BU- anything GOOD about it?

[cuillezVJ]

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I have an interview coming up, and after reading/listening to interview feedback and opinions of current students, I'm struggling to find enough positive aspects to justify my plane ticket. I've had 3 other recent interviews, no acceptances yet. I don't want to burn my bridges but I also don't want to travel to interview at a very expensive school in a sucky part of boston that no one seems to like that much. Has anyone had a really positive experience there?

 

[silas2642]

At my Tufts interview, a fellow interviewee said that he really liked it there, was really impressed by the students, and so on. That being said, the fact of the matter is that you've had three interviews and no acceptances yet. I'd keep going until you got an acceptance. I mean, what's a couple hundred bucks considering you're going to end up with an enormous debt at the end of this entire process?

Personally, BU turned me off-- they're invitation to complete the secondary reeked of elitism and that kind of annoyed me. I've heard through rumors that it is an extremely difficult school to get through and that their students are wicked stressed all the time, but this may not be fact.

 

[lexy10]

I interviewed at Tufts and BU back to back (a Tues and Wed in Nov)...I LOVED Tufts...I did not care for BU...it had nothing to do with what anyone said or anything like that...it was simply a gut feeling that I would be happy at Tufts and not a BU...if that is worth anything...

 

[silas2642]

I interviewed at Tufts and BU back to back (a Tues and Wed in Nov)...I LOVED Tufts...I did not care for BU...it had nothing to do with what anyone said or anything like that...it was simply a gut feeling that I would be happy at Tufts and not a BU...if that is worth anything...

So are you going to Tufts next fall? I know what you mean about gut feelings about schools, though. I absolutely loved Tufts, but didn't care as much for the other school I interviewed at. It's weird, isn't it, how a single day at a school can leave you thinking it would be an awesome match for you or that being there for the next four years would make your life a complete misery.

 

[lexy10]

So are you going to Tufts next fall? I know what you mean about gut feelings about schools, though. I absolutely loved Tufts, but didn't care as much for the other school I interviewed at. It's weird, isn't it, how a single day at a school can leave you thinking it would be an awesome match for you or that being there for the next four years would make your life a complete misery.

I don't know where I will end up. I still have interviews left and still waiting to hear from other schools. It was rather funny about BU and Tufts...went in thinking I would like BU more and came out loving Tufts and not BU!

 

[BerkeleyMD]

I have an interview coming up, and after reading/listening to interview feedback and opinions of current students, I'm struggling to find enough positive aspects to justify my plane ticket. I've had 3 other recent interviews, no acceptances yet. I don't want to burn my bridges but I also don't want to travel to interview at a very expensive school in a sucky part of boston that no one seems to like that much. Has anyone had a really positive experience there?

They try hard to seem "ivy league" but its not that bad of a school. Its also in a nicer part of town than people make it out to be. I stayed at the Hampton and enjoyed the interview. I didn't like the fact that they make the curriculum tougher than it needs to be, but hey, until you get an acceptance- you can't be picky. I'd fly out tonight if I had to!

I say you go, having 4 shots of getting in is better than 3 when it comes to med school.

 

[Dave_D]

Well I can say a good thing about BU. They certainly have dedicated, patient friendly faculty in the hospital and the doctor's building next door. Oh, and the med student who was assigned to me seemed to be very knowledgable and certainly like BU as well.(Yes, I know I talk about my illness too much 😀 )

 

[badlydrawnvik]

I interviewed at Tufts and BU back to back (a Tues and Wed in Nov)...I LOVED Tufts...I did not care for BU...it had nothing to do with what anyone said or anything like that...it was simply a gut feeling that I would be happy at Tufts and not a BU...if that is worth anything...

i also interviewed at tufts and BU back to back in the first week of november and came out with the opposite impression. the students at tufts all seemed really stuck up about where they went and commented on how "money isnt an issue when you're going to medical school" while they tried to justify the price. i felt like my tour guide was so overly enthusiastic that it seemed like he was trying convince himself that he made the right choice, if that makes any sense. the students and administration at BU i thought were much nicer and more down to earth. dr. witzburg, the dean of admissions, was incredibly helpful throughout the day. while i was in boston, i stayed with my cousin who is now an attending in boston but went to med school at tufts. he told me there was nothing special about tufts, and while he was doing his residency in boston, he felt like every physician from BU that he met was leagues above any of his peers at tufts. i am personally really looking forward to my BU decision letter and would recommend taking the opportunity to interview there.

