Tufts interview Disaster

[JMoney]

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So I just got back from the interview and wow was I surprised. Boston was beautiful and seemed very "european-like". Tufts was great and was my first pick coming into the interview. But I had one bad moment.

At the end of the interview day one of the tour guides named Adam sits down to talk with you individually about what you are lacking in your application such as classes, shadowing, etc. So its my turn and since I graduated three years ago and have had my application complete since June 1st, I thought piece of cake right......wrong......Apparently if you have ever taken community college for any of your prereq's you are not going to get in!! Adam and the Dean of Students (Mark) said that since this year is extremely competitive you need to have all your prereq’s completed at a four year college. I find this very amusing due to the fact that I have taken molecular cell biology, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and have worked in a biological lab setting for over six year now. You would think I know a little more than what could be taught at a four year college in the subject of Biology I and Physic I (which I took at a community college to save money and due to time constraints). So what should I do?? I am really baffled at the situation since my other three interviews at Nova, Case, and Arizona said nothing to this extent.

Working full time and being recently married makes this situation impossible to fix. I feel that I wasted my money going to the interview and feel that they will never accept me due to their new rule. This rule isn't even posted on anything to let people know before submitting their application. Why would they do this?? I am really frustrated and feel that possibly other schools will do this to me as well. Feedback needed please!!

Thanks in advance
Jason

 

[twinklit]

wow, so they had to come all the way there just to toy with you? wouldnt they have seen that in the application? i was just wondering, what prereqs did you do at community college? i took one summer semester of english at a community college...thanks.

 

[syn_apse]

i'm sorry jason, that's a really tough break especially considering your work experience since graduation. i would speak with the director of admissions and get his opinion. if what 'adam' said is true, then you'll have to retake the courses at a 4-year university this spring in order to meet their requirements. i would be really surprised if they make you do this though!

let this be a cautionary tale to those currently debating between coursework at a community college and a 4-year institution. while i don't always agree with the anti-CC stance that many adcoms take, i understand their reasoning. bottomline, avoid CC at all costs...

 

[JMoney]

it was Intro to Biology I and Physics I. The University that I graduated from accepted it for credit and they have very specific places you are allowed to go to outside of their university. I have many other upper level classes that follow these core classes like I said before plus I have real world experience in a Biological setting and have papers!! I dont get it either?? Makes me mad just thinking about it. What should I do??

 

[Papa_Smurf]

It seems to me that a well written letter to the Dean of Students might be in order. This will give you the opportunity to explain your situation and why these courses were taken at a CC. Also, you can remind the Dean of your subsequent accomplishments. I would probably also include your CV along with the letter. This would further enforce you post graduate work such as publications. Use this as an opportunity to express your interest in the school and your desire to attend it. Finally follow this up with a phone call to make certain you letter has reached the correct people. Good luck!

 

[issa]

this really sucks. i took almost all of my prerequisite courses in a community college. i took all except bio2. i know they will focus more on my dat score.

 

[etan4]

this really sucks. i took almost all of my prerequisite courses in a community college. i took all except bio2. i know they will focus more on my dat score.

To tell you the truth, this might pose a problem for you.

 

[syn_apse]

It seems to me that a well written letter to the Dean of Students might be in order. This will give you the opportunity to explain your situation and why these courses were taken at a CC. Also, you can remind the Dean of your subsequent accomplishments. I would probably also include your CV along with the letter. This would further enforce you post graduate work such as publications. Use this as an opportunity to express your interest in the school and your desire to attend it. Finally follow this up with a phone call to make certain you letter has reached the correct people. Good luck!

great advice! good luck jason

 

[issa]

To tell you the truth, this might pose a problem for you.

but i am a biology major. i am going to take biochemistry, histology, and many biology courses in a 4 year school. i still have a year and a half left to get my bachelor degree.

 

[PDizzle]

I took every single pre req at a CC. full year of bio, chem, ochem and pysics. I've had an interview at AZ and soon will interview at UCSF. So far, it hasn't been raised as an issue.

My buddy who I went to school with for all those classes got into UoP and UCSF (he chose UCSF). Hopefully that's just one svhools opinion of CC or else I'm f$%ked!

 

[rambo2006]

this whole issue is pretty sad, becuase at cc they often teach better. 4 year university profs. are busy teaching and class sizes are huge. So what if a CC instructer only has a master's degree in physics. If your taking physics with them, they will give you more then enough of what you need to know and still not run out of things to teach you "because they dont know it" I have taken classes at both CC and I am now graduating from a 4 year U. In many ways, a student can learn more at a CC and if they offered 4 year deg. I'd be there.

 

[saycheese]

what a pain.. ... why did they even bother interviewing you then? goodness gracious.

 

[Todds2be@work]

Does not make sense at all. Why did they make you spend the money and then tell you that you are not good enough? Wish there was some kind of governing body for these schools who can give it back to them.

 

[puncho]

I agree with someone earlier. You should write to the dean and explain your circumstance. At the same time, express your desire to attend Tufts.

 

[DieselKJ]

Sounds like BS to me. So you only took one BIO class and Physics I at a CC and they are saying thats a problem?!?! I could understand if it was orgo or gchem or the only bio class you took...Call the dean of adminssions and def talk to him about this.

 

[libratl]

I took my organic and biochem at a local community college as well. However, Adam didn't mention that as a problem during my interview.


AA: 26 TS: 30 PA: 22

 

[JMoney]

I don't understand either. I talked to Mark Gonthier after the whole interview and he said to email Melissa Bradbury the problem. Mark said that due to the competitive nature of the incoming class that Tufts is no longer accepting classes (and I assume he is only talking the pre-req's) from CC's. I guess that I will email Melissa and call the dean of admissions.

