Building Bridges Before you Arrive: How I Connected with Faculty at Tufts
Starting graduate school can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re planning everything from a different country or state. But one of the most comforting and empowering parts of my Tufts journey began even before I set foot on campus: connecting with faculty.
When I submitted my online application for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, I was excited but also full of questions. What would my academic path look like? Was I choosing the right concentration? Could I even reach out to someone about it?
Turns out—yes, I absolutely could. At Tufts, faculty are not just approachable; they welcome connection.
I decided to email Ryan Redmond, the Director of the MAT program, and to my surprise (and delight), he responded warmly. What followed was an incredibly supportive and informative experience. Ryan didn't just answer my questions; he set up a time to interview me. During that conversation, he took the time to understand my background in applied linguistics and recommended that I consider the ELA track rather than social studies. It was advice that changed the direction of my graduate journey for the better.
Even before arriving in Massachusetts, Ryan became my academic advisor and guided me through course selection, suggested electives, and helped me make sense of the entire program. One of the moments I’ll never forget is when he shared his screen on Zoom and walked me through a map of Boston, explaining where I’d be student teaching and how the commute from Somerville would work. That kind of attention to detail, kindness, and support made me feel seen, supported, and ready.
It’s so easy to feel like professors are these distant, unreachable people—but at Tufts, that hasn’t been my experience at all. The faculty want to connect. They want to know your story. They want to help you succeed—and not just on paper, but in real, thoughtful, meaningful ways.
If you’re applying to Tufts, or are just starting out, I highly recommend reaching out to your professors. You never know where one email might lead. For me, it led to a mentor, an advisor, and a sense of belonging—before I even unpacked my bags.
And that made all the difference.