 

[silas2642]

i also interviewed at tufts and BU back to back in the first week of november and came out with the opposite impression. the students at tufts all seemed really stuck up about where they went and commented on how "money isnt an issue when you're going to medical school" while they tried to justify the price. i felt like my tour guide was so overly enthusiastic that it seemed like he was trying convince himself that he made the right choice, if that makes any sense. the students and administration at BU i thought were much nicer and more down to earth. dr. witzburg, the dean of admissions, was incredibly helpful throughout the day. while i was in boston, i stayed with my cousin who is now an attending in boston but went to med school at tufts. he told me there was nothing special about tufts, and while he was doing his residency in boston, he felt like every physician from BU that he met was leagues above any of his peers at tufts. i am personally really looking forward to my BU decision letter and would recommend taking the opportunity to interview there.

I agree that the OP should go to interview there-- your post just kind of reinforces the fact that different schools appeal to different people. I definitely think that BU wouldn't be a good fit for me while Tufts would, but maybe BU would be a great school for you. Check it out and keep us posted.

Out of curiosity, is BU P/F?

p.s. I bet the Tufts dean of admissions could beat up BU's dean of admissions. What about them apples?

 

[Orthodoc40]

I have an interview coming up, and after reading/listening to interview feedback and opinions of current students, I'm struggling to find enough positive aspects to justify my plane ticket. I've had 3 other recent interviews, no acceptances yet. I don't want to burn my bridges but I also don't want to travel to interview at a very expensive school in a sucky part of boston that no one seems to like that much. Has anyone had a really positive experience there?

Absolutely go to the interview. No question! You will love BU if it is the only school that accepts you! But instead of asking people here to speculate, maybe you should try the allo forums to get more BU student feedback??

 

[skypilot]

I agree that the OP should go to interview there-- your post just kind of reinforces the fact that different schools appeal to different people. I definitely think that BU wouldn't be a good fit for me while Tufts would, but maybe BU would be a great school for you. Check it out and keep us posted.

Out of curiosity, is BU P/F?

p.s. I bet the Tufts dean of admissions could beat up BU's dean of admissions. What about them apples?

BU's hospital is the public hospital for the city of Boston. It is where most of the trauma patients are sent and where most of the indigent patients are. Because of this it is a great place to learn. It is in a worse part of town to be closer to the patients it serves. But sheesh it is only 2 miles to Tufts, 10 minutes on the express bus. BU trains very competent clinicians and is a very well respected. BU is pass fail for the first year and H/P/F for the second year. BU definitely has plenty of students who turned down Tufts for the opportunity to train in the environment at the BU hospital. Some students have turned down Yale to attend BU and live in Boston instead of New Haven. 🙂

 

[silas2642]

BU's hospital is the public hospital for the city of Boston. It is where most of the trauma patients are sent and where most of the indigent patients are. Because of this it is a great place to learn. It is in a worse part of town to be closer to the patients it serves. But sheesh it is only 2 miles to Tufts, 10 minutes on the express bus. BU trains very competent clinicians and is a very well respected. BU is pass fail for the first year and H/P/F for the second year. BU definitely has plenty of students who turned down Tufts for the opportunity to train in the environment at the BU hospital. Some students have turned down Yale to attend BU and live in Boston instead of New Haven. 🙂

Oh, come on!! Yale for BU? There must have been a pretty good scholarship attached to that one to trade Yale for BU; otherwise that's just insane.

I'm also pretty sure that there have been plenty of students who have turned down BU for the opportunity to train at Tufts.

Sorry if I sound defensive, but Tufts is MY school, and I'm quite proud of it even though our mascot is an overweight elephant.

 

[skypilot]

Oh, come on!! Yale for BU? There must have been a pretty good scholarship attached to that one to trade Yale for BU; otherwise that's just insane.

I'm also pretty sure that there have been plenty of students who have turned down BU for the opportunity to train at Tufts.

Sorry if I sound defensive, but Tufts is MY school, and I'm quite proud of it even though our mascot is an overweight elephant.

