movie theatre? Yes, please! You’ll also frequent this spot for first-run feature films ($9). After the show, head downstairs and check out the Museum of Bad Art’s permanent collection (free).
Alewife Kickass Cupcakes
With cleverly named treats (Cinna Punk, anyone?) and cupcake flavors like Caramel Mochiatto, Cinnamon Chai Pecan, Eggnog, and S’mores, this place lives up to its name.
Davis Square (and Tufts!) You are here
Shaw’s Supermarket Living off campus and want to make dinner for your sociology study group or Tufts president Anthony Monaco – who is famous for accepting dinner invitations? Shaw’s is your friend.
Porter Square
Mr. Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers Bob Dylan is reportedly a huge fan of this half-century old establishment, which names menu items after people and things as famous as Dylan himself, e.g., Oprah, Barack Obama, and the iPhone. (“Siri-ously delicious.”)
photo by t55z from Flickr.com
Harvard Square
Improv Boston
Central Square
Toscanini’s The New York Times has called Tosci’s the world’s best ice cream. GQ magazine has ranked it among their top 10. Who are we to disagree? (Try the butter pecan. It doesn’t disappoint.)
Kendall/MIT
This town’s premier comedy troupe serves up high-energy improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy on the cheap, especially when you factor in the student discount. Laughs guaranteed.
Food Trucks Take the T to dine from a truck? It’s been done. And we’d do it again. The chickpea fritter sandwich from the famous Clover Food Lab truck is so big you should hold the side of rosemary fries for your second trip.
Beacon Hill
Charles/MGH
This quiet neighborhood of brick houses and cobblestone streets is a national historic landmark.
Boston Common and Boston Public Garden
Park Street To downtown
Pack a sandwich, grab some friends, and have a picnic under a weeping willow as you watch the swan boats go by in Boston Public Garden. You can also start a Freedom Trail hike from here. Just ask the tour guides outside the station. They’ll tell you where to go.
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Profile
How did you decide to devote your life to political science?
The biggest influence on me was an undergraduate seminar on Machiavelli. It occurred to me that I couldn’t think of anything that I would like to do more than teach and study works like Machiavelli’s Discourses and The Prince. Turns out I wrote my dissertation on Machiavelli, and now I teach my own Machiavelli seminars – just like I had as an undergraduate. What are you teaching this semester?
I am teaching two courses, neither of which is on Machiavelli. Shakespeare’s Rome, which is co-listed in political science and classics, examines the poem ‘Rape of Lucrece’ and the three Roman plays: Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, and Anthony and Cleopatra. We read those works in light of Shakespeare’s own historical sources, namely Livy and Plutarch. It’s a discussionbased class, and, believe it or not, there are a lot of downright heated arguments. The other one is a senior seminar, strictly in political science, on the political thought of the 18th century French political philosopher Montesquieu. I’m fascinated with Montesquieu, but I’m also writing a book on him. So I bring some of
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the problems of interpretation to my students, and we think about them together. My aspiration for the students who write the final paper is to make it an original contribution to the scholarship on Montesquieu. What’s your angle on him?
Everyone who reads Montesquieu knows that he is a critic of despotism, and that he often associates despotism with Eastern regimes. I am arguing that Montesquieu understands that there are various forms of despotic thought – not just despotic practice, but despotic thought. And he sees some of those despotic ideas as originating not in the East but in the West, from Europe itself. My book offers his critiques of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Plato, Aristotle, and some facets of Christianity, particularly the Spanish Inquisition. The upper-level undergraduates in the seminar can really help me engage with the topic in a very fruitful way. Can you describe your students in a word or two?
They think very creatively. They’re very conscientious, and they’re very, very bright. A seminar like this can create a real intellectual community where the excitement of one person affects other people. It’s an amazing experience.
What political philosophy classes should everyone take?
