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this year's is ~80, and it's likely to only grow
Tufts MBS 2010-2011 Thread
- Thread starter klmnop
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i read in an article from the school that they plan to cap it at 100 eventually, to keep it successful, but it was from a few years ago so who knows if their intentions have changed.
Here's a link to the article I think you're referring to: http://www.tufts.edu/med/news/features/springboard/index.html
It's a good read for anyone thinking about attending. The class size relative to BU and GT is a definite plus for me.
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hey, so here are two things i am worried about and i'd love to here what people have to say:
cost - this is obviously an expensive program and I will be getting financial aid for it, and suppose I begin med school after, im looking at at least 200k in debt if not more. what can you say about the value of this program over a smiliar state-program in reference to the high cost.
intensity - i am also worried about how possible it is toi succeed in this program, seeing as an SMP in my mind is a make-or-break scenario and is possibly my last chance at medical school. from reading peoples' descriptions everyone has been very positive but has indicated it is very intense and the most work you've ever done. I know they would not admit someone that they do not believe could succeed, however how possible is it to actually excell in this program without being a superfreak. I am really excited about the opportunity, but have heard tufts on the whole has a reputation of being very almost impossibly diffuclt, and far hared than anticipated. I like the idea of the many opportunities it may lead to, but i am worried about wehther it is too difficult a program to rest the fate of your future on.
that said, i have yet to apply to my state program (which isnt a true smp) as i am unsure of the value outside of their medical school. who really knows though, it could be just as difficult just not as well known. anyway, any thoughts... i know this is decision is laregly based on chance and my personal opinion but if anyone has thoughts...
cost - this is obviously an expensive program and I will be getting financial aid for it, and suppose I begin med school after, im looking at at least 200k in debt if not more. what can you say about the value of this program over a smiliar state-program in reference to the high cost.
intensity - i am also worried about how possible it is toi succeed in this program, seeing as an SMP in my mind is a make-or-break scenario and is possibly my last chance at medical school. from reading peoples' descriptions everyone has been very positive but has indicated it is very intense and the most work you've ever done. I know they would not admit someone that they do not believe could succeed, however how possible is it to actually excell in this program without being a superfreak. I am really excited about the opportunity, but have heard tufts on the whole has a reputation of being very almost impossibly diffuclt, and far hared than anticipated. I like the idea of the many opportunities it may lead to, but i am worried about wehther it is too difficult a program to rest the fate of your future on.
that said, i have yet to apply to my state program (which isnt a true smp) as i am unsure of the value outside of their medical school. who really knows though, it could be just as difficult just not as well known. anyway, any thoughts... i know this is decision is laregly based on chance and my personal opinion but if anyone has thoughts...
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I've just been accepted. I'm waitlisted at UC and EVMS. Waiting to hear back from Wayne State BMS, Georgetown, Loyola, Drexel, and USF.
Are most of you planning on going to Tufts?
Also, anyone know what housing is like for Tufts MBS students??
Are most of you planning on going to Tufts?
Also, anyone know what housing is like for Tufts MBS students??
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hey lizzydarcy, ive applied to tufts, uc, gtown as well, and am thinking about wayne state but havent sent in my app yet. do you have any insight into the wayne program in terms of difficulty and how it is viewed outside of wayne state and outside of michigan. also, say you got into all of them, which would you be leaning to and why seeing as were kind of on the same page.... i havent seen too many people on here applying to wayne's...
Hey lizzydarcy,
I applied to all of the same places except Wayne State. My personal preference is UC, EVMS > Tufts, Georgtown, > Drexel, USF. I like the small size and high linkage of UC and EVMS. Georgetown probably has the best reputation but it's pricey and has a large class size. And I haven't heard much about USF. I recently had a phone interview for Drexel and I got the impression that they have a high linkage rate for students that do well. However, having to watch video feeds for every lecture is a major turnoff for me.
Long story short, I will most likely attend Tufts, unless I get off the waitlist for EVMS or UC. As for housing, I read that Tufts has a limited amount of graduate housing, i.e. dorms. There's an app and deposit you have to send in to be placed on the waitlist. I'm probably going to search for an apartment when I head east for the open house in May.
What are you're thoughts on Tufts? Do you have a preference among the schools you listed?
