Tufts Interview: Transportation/lodging

[KittyRex]

For those of you who already interviewed at Tufts:
Did you stay in North Grafton or Boston? Hotel recommendations?
If staying in Boston, are there any alternatives to renting a car? (I think I remember someone mentioning something about a train?)

Can't seem to find anything about it on their website.

Thanks!! And good luck to everyone interviewing! 😀

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[rara avis]

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[tpad40]

As a former native, if you rent a car, I would definitely advise not staying in Boston. Boston traffic can be a nightmare Westborough (like rara avis) is a great idea, there should be plenty of hotels in the area because it is right along the Mass Pike.

The commuter rail does go to Grafton and it does let you out pretty close to the vet school but it will be a bit of a hike. Also, the times are pretty spread out. Here is the link: http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_m...ction=O&timing=W&RedisplayTime=Redisplay+Time

If you do decide to rent, I have had really good luck with Priceline - you can name your own price and wind up getting a really good deal, especially if you are under 25.

Huge congrats!!! and Good Luck!!!

 

[Optimistic 13]

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[c0bester]

Along the same lines, what kinds of questions did they ask on the interview? Any surprises or tricks? (haha)

I also agree to stay away from Boston. Worcester is nearby and I'm sure you can find cheap hotels since the city is kinda icky in some places. I'm lucky enough to have a friend to stay with.

 

[soxbox]

I worked at Tufts for almost 5 years, so I know it and the area pretty well! If you do stay in Boston, definitely stay far away from renting a car. It is a miserable place to drive...especially this time of year with all the snow/freezing rain they have been getting!! You can take the commuter rail from Boston, but as mentioned before, the schedule leaves a bit to be desired. The stop is really close to the school... however... if it happens to be a snowy/slushy/rainy day (as it was the day of my interview there), you will get soaked/muddy on the walk to the school in your interview attire and probably should bring winter boots with you! If it is icy (another common occurrence), the walk truly could be dangerous!

If you rent a car from the airport, it is pretty easy to leave the airport and hop right onto the Mass Pike and there are LOTS of hotels you could choose to stay in along the way. Westboro is probably the closest with still a decent selection of hotels. If you are looking for cheapness, you may want to consider looking at hotels in Shrewsbury or Worcester and see if they have any deals. (Worcester is a pretty big city, so just make sure if you look at any hotels there, they are on the Eastern side of the city!)

I wish you lots of luck, nice weather, and a big congrats 🙂

 

[ZooNose]

Definitely allow extra travel time just in case there is a snowstorm. I know that was a huge problem for those of us who traveled to the December interview at Tufts. Clear skies in the morning, but by 1pm, it was a total white out! Interviewees were trapped in Boston for at least a day or two with no flights going out. I suggest renting a car (because the taxis are extremely unreliable) and the drive from Boston to North Grafton on the Mass Pike is pretty much a straight shot - not too difficult.

 

[JustCats]

One more tip from a fellow Californian who went to school in MA--since you're probably going to stay in Worcester and you might need to ask someone directions, it's pronounced "Wooster" only shorten the "oo" sound. (Since I can't draw in phonetic markings, you might look it up in Wikipedia.)


Good luck at the interview KittyRex!

 

[rara avis]

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[DollyyLlama]

check the tufts interview feedback for lots of good info and advice!

http://more.studentdoctor.net/interviewlist.php?school=485

 

[susiewaits]

Hi, I live locally (actually in Grafton, right next door, and used to live in Westborough, also right next door) and will also be interviewing 🙂. Just a heads up about the comfort inn, I drove by it the other day and it seems that it has been purchased by the Motel 6 chain, I don't know if the reservation information online has been changed yet, but just in case.

Other hotels that are close are the Double Tree and the Courtyard Marriot (both in westborough). All are within about 7min driving distance (1 or 2 roads) to the campus.

I would suggest a rental car if you can manage it. Tufts is about 50min away from the airport. None of the hotels or places to eat are near campus.

There is a commuter rail stop VERY close to the campus building where interviews are being held, but no hotels within walking distance. The commuter rail is notoriously unreliable as well. I just wouldn't want any of you to get super stressed out before the interview!