Political Theory I is a good introduction to some of the classics of the Western tradition. I’ve had really strong science students, for example, who’ve taken it and they make a really big impact in the class. And then students sometimes come into the class hoping just to fill a distribution requirement and end up being hooked. One of your raters on ‘Rate My Professor’ says, ‘She has groupies… that is how great she is.’ Do you pay attention to that kind of thing, Or do you just keep doing what you do?
I keep doing what I do. But I do like having really strong students around who are excellent interlocutors. It’s really fun.
Political science professor and chair of the classics department
Vickie Sullivan
has spun an undergraduate passion into an academic career.
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Stand Outs
Top Profs One way to go about choosing classes is to fly by course titles alone. Another is to bring a professor’s reputation into the equation; in which case, consider these three. Princeton review just ranked them among the top 300 professors in the country for teaching with clarity, humor, and style – and for being extremely well liked.
Professor and chair of Political Science
Robert Devigne Tufts had already conferred the Liebner Prize and the U.N.I.T.E. Award on Professor Devigne for excellence in teaching when news came of his recognition by Princeton Review. He delves into works by the heaviest hitters in Western thought – Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Rousseau, Nietzsche, Marx – with a passion that can make hearts race. “It’s thick reading,” he says. But his classes offer a combo of text and teacher powerful enough to change a student’s world view forever.
Senior Lecturer in Mathematics
Mary Glaser If calculus is your thing, Professor Glaser is the one to do it with. She’s known for clarity and going the extra mile when it comes to out-of-class help. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on graph theory. Plus, she has taught math teachers how to teach, so she knows every trick in the book for reaching every type of learner.
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy
David Denby If words like “metaphysics” and “ontology” make your ears perk up, you’ll find a kindred spirit in Professor Denby. If you think they’ll make your mind wander, take a philosophy course with him, and think again. If you start with his Introduction to Philosophy class, you’ll have the intellectual acumen to take a philosophical argument and break it down with the precision of a brain surgeon.
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Random Personal Facts
signature Courses
What to watch for
welded on the assembly
Western Political Thought II
flashes of passionate
Seminar: Political Philosophy of Nietzsche
hilarious personal
line of the Ford Pinto was mugged in Wisconsin
anger
anecdotes and wild, amusing tangents aggressive debates about justice, liberty, citizenship, oppression, war, and empire
struggles over whether to root for the Red Sox or the Yankees plays percussion
Calculus II Discrete Mathematics
Use of props to illustrate a concept (e.g., a target with Velcro balls; Russian nesting dolls;
Linear Algebra
a butternut squash)
cool accent
in South West England
Introduction to Philosophy
knows Schrodinger’s
Ethics
recorded two albums with her group, Right Time occasionally wears sushi earrings
grew up in Gloucestershire
equation by heart reads Welsh
morbid sense of humor puns (e.g., “Now that’s
Knowing and Being
putting Descartes before
Descartes to Kant
lines out his office door
the horse!”)
student opinion
Katherine Balch ’13, San Diego, CA
“Students love Devigne (or are wary of him) because he embodies the stereotype of ‘college professor’ – eccentric, outspoken, enigmatic, and rigorously academic.” Sarah Tavares, Tufts alum, Winchester, MA
“Glaser prepared me for the transition from Calculus to proofheavy math courses by using fun, hands-on methods and promoting teamwork.”
Minyoung Song ’13, Acton, MA
“Denby challenges you to acquire the skills necessary to transform complexity into simplicity and obscurity into clarity when analyzing philosophical texts.”
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Advice
Q
We asked Tufts alumni turned tufts admissions officers...
What made you pick Tufts? you’ve gotten into more than one college (congratulations!) or you’re beginning to navigate the college search. here are some insights into the finer points of decision-making from jumbos who’ve been in your shoes.