Are you a Fl. resident? I'm just curious since you've applied to USF.
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Hey klmnop,
I'm applying to Wayne mainly because I'm a MI resident and initially I wanted to stay closer to family if possible. But I may be leaning more towards Tufts and Drexel (just got in today) or others because 1. I applied in mid-December and still no word if my application is complete or any news 2. The classes offered are "graduate level" courses i.e. not with their M1 students... And all of the info I know so far is not very updated, in my opinion.
I received an old brochure that's from 2007 and they claim that about 1/3 of their BMS program students end up going to their medical school.
I think their class size is about 100-150-ish?
It's a 2-yr track with library or lab thesis anddd I have heard from one of my pre-health advisors that the Wayne State program is pretty tailored to get their students into Wayne's med school and it might be tougher to sell to other med schools so I think SMP's that model more after their medical school classes would be better...
Hope that was somewhat helpful... 🙂
I'm applying to Wayne mainly because I'm a MI resident and initially I wanted to stay closer to family if possible. But I may be leaning more towards Tufts and Drexel (just got in today) or others because 1. I applied in mid-December and still no word if my application is complete or any news 2. The classes offered are "graduate level" courses i.e. not with their M1 students... And all of the info I know so far is not very updated, in my opinion.
I received an old brochure that's from 2007 and they claim that about 1/3 of their BMS program students end up going to their medical school.
I think their class size is about 100-150-ish?
It's a 2-yr track with library or lab thesis anddd I have heard from one of my pre-health advisors that the Wayne State program is pretty tailored to get their students into Wayne's med school and it might be tougher to sell to other med schools so I think SMP's that model more after their medical school classes would be better...
Hope that was somewhat helpful... 🙂
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Thanks for your input~ really appreciate it!
I agree about Drexel's program... I don't think it's worth it to go just to have no real access to profs during class and watching the lecture...
Tufts was one of my top with Georgetown. I haven't heard back from Georgetown yet but I like the sound of the smaller classes of Tufts~
Do you how many students EVMS generally accepts?
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No, not a FL resident but I was trying to apply to as many programs as I could just in case! I don't have the best GPA and MCAT and I just wanted to be *extra* safe~~
Hey guys,
I just wanted to let you know that I am currently a Tufts MBS student so I'll address a few issues that seem to have propagated on this message board and then return to pulmonary physiology...😎.
1) Tufts seems to be capping around 100 students next year. Our biggest classroom has about a 100 person capacity so I really have no idea how they would increase that number....unless they violate Boston fire codes.
2) In terms of finding housing, you're pretty much on your own. Most of us are scattered throughout Boston so it's hard to say that one place is "better" than others. My advice to you is to start the housing search as soon as you receive your admission. I would say that the Back Bay area or something off the Orange line seems is the most convenient but you'll need to have a generous budget (we're in a city after all).
3) A previous MBS student told me that over 90% of the 2008 MBS class have been admitted into medical school (you can either take it or leave it). What I can confirm is that nearly all of the students in my class who are applying this cycle have received an interview somewhere in the U.S. (SEE CENTRAL M.D.'s list).
Though I'm extremely biased in my opinion, I really hope you consider Tufts MBS as a potential SMP. The administration from top to bottom only care about one thing: getting you into medical school. Aside from the superb teaching (wait until your first Immunology lecture from Dr. Rabson...incredible), Tufts also offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities such as research or community service projects. For example, the Sharewood project is a free health clinic that Tufts puts on every week in Malden. We literally turn a gymnasium into a makeshift health care center. Along with a 1st year medical student, you take a patient history and then present to an attending physician (you'll be taught how to do this in our clinical medicine course). It's a great way to get out of the classroom and put your science knowledge in action.
The bottom line is, however, that no matter where you go, you need to bust your butt. Understand that this is a high risk/high reward program, so there will be times when you'll be sitting in the library at 11pm on a Saturday. But be assured that this will be all be worth it in your progress to become a great physician.
Good luck on your applications and path toward medicine!
I just wanted to let you know that I am currently a Tufts MBS student so I'll address a few issues that seem to have propagated on this message board and then return to pulmonary physiology...😎.