 

[susiewaits]

Another thought, if you can't rent a car...Knights Airport Limosine Service (Its not a limo, its a minivan/bus thing) is very good, and would def. pick you up at the airport and drop you at your hotel and the reverse. I think it is about 50 or so dollars each way (call ahead and schedule the service). After that I guess you can call a cab for the short ride to and from campus ( i don't know much about cabs in the area unfortunately).

 

[Angelo84]

I would suggest a rental car if you can manage it. Tufts is about 50min away from the airport. None of the hotels or places to eat are near campus.

!

you can eat at the cafe in the student center the food is good but sadly not cheap.

Good luck!

 

[KittyRex]

Thanks for all the advice 🙂

Susiewaits, I think I may take advantage of that car service you mentioned. I am from California (and before that, I lived in Hawaii) so I've never driven in the snow before!! Anyways, I am leaning towards not renting a car this time because I figure, the more I can reduce my stress before the interview, the better. 😛

 

[DVMorBust]

After that I guess you can call a cab for the short ride to and from campus ( i don't know much about cabs in the area unfortunately).

D:

Just a heads up for everyone - we had a ton of issues with cabs in the area. Night before interview, waited for an hour and a half at the rail station, calling 5-6 times, before finally befriending a local who was nice enough to give us a lift.

Morning of interview, cab was a half hour late when we luckily ran into a fellow interviewee who had stopped for directions at the hotel.

Don't know if this was unusual, but I'd budget a looooot of extra time if you're using a cab.

 

[spidermonkey]

I have to agree with everyone else not to stay in boston. I am fortunate enough to have very supportive family in the Boston area who will take me to Tufts for my interview.
I was up at Tufts this summer and heard that the interview process is extremely laid back. They even told me that the topics are wide ranging and that one student said they discussed the Red Sox for the entire interview.🙂
So who knows? I for one am very excited!

 

[lelolai]

Residence Inn in Westborough is excellent and very near the school !! 😀

 

[Cowyakkin]

For those of you uncomfortable driving in snowy/icey conditions:

I'm from the Boston area and I agree that people should avoid cabs if they can. Almost the entire drive to campus from the airport is on major highway so unless their is a blizzard, driving should not be that bad. The last road up to campus is a lot smaller and I have no idea how well it is salted/sanded but otherwise the roads are maintained well.

If you rent a car and are going to drive there a couple of tips to safe driving in winter conditions:

-Use your defroster if the window fogs up
-Drive slower than you normally would ESPECIALLLY on turns
-Give yourself extra time to brake, leave extra space between your car and the car in front of you
-Make sure when you rent a car that the car has anti-lock brakes and feel free to ask if it has 4 season tires on (grip better on ice)
-if you do feel yourself fishtail (when back end of car slips out of turn and front end still holds), gently press on brakes and steer yourself back on course
-and not that this will happen, but if on the slight chance you start going into a spin, stay calm, steer into the turn and and then steer out of the turn. Don't jerk the car the other direction, even though that feels instinctual.

But really, you'll be fine. Going slow is the key to handling ice. Cabs are way too much of a hassle (and expensive from Boston all the way to North Grafton) that if you are a confident, cautious driver you should just rent. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Angelo84]

Ummm..you told them to hit the brakes if they start to skid--bad idea it will make you skid more. The best thing to do is take your foot off the gas and bring the front of the car back around to in front of the back. So if the back end is sliding left you turn your wheel to the left to straighten out. Taking your foot off the gas slows you down.

If you have never used antilock brakes when they kick in the brake petal will pulse-that is normal keep your foot on the break.

For those of you uncomfortable driving in snowy/icey conditions:

I'm from the Boston area and I agree that people should avoid cabs if they can. Almost the entire drive to campus from the airport is on major highway so unless their is a blizzard, driving should not be that bad. The last road up to campus is a lot smaller and I have no idea how well it is salted/sanded but otherwise the roads are maintained well.

If you rent a car and are going to drive there a couple of tips to safe driving in winter conditions:

-Use your defroster if the window fogs up
-Drive slower than you normally would ESPECIALLLY on turns
-Give yourself extra time to brake, leave extra space between your car and the car in front of you
-Make sure when you rent a car that the car has anti-lock brakes and feel free to ask if it has 4 season tires on (grip better on ice)
-if you do feel yourself fishtail (when back end of car slips out of turn and front end still holds), gently press on brakes and steer yourself back on course
-and not that this will happen, but if on the slight chance you start going into a spin, stay calm, steer into the turn and and then steer out of the turn. Don't jerk the car the other direction, even though that feels instinctual.