Daniel Grayson ’06 Associate Director of Admissions
Only one other student in my high school class refused to talk about SAT scores. I was an outlier, and I still recall how vexed some of my friends were when I refused to divulge my “number.” For nearly everyone I knew, the SATs were a source of immense curiosity. Curious about someone’s scores? Go ahead and ask them! You’ll forgive me if I think that’s gross. After the acceptance letters arrived, I boiled my choices down to two schools: Tufts and the University of I’m-Not-TellingYou (U INTY). I visited both, Tufts first. At Tufts, conversations seemed as likely to be about the rise of Teddy Roosevelt as The Princess Bride (or both at once). Everyone seemed relaxed, yet so frickin’ smart. I’d found a place filled with people who were my friends and just didn’t know it (yet). Expecting the same at U INTY, I instead endured a 35-minute discussion over lunch of who was getting what grade in which class – exactly the conversation I was hoping to flee. My experience senior year transformed my college search into a quest to find a place with smart people who do not measure others’ progress against their own. I wanted a school where grades came second, learning came first, and no one cares what grades you’re getting (except you, and maybe your professor). And that’s what I found, and what I think you’ll find, at Tufts.
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Naiara Souto ’12 Admissions Counselor
I grew up in Somerville, MA, a largely immigrant city minutes from the Tufts campus. Although I was surrounded by ethnic diversity, I often felt stifled by the lack of discourse among my friends and classmates. Everyone around me agreed – or just agreed to disagree – whether it was about politics, sports, or pop culture. Sitting in on a class at Tufts called Sociology of War and Peace opened up a world I had never been exposed to – a world where everyone respects each other’s opinions and students are not afraid to challenge each other and discuss sensitive issues. Learning about research that professors were conducting on the reconciliation process in genocide-ridden countries allowed me to realize that Tufts is a place that encourages students to be part of a community, but to also think deeply about what’s going on around the world and to realize that it’s our issue to deal with as well, even if it doesn’t directly affect us. I didn’t see the point of going to college unless I would be in a place where students were not afraid to say they were in favor of something even if everyone else was against it. For me, Tufts represented a chance to grow and to learn about different issues from the perspectives of people who actually experienced them and who wanted to create dialogue around those issues.
Matthew Alander ’08 Assistant Director of Admissions
I wasn’t out in high school. Repressing such a big part of your identity can be a huge burden, and to me, college was an oasis on the horizon. I was excited by the thought of being out and proud. Not that being gay was my defining characteristic. I was a varsity cross-country runner, a political junkie and addicted to the show “Survivor.” (Give me a break, it was 2004). I was looking for a school and community where being gay, straight, or bisexual didn’t matter; where being “normal” encompassed a wealth of sexual orientations. When I arrived at Tufts, I knew I had found my new home. Tufts allowed me to be me. People didn’t see me as just being a gay man, or just a runner, but as a fellow member of a dynamic, vibrant, and playful community. I could engage in political conversations at 2 a.m. with my suitemate who was a “proud independent” and be pushed to defend my decidedly liberal views by my political science professors. It’s the people that make Tufts a special place. Once on campus, I joined the varsity cross-country and track teams, which I found to be a microcosm of the larger Tufts community. I had teammates from all over the country and the world, with different majors, identities, and backgrounds, coming together to train hard, have fun, and support one another. That’s what Tufts is all about.
Q
We asked members of our student communication group...
Why Tufts?
Nikhil Shinday ’16 Santa Barbara, CA
Maya Zeigler ’16 Lawrenceville, GA
While I thought a lot about school size, the credentials and quality of the faculty, and opportunities to do research, there are a few things I didn’t consider when college-choosing that I should have. For example, food didn’t seem like a big deal. But everyone needs it to survive, so beware the dining halls! Tufts ranks among the best dining services in the nation, a fact for which I am grateful three times a day. Academically, in addition to the quality of the faculty, access to professors is also important. As teachers of a craft that they have mastered, professors are the gateway to your education. Getting to know your professors is fun and leads to opportunities like internships, jobs, and great networking. Then there is location. Having a “big city” nearby is fantastic, and something I should have looked for in every university. Overall, though, my advice is to start thinking about what makes you tick. Find those passions and you’ll find the institution that you click with!
