#Cornell (Government) vs Tufts (IR)

224 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

finite radish
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Schools: Cornell University and Tufts University
Intended Major: Government (Cornell) and IR (Tufts)
Similarities: Cost, Arts and Sciences course offerings, study abroad, DC programs
Costs: Similar for both, around or just under 100k total cost for both, around 70k for tuition, travel maybe slightly less for Cornell due to proximity

Cornell:
Pros: Ivy League Prestige, best dining in the country, not too far from home, big beautiful campus, strong alumni network, DC study/internship program taught by Cornell faculty, D1 athletics, wide range of studies, programs/institutes in NYC, good language offerings, can concentrate in IR within Gov major
Cons: No IR Major, which is my main interest, however there is a minor through a center for global studies. Large Greek Life scene (1/3 of students) which I’m not interested in, far from major cities/hubs

Tufts:
Pros: Highly rated IR program, IR Grad School (4+1, research, undergrad classes), 25 minute T ride into Boston (costs included), campus in Talloires, France (and other study abroad programs), smaller size, I’ve heard some IR professors literally authored the textbooks used, smaller Greek life scene (<10%)
Cons: more niche/less well known than Cornell, average dining, further from home, D3 athletics

Potential tiebreakers:
More info about undergrad experience, what course load may look like, career opportunities, info about IT minor experience at Cornell, overall thoughts from the community

Preferences:
Anti-Greek Life, good food, career certainty/optimism, study abroad, intramural sports

I’m all ears, I’d like to hear as many thoughts as I can.

dreamy pier
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Tufts is really great for career

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They’re regarded super well by employers and have made high spots on lists by Forbes and LinkedIn

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I am from Medford so I am completely biased towards Tufts, but I think the social life will be a lot better here

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Also, the food around Tufts campus is superb and obviously the Boston area has way more options than Ithaca

silent sonnet
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Ama for cornell pre law

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Doing 3+3 here

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Greek life is def not that big tbh

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Most disaffiliate by junior year

dreamy pier
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I also think the Cornell language program is probably really strong but I was also really impressed by the language professors at Jumbo days and language is a core liberal arts requirement for CAS @ Tufts

zealous moth
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Seems like Tufts fits your academic goals better. It's still really well known. How much does athletics matter to you? Yes, Cornell is D1 but like... not great at much...

dreamy pier
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Versus Tufts being the champion of the NESCAC in most sports

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They're one of the top D3 schools and they've been NCAA D3 basketball champions for two years in a row I believe

finite radish
finite radish
zealous moth
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So IM/club has nothing to do with NCAA. You will miss out on the good Cornell hockey, but in Boston you have a bunch too

finite radish
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Tufts does play against all the other Boston schools in club sports which is pretty cool

zealous moth
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and further! I played them

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their club soccer was good

dreamy pier
zealous moth
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Honestly, I had fun visiting both, though I visited Tufts way more. I ALWAYS had fun there

dreamy pier
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If you like hockey you definitely should go to Tufts

silent sonnet
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What sport in particular

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Club sports r very good here just relatively competitive for many, good travel

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Intramurals r very fun

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Also is it same COA

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If u want to do law school, def can matter imo

finite radish
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Is there club track/xc?

silent sonnet
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Cornell pickleball is randomly extremely good, goes to nationals every year

finite radish
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Cornell is a great place for running

silent sonnet
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Yeah club track/xc is very big

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A few of my friends do it

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Big marathon a lot of them do in the fall

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Ik my friend has a 77 mile race next week for run club

finite radish
silent sonnet
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7 people 77 miles around the falls

finite radish
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And bowling/rock climbing seems cool

zealous moth
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Have you visited both?

finite radish
zealous moth
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Can you? Sounds like Cornell is close by

dreamy pier
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It's a big thing each year

