What to expect at Tufts Graduate Student Open House - From a student’s perspective
Hi! My name is Tomiwa and I’m a second-year graduate student in the Data Analytics master’s program. This will be my second time attending the Open House as a current student and I wanted to share a quick guide on what you can expect as an attendee of the Tufts graduate student Open Gouse.
If you opt in for the tour before the event, the first people you will meet will be representatives from the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA). You’ll arrive in Dowling Hall and take the elevator up to the 7th floor where you’ll get settled and sorted into tour groups. Graduate Student Representatives from different programs will lead these tours, because we understand how important it is to see our campus through the eyes of a student that has been in your shoes before! The tour will last about thirty minutes and will conclude at the Joyce Cummings Center (JCC), where the Open House event will take place.
If you joined the tour, no need to check in again. But if you didn’t join the tour, make sure to check in so you get your welcome packet, including important information on your application fee waiver and the parking pass. After getting checked in, you will be free to access all that the Open House has to offer. The Open House will span the first two floors of the JCC, with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences programs on the first floor and the School of Engineering programs on the second floor. Most programs offered within those two schools will have a table and at least one representative (usually faculty), where you can ask questions and discuss your academic interests and background. This is a great time to ask your program-specific questions, such as questions about curriculum, program requirements, what the program looks for in strong applicants, research focus, your academic goals etc.
There will also be two panels hosted by the OGA in the classrooms within the JCC. The first panel starts at 6:30 and will be for students interested in programs in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The second panel starts at 7 and will be for students interested in programs in the School of Engineering. We welcome you to join one of these panels, in between speaking with their prospective programs and meeting other students. Make sure to check your welcome packet—you’ll have a schedule that’ll indicate which session you should attend.
Throughout the event, and on both floors, there will be appetizers, snacks and refreshments available for all attendees of the Open House, make sure to stop by those tables for some much-needed fuel! This is also a great opportunity to mingle with prospective students like yourself and get a feel of what the community looks like at Tufts. We’ll also have a networking corner on the first floor, where you can connect with members of our community like the Career Center and the Graduate Student Council.
We understand that this can be a nerve-wracking process, but there will be members of the OGA staff that will be around to answer any questions and provide directions to academic programs you are interested in. We’re invested in your academic journey and are excited to welcome you to campus!
Join us on Monday, October 27th, 2025 from 6 PM – 8 PM (ET) for the In-Person Tufts Graduate Open House! Register here.
If you have any questions, please contact our office: gradadmissions@tufts.edu.