I think that anyone who bases their decision to attend BUSM based on the assumption that students actually receive more education or other perks based on the astronomical tuition should revaluate this position after seeing other schools. I made the erroneous decision to apply to and then to attend BUSM because I thought that the high tuition must at least mean that education is somehow supported and their global health track appearred to be supportive on the website. Buyer beware my friends. The high cost of BUSM is due to the lack of alumni contributions and for other economic issues I can not fathom. The housing situation is horrible around Boston in terms of finding a place where you can park your car or live as it is all very old housing that is literally crumbling, never mind that everything is overpriced in Boston. I think there are few advisors available to actually talk to students at BU, so your high tuition is not going to student support services, I think they are trying to change this, but with 170 students who are basically confused about everything from financial planning to electives to career planning you will not receive personalized attention like you would at a place like Mayo med school with only 30 or so students. I wish I could go back and give them input about how to change basic science years, as many of the lectures are poorly prepared, and alot of time is wasted traveling to off-site clinical days in years 1 and 2 with clinical preceptors who may not be very helpful or enjoy or even tolerate students in their clinics. I sought out advisors for help with research and international health work, but they were practically mute and offered no solutions. . . BU historically used to be a city hospital, but the prevailing feeling of the place is a private medical school with many students aiming for competitive specialties (mostly to pay the high tuition), and less emphasis on public health. I would wager that any medical school at baseline offers the same opportunities to students as most of these things are based at the NIH, but BU doesn't really step up to the plate to offer help for it masses, I think that this is because the school has to go so low down on the rank list and maybe are disatisfied with the students they have!?? At any rate, I knew that I would not receive adequate clinical training at BU, i.e. strong foundation in internal medicine, and all of the other clerkships, my strong step 2 CK was a direct result of getting excellent training outside the BU system.I knew BU would not prepare me as well as other places for excellent clinical practice. Believe me, the tuition at BU does not "trickle down" to the students, and it is weird how the school every year talks about trying to keep it down, but can't, I don't know if the school is on the verge of bankruptcy or something, but it was a negative hearing so many of my classmates at BUSM complain about the tuition although I wasn't! BU offers a degree at a high price, but has not beefed up any of undergraduate medical education for the price, . . . there are many schools with excellent clinical opportunities involving underserved people and global health, BU is not special at all in this regards, don't get fooled into paying a higher price for a product which is not worth it!