Ha ha ... go Jumbo the elephant. Yes I am sure there are students who turn down BU for Tufts. I got the impression that Tufts may have a somewhat better pre clinical curriculum. But again you cannot beat the clinical opportunities at BU. Research money has begun to flood into BU as well. I do know at least one student who turned down Yale for BU. I think she was a Yale undergrad and wanted to get the heck out of New Haven. All the med schools are pretty close to each other. You could even live at Harvard Medical School and commute to BU if that floats your boat. Heck it is only 2 miles to Harvard and 2 miles to Tufts. BU is smack in the middle of both of them.

 

[silas2642]

Ha ha ... go Jumbo the elephant. Yes I am sure there are students who turn down BU for Tufts. I got the impression that Tufts may have a somewhat better pre clinical curriculum. But again you cannot beat the clinical opportunities at BU. Research money has begun to flood into BU as well. I do know at least one student who turned down Yale for BU. I think she was a Yale undergrad and wanted to get the heck out of New Haven. All the med schools are pretty close to each other. You could even live at Harvard Medical School and commute to BU if that floats your boat. Heck it is only 2 miles to Harvard and 2 miles to Tufts. BU is smack in the middle of both of them.

Boston rocks in terms of clinical training; it's part of the reason why I'm so excited to be there-- there's like four (UMass is in Boston, right?) medical schools in such close proximity.

Okay, but in terms of mascots, Jumbo the elephant beats that little frickin terrier dog anyday, hands down. No debate. I mean really, how does BU stand having that little yippy dog as a mascot? What's it supposed to do, stand there barking to annoy their competition away?

 

[LJDHC05]

Ha ha ... go Jumbo the elephant. Yes I am sure there are students who turn down BU for Tufts. I got the impression that Tufts may have a somewhat better pre clinical curriculum. But again you cannot beat the clinical opportunities at BU. Research money has begun to flood into BU as well. I do know at least one student who turned down Yale for BU. I think she was a Yale undergrad and wanted to get the heck out of New Haven. All the med schools are pretty close to each other. You could even live at Harvard Medical School and commute to BU if that floats your boat. Heck it is only 2 miles to Harvard and 2 miles to Tufts. BU is smack in the middle of both of them.

More importantly, the BU Med Center is about 1 mile from the Sam Adams brewery. It's not in the most desireable part of town, but it's not in a "HORRIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD...gasp". Dollar for Dollar, you're going to get a better clinical experience at BU because it's a little bit further away from the Harvard-dominated Longwood Medical Area and nowhere near MGH. Tufts NEMC and MGH kind of share populations, however you can get a completely different look at medicine through St. E's out in Brighton (Outlying neighborhood of Boston). If you've never been up to Boston, it's worth the trip up and BU puts out some excellent clinicians. Plus Boston is wicked awesome...that's right wicked.

 

[silas2642]

More importantly, the BU Med Center is about 1 mile from the Sam Adams brewery. It's not in the most desireable part of town, but it's not in a "HORRIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD...gasp". Dollar for Dollar, you're going to get a better clinical experience at BU because it's a little bit further away from the Harvard-dominated Longwood Medical Area and nowhere near MGH. Tufts NEMC and MGH kind of share populations, however you can get a completely different look at medicine through St. E's out in Brighton (Outlying neighborhood of Boston). If you've never been up to Boston, it's worth the trip up and BU puts out some excellent clinicians. Plus Boston is wicked awesome...that's right wicked.

It's 1 mile from the Sam Adam's brewery? Dammit!! I knew I should have applied to BU! This changes everything!!!!!

 

[Thundrstorm]

More importantly, the BU Med Center is about 1 mile from the Sam Adams brewery. It's not in the most desireable part of town, but it's not in a "HORRIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD...gasp". Dollar for Dollar, you're going to get a better clinical experience at BU because it's a little bit further away from the Harvard-dominated Longwood Medical Area and nowhere near MGH. Tufts NEMC and MGH kind of share populations, however you can get a completely different look at medicine through St. E's out in Brighton (Outlying neighborhood of Boston). If you've never been up to Boston, it's worth the trip up and BU puts out some excellent clinicians. Plus Boston is wicked awesome...that's right wicked.

