Getting into Tufts Med

[cluelesscollarbone]

I am looking for advice regarding my situation. TL;DR: I have a strong affiliation with Tufts and my app is not a stretch for this school, but I haven't gotten an interview. Many pre-II rejections have gone out but I have just gotten straight silence. What can I do? Can I call the school to ask if they can share any information with me about my status? Can I write a pre-II letter of intent? Any other ideas?

More detail: I am currently a second year student at Tufts' MBS program. The MBS program is very interconnected with the med program (basically the same first year curriculum with same professors) so I have gotten a very good feel for what med school at Tufts is like. I did very well in the MBS program and feel I should have a good shot at getting into TUSM. I have a 3.8 GPA, formed relationships with TUSM professors and faculty, was involved in leadership in ECs at Tufts, have very good ECs and essays (from what a few different advisors have told me) and have a 513 MCAT. I have also had a pretty successful application cycle so far with multiple M.D. acceptances. However, I have heard absolutely nothing from Tufts and it really is my top choice school. I know it's usually a bit ridiculous to write a letter of intent pre-II, but since I do have a true connection and experience with the school does my situation warrant sending a LOI? Is it OK to call the admission office to reiterate my interest and ask about the status of my app (I have heard rumors that the school lumps most of the MBS students in a pile to be reviewed after the new year so I want to ask if that is true). I know I will likely just speak to a office assistant who will just tell me my app is in the review process, but more often than not 'the squeaky wheel gets the oil' so maybe it's worth a shot? Thoughts anybody?

@Goro @gyngyn @LizzyM @gonnif @Med Ed @LindaAccepted @anybody willing to give me advice!

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[Goro]

I am looking for advice regarding my situation. TL;DR: I have a strong affiliation with Tufts and my app is not a stretch for this school, but I haven't gotten an interview. Many pre-II rejections have gone out but I have just gotten straight silence. What can I do? Can I call the school to ask if they can share any information with me about my status? Can I write a pre-II letter of intent? Any other ideas?

More detail: I am currently a second year student at Tufts' MBS program. The MBS program is very interconnected with the med program (basically the same first year curriculum with same professors) so I have gotten a very good feel for what med school at Tufts is like. I did very well in the MBS program and feel I should have a good shot at getting into TUSM. I have a 3.8 GPA, formed relationships with TUSM professors and faculty, was involved in leadership in ECs at Tufts, have very good ECs and essays (from what a few different advisors have told me) and have a 513 MCAT. I have also had a pretty successful application cycle so far with multiple M.D. acceptances. However, I have heard absolutely nothing from Tufts and it really is my top choice school. I know it's usually a bit ridiculous to write a letter of intent pre-II, but since I do have a true connection and experience with the school does my situation warrant sending a LOI? Is it OK to call the admission office to reiterate my interest and ask about the status of my app (I have heard rumors that the school lumps most of the MBS students in a pile to be reviewed after the new year so I want to ask if that is true). I know I will likely just speak to a office assistant who will just tell me my app is in the review process, but more often than not 'the squeaky wheel gets the oil' so maybe it's worth a shot? Thoughts anybody?

@Goro @gyngyn @LizzyM @gonnif @Med Ed @LindaAccepted @anybody willing to give me advice!

It might be that Tufts wants to see you finish the program. Based upon what I've heard other SMPs do, you might be looking at a spring interview, even late spring!

Calling the school just screams insecurity and desperation. Don't do it. LOIs are meaningless.

Just continue to do well in the program, and be patient.

 

[HomeSkool]

Can I call the school to ask if they can share any information with me about my status? Can I write a pre-II letter of intent?

Any status updates they're willing to provide over the phone will be provided over the portal. Put another way, if they haven't put it on the portal, they're not going to say it over the phone. You'd just get a canned answer saying your app is being reviewed. And don't send a pre-II letter of intent. Those things don't do much good even for folks who've been interviewed.

Is it OK to call the admission office to reiterate my interest

You haven't withdrawn your application, so they assume you're interested. Calling them won't do anything except make you look desperate.