But really, you'll be fine. Going slow is the key to handling ice. Cabs are way too much of a hassle (and expensive from Boston all the way to North Grafton) that if you are a confident, cautious driver you should just rent. Just my 2 cents.

 

[runnerDC]

two years ago, i stayed at the Days Inn on route 9 in Shrewsbury, which was about a 5-7 minute drive to Tufts campus. it wasn't luxury, but it was clean, cheap, and close. for people wondering about staying in boston, i would say this: unless you're staying with friends or relatives in or near boston and are familiar with the area, i would recommend against getting a hotel room that far away from campus. it just sounds like it has the potential to add stress and complication.

also, think strongly about renting a car rather than trying to figure out the commuter rail (unless you're already familiar with the area and system and you know it will work with your schedule) or relying on cabs. some people here have mentioned cabs not being reliable in the grafton area, and i can support that with an anecdote: two years ago as i was leaving my hotel to drive to campus for my interview, i saw another interviewee waiting in the lobby for a cab that never came. and i gave her a ride so she wouldn't miss her interview.

good luck, everyone!

For those of you who already interviewed at Tufts:
Did you stay in North Grafton or Boston? Hotel recommendations?
If staying in Boston, are there any alternatives to renting a car? (I think I remember someone mentioning something about a train?)

Can't seem to find anything about it on their website.

Thanks!! And good luck to everyone interviewing! 😀

 

[stick91]

So I'll be staying in Boston with a friend and I plan on taking the commuter rail in (and then sketchily hanging around for an hour before anything gets underway..)

Anyways, on the interview feedback some people mentioned that the campus police will give you a ride to/from the train station. Is that true? Anyone know how to go about arranging that? I don't mind walking but I am notorious for getting lost with very straightforward directions, and slogging through some snow in my suite probably isn't ideal, heh.

 

[KittyRex]

F.Y.I. I found out from the Tufts email about transportation/lodging that Motel 6 offers Tufts interviewees a free shuttle ride to and from the N. Grafton Campus! basic room is $58 for one night 🙂

 

[eatpinkpenguins]

Yes! The campus police will give you a ride.

Campus Police

Tufts University Campus Police, Grafton Campus
Phone: (508) 839-5303

They picked a group of us up at the train station and dropped us off right at the admissions building, which was good because heels + ice/snow might have ended badly. The roads leading up to the school aren't cleared like the campus. At least they weren't back then. We also called to arrange a ride back about 30 min earlier than we needed the ride.

Funny aside- the policeman said the only crime was what they were paying him.

 

[great potoo]

Does anyone know if there is transportation from the airport to the commuter train? When I checked out a map, it looked like they were pretty far apart.

Are there buses or should I take a taxi?

 

[DVMorBust]

Does anyone know if there is transportation from the airport to the commuter train? When I checked out a map, it looked like they were pretty far apart.

Are there buses or should I take a taxi?

There's a bus - the silver line, I believe it's called. You can catch it right outside any of the terminals and take it to the rail station.

 

[prevet09]

hi! my interview at tufts is at 3:30, and i was wondering if anyone knew if they usually kept on top of the schedule/how i coudl get to the airport by 5 ish? the flight i want to take is at 6, and i know the airport is 50 minutes away and the interview is 30-45 minutes long. do you think i can make it? or should i make accomodations for the night?

 

[guppy73]

I grew up in MA & lived there most of my life. Unless you have options for a later flight, I'd say do yourself a huge favor & stay overnight. The time frame's cutting it way too close on a good day; in MA, the term "rush hour" is a joke on many major highways. It's more like 3-4 hours of congestion, starting around 3:30 in the afternoon & becoming more manageable around 6:30-7 p.m. I'm not saying it's impossible--just unlikely that you'd make it on time. Throw in an accident or bad weather (who knows what it'll be like on your interview day?), and you could be crashing in a chair at Logan for the night. Might as well be comfy in a hotel!

Good luck, whatever you decide to do!