Nick Whitney ’16 Albany, NY
I asked myself a set of questions when comparing colleges: Will the people that help me actually care about me as a person? Will the friendships I make last the rest of my life? Will I feel at home? And, most importantly, will I be happy? I applied Early Decision to Tufts and received my acceptance on December 17, 2011, at 3:01 p.m. I chose Tufts because I could envision myself being happy here. Tufts is where I can be friends with students from all over the globe (as I am now) and get a taste of so many different cultures right here on campus. I take classes that aren’t offered anywhere else, with professors that genuinely care about my success. Tufts is where the term “unexpected enthusiast” applies to every one of my peers, because we have interdisciplinary academic interests and truly care about what is happening in the world around us. I am forming relationships that will last a lifetime. And I can’t wait for where Tufts will take me next.
Two weeks before decision time, a current Jumbo emailed me. I told her I’d made a pro/ con list between two schools and couldn’t decide. That’s when admissions officer Daniel Grayson decided to chime in with a book suggestion. At a time when I was neckdeep in college decision–induced stress, this admissions officer had the audacity to say: “Here, read this book.” The book was about decision-making, and in essence Dan was telling me to relax and see if, in the coming days, an answer floated to the surface. Dan’s response was indicative of the “Tufts vibe” as it exists for me. Caring, helpful, energetic, brimming with intelligence – it helped me validate my struggle and forced me to listen to my own passion, my own voice, my own feelings. Tufts is a community quite like this: Intelligent beyond belief, but filled with people who are always looking to help you take that next step. It’s a collaborative community. We’re a community of thinkers, but it’s not all textbooks and equations – it’s passion and heart and feeling.
I chose Tufts because... ...though I was unsure
...I wanted a school
...Tufts draws people
...the people are so
of whether I could
that would take the
who are apprecia-
cope with the work,
whole Imogen and
tive of life, funny,
friends and have such
genuine, encouraging,
a positive energy about
social scene, and winters in Boston, I found out that everyone shares the same concerns. W a n J i n g L e e ’ 1 6
respect me for my oddities. Imogen Browder ’16
accepting, and always
open to making new
them. Everyone has little
willing to talk about new ideas.
twists and surprises, and you never
Ma r y c r o s s ’ 1 6
know when you’re going to find them. Josh Grelle ’16
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Programs With nearly 150 majors and minors, 30 interdisciplinary programs, and the courses of the ExCollege, Tufts’ offerings require more than a brief skimming. You’ll find an expansion of this quick list on our website. In the meantime, skim away. Just note that Tufts undergraduate programs are offered in two schools: Arts & Sciences and Engineering. You can choose majors and minors in either or both schools – and many students do. You may even transfer from one school to the other.
School of Arts & Sciences Majors *available as a second major
Africana Studies American Studies Anthropology Applied Mathematics Applied Physics Arabic Archaeology Architectural Studies Art History Asian Studies Astrophysics Biochemistry Biology Biomedical Engineering Sciences Biopsychology Biotechnology*: Tufts professor Michael Levin has found a way to make tadpoles grow eyes near their tails instead of at the front of their heads.
Chemical Physics Chemistry Child Development Chinese Classical Studies
Cognitive and Brain Sciences Community Health* Computer Science Drama Economics Engineering Psychology/Human Factors English Environmental Studies*: Over
The only person known to have bested Socrates in an argument was his wife Xanthippe.
research interests include
*available as a second major
100 Tufts students from
anime (Japanese animation) and
Professional Degrees Biomedical Engineering: Tufts
engineering, urban planning, environmental studies, media studies, and policy helped to create a solar powered house in the 2009 Solar Decathlon.