Man, I miss Boston. I never thought I'd say this, but it's nice to hear someone say "wicked." 😀

 

[silas2642]

Man, I miss Boston. I never thought I'd say this, but it's nice to hear someone say "wicked." 😀

You coming back to Beantown for medschool, Thundrstorm? That'd be wicked cool.

 

[LJDHC05]

UMass is in Worcester...an hour west of Boston.

I cant imagine living anywhere else, especially OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

 

[silas2642]

UMass is in Worcester...an hour west of Boston

Losers. Just kidding, I know UMass is a great school... too bad they don't take OOS applicants.

 

[Orthodoc40]

Losers. Just kidding, I know UMass is a great school... too bad they don't take OOS applicants.

So its clear, there IS a UMass in Boston, but it is not the UMass Medical School.

 

[Dave_D]

BU's hospital is the public hospital for the city of Boston. It is where most of the trauma patients are sent and where most of the indigent patients are. Because of this it is a great place to learn. It is in a worse part of town to be closer to the patients it serves. But sheesh it is only 2 miles to Tufts, 10 minutes on the express bus. BU trains very competent clinicians and is a very well respected. BU is pass fail for the first year and H/P/F for the second year. BU definitely has plenty of students who turned down Tufts for the opportunity to train in the environment at the BU hospital. Some students have turned down Yale to attend BU and live in Boston instead of New Haven. 🙂

Yup, public but don't let anyone say it's run down.(Since some might think that.) Definitely well staffed, well equipped, and the med students get great opportunities there. I mean they had no trouble setting up my CAT scan, my echo ultrasound, or my liver biopsy there and no run around to get free care either which was a definitely plus. Oh, and given all their hardword I never saw anyone that wasn't totally dedicated whether it was doctors or nurses.(Tell Neil Clavel, Drs Bliss Jr and Lowe I said hello 😀 )

 

[Thundrstorm]

You coming back to Beantown for medschool, Thundrstorm? That'd be wicked cool.

I don't know. I'm interviewing at Tufts next month, so I don't know if Boston will even be an option, but if it is, I'm going to be torn. Boston is awesome, but it'd also be nice to live somewhere else. I might end up in New York, but fear not, I will always be a Red Sox fan, and even if I live in New York, I will root for the Sox at Yankee Stadium whether my life is threatened or not. 🙂

 

[thesauce]

BU has very reasonable tuition 🙄

 

[silas2642]

I don't know. I'm interviewing at Tufts next month, so I don't know if Boston will even be an option, but if it is, I'm going to be torn. Boston is awesome, but it'd also be nice to live somewhere else. I might end up in New York, but fear not, I will always be a Red Sox fan, and even if I live in New York, I will root for the Sox at Yankee Stadium whether my life is threatened or not. 🙂

Good for you!! Throw a hotdog at Johnny Damon if you see him!!!

 

[silas2642]

BU's hospital is the public hospital for the city of Boston. It is where most of the trauma patients are sent and where most of the indigent patients are. Because of this it is a great place to learn. It is in a worse part of town to be closer to the patients it serves. But sheesh it is only 2 miles to Tufts, 10 minutes on the express bus. BU trains very competent clinicians and is a very well respected. BU is pass fail for the first year and H/P/F for the second year. BU definitely has plenty of students who turned down Tufts for the opportunity to train in the environment at the BU hospital. Some students have turned down Yale to attend BU and live in Boston instead of New Haven. 🙂

Yes, but did Yale or BU produce Dr. Robert Rey of Dr. 90210? I don't think so. Game over; Jumbo the elephant wins.

(Sorry. I had to throw this in)

 

[badlydrawnvik]

Dr. Rey went to Tufts? That guy is crazy.

 

[silas2642]

Dr. Rey went to Tufts? That guy is crazy.

A little. But you gotta admit that the dude is pretty hot.

 

[Orthodoc40]

Good for you!! Throw a hotdog at Johnny Damon if you see him!!!

Yah - make it a BIG ONE, with extra ketchup, mustard, relish & whatever else on it! 😡

 

[badlydrawnvik]

A little. But you gotta admit that the dude is pretty hot.

i watched the show for the first time while i was staying with a student host, and we all agreed we would never let him operate on us. he's just too odd. who does pushups before their surgery?

