Starting Over: Building Community as a Tufts Grad Student

When I moved to Boston to start my master’s in Computer Science at Tufts, I thought the hardest part would be the coursework. I was wrong. The real challenge was starting over. 

As an international student from Bangladesh, I had already gone through the process of adjusting to life in the United States during my undergraduate years at the University of South Florida. Over four years in Florida, I had built a life I felt comfortable in—a large international and Bengali community, close friends, and a routine that felt familiar. Moving again for graduate school meant leaving all of that behind. 

Boston in the winter of 2024 was very different from the Florida sun. The weather was colder than anything I had experienced before. I still remember the first time I saw rain and snow falling at the same time—I didn’t even know that was possible. But the weather wasn’t the hardest part. It was the feeling of being alone in a new place again. Suddenly, I had to rebuild everything: friendships, routines, and a support system. Small things felt big at first—going to campus events alone, introducing myself to classmates, navigating paperwork and visa requirements, or even figuring out how to handle taxes as an international student. 

Like many graduate students, I started my first semester focused mainly on classes and adjusting academically. At the same time, I was also learning how to put myself out there again. That meant overcoming shyness, starting conversations with classmates, and visiting professors during office hours—even when I wasn’t sure what to say. 

Gradually, something began to change. 

Discovering Community at Tufts 

Coming from a large public university in Florida, Tufts felt different at first. The environment is smaller and more academically intense, and I initially wondered if it would be harder to connect with people. But what I quickly realized is that Tufts students are incredibly welcoming—you just sometimes have to take the first step. Conversations that started in class slowly turned into study groups. Casual chats before lectures became friendships. Office hours turned into meaningful discussions with professors who were genuinely invested in helping students succeed. 

As I became more involved on campus, my circle naturally expanded. I joined the Graduate Peer Tutor program, which allowed me to connect with other tutors and support undergraduate students studying computer science. I also met people through on-campus jobs, events, and student organizations. Outside the classroom, I explored different activities around campus—playing pickleball and squash, attending university events, and spending time with other graduate students after class. Tufts also made it easy to discover events around Boston, which encouraged me to explore the city more. Little by little, the unfamiliar environment started to feel like home. 

Building Community Beyond Campus 

One of the things I appreciate most about studying at Tufts is how connected the Boston academic community is. Through Tufts events and student networks, I met students from neighboring universities like Harvard, MIT, and Northeastern. I attended cultural events organized by Bengali student groups and other international communities around the city. These experiences helped me reconnect with parts of my culture while also meeting people from different backgrounds. 

At the same time, I began exploring Boston on my own. Sometimes that meant biking through the city, visiting new neighborhoods, attending concerts, or trying out different restaurants and comedy shows. Those solo experiences were important too. They helped me become more comfortable with myself in a new environment and appreciate the independence that comes with graduate school. Ironically, the more comfortable I became exploring on my own, the easier it became to connect with others. 

What I Learned About Building Community 

One lesson I’ve learned during my time at Tufts is that community doesn’t happen instantly. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. Not every connection turns into a lasting friendship—and that’s okay. Over time, you naturally find the people you connect with most. Eventually, I built a close group of friends who became the support system I once worried about losing. 

But something else changed too: I realized that I had become more independent. The process of rebuilding a community taught me how to rely on myself while still valuing the relationships around me. Things that once felt overwhelming—like moving apartments, managing paperwork, or navigating life in a new city—became much easier with experience. 

For Students Starting Their Tufts Journey 

If you’re coming to Tufts—especially as an international student—my advice is simple: give yourself time. Building community takes patience. Introduce yourself to people in your classes, attend events that interest you, and don’t hesitate to reach out to professors or fellow students. Tufts has an incredibly diverse community, and there are many ways to get involved. Eventually, you’ll find the people and spaces where you feel most comfortable. 

Looking back now, I realize that the uncertainty I felt at the beginning was part of the process. Over time, Tufts became more than just the place where I study—it became a community I helped build for myself. And that made all the difference.