I know I will likely just speak to a office assistant who will just tell me my app is in the review process

That's exactly what will happen. Moreover, since you're pre-interview and your application is one out of 10,000 (Tufts received 9,775 in 2016, per their own website), the office assistant isn't going to bother the dean of admissions with this.

but more often than not 'the squeaky wheel gets the oil'

And the nail that sticks up gets hammered down. Sometimes it's helpful to make noise, sometimes it's not.

I'm not trying to discourage you about your application status, about which I have no idea. But I don't think there's anything useful you can do at this point except send them an update (if you have anything worth updating) and wait.

 

[cluelesscollarbone]

I GOT AN INTERVIEW INVITE TODAY FROM TUFTS! So happy. This is my dream school. Thanks for everyone's support! I ended up just being patient and I guess it worked in my favor 🙂

 

[HomeSkool]

I GOT AN INTERVIEW INVITE TODAY FROM TUFTS! So happy. This is my dream school. Thanks for everyone's support! I ended up just being patient and I guess it worked in my favor 🙂

Now read @Goro's advice on how to crush your interview! Goro’s guide to interviews

 

[Goro]

I GOT AN INTERVIEW INVITE TODAY FROM TUFTS! So happy. This is my dream school. Thanks for everyone's support! I ended up just being patient and I guess it worked in my favor 🙂

😍😍😍

And also read this, while you're at it (and kudos to my pal Homeskool for making my job easier!)

• Goro's Guide to Interviews: The View from Behind the Curtain
• • Goro's Guide to YOUR Interview Questions (2016 edition)

 

[CyrilFiggis]

I have heard rumors that the school lumps most of the MBS students in a pile to be reviewed after the new year so I want to ask if that is true

Current Tufts student here.... First off congrats on the interview. The day is very laid back and isn't stressful at all. You'll have two interviews with either 2 faculty or 1 faculty & 1 fourth year. If Tufts is where you want to go, be honest about your intentions. As an MBS, you've had exposure to some of our first year classes and faculty and probably a few of the current students. You may be involved with Sharewood or another student group. You, unlike many applicants, can speak sincerely about the culture here. Since you've had other interviews, you can show some perspective as well (not that you should directly compare, more just to suss out your priorities). Basically, anything that you would say in an LOI should be refined and polished for the conversations you'll have. And finally, be yourself.

For any other MBS lurkers on here, Tufts typically does two rounds of MBS applicants - one right at the start of the cycle and one in the new year.

 

[cluelesscollarbone]

Current Tufts student here.... First off congrats on the interview. The day is very laid back and isn't stressful at all. You'll have two interviews with either 2 faculty or 1 faculty & 1 fourth year. If Tufts is where you want to go, be honest about your intentions. As an MBS, you've had exposure to some of our first year classes and faculty and probably a few of the current students. You may be involved with Sharewood or another student group. You, unlike many applicants, can speak sincerely about the culture here. Since you've had other interviews, you can show some perspective as well (not that you should directly compare, more just to suss out your priorities). Basically, anything that you would say in an LOI should be refined and polished for the conversations you'll have. And finally, be yourself.

For any other MBS lurkers on here, Tufts typically does two rounds of MBS applicants - one right at the start of the cycle and one in the new year.

Current Tufts student here.... First off congrats on the interview. The day is very laid back and isn't stressful at all. You'll have two interviews with either 2 faculty or 1 faculty & 1 fourth year. If Tufts is where you want to go, be honest about your intentions. As an MBS, you've had exposure to some of our first year classes and faculty and probably a few of the current students. You may be involved with Sharewood or another student group. You, unlike many applicants, can speak sincerely about the culture here. Since you've had other interviews, you can show some perspective as well (not that you should directly compare, more just to suss out your priorities). Basically, anything that you would say in an LOI should be refined and polished for the conversations you'll have. And finally, be yourself.

For any other MBS lurkers on here, Tufts typically does two rounds of MBS applicants - one right at the start of the cycle and one in the new year.

Thanks so much for the tips! I definitely had a great experience with TUSM while I was at MBS and have a lot to talk about. Looking forward to my interview 🙂