Boston University
Started by arminbahrami
Did you get accepted anywhere else? If that's the only school you got into, then obviously the answer is go, regardless of how expensive it is. I don't understand. Are you debating whether to take it or not, even though you have no other alternatives?!
As to info, they have their schedule structured such that you pretty much have an exam every week. That can be good or bad depending on you. I hear it's a pretty chill school though, much more chill than many other school.
Their entering GPA and DAT give me the impression that most of your classmates aren't gonna be gunners, which can be nice.
They also have the APEX program which if I recall correctly allows you to go out and get training in real world clinics, and that doesn't necessarily have to be in Boston. I heard you can go back to your hometown too.
I'm not gonna talk about negatives since you seem to be asking only about this one school.
Go.
The debt will take care of itself in the long run, and it doesnt matter what the school's average board stats are, you will be the one who will be studying and taking the test (just like any other dental student in the country), and not the other way round.
The debt will take care of itself in the long run, and it doesnt matter what the school's average board stats are, you will be the one who will be studying and taking the test (just like any other dental student in the country), and not the other way round.
How does BU compare to Tufts?
What do you mean BU is a chill school??
What do you mean BU is a chill school??
Between Tufts and BU, choose the school where you felt more comfortable, and where you can see yourself for four years. It is going to be your second home, so choose wisely.
As far as "chill school", I think the poster meant that the didactic courses are not graded on a bell curve. There is no limit to the number of A's a professor can give out. So if 80 out of the class size of 115 get an A in microbiology let's say, 80 people get an A. Thus, many times people partcicipate in group studying and help each other out because they are not competing each other. Getting an A is not any easier however, and every class in every school regardless has a few "Gunners".
As far as "chill school", I think the poster meant that the didactic courses are not graded on a bell curve. There is no limit to the number of A's a professor can give out. So if 80 out of the class size of 115 get an A in microbiology let's say, 80 people get an A. Thus, many times people partcicipate in group studying and help each other out because they are not competing each other. Getting an A is not any easier however, and every class in every school regardless has a few "Gunners".
That really helped...
What about graduation statistics? Is it true that 40% of bu students don't graduate on time??? Does any one have any info about NBDE scores of tufts vs bu?
What about graduation statistics? Is it true that 40% of bu students don't graduate on time??? Does any one have any info about NBDE scores of tufts vs bu?
Well, if you compare it to Tufts, I think the answer is pretty simple: do you want to have an exam pretty much every week (BU), or do you want to have block exams with more free time in between (Tufts)?
Reputation wise, I would say that Tufts comes accross (whatever that means) as better reputation, IMO at least, but honestly I get sick of this whole who's better than who game and I refuse to participate in it. Better should mean better for you and your own personality and study habits, etc.
So bottom line it depends on you really. If you're a procrastinator or would prefer not to cram huge loads of info in your head all at one time, then BU, but you gotta be constantly on the ball because you have an exam every week. If you're not comfortable with the idea of an exam always on your ass, then Tufts, but you gotta be able to cram and you must understand that you can't afford to procrastinate or you'll screw up a whole bunch of exams comes exams time. I wouldn't get swayed too much by other factors.
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Thanks for the comments, what about tuition fees...do you know about graduation statistics of BU? compared to Tufts?
I don't know the exact retention rate for BU each year, but generally (on average) about 5-10 people drop out after the 1st year of the program. Due to personal, medical or academic reasons. Does this say something about the school or the student? It's pretty obvious.
According to some of the professors I talked to at the school, most BU 4th years graduate on time. Those who don't, they stick around for a month or 2 to complete their graduation requirements. It can become an issue for those who want to specialize, but usually they are not the ones who end up in that situation.
Why are you worried about how many people graduate or not? People realize that the profession is not for them in their first year and quit, or they find grad school too challenging, or personal issues come out of no where and end up taking a time-out. These things happen all the time at almost all schools.
Good luck
Hey folks,
I went to BU for a year...and I wish I hadn't...I am one of the students that transferred...to me it seemed like a very malignant program...they bring you in for all the wonderful leadership and community service and talents you have but once you are there they don't care...they try to teach you how to think (as if you don't already think for yourself) and they do not practice humanism in medicine...there are few student clubs and diversity (especially ones that are doing community service, cultural issues, LGBT, etc)...they expect you to be at school 100% of the time (which is almost 8 hours/day) and last I knew they did not allow a note-taking service...they are not supportive to families and spouses are not invited to events (like the welcoming event at the museum of fine arts)...
