Starting a New Journey in a Familiar Place With Tufts Fifth Year
Written by Sophia DiCocco, MSIM '25
After donning the cap and gown, popping the champagne, and receiving my bachelor’s degree last spring, I find myself back at Tufts to embark on a new journey. I'm Sophia, a recent graduate of Tufts University, now pursuing my MS in Innovation and Management (MSIM) at Tufts Gordon Institute. Staying at a university that already feels like home is comforting, but it hasn’t been just a repeat of my undergraduate years. I’ve met so many new people and feel like I’ve jumpstarted the next chapter of my life with the MSIM program.
Over the years, I’ve come to love the welcoming environment, the sense of community, and the abundance of opportunities that Tufts offers. The location is ideal, providing the perfect balance of a close-knit campus feel with the vibrant city life of Boston just a short ride away. Staying here also allowed me to continue playing for the Tufts varsity softball team and take advantage of a fifth season, which was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. When I first learned about the MSIM program, speaking with Program Director Kevin Oye and other faculty members made me feel incredibly welcomed and solidified my decision—it felt like the perfect fit for where I wanted to go next in my academic and professional journey.
What drew me to the MSIM program were the Innovation Sprints—semester-long, team-based projects where we tackle real-world problems and develop practical solutions, taking ideas from innovation all the way to production. Sprints are a fully immersive experience that allow you to apply everything you’ve learned in class to a hands-on project that your team takes full ownership over. I loved the idea of a project-based curriculum that would have me working side-by-side with my classmates to solve a problem we were all passionate about.
At the end of orientation, I met my Sprint team—four other ambitious individuals who share a passion for solving problems and making a meaningful impact on the world. I was already excited to see how we’d work together throughout the semester, supporting, challenging, and uplifting one another as we navigated this journey. We hit it off immediately and decided to make the most of our day together, jumping into the deep end and bonding with a one-of-a-kind experience: kayaking on the Charles River. It was a great way to kickstart the day, get to know one another, and take in all the beauty that Boston has to offer.
After kayaking, we decided to continue exploring Boston together as we learned more about each other. We ventured from Chinatown to Boston Common, took pictures at the Boston Marathon finish line, and absorbed the history and culture around Fenway Park. One spot that stood out to me was the Museum of Fine Arts, where we explored exhibits featuring artwork and artifacts from around the world, including a fascinating Dalí exhibit that truly captured our imaginations. Exploring the city together was a great way to not only grow closer as a team, but also to inspire ourselves with the creativity and innovation Boston is known for.
Orientation week left me feeling energized and excited about the year ahead. The time I spent getting to know my Sprint team and other cohort members helped me realize that this program is about more than just academics—it's about building relationships, finding our passions, and supporting each other as we work toward our goals.