1) Tufts seems to be capping around 100 students next year. Our biggest classroom has about a 100 person capacity so I really have no idea how they would increase that number....unless they violate Boston fire codes.
2) In terms of finding housing, you're pretty much on your own. Most of us are scattered throughout Boston so it's hard to say that one place is "better" than others. My advice to you is to start the housing search as soon as you receive your admission. I would say that the Back Bay area or something off the Orange line seems is the most convenient but you'll need to have a generous budget (we're in a city after all).
3) A previous MBS student told me that over 90% of the 2008 MBS class have been admitted into medical school (you can either take it or leave it). What I can confirm is that nearly all of the students in my class who are applying this cycle have received an interview somewhere in the U.S. (SEE CENTRAL M.D.'s list).
Though I'm extremely biased in my opinion, I really hope you consider Tufts MBS as a potential SMP. The administration from top to bottom only care about one thing: getting you into medical school. Aside from the superb teaching (wait until your first Immunology lecture from Dr. Rabson...incredible), Tufts also offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities such as research or community service projects. For example, the Sharewood project is a free health clinic that Tufts puts on every week in Malden. We literally turn a gymnasium into a makeshift health care center. Along with a 1st year medical student, you take a patient history and then present to an attending physician (you'll be taught how to do this in our clinical medicine course). It's a great way to get out of the classroom and put your science knowledge in action.
The bottom line is, however, that no matter where you go, you need to bust your butt. Understand that this is a high risk/high reward program, so there will be times when you'll be sitting in the library at 11pm on a Saturday. But be assured that this will be all be worth it in your progress to become a great physician.
Good luck on your applications and path toward medicine!
Oh well in that case I am not sure what your chances are for that program and that said, it is probably wiser not to go to that program over Tufts or UCincy or EVMS or BU or Gtown or RFU which are more well known with better and stronger reputations and better records in term s of where they have gotten people into. USF has about a 71% success rate based on what I saw from past statistics but keep in mind most of those kids were not getting in other schools and not even other Fl. schools except for a few who got into a DO school for the most part. Some even didn't get in any Fl schools and ended up in the islands from what I heard. So I wouldn't go that program unless you are a Fl. resident trying to get into USF per se. The UF College of Medicine admissions personnel usually recommend BU or Gtown but UCincy and EVMS are also really great programs as is Tufts.
UCincy and Tufts are on the uprise as strong non linkage programs and EVMS and RFU are the two strong linkage programs along with Tulane's ACP for previously waitlisted candidates.
Loyola is a good program too but it is not at the medical school so technically isn't on the same level as the others.
So if you are looking for Linkage then EVMS or RFU is your best bet. If you are looking for a program with high success rates in general, Gtown, Ucincy, BU MAMS, Tufts MBS are your best bets.
Wow only a 100 seats in the classroom? I guess I just assumed it had the same amount of seats as BU because I was talking to a dental student there and I could swear they said 170 students so figured same was for med school and grad capacity. Guess not. That's something really interesting to note.
I think to some degree that is a good point.
I do agree that both boston programs MBS and MAMS are great and from everyone I know who've gone to either school for MD, DMD, or SMP programs I've heard nothing but positive for the most part in terms of the actual support and programs and also from friends who interviewed at Tufts medical in the last 5 years who went to USF when i was there.
So I wouldn't doubt that the program is strong. Tufts and Cincy are the true competition of Gtown and BU MAMS in terms of non linked SMPs as they are both slowly getting on the upswing with good success rates. And just my personal opinion but I think doing well in a mid tier school like Tufts or BU or Gtown seems to hold some clout more then other med school programs like USF IMS with some schools. At least that was the impression I got when I saw UF's love affair with BU MAMS and gtown smp but not USF IMS from those who I talked to. Good luck to those of you making your decisions.
Tufts, BU, EVMS, Cincy, RFU, Gtown are probably the top 6 SMPs I'd recommend considering and maybe Loyola. I wish you all well in determining where you will go ultimately.
If I had to state the major differences between just the two boston programs, it really comes down to the fact that BU is a lot less integrated in terms of curricula whereas you have more integrated exams at Tufts and the cost is slightly more at BU and class size is almost 2x that of the cap at Tufts.
