ASDOH vs. Tufts

[pacific2013]

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I was luckily accepted to ASDOH and recently received an interview offer to Tufts. Only problem is I need to decide if I should attend Tufts interview when I need to make my $1000 ASDOH deposit before my Tufts interview. From what I've been hearing Tufts sounds like an amazing school especially with the recent completion of Vertical Expansion. But I'm pondering how big is the class size going to increase to and how prepared one will be clinically after 4 years. ASDOH is not located nearly as a nice city as Boston and I felt the student body were different than what I've interviewed (USC, BU) because they are older and many are married. I would enjoy the younger and diverse student body at Tufts. What's keeping me hanging onto ASDOH is its clinical experience during 4th year where students are able to see 8-16 patients a day for half of the 4th year. In addition, being able to use state of the art equipments such as electric handpieces, laser, etc.

So to make things short, ASDOH wins in clinical skills, but Tufts wins in location and student diversity. Should I go to my Tufts interview??

One more note: I'm from Cali but would most likely prefer the snow rather than the desert heat of Arizona. Thanks everyone.

 

[somethinpositiv]

So to make things short, ASDOH wins in clinical skills, but Tufts wins in location and student diversity.

...Are you joking...?? The thing Tufts is known for the most is it's clinical education...

 

[pacific2013]

...Are you joking...?? The thing Tufts is known for the most is it's clinical education...

I know Tufts is well known for its clinical education, but I believe ASDOH has an upper hand because of the lack of post-doc students, being able to enter clinic 2nd semester of D2 to start treatment on patients, and the four 4-6 week externship where you serve 8-12 patients a day at a CHC. Here's a ppt that describes the rotations starting from slide 28 (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...wWFG4S695rsuxdVdQ&sig2=xnTfgjCvsGAAI45x_ta_lQ)

Somethinpositiv I know you are a very resourceful person on SDN and indeed a Tufts student so can you explain to me why Tufts clinical education may be better than ASDOH that I may not know? And based off the info, do you think I should interview at Tufts? Thanks

 

[indynicm]

Yeah, Tufts was awesome! Class size is 175. During 4th year I believe you can see 6 patients a day. I say go!

 

[ineedthetooth]

I know Tufts is well known for its clinical education, but I believe ASDOH has an upper hand because of the lack of post-doc students, being able to enter clinic 2nd semester of D2 to start treatment on patients, and the four 4-6 week externship where you serve 8-12 patients a day at a CHC. Here's a ppt that describes the rotations starting from slide 28 (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...wWFG4S695rsuxdVdQ&sig2=xnTfgjCvsGAAI45x_ta_lQ)

Somethinpositiv I know you are a very resourceful person on SDN and indeed a Tufts student so can you explain to me why Tufts clinical education may be better than ASDOH that I may not know? And based off the info, do you think I should interview at Tufts? Thanks

It doesn't hurt to interview at Tufts if you are willing to spend the money to interview/stay there. It's a great school with a very friendly student body and faculty.

The facilities are real nice too, I give you that 🙂

 

[baseballjunkie]

Tufts was amazing. It was my #2 school behind UW. If price and long distance from home wasn't a factor, it probably would be #1. Great school, amazing facilities, wonderful location. I would go to the Tufts interview. Tufts accepts ~70% of those that they interview, so basically if you don't totally bomb the interview you probably will get in. The clinical experience is one of the features of the school. I'd definitely pick it over ASDOH...

 

[somethinpositiv]

Somethinpositiv I know you are a very resourceful person on SDN and indeed a Tufts student so can you explain to me why Tufts clinical education may be better than ASDOH that I may not know? And based off the info, do you think I should interview at Tufts? Thanks

Thanks for the compliment. I don't know anything about ASDOH except that it accepts people with a lot of volunteering experience, and that it's the same school system as A.T. Still D.O. medical school in Kirksville, Missouri. One of the first things you hear about Tufts is how well they train you clinically. But that could all be hearsay.

Personally, I don't think there's a Private school in the country (besides Ivies/UoP) that anyone should ever choose over Tufts, but obviously some people like yourself don't think the same way. If you're not excited about Tufts than don't go to the Tufts interview, because you can sure as hell bet that there's someone right behind you with multiple acceptances who would be THRILLED to have a chance at getting into Tufts.

