Euphoria. That was what struck me atop of the stage as I wiped my hands on the side of my happi, a traditional Japanese straight-sleeved coat. I bowed deeply with my teammates, letting our hachimaki, stylized Japanese headbands, droop down towards the stage. As I raised my head up, for the first time during the whole performance, I noticed the one thousand set of eyes, the flashing spotlights, and the cheer of the audience. As a committed runner and a...

Out of all of the schools I visited, Tufts was the only one who had students (other than campus tour guides) who told me they loved the college community they lived in. Strong academics in a place where students genuinely love their everyday nerdy endeavors? There’s no reason I wouldn’t apply to Tufts. Oh, and I also couldn’t forget the hills. Runners, like me, generally love hills, so that was definitely a plus.

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The Tufts interview I had was extremely low-key. I discussed my...

I visited colleges in the Boston, Philadelphia, NYC,...