So those are the 3 cons about BU. Bu is older though and well known. But again Tufts is on the uprise and I only am willing to bet that Tufts is going to get to the same reputation as BU and Gtown in the next 10 years as is same with Ucincy.
Again I wish you all well in your decisions.
PS, if you go to either of the boston programs you have access to all 3 boston medical libraries for resources or studying at. Just an FYI and probably may get opportunity to do research at either school if you look around for your thesis.
BTW We just finished our pulmonary physio exam at BU MAMS yesterday. Good luck.
I was also accepted to Drexel today, but with the $500 non-refundable deposit I will most likely turn them down.
According to EVMS's website: "We currently accept approximately 20 students into the program." So it's even smaller than the 28 students accepted to UC. You might also want to consider applying to New York Medical College's program if your interested in small class size. I don't know much about it, but they only accept ~25 students.
Thanks to everyone for your helpful input/comments! I would be lost choosing between all these programs if it wasn't for you guys.
Also, I wouldn't put Wayne state MBS higher then Tufts or the other 5 that I listed or Drexel. See the bad things I've read by doing a search for last year's drexel threads. i got a bad impression from what I read and from the 65% success rates compared to 85% elsewhere or 90% elsewhere. Also, the support is much less there compared to the big 6 that I would consider number 1.
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There's quite a few Loyola MAMS people at my med school (top 25) and they have a really good reputation at least in the Midwest.
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Wow, thanks so much! Good luck to you too!
Back to the housing question, is most of it at least close to campus? Also, what the ranges in prices? If I called Tufts would they be able to guide me in where to look? I've only been to Boston once so I'm not familiar with the area at all~~ Thanks again!
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Im a MI resident too, and thats why I'm looking into it as well. Plus its a lot cheaper. I havent turned in my app yet though I know they accept people until july/august so i wouldnt worry about yours. And I've seen that same brochure. I spoke to an admissions officer though and I was told it can be completed in a single year. Moreover, if you complete 20-graduate level credits Wayne med will reevaluate your app, so you can apply after 20 and worry about finishing the BMS or not after you get accepted. I have heard the program is very good for getting into wayne, which is a respected school, but was unsure about how other schools viewed it, hence my current hesitation. The stat on the brochure says 1/3 go to med school i believe, though this is not a med-specific program. kids go into vet, dental, phd, and other things, so i don't think that was indicative of the value of the efficacy of the program. I agree that med classes would be better, but I worry about whether waynes would be easier and more of a sure-thing than tufts, which has been labelled as intense and 'high risk/high reward.... thoughts
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I am not sure what CENTRAL M.D.'s list is, but if it's a list at the medical schools that MBS student have interviewed at, I would very much like to see it.
Also, I understand that at G'town's SMP, one of the first things that they do is give you a list of about 25 schools that you should preferentially apply to due to historically high placement rates/informal linkages. Does Tufts do something similar or is it still too young a program?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9216708&postcount=24
This is the post. it was the 24th post on the first page of this thread in response to something I had asked him out of curiousity for you guys.
Also added to the schools on this list is where Goobers or the other person who is on here that did Tufts MBS got in i.e. VCU MD/PhD, and Vandy and UC Irvine (UCI ) in california for MD programs.
It seems like its slowly gaining reputation.I imagine as more californians and out of state people come more schools will be added to this list.
BU MAMS has about 95 schools listed as to where people got in as far as MD schools go not including those who got into DO schools or went elsewhere like canada, australia, or islands.
But the common biggies that accept SMP kids are going to be the host schools, EVMS, NYMC, Albany, other NY schools i.e. SUNYs, SLU, GWU, RFU, Creighton possibly from what i heard up here in Boston, and several of the midwest and east coast schools. But generally people also have great luck getting into home state schools after doing one so it should be apply to home state schools and low to mid tier schools where you have highest chance coming out of an smp. Higher tier are obviously harder though some people have pulled it off depending on their stats and other stuff.
EVMS is a 20 person program. Also consider RFU if you want a small program and to be relatively close to the midwest. RFU has a high linkage rate as well.
UCincy is your best bet if you want to stay in the midwest though as far as cheaper and smaller and as good as Gtown or BU or Tufts.
Tufts should however be higher then Drexel on your list because drexel's lack of support is just disgusting to me. Dr. Midlife calls it the walmart of programs.