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and of course there's NESCAC hockey

zealous moth
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Though Beanpot tix are nuts

dreamy pier
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true 😭

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i've never actally been because of that

finite radish
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I feel like housing is similar

zealous moth
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Same

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I'm also biased because I didn't like Cornell as a high schooler and loved Tufts, and worked there lol

dreamy pier
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in your 3rd/4th year

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I'd assume Cornell has on campus housing??

silent sonnet
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Usually fresh/soph live on campus

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Juniors and seniors go off

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But u can do all four years if u want

dreamy pier
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oh so that's similar to tufts actually

silent sonnet
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Most people wanna do apartments tho for experience

dreamy pier
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Tufts you'll probably live in South Medford/Ball Square/College Av & Davis area in a triple-decker apartment

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Because that's what is around for housing

finite radish
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For first years it seems like maybe tufts has some better (professors row) and some worse (roaches) but on average they’re pretty equal

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I’ve also heard Tufts students say they only go into Boston maybe once or twice a month

zealous moth
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What does that mean to you?

finite radish
zealous moth
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Gotcha

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My read on that is more that they don't need to

finite radish
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Maybe some people make more of an effort to go and explore

dreamy pier
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You can go in every day if you want

zealous moth
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especially now that the train goes straight to campus!

dreamy pier
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There have been weeks where I've been in Boston every day of the week

dreamy pier
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Not having to deal with the 94 every time I want to go in

zealous moth
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I was always so irritated when I had to go to Medford campus

finite radish
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They should have an express train that goes straight into Boston and skips stops on the way

dreamy pier
finite radish
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They have one like that from Chicago to Northwestern

dreamy pier
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But only when it's bunched

finite radish
dreamy pier
low quest
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Im assuming (?) u got into cornell for Arts, so feel free to also ask me any Qs abt the Arts college or any experiencial ones riley couldnt answer if any exist

dreamy pier
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There is technically a one stop ride from Boston to Medford but that's the commuter rail and it goes to West Medford

silent sonnet
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Club sports

finite radish
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It’s not just sports I promise

silent sonnet
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DIDNT ask me any questions about academics 😭

finite radish
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What’s your major?

silent sonnet
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lol ik ur fine

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Just funny

low quest
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  1. On the greek, u rlly dont feel it unless u want to
  2. Im info sci major so feel free to ask me anything on that minor
  3. Community is very very collaborative imo
  4. Courseload is what u make it in Arts
silent sonnet
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Considering tufts is also arguably not known for sports at all

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Hotel, going to law school this fall tho

low quest
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Holy cook !!

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So big girl to say its insane work

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😭

silent sonnet
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I FEEL SO OLD BRO

finite radish
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Is it easy to transfer between colleges?

silent sonnet
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depends on transfer

low quest
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yeah from Arts decently ok

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Unless ur tryna get into Dyson

finite radish
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Arts to Brooks?

low quest
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Or Brooks

silent sonnet
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Going into brooks and Dyson r only hard ones

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Bc brooks is tiny

low quest
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Theres public policy major in arts college

silent sonnet
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Ik people that did arts to brooks tho

low quest
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So not much necessity to fully switch but i get it if cornell in wash is a desire

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I thought that was a freshman fall thing tho

finite radish
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Switching to Brooks would lowk save like 20k-30k

low quest
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ah

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Dont tell them that

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lol

finite radish
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But I’m not too concerned about that

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I feel like Cornell has more aura

low quest
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Lol

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Cornell is a lot bigger

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Too

finite radish
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But again Tufts does have a top IR program

low quest
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whats ur main dilemma

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R u just looking for factors from cornwll that make up for the IR “loss”?

finite radish
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It feels like Cornell is better in almost every other aspect

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Except IR

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So maybe a better overall experience

low quest
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Oh u meant the IR minor

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Not rhe IT minor

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😂

finite radish
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Did I say it?

low quest
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My b if u alrdy found this urself

low quest
finite radish
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And I’ve never met a student who actually does it

