Interviewing at Tufts or BU?

Started by drPheta
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drPheta

Some random guy
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
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This doesn't have to do with that process itself, but I just realized a lot of people are driving into the schools to get to the interview.

DO NOT DRIVE IN BOSTON. The roads suck, and the traffic is beyond your imagination during the morning hours. Imagine every street funnelling into a large metropolitan city (kind of like what an asterisk looks like)....that's Boston.

Save money on parking, cause Boston has limited space and they charge your arm and a candy ass for you to use their garage/lot.

BU can be accessed by the Orange line to "Mass Ave". There should be a bus from "Mass Ave" subway station that drops you off at the BMC campus for dental and med. If you don't want to wait for the bus, you can walk from the subway station (due east) a few blocks (roughly 10 min...these are not NYC blocks...they're normal sized). Total round trip cost ~ $5



Tufts is right across the street from chinatwon. You get direct access to it by taking the Orange Line to "New England Medical Center." That's it. Tufts is right there. Total round trip cost ~ $2.50

If you don't know how to use a subway system, ask your hotel concierge or anyone walking around. Granted, the Northeasterners look mean and introvert, but ask us a question and we'll stop to help you out.

Just wanted to let you guys know cause it's a real shame to spend $20+ on parking ("paahhking"). Save the money for dinner with your family or significant other.


Transfers between subways lines are free. Just make sure you get off at the right stop and take the correct train. Everything is laid out for easy reading, so it's not rocket science. Make sure you know exactly what train to take where in what direction before you venture off into public transportation. Once again, if you need help ask your hotel's employees or anyone in public.
 
not to mention the size of the pot holes! it's like a war zone over there...

another thing to note is that there is a lot of construction going on for the 'big dig'. maps may not be up to date and detours will definately make it a HUGE headache if you don't know the area.
 
Okay tufts and BU are in areas that are well served by public transportation. The only time you have to drive is if you are trying to get to certain areas in the suburbs. Chances are if anybody ends up at BU or Tufts most of the time one will end up walking or using public transportation. They are located right smack in the middle of the city. Also areas such as commonwealth and Beacon were people commute from are very accessable via public transportation. Sure the city itself is not particularly friendly to driving but then again why would you if you are going to be tied up with going to dental school??? It's not like you are going to be going a place beyond route 128.
 
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Since we're on the subject of Tufts and BU, has anybody here interviewed or visited with both schools? What are the differences between the two? (I've visited Tufts for an interview, but not yet BU.)
 
I interviewed at Tufts and BU - and I must honestly say that I was quite impressed with both! The overall stats of Tufts students are higher and I had heard from numerous people that BU was a school you applied to if you had shaky grades and low DAT scores, but after my visit to BU, I think that I could be equally happy at either school (although Tufts is my first choice).

Tufts accepts more people each year (~154 vs. ~110 for BU), and their clinics were really nice. The overall atmosphere of the place really sold me though. BU felt a little bit cold in comparison - the people were a bit more snobbish (but this is only my experience - if you talk to 10 other people they will tell you it was very warm and friendly, which it is, but not like Tufts).

For whatever reason, I have in engrained in my head that Tufts is a better school (perhaps because their board scores are consistently in the top 10 - although #24 last year, #5 the year before). I am also very partial to Boston, so I went into my interviews already wanting to be in the city. This oppossed to Columbia ( I loathe NYC).

It seems that everyone on here has something to say about every school (both good and bad). In the end, you really just have to decide for yourself I suppose.