Put a deposit down. In the long run its chump change compared to the rest you'll spend on med apps. because if you don't get other acceptances and you dont hold your seat you may be screwed esp. if other things don't pan out. Hope you get into USC though so you don't have to go through all this stuff and waste money and a year.
BTW when you say USC do you mean Keck school of medicine in L.A. or do you mean Univ. Southern Carolina?
Yeah I am going to put the deposit down as soon as I hear back from Georgetown. I was "Complete and Under Review" as of January 27th. Waitlisted at both EVMS and UC. Accepted to Boston as well.
And the USC I am interviewing at is Keck.
Knowing what you know now Guju, would you have gone to Tufts over Boston had you received an acceptance to both? Still debating where my top choice is for SMP's.
And the USC I am interviewing at is Keck.
Knowing what you know now Guju, would you have gone to Tufts over Boston had you received an acceptance to both? Still debating where my top choice is for SMP's.
Hmm I would say that both are good programs. BU's main issues are that it is somewhat more costly and though people have applied while in the program for medical school and it can be done in a year, they really push the wait a year to apply so you won't get a dean's letter though can still get individual letters from professors.
I think the other advantage of Tufts is the integrated exams. But knowing what I know now, I don't regret going to BU even if at the time Tufts was above on my list for being not so pushy about the applying after the program thing. I think the support at both schools and professors at both schools are great. I haven't been to Tufts but never heard negative things from my friends at their dental school or my friends who interviewed for med school there in the past. And from what I've seen on here. I will say BU MAMS support is also phenomenal. The professors are really willing to help you. In histo, the professor even comes in the saturday before the exam to do a review with you, the biochem class had friday review sessions every week, and the physio has reviews before exams as well. But professors are accessible any time as long as you let them know in advance and there are opportunities for tutors if you are struggling. so there's plenty of support because they want to see you succeed.
They are on opposite sides of town but both are near inner city hospitals and relatively good mid tiered schools with strong reputations. BU's main pro is how old and well known it is. But tufts is on the up rise as is Cincy in terms of SMPs while Drexel despite its long standing reputation is not so great and while other programs with greater linkage often aren't known by other outside schools. So that is the one benefit of either boston program. I might have picked Tufts over BU originally because I had wanted to apply while in the program but perhaps I'm realizing in a way it might be good that I didn't because school itself can be stressful at times that I am kind of glad I don't have to worry bout application stuff as well.
The biggest difference I can see really is the way the curricula is set up in the sense that Tufts is more integrated exams whereas BU MAMS is a sort of more traditional curricula.
I will say this, our program is 50% californians at best and it does have a reputation for getting people into cali schools from UCLA to UCSD to UCI to USC. So take that for what its worth if you are a californian as I'm guessing from mentioning of Keck. But UCI was also on central MD's list so I'm guessing both will be good. If you get a chance to come out to boston before deciding and are between these two schools, I'm sure if you schedule with the schools they will show you around and talk more in depth with you about the program. Someone did this earlier this year at BU when they were considering applying to our program.
BTW for UCincy if you are on waitlist rather then hold, then that's a better position to be in because you still have hope of getting in. So just hang in there with those 2. EVMS puts everyone not outright accepted on the wailist in mid low and high tier. After some point in April if you are not accepted to med school i'd check with them to see where on the waitlist you are if you are preferring the high linkage small program to the other larger programs.
Considering all the programs you mentioned are roughly equal in terms of acceptance rates and SMp reputation I'd choose based on the following in no particular order, but these are the things to consider anyways:
1. Cost
2. Are you wanting to go to a strong linkage program or a program that will get you in med school but not necessarily at the host school, but possibly at your own state schools?
3. Curricula: Integrated vs. more traditional. How many actual med classes you take and stuff of that nature. some also like gtown cuz of the gross anatomy component not found at all SMPs. I think tufts might have an anatomy portion as well. we take histo, immuno, endo, physio, bch over here at BU.
4. Whether they support you applying through the year or after and which you'd prefer. Some people chose BU over Gtown last year because they wanted the year after the program to be their app year. Others wanted to apply while in the program so chose the other SMPs. But people do apply while in the program at BU as well on occasion and I've seen some who already have had interviews or have them coming up and who have been accepted to some schools in a few cases.