 

[yodel]

i watched the show for the first time while i was staying with a student host, and we all agreed we would never let him operate on us. he's just too odd. who does pushups before their surgery?

i once saw a girl do pushups before a biochem quiz. i think she was trying to stay awake

 

[don juan]

I have an interview coming up, and after reading/listening to interview feedback and opinions of current students, I'm struggling to find enough positive aspects to justify my plane ticket. I've had 3 other recent interviews, no acceptances yet. I don't want to burn my bridges but I also don't want to travel to interview at a very expensive school in a sucky part of boston that no one seems to like that much. Has anyone had a really positive experience there?

Wo, a sucky part of Boston? The south end is the coolest hippest part of the city. I've lived there for the last year and a half and will be leaving for Umass Med this fall. BUMC borders on South End and Roxbury. Roxbury is a rough part of the city, but South End is awesome and that's where most of the med students live. In fact it's very expensive to live there. If you wanted to get your own place you'd be looking a 1500/month rent. I pay 950 and have 2 roommates. Boston Medical is the hospital that services Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan so I think that's why people who don't know Boston think BUMC is in a sucky part of the city but it's really not.

 

[popbirch]

I loved my interview there, out of the schools I interviewed at I definetly want to go there. The thing that sort of stuck out in my mind is when someone from the school sort of casually mentioned that a lot of the residents come back and say that they are way ahead of the other residents when they first start. That the training they receive at BU gets them more than prepared to go anywhere and be competent and competitive right away. At all the other schools no one ever mentioned anything besides matching and board scores, so it stuck with me, because I want to be well prepared and ahead of the game when it comes to residency. That little thing along with the intangible 'gut feeling' made me really enjoy BU. I will go there in the fall if they accept me, just waiting until march (fingers crossed).

 

[trishaaa]

The South End is pretty darn hip, that's for sure. But, yes, you could definitely get mugged walking around BUMC...it's happened to a number of my friends. Lots and lots of drug addicts hang around there b/c there is a methadone clinic nearby. But I like that population (I'm a drug and alcohol counselor), and, hey, if you need some crack to stay up and study, it's at your fingertips!

I work with a few docs who went to BU. Quite a few of them say they didn't like it-- too competitive, some classmates were real jerks and weirdos, cost, etc.--but at the same time they had tons of options upon graduation and got some really great clinical training. They want me to go there (the one guy says b/c I'm normal and they need more normal people and less weirdos) but I'm not sure what I want...oh wait, I need to wait until March to find out if I get in! I'm in 3 other places so far, so I probably won't be deciding anything until May 14th at midnight.

Bottom line: go to the interview. See what you think of it. I came out of my interview with a pretty bad feeling (what really struck me were the not-so-nice facilities, odd folks who were interviewing with me, and unpleasant students), but I am definitely not disregarding this school.

 

[cuillezVJ]

Bottom line: go to the interview. See what you think of it. I came out of my interview with a pretty bad feeling (what really struck me were the not-so-nice facilities, odd folks who were interviewing with me, and unpleasant students), but I am definitely not disregarding this school.

i did go. And i was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't mind going there, but it may come down to choosing between that and my in-state school (TX) which is unbelievably cheap, and i'm not sure what i'll do. i love boston, but man does it eat money.

 

[trishaaa]

i did go. And i was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't mind going there, but it may come down to choosing between that and my in-state school (TX) which is unbelievably cheap, and i'm not sure what i'll do. i love boston, but man does it eat money.

Tell me about it. I've lived in Boston for the past 7 years, and I haven't saved a dime 🙁

 

[prana_md]

I just interviewed at BU this last week and I loved it.

I expected something completely different, given their arcane admissions process, their policy of not accepting community college credit, and -- of course -- that infamous "optional" essay. I'd heard a lot of bad things, ie, Ivy League attitude and price tag, not friendly toward non-traditional students, all-white.

Anyway, I got there, and in the first introductory hour, I loved it. Boston Medicial Center is historically where indigent patients go in Boston, and the school/med center makes it a priority to give them top-notch care. So the school had a very public service-oriented mission that I didn't know about.

Their cadaver lab has a great view ... the best I've seen (warning! the cadavers are looking a little worse for wear, come February)

And the student body seemed relatively diverse, and I felt like there were a number of student who I could see myself hanging out with.

If you haven't gotten in anywhere, it's definitely worth a look. The reports of its awfulness have been greatly exaggerated (sp?).