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When I’ve visited

low quest
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7years ago

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But some content i guess

finite radish
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Cornell in Washington is really attractive to me

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Plus it’s taught by Cornell faculty

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Tufts in Washington runs through American University

silent sonnet
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CIW is great

finite radish
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Which is also good for IR but I feel like Cornell Faculty + DC is a better combo

silent sonnet
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Lot of friends who have done it

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Only in spring/summer if not brooks just fyi

low quest
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Does tufts also have comparable abroad programs

finite radish
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Do you know about the institute of politics and global affairs

finite radish
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But tufts does have a “campus” in France

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Where you can go over the summer and take 2 courses for credits

silent sonnet
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The Steve Israel one yeah

finite radish
silent sonnet
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Know that CIW won’t give u internships directly

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You gotta find on own

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But they have people to help

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And intern contact lists

finite radish
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So they help you apply and stuff

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Are career fairs really big/valuable

silent sonnet
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Alum network + clubs>>>big career fairs for any uni

finite radish
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I feel like Tufts also has a lot more people interested in IR and a more robust department

silent sonnet
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Then go tufts

finite radish
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But I like everything else about Cornell

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As you can tell I’m pretty torn

silent sonnet
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and whatever else ur interested in

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Those r just prob the biggest directly IR orgs

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Lots of other cool study abroad’s besides CIW too

finite radish
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Which sounds cool

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I also spoke to a dude who got to study abroad at Oxford for the whole school year

finite radish
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If anyone wants to chime in

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My main dilemma is that Tufts is better for IR but Cornell had been my dream school my entire life and maybe ivy prestige would make up for lower ranked program

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And Cornell has delicious food

zealous moth
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You'll get a totally fantastic education either place

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The focus may be aLittle different, but realistically you'll have tons of options for courses to shape it

dreamy pier
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Tufts is better if you are incredibly passionate about IR and you think you’d be upset and maybe a little bored if you couldn’t get all of the IR you want

zealous moth
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Any idea big picture what you want to do?

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Remember, majors aren't jobs

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And there's always a masters at Fletcher or something

finite radish
finite radish
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Recap:
Interest: International Relations

Cornell: doesn’t have a major but has a minor, Ivy Prestige, strong alumni network, great dining, and great campus

Tufts: Has a highly rated IR major, has a Grad School, has more people interested in the same thing as me, has proximity to Boston, but food/campus are more on the average side

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Still open to hearing others’ thoughts

zealous moth
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What happens if you take meaningless prestige away? Area around tufsts also has great food.

I also don't get going to a school that doesn't have your major

finite radish
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I think their DC study/intern program may be better as well

dreamy pier
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you can get IR opportunities here in boston

atomic sluice
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Does having a grad school matter?

finite radish
atomic sluice
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It sounds to me like you prefer tufts in your heart but

finite radish
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My heart is torn

atomic sluice
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Have you visited both

finite radish
atomic sluice
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How set are you on IR?

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Many college students change majors

finite radish
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Im pretty sure I want to be in the poli sci umbrella

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I applied to every school with an interest in IR

atomic sluice
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Got it

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It’s tough since I don’t know much about either school

dreamy pier
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as a medford resident i can confirm that tufts area food OUTSIDE the university is great

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and you can use your dining dollars at places outside tufts

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also Fletcher is an incredibly strong grad school

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and I think that Tufts IR and gov is probably equally strong if not stronger than Cornell

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also consider the mental health aspect

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cornell is not known for having the happiest students

silent sonnet
dreamy pier
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but I always know Tufts students to be very chill and happy

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Cornell students could be the same and probably are

finite radish
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Cornell gives you $400

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Also the meal plan is over $1000 less and the food is better, you get unlimited swipes, and far more “cash”

gaunt bolt
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Deff Cornell

dreamy pier
silent sonnet
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Could def criticize Cornell’s meal plan like any other

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If it’s rly IR and they don’t think cornell has, go tufts imo

dreamy pier
silent sonnet