 

[JMoney]

I took my organic and biochem at a local community college as well. However, Adam didn't mention that as a problem during my interview.


AA: 26 TS: 30 PA: 22

When did you interview??

 

[darius99]

definately write to the dean of admissions and explain this, especially since u only took 2 classes at the cc. if they still give u the attitude that there is nothing that can be done, then i would call or write back a letter to complain. they obviously saw your transcript before granting u an interview, and if u were automatically not going to be considered for admission they would have known this before they invited u, and would have saved u the time and money. this seems so obvious that i actually get the feeling that it wont be a problem, and that what u heard isnt set in stone.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

Jason, I just interviewed there on Friday and remember that Adam is NOT a dental or healthcare professional. He's also relatively new. Even though he's extremely friendly, don't accept his word as the last on something so significant for your application. Definitely take the advice of those who say to write letters and bring it up to the highest officials that will hear your case.

He almost sent me into a panic when he casually told me that I had to take a biochem class because it's a Tufts requirement. I said "WOAH! Wait, does it say Bio285 on my transcript?" "Yes." "That was a biochem class!". "oh, really? Oh, ok. You're all set then!" I think he expects to offer some point of "incompleteness" for each student, so he takes it as matter-of-course. Fight this until the end!

 

[Mackchops]

Hey,

My girlfriend went through a similar situation when applying to vet school. She graduated magna cum laude, phi beta kappa, upper level sciences, and international research experience in Thailand and Belize. She took virology and had a written statement from that professor that the class would satisfy a certain requirement... microbio maybe? Anyway, the summer before starting classes, after ALREADY having been accepted she received an email saying that she hadn't fulfilled all the necessary pre-reqs. She met with the dean, argued her case, and was told that he wouldn't be able to anything. She pointed out that she was more prepared than most of her classmates, hemmed and hawed some more and got in. Talk with the dean. It at least shows you're comitted to the school.

good luck,
Mack

 

[Catfish]

I don't understand either. I talked to Mark Gonthier after the whole interview and he said to email Melissa Bradbury the problem. Mark said that due to the competitive nature of the incoming class that Tufts is no longer accepting classes (and I assume he is only talking the pre-req's) from CC's. I guess that I will email Melissa and call the dean of admissions.

So sorry to hear all the trouble you're going through. I'm glad that I decided not to attend their interview earlier, otherwise it would just be wasting $$$ for me. I took ALL my pre-req's at CC (bio,gen chem,orgo, phy,Eng.) I chose to attend CC because I didn't have money for universities, and I didn't go to high school here so I didn't have scholarship either. I think as long as we took upper level classes and got tons A's at university later on, that's more than enough to show we're competitive. If Tufts rejects me only becaues I took pre-req from CC, then that's their lost. I'm glad that I didn't waste my $$ for the travel.

Looks like they're serious about this. Really hope Tufts is not one of your first choices. But if it is, do your best to fight for it.

BEST OF LUCK!

BTW, on all the interviews I went, my interviewers seemed very happy with my academic performance. Nobody every brought up the CC issue. I'm not worried about it at all.

 

[NA4242]

When I was applying to schools such as U pitt, Upenn, and Temple, I read on their websites that if you took more than one third of your prerequisites at a CC, then you will not be considered as competitive as the other students who went directly from high school to a University. I called Upitt, and the lady told me that they also look at the school you are currently attending. So if you are attending Harvard, for example, that will compensentae for the fact that you went to CC. Needless to say, I received an interview at Upitt. The funny thing is my CC GPA is lower than my University GPA!

 

[LadyxJC]

I can't imagine why that should be a problem... especially if you have shown that you can handle upper level classes at 4 year schools. And besides, they never specified that as a requirement so they shouldn't use that against you. That's so odd...

 

[Comet208]

It seems to me that a well written letter to the Dean of Students might be in order. This will give you the opportunity to explain your situation and why these courses were taken at a CC. Also, you can remind the Dean of your subsequent accomplishments. I would probably also include your CV along with the letter. This would further enforce you post graduate work such as publications. Use this as an opportunity to express your interest in the school and your desire to attend it. Finally follow this up with a phone call to make certain you letter has reached the correct people. Good luck!

This is what i would do.

 

[TeethVader]

So I just got back from the interview and wow was I surprised. Boston was beautiful and seemed very "european-like". Tufts was great and was my first pick coming into the interview. But I had one bad moment.

At the end of the interview day one of the tour guides named Adam sits down to talk with you individually about what you are lacking in your application such as classes, shadowing, etc. So its my turn and since I graduated three years ago and have had my application complete since June 1st, I thought piece of cake right......wrong......Apparently if you have ever taken community college for any of your prereq's you are not going to get in!! Adam and the Dean of Students (Mark) said that since this year is extremely competitive you need to have all your prereq’s completed at a four year college. I find this very amusing due to the fact that I have taken molecular cell biology, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and have worked in a biological lab setting for over six year now. You would think I know a little more than what could be taught at a four year college in the subject of Biology I and Physic I (which I took at a community college to save money and due to time constraints). So what should I do?? I am really baffled at the situation since my other three interviews at Nova, Case, and Arizona said nothing to this extent.

Working full time and being recently married makes this situation impossible to fix. I feel that I wasted my money going to the interview and feel that they will never accept me due to their new rule. This rule isn't even posted on anything to let people know before submitting their application. Why would they do this?? I am really frustrated and feel that possibly other schools will do this to me as well. Feedback needed please!!

Thanks in advance
Jason[/QUOTE

Well, As far as USC is concern, you don't have to worry. I completed most of my prereq's at community college and it was not an issue during my interviews. I was accepted to SC and, like I said, my JC classes were never an issue. Don't worry, you'll get in somewhere