French Geological Sciences Geology German Language and Literature German Studies Greek Greek and Latin History Interdisciplinary Studies International Literary and Visual Studies International Relations Italian Studies
See Philosophy
Japanese: Tufts Professor of Japanese Susan Napier’s
manga (Japanese comics).
Judaic Studies Latin Latin American Studies Mathematics Middle Eastern Studies Music: The music department
professor Qiaobing Xu is currently investigating drug delivery as a tool to stimulate host immune system for cancer vaccine applications.
years were warless. that’s
Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering: the Dart
why this department teaches
project (Document Analysis
students how to work toward
and Recognition at Tufts) is
nonviolent social change.
working toward intelligent
staged 106 events in 2012.
Peace and Justice Studies: only 230 of the past 3,500
Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Psychology/Clinical Concentration Quantitative Economics Religion Russian and Eastern European Studies Russian Language and Literature Sociology Spanish Women’s Studies
Five-year Combined Degree Programs Tufts/New England Conservatory: BA or BS and Bachelor of Music Tufts/SMFA (School of the Museum of Fine Arts): BA or BS and Bachelor of Fine Arts
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School of Engineering Majors
computer understanding of printed media. The research covers a variety of fields, including Natural Language Processing, Fuzzy Logic, and Digital Image Processing.
Environmental Engineering Mechanical Engineering Additional Degree Options Architectural Studies Biomedical Engineering* Biomedical Sciences* Biotechnology* Engineering Physics Engineering Psychology/Human Factors Engineering Science Environmental Health
Outside Ballou Hall, a class makes the most of a mild day in autumn.
Minors Africa in the New World Africana Studies Arabic Architectural Engineering Architectural Studies Art History Asian American Studies Asian Studies Astrophysics Biotechnology Engineering Chemical Engineering Child Development Chinese Cognitive and Brain Sciences Computer Science Dance: Not sure about what dance class to take? Try West African Dance with Professor Gregory Coles. check out page 9 for more details!
Drama Economics Education
Engineering Education Engineering Management Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies Engineering Science Studies English
Italian Japanese Judaic Studies Latin Latin American Studies Latino Studies
Philosophy: The only person known to have bested Socrates in an argument was his wife Xanthippe. Think you can join Xanthippe’s ranks? Take Plato’s Socrates with Professor Ioannis Evrigenis in an attempt
W04d3R2NG W73 2OU C2N R35D !H6S? S e e Li n g u i s tic s
Entrepreneurial Leadership Film Studies French Geoengineering Geology Geoscience German Greek Greek Archaeology Greek Civilization Hebrew History
Leadership Studies Linguistics: W04d3R2NG W73 2OU C2N R35D !H6S? Try taking Reading, Dyslexia, and the Brain with Professor Maryanne Wolf.
Mass Communications and Media Studies (CMS) Mathematics Medieval Studies Multimedia Arts Music Music Engineering
to understand how Plato viewed his teacher.
Physics Political Science Religion Roman Archaeology Roman Civilization Russian Sociology Spanish Studio Art Urban Studies Women’s Studies
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Profile
congrats on becoming the 2012 massachusetts woman’s epÉe champion! what’s your strategy as you head into a bout?
I tend to observe practice on the sidelines to figure out my opponent’s weaknesses and gauge whether they are aggressive or defensive. In high school, I was a defensive fencer. I waited for my opponent to fall for a fake lunge or go off target before I took advantage of the situation. College fencing is very different. I am working to become more aggressive so that I can change strategies based on my opponent’s style. how else do you think college fencing compares to high school?
Some of the set-up is different, like they have to test the weapon. The atmosphere is very different because in high school some people were doing it just because it was fun, but in college it’s a lot more serious. The atmosphere of having your fencing team as kind of a second family is pretty much the same. I love them. You may be the only jumbo who has a legitimate claim to being a certified elephant trainer. what’s the story?
