BU vs. Tufts - go to BU interview after putting Tufts deposit?

[DentalDriven]

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I've already put down the first deposit $1500 for Tufts but am hoping to get into one of the other schools I've recently interviewed at as well which I beleive would be a better fit for me. Yet, I have a BU interview coming up and am wondering if for those of you that have been to both, is it worth interviewing at BU or is Tufts really the better choice?

If none of my other schools work out and if I end up in Boston than I think BU is worth checking out, otherwise all my research and talk leads me to believe Tufts is better and its not worth the money and day off to go check out BU compared to my other schools at least...what do you think?

 

[tamkhan]

I've already put down the first deposit $1500 for Tufts but am hoping to get into one of the other schools I've recently interviewed at as well which I beleive would be a better fit for me. Yet, I have a BU interview coming up and am wondering if for those of you that have been to both, is it worth interviewing at BU or is Tufts really the better choice?

If none of my other schools work out and if I end up in Boston than I think BU is worth checking out, otherwise all my research and talk leads me to believe Tufts is better and its not worth the money and day off to go check out BU compared to my other schools at least...what do you think?

Been to both. Tufts is definitely better. Don't worry about construction too much. You will get to reap the benefit, come December 2009.
To be honest, there was nothing impressive about BU. The atmosphere was great, though. Nice faculty, nice students. When I visited Tufts later on, I could see the difference b/w the two schools.

 

[DentalDriven]

Been to both. Tufts is definitely better. Don't worry about construction too much. You will get to reap the benefit, come December 2009.
To be honest, there was nothing impressive about BU. The atmosphere was great, though. Nice faculty, nice students. When I visited Tufts later on, I could see the difference b/w the two schools.

If you dont' mind me asking what difference in particular? Past threads and posts keep bashing BU on being run down and not as reputable as Tufts. Some others said that perhaps BU is an "easier" school so that could help if you want to specialize so you can be higher ranked in your class more easily.

I know every dental school will be hard but for some reason when people compared these they said Tufts has a larger or harder workload, even compared to other dental schools. Even during the interview they did say how we'd take some classes our peers at other schools wouldn't but I didn't imagine it's to the extent where everyone says Tufts is that much harder?

 

[tamkhan]

pm sent.

 

[burnthestatus]

Tufts is much better, IMO. I was at BU prior to Tufts and trust me, there is a big difference. Faculty and students are nice at both schools, but the difference in the facilities...good grief! Plus, Tufts is better clinically, I think (hand skills matter to me more than the grades).

Also, just as a note, Tufts Dental is in one building (you will take gross anatomy in the med building, but its connected with a walkway). At BU, the school is split between three buildings, which prob. doesn't even matter, but personally I like the one building set up.

 

[kING701]

both are good schools with pros and cons:

tufts
adv.
-amazing facilities
-better clinical reputation
-older program
-good faculty

dis. adv.
-block exams

BU
adv.-students get high grades (students at tufts were struggling...but still liked the scool)

dis. adv.
-more expensive than tufts
-old run down facilities (relative to tufts...which had amazing facilities)
-harder to get patients (students were complaining about this...but it is definitely possible to get patients if your a good student)

overall, i think BU as a facility is worse than tufts. I would choose BU over tufts because weekly exams would work better for me instead of block exams.

good luck with ur decision.

 

[Wolfram]

just relax and enjoy Tufts. you're thinking too much. the deposit is there already and its a great school. congratulations

 

[DentalDriven]

Thanks everyone this REALLY helps! It seems like my research and reading the forums is consistent with what everyone is thinking but what about the fact that BU is “easier” so you can achiever a higher rank without loosing as much sleep?

Also, is there anyone that think BU is better and thus worth checking out?

 

[eldirty]

does anyone have an new advice to add. Ive just received acceptance from tufts and an interview invite from BU.

 

[DrReo]

never hurts to check both out...

 

[smoham03]

does anyone have an new advice to add. Ive just received acceptance from tufts and an interview invite from BU.

When you say "just", you mean today? When did you interview at Tufts? Congratulations by the way.

 

[eldirty]

When you say "just", you mean today? When did you interview at Tufts? Congratulations by the way.

I "just" today received the interview invite from BU but I was accepted to Tufts on Dec. 1. Thanks for the congrats

 

[AlwaysImproving]

I "just" today received the interview invite from BU but I was accepted to Tufts on Dec. 1. Thanks for the congrats

I know this is totally out of the scope of this thread, but I can't help myself😀
Eldirty, every time I see your picture, it reminds me of Barack Obama. Where did you get that pic? 😀Hehehe Thanks and sorry for the question

 

[eldirty]

haha ... I honestly dont remember where I found it but I think I just searched for dental avatars and found this one. I liked it and hadnt seen anyone on here with it so ...

 

[murff05]

im going to BU so you should too 👍

also, BU has an exam every week so you are not swamped with multiple exams in the same week.

 

[Isradoc1983]

I would give BU a try. I have a couple of friends there and they all love the school. Also, don't forget that in tufts you'll be doing most of your clinical/ lab work by yourself. Don't know if you see it as a plus or minus.... and exam blocks suck ( at least for me). On that note I really hope to get an interview/acceptance from tufts 🙂

 

[Albuterol]

exam block = all your exams in a 1 week span?

 

[zebrafish]

Kinda all exams that are up to be had will be in one week. You don't have exams for all classes in one week because some classes have 2 exams per semester and some have 3 and some have 4. There is a total of four exams blocks...so the first block you may 3, second block 5..ect. The most you have first year is 5 in one week. Second year there are more though, but not all of them are hard core. The school knows what they are doing because they have been doing it for over a 100 yrs.

exam block = all your exams in a 1 week span?

 

[eldirty]

Thanks for the response ... I may give BU a look before making my final decision ...

 

[xtractime]

i don't know about you guys but i am taking block exams and i prefer it that way. you have 3 weeks to relax between blocks whereas having 2 tests/quizzes every week seems like it would be draining. actually i KNOW its draining because that is what i went thru in undergrad with 18 credits/semester. i was constantly studying and never had any down time. i feel that the people who don't like block exams are the ones that don't keep up with studying a little bit everyday. i'd hope that dental students would know how to discipline themselves accordingly. if you study a little bit everyday and don't fall behind, then there should be no reason why you couldn't take tests all at once.

 

[smoham03]

When I got accepted into Tufts, I canceled everything else. Tufts was my first choice and I am very satisfied with it. As for the block exams, personally I feel that they will prepare me better for the boards since you will have to practice been tested on many subjects in a short amount of time. The students at BU seem just as happy with their school as the students at Tufts. I have friends at both schools and I have visited both. However, I know that the students at BU wish they had the newer facilities and better tech as Tufts does (not to mention the 5 new floors).

 

[eldirty]

As for the block exams, personally I feel that they will prepare me better for the boards since you will have to practice been tested on many subjects in a short amount of time.

I agree ... we'll see once we're waist deep in it ... thanks for the input

 

[mena22787]

.

 

[shinbone86]

BU doesn't have spring break.

 

[eldirty]

thanks for the update ... im glad I withdraw my application.