 

[somethinpositiv]

The only thing I can say for sure is make sure you put down your $1000 deposit for ASDOH! There's a 70% chance you'd get into Tufts with the interview, but that means there would be a 30% chance that you'd end up with no acceptances if you don't put the deposit down. Also, who know, you might not like Tufts after the interview (you'd be the first person I'd heard that from, if that's the case lol).

 

[somethinpositiv]

I know Tufts is well known for its clinical education, but I believe ASDOH has an upper hand because of the lack of post-doc students, being able to enter clinic 2nd semester of D2 to start treatment on patients, and the four 4-6 week externship where you serve 8-12 patients a day at a CHC.

The externship that ASDOH has seemed to talk up a lot is not unique. We do a 5-week externship at Tufts in your 3rd year, there's like 30 sites across the country to choose from. I'm sure most schools do this.

And we enter clinic 1st semester of D1 (first week actually), though we don't start treatment of patients till 3rd year.

 

[adizzle87]

Despite the vertical expansion, the class size will remain the same. The DMD students will inherit the old space occupied by the post-doc programs which is pretty wicked. The city is amazing, clinical experience is top notch, and the faculty and students I met during my interview were nothing short of friendly. Personally I would put down the deposit because there aren't many guarantees in life but I would check out Tufts before making a final decision.

 

[skiphotsauce]

I don't think there is any question: put down your deposit at ASDOH, then go to your interview at Tufts. If you get in, then make your decision from there.

Many people have said this elsewhere on the boards, but these deposit fees are nothing compared to the cost of your education over the long run (which you will eventually have no problem paying back), and this is such an important decision to make. Exhaust all your options.

 

[pacific2013]

Thanks everyone for their advice. I booked a date for my interview and looking forward to it!

 

[heymikeyyyyy]

Does Tufts offer the WREB's?

 

[pacific2013]

Does Tufts offer the WREB's?

Yup. According to the academic calendar they offer it in March and June.

 

[lafuturedent82]

Actually at ASDOH it's not just AN externship, we do rotations all across the country for our 3rd and 4th years for SEVERAL 3-4 week rotations (I'm a first year without the info in front of me so forgive me for not having the exact numbers)
Clinically - our school can't be beat. I'm from Cali and the heat really isn't that bad... If you do come here, kudos to you because we are all super happy here 🙂 Good luck!

 

[somethinpositiv]

Clinically - our school can't be beat.

Every school says that. We say that at Tufts, you guys say that at ASDOH, anyone at any school says that. And no matter where you go, you'll say your school can't be beat, and you'll earnestly believe it. And you'll always be right 😉

 

[Quattro DMD]

I was luckily accepted to ASDOH and recently received an interview offer to Tufts. Only problem is I need to decide if I should attend Tufts interview when I need to make my $1000 ASDOH deposit before my Tufts interview. From what I've been hearing Tufts sounds like an amazing school especially with the recent completion of Vertical Expansion. But I'm pondering how big is the class size going to increase to and how prepared one will be clinically after 4 years. ASDOH is not located nearly as a nice city as Boston and I felt the student body were different than what I've interviewed (USC, BU) because they are older and many are married. I would enjoy the younger and diverse student body at Tufts. What's keeping me hanging onto ASDOH is its clinical experience during 4th year where students are able to see 8-16 patients a day for half of the 4th year. In addition, being able to use state of the art equipments such as electric handpieces, laser, etc.

So to make things short, ASDOH wins in clinical skills, but Tufts wins in location and student diversity. Should I go to my Tufts interview??

One more note: I'm from Cali but would most likely prefer the snow rather than the desert heat of Arizona. Thanks everyone.

I'm from Mesa, and yes it's not the most exciting city. I'm sure Boston has a lot more nightlife and culture. However our class is very small and very diverse. We only have 66 students, ranging in age from 16 to 36, and only about 20% of the class is married, and most of the class is between 22-27 years old (and I think our student body represents like 7 or 8 different countries). And the rotations during 4th year are pretty legit, 4 external rotations 6 weeks in length (where you're actually working in a community health center, seeing more than just 2 patients a day!) Plus if you want to see snow you just have to drive 2 hours north. Both are good schools and both are expensive so go where you feel more comfortable.