BU is an old-fashioned, paternalistic, and conservative medical school that does NOT listen to the students and is VERY resistant to change...they think that because the students do pretty well on the boards that they are doing everything right...they do not care whether the students are happy...there is no accountability among the faculty because nobody wants to forfeit their power (in anatomy, they told us the passing score was 70% but then at the end of the course they changed it to 72% so all the people who scored between 70-72% and thought they would pass now failed...and nobody would overstep the anatomy department even though the syllabus was clear saying 70% = pass)...
BU is known for their research...if you check out their ratings they are like #28 for research...this should tell you something...many of the professors were hired to do research NOT to teach...they don't care about teaching and they don't care about the medical students...they walk in the classroom and ramble on and leave...they don't have office hours...your tuition goes to fund research, seriously...when you get your syllabus you will believe me...some of them have not been updated in several years...there are figures missing...most lectures are still done on the chalkboard, very 20th century...
I always wondered how physicians became so calloused with super-inflated egos, treated patients like diseases, and walked around with a sense of entitlement to all their power...now I know...schools like BU create these physicians because of all the academic hazing and brainwashing that they put their students though...and it is sad because most of these students were awesome, balanced, and happy people when they applied...
I know I can only speak for my experience and of course there were good things about the school (great anatomy course, good discussion sections, good endocrine course) and there were also some professors that were super cool and really did care about the students...but the bad FAR outweighed the good...I finished my 1st year in good academic standing and transferred to another medical school that practices humanistic medicine, everything is done via powerpoint, teachers really want to teach and are invested in students learning and succeeding, tons of student clubs and diversity, many more service/volunteer opportunities within the community, and students have a VOICE...
If you are seriously considering BU, please talk to the students there (not just the ones that give your tour and are recommended by the admissions department)...ask them about the pros and cons...ask them if they are truly happy...many of my friends wished they had gone to other schools that accepted them...but for most people transferring/leaving is not an option so they are stuck...I am so happy I left and I truly believe I will be a better physician for it...but that is only my experience, BU was not right for ME...so really consider what is important to YOU and DO YOUR RESEARCH before you sign 4 years of your life and $200,000 in debt to a school...
I hope this helps, at least to make a more critical and informed decision...
Peace.
I went to BU for a year...and I wish I hadn't...I am one of the students that transferred...to me it seemed like a very malignant program...they bring you in for all the wonderful leadership and community service and talents you have but once you are there they don't care...they try to teach you how to think (as if you don't already think for yourself) and they do not practice humanism in medicine...there are few student clubs and diversity (especially ones that are doing community service, cultural issues, LGBT, etc)...they expect you to be at school 100% of the time (which is almost 8 hours/day) and last I knew they did not allow a note-taking service...they are not supportive to families and spouses are not invited to events (like the welcoming event at the museum of fine arts)...
BU is an old-fashioned, paternalistic, and conservative medical school that does NOT listen to the students and is VERY resistant to change...they think that because the students do pretty well on the boards that they are doing everything right...they do not care whether the students are happy...there is no accountability among the faculty because nobody wants to forfeit their power (in anatomy, they told us the passing score was 70% but then at the end of the course they changed it to 72% so all the people who scored between 70-72% and thought they would pass now failed...and nobody would overstep the anatomy department even though the syllabus was clear saying 70% = pass)...
BU is known for their research...if you check out their ratings they are like #28 for research...this should tell you something...many of the professors were hired to do research NOT to teach...they don't care about teaching and they don't care about the medical students...they walk in the classroom and ramble on and leave...they don't have office hours...your tuition goes to fund research, seriously...when you get your syllabus you will believe me...some of them have not been updated in several years...there are figures missing...most lectures are still done on the chalkboard, very 20th century...
I always wondered how physicians became so calloused with super-inflated egos, treated patients like diseases, and walked around with a sense of entitlement to all their power...now I know...schools like BU create these physicians because of all the academic hazing and brainwashing that they put their students though...and it is sad because most of these students were awesome, balanced, and happy people when they applied...
I know I can only speak for my experience and of course there were good things about the school (great anatomy course, good discussion sections, good endocrine course) and there were also some professors that were super cool and really did care about the students...but the bad FAR outweighed the good...I finished my 1st year in good academic standing and transferred to another medical school that practices humanistic medicine, everything is done via powerpoint, teachers really want to teach and are invested in students learning and succeeding, tons of student clubs and diversity, many more service/volunteer opportunities within the community, and students have a VOICE...
If you are seriously considering BU, please talk to the students there (not just the ones that give your tour and are recommended by the admissions department)...ask them about the pros and cons...ask them if they are truly happy...many of my friends wished they had gone to other schools that accepted them...but for most people transferring/leaving is not an option so they are stuck...I am so happy I left and I truly believe I will be a better physician for it...but that is only my experience, BU was not right for ME...so really consider what is important to YOU and DO YOUR RESEARCH before you sign 4 years of your life and $200,000 in debt to a school...