I took a teen travel tour to Laos and Cambodia in high school. (I worked as a grocery store bagger and carter all sophomore year to help pay for it.) At an elephant camp in Luang Prabang, Laos, we got to ride them, sleep next to the them, wash them. At the end of the experience we all got certificates for life in elephant training.
en garde! tufts fencing champion and Elephant Trainer (!) kathERINE higgons ’15 wields her epÉe with a smile.
Jumbo Sightings Tufts students can’t look at elephants without seeing Jumbo. If you’ve spotted one lately, send an email with your photos and captions to jumboeditor@tufts.edu.
Here is a Jumbo made from the old admissions viewbook.
t u f t s ca m p u s :
While waiting in line to get into the Musée D’Orsay in Paris, I was able to take some shots of this amazing sculpture of a trapped elephant. Paris, France:
Colin Meade ’16 S h a n g h ai , C h i n a :
I bought this in a small boutique in Shanghai the summer before I came to Tufts!
Hyung-Seo Park ’15
Pooja Sivaraman ’16
A r d s l e y , NY :
Hailing from India, New York City, and Medford, my Jumbo collection is just one testament to my Tufts pride. Allie Wainer ’16
ic e s k ati n g r i n k ,
i n d ia n r e s ta u r a n t ,
A mug my friend bought from an Indian restaurant. At least from what I’ve heard, it is an Indian elephant god named “Ganesha.”
boston, MA:
h o u s t o n , t x : My sister bought him for me right after I received my acceptance, and since then I take him with me everywhere I go. Phuong Ta ’16
Zhuangchen Zhou ’16 T UF T S C A M P US : My friends and I decided to celebrate the first day of snow by making a baby Jumbo!
Ma r i e tta , G A :
One of my best friends made this Jumbo painting for me right before I left for college.
Greg Ah-Fenne ’16
Hira Qureshi ’16
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Playtime Jumbo Crossword: Search the magazine for answers! Across 1. Adam Smith was one; an aristocrat wears one 6. went with Romeo 10. modern message 11. S in CSI 13. Tufts town 16. second yr. student 17. chickpea fritter, in the Middle East 19. Shakespearean king 20. ’60s ad drama 21. Hello, in Swahili 24. partial sports spectator 25. Spanish for “Spanish” 28. partner to either 29. T in TFA 30. Fencing sword 32. 3.14, if you could eat it 36. pilotless plane 37. Machiavelli’s tutee 38. goes with cheese 39. singer ___ Fiasco 40. German capital 41. a.k.a., CV 42. Fraternity __ (punny!)
Down 2. S in NASA 3. Abbey dweller 4. Boston baseball wear 5. e.g., painting, dance, drawing 7. “Time,” in Italian 8. As You Like __ 9. “Hail ___” (think ancient Rome) 12. Yo-Yo’s instrument 14. type of African drum 15. Boston’s BART 16. fourth-year student 17. Guster tune 18. Southeast Asian home to Vientiane 22. partner to both 23. A step lower than a soprano 24. French for “French” 26. path to MD 27. partner to neither 31. Rowling’s brainchild 33. Y’all leave, Shakespeare style 34. Oscar winning robot 35. small-scale econ.
Sudoku
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Answers on inside back cover
Credits
Equal Opportunity
Cover: Kelvin Ma/Tufts University.
Applicants for admission and employment, students, employees, sources of referral of applicants for admission and employment, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with Tufts University are hereby notified that this institution does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veteran status, or national origin in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries or complaints concerning Tufts University’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, or Section 504 is directed to contact the Office of Equal Opportunity on the Medford/Somerville campus, 617-627-3298 or 800-611-5060 (TDD 617-627-3370). This office has been designated by Tufts University to coordinate the institution’s efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Section 504. Any person may also contact the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202, or the Director, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region One, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, regarding the institution’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, 34 C.F.R. Part 100; Title IX, 34 C.F.R. Part 106; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 45 C.F.R. 90; or, Section 504, 34 C.F.R. Part 104.
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