5. support in terms of faculty.
good luck. But again hope USC pans out so this doesn't have to be a worry for you.
Hey guys,
Just a few more issues to address
1)
Tufts DOES NOT CARE WHETHER YOU APPLY THIS CYCLE OR THE NEXT. The program director, Alvar Gustafson, was adamant about this point during our orientation. The MBS program wants you to get in as soon as possible and will assist you in this effort. I had no problem receiving an update letter from Tufts after my first semester and a personal letter of recommendation from my advisor. The caveat to this is that some schools do not accept update letters after you submit your secondary (I had trouble with USF). Tufts Med, however, DOES allow any transcripts and update letters to be sent to them at any time.
2) I thought I saw Central MDs list somewhere in this thread maybe I lied but here are some schools I know kids have received an admission to:
Albany Medical college, Boston University, Creighton University, Dartmouth University, Drexel, EVMS, GWU, Georgetown, Howard, MC Georgia, NYMC, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Suny Downstate, Tufts, Tulane, UMass, Univ of Illinois, Univ of Arkansas, UConn, UC Davis, and USF. There may be more to that list, but these are all I know of so far.
3) I know that there's a Tufts housing committee that assists students on finding a place. To be honest, I never really looked into this (probably to my own detriment). Theres also a dormitory you can choose to live in, but I had enough of the communal bathrooms after Freshman Year. I would suggest starting a Tufts MBS group 2010 on facebook (if there isn't one already) and start bouncing around ideas about where to live/roommates/etc.
It's hard to assign rent prices in certain areas of Boson, but expect a single apartment to range from 1300-1800 in the city. A word of warning: DO NOT LIVE ON TYLER ST (A block over from TUSM)! I know a few people that got locked up in a bad situation there. Apparently the land lord doesnt really care about fixing leaks in the roof or sewage problems so I would STAY CLEAR OF THAT AREA!
4) Ahh the old BU MAMS vs Tufts MBS dilemma. I know that many of you are struggling with this question as I did. After weeks of toiling with this issue, I decided to go with Tufts only because I liked the 25% guaranteed interview they offered (I found out later that they actually interview more than this number). It was a security blanket that I wanted out of my SMP which is why I chose Tufts over BU and Georgetown. I dont really know too much about the other programs, since I never applied to them.
That being said, I know friends that are in both BU and Georgetown who are doing fairly well in terms of getting interviews and acceptances into medical schools. I have no doubt, that if you do well in either of these SMPs, you'll probably have a great shot at getting in to their respective MD program.
The bottom line is, after factoring in cost, family issues, etc, you need to go somewhere where you'll think you'll thrive and be happy. If the small class size, supportive administration, and community service is your jam, you should take a good look at Tufts.
Good Luck!!
Just a few more issues to address
1)
Tufts DOES NOT CARE WHETHER YOU APPLY THIS CYCLE OR THE NEXT. The program director, Alvar Gustafson, was adamant about this point during our orientation. The MBS program wants you to get in as soon as possible and will assist you in this effort. I had no problem receiving an update letter from Tufts after my first semester and a personal letter of recommendation from my advisor. The caveat to this is that some schools do not accept update letters after you submit your secondary (I had trouble with USF). Tufts Med, however, DOES allow any transcripts and update letters to be sent to them at any time.
2) I thought I saw Central MDs list somewhere in this thread maybe I lied but here are some schools I know kids have received an admission to:
Albany Medical college, Boston University, Creighton University, Dartmouth University, Drexel, EVMS, GWU, Georgetown, Howard, MC Georgia, NYMC, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Suny Downstate, Tufts, Tulane, UMass, Univ of Illinois, Univ of Arkansas, UConn, UC Davis, and USF. There may be more to that list, but these are all I know of so far.
3) I know that there's a Tufts housing committee that assists students on finding a place. To be honest, I never really looked into this (probably to my own detriment). Theres also a dormitory you can choose to live in, but I had enough of the communal bathrooms after Freshman Year. I would suggest starting a Tufts MBS group 2010 on facebook (if there isn't one already) and start bouncing around ideas about where to live/roommates/etc.