I hope this helps, at least to make a more critical and informed decision...
Peace.
Your post is not relevant to the topic. You are talking about BU Medical School in the dental forums. So, you can't relate to the discussion, since the dental and medical students do not sit in the same class, or have the same curriculum for their courses. 🙄
Some aspects of his post are relevant. Don't forget that the basic medical sciences like anatomy, phys, etc. are taught by instructors from those respective departments and typically not by clinicians, whether dentists or physicians. The clinicians come into the game for clinical work. So the professors he interacted with in medicine are very likely those teaching the same subjects in dentistry. I'm not saying his post is true (or false for that matter). I'm just saying that if it were true, some of it would be relevant.
True.
However, the anatomy, physiology, biochem taugh in the medical school is not exactly the same as the one taught to the DMD students. Those professors teach in accordance to the dental school teaching policy and under the direction of academic committee at the dental school. If the pass grade is 70%, it stays 70%. In fact, many of the professors give a passing a grade to students who end up with borderline pass grade (i.e. 69%). Plus, the school listens to the students, if we have a problem with any of the courses, professors do something about it immediately.
It's all about work hard and play hard. No need to blame the school, you knew what you signed up for, you live with it.
Hey, you seem to know a lot about BU dentistry...can you answer my following questions...
Is note taking service not allowed in dental school either? Do they provide students with good lecture notes instead?
Do dental students have to study the same anatomy and physiology as medical students?
Is note taking service not allowed in dental school either? Do they provide students with good lecture notes instead?
Do dental students have to study the same anatomy and physiology as medical students?
I don't think you will be allowed to use such service, then again, I don't know anyone who tried and ran into issues with the school.
Yes, most courses provide handouts for each lecture. Almost everything on the exams will come from those handouts and powerpoint slides. In addition, you get podcasts and videos for each lecture.
No. In anatomy, we learn anything from the abdominal cavity and upwards (thoracic cavity, head and neck, etc). Where in the medical school, they learn the whole body. I would say Physiology and Biochemistry is about the same.
Isn't note taking service for the mentally/physically challenged?
In any case, there are a lot of unknown hardship to be in BU ~ just ask Cold Front - he has so much hardship, he is swimming in it!
In any case, there are a lot of unknown hardship to be in BU ~ just ask Cold Front - he has so much hardship, he is swimming in it!
Stop stalking me dude. 😀
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What are the hardships? It'll be great to share them with others...so we can be prepared for it...
BTW, do they use prosections or traditional dissection style for anatomy lab?
BTW, do they use prosections or traditional dissection style for anatomy lab?
As for hardships. The first two years are just tough and lots of book/preclinical work. But the frustration in the clinic is where you'll learn to really hate dental school and dentistry. When you're done you'll definitely know how to prep a tooth with the best of them, but you going to hate the process involved with learning how to do it.
Prosections by Anatomical Sciences PhD candidates are the order of the day. Traditional dissections ceased several moons ago. Apparently the wannabeOMFS wanted to do all the cutting all the time and this lead to fights breaking out between them and the wannabePeriodontal Plastic Surgeons. No Joke. Didnt think perios had so much spunk in them....
dreaming2k5 is a close friend and classmate of mine, he was joking about the "hardship!" - there is no such thing.
I second MrVagus... I can't stand wannabePeriodontal Plastic Surgeons either. 😀
You should be honest when it comes to hardships, Cold Front. The hardships of the morning, when you have to wake up and trudge through sleeting snow and running across the street with cars honking at you. The hardships of drinking red bulls, and feeling the jolt through your brain when you OD on caffeine. The hardships of losing your sexual identity as you face constant harassments by crazy Canadian. The hardships of being unique amongst special group of upstanding individuals. The hardships of desiring home and family and a home cooked meal in front of warm hearts and hearth. The hardships of dishes that won't clean itself. The hardships of pork and porn. The hardships of living in constant darkness and dimly lit lamps. The hardships of NStar and their unreasonable rates. The hardships of $20 dollar limitation and the want of satisfying media entertainment. The hardships the porcelain bowl and the plunger. The hardships of best of 5 quizzes and the fairness act. The hardships of teamed Monopoly. The hardships of library and 24. The hardships of having a ginormous python and its constricting power on men and women alike.
I can go on -- it's a lot of hardships.
block exams are painful. I would much rather they spread it out. you end up cramming and stressed out.
in a week we'll hit the mother of all exam blocks. 11 exams in 9 days.
if u have a choice go to the cheapest dental school.