It's hard to assign rent prices in certain areas of Boson, but expect a single apartment to range from 1300-1800 in the city. A word of warning: DO NOT LIVE ON TYLER ST (A block over from TUSM)! I know a few people that got locked up in a bad situation there. Apparently the land lord doesnt really care about fixing leaks in the roof or sewage problems so I would STAY CLEAR OF THAT AREA!
4) Ahh the old BU MAMS vs Tufts MBS dilemma. I know that many of you are struggling with this question as I did. After weeks of toiling with this issue, I decided to go with Tufts only because I liked the 25% guaranteed interview they offered (I found out later that they actually interview more than this number). It was a security blanket that I wanted out of my SMP which is why I chose Tufts over BU and Georgetown. I dont really know too much about the other programs, since I never applied to them.
That being said, I know friends that are in both BU and Georgetown who are doing fairly well in terms of getting interviews and acceptances into medical schools. I have no doubt, that if you do well in either of these SMPs, you'll probably have a great shot at getting in to their respective MD program.
The bottom line is, after factoring in cost, family issues, etc, you need to go somewhere where you'll think you'll thrive and be happy. If the small class size, supportive administration, and community service is your jam, you should take a good look at Tufts.
Good Luck!!
Just to clarify. By other programs I meant Drexel, Cincy, USC, etc. I only applied to BU and Georgetown.
Thanks for the insight Moo746. The factors you cited are the reasons I will most likely choose Tufts even if I get off the wait-list for GT. I've yet to read or hear about any real negatives to Tufts except maybe the cost and relative newness of the program.
Just for clarification the mention of USC was not included in the postbac series. that person was saying they were waiting to get status of their MD application there. so that wasn't one of the choices originally.
And yes CentralMD's list is in this thread. I already posted that in my latest post. It is like POST # 24 for those interested on the first page at that of this thread.
Georgetown is definitely the most expensive from what I've seen. I would say an added pro of Tufts if compared to Gtown now that I reflect back is that you are not pushed to apply while in the program which is the basis of why some of my classmates at BU explicitly turned down Gtown SMP as they wanted to do an MPH as well. I understand Tufts MBS has that joint opportunity if you have the money and want to do it as well i.e. to do a MPH and MBS program. I seem to get the general impression that people really love Tufts or really love BU. But it seems like people really love one or the other more. I know a lot of classmates of mine at BU MAMS had this dilemma last year of choosing between the two programs but I'm not sure what ultimately made them choose BU over Tufts though I know why people turned down Gtown whom did just that. I think some of the reservations was the lack of information on where people were getting in when we were applying.
There were not people like CentralMD, Moo, or Goobers around last year and I can tell you already this thread is more fruitful and helpful then when people my year were applying in terms of providing info on which schools people have had acceptances to so that was probably the hesitation. With more information I think it might have swayed people in one direction or another more but such information was not available. In the next 10 years or so I'm sure there won't be much of a difference between the programs in terms of statistics on success rates.
Moo,
My comment on what I said was before I was corrected that the max was 100class size. I was under the assumption that Tufts classes were as big as at BU because someone told me at the dental school it was about that class size so I assumed they'd have the same number of seats in the grad and med auditoriums. I do stand corrected. As per the whole impression about pushing to apply year after. I did not say they wouldn't support you if you did apply while in the program. I just meant that it isn't recommended or what they would consider the first option. And that was the impression I got based on the other MBSers posts where they were saying it was more recommended that you apply after the one year and that many of those interviewing in the guaranteed interview spots were of such. at least that is the impression I got out of the posts of Goobers and Central MD. That being said I did acknowledge that they aren't as pushy as BU. So that is just a clarification to my earlier post.
With regards to the bolded, I have a friend here who is also applying to USF. She told me they do not take updates anymore UNLESS they are going to interview you. She ultimately did get asked for an update of her grades here at BU MAMS but I came to find out few weeks later she has an interview there. So that made sense. from what REL and others have told me, USF has done an overhaul on their whole admissions process in the last year and changed many of their old policies. They no longer take updates unless they are interviewing you is just one of them. PS if you are a fellow floridian and the person I think remember conversing with last year, I wish you good luck. Always makes me happy when I see Floridians in boston.
Hi all!
I'm new to this forum and am looking for some info regarding the Tufts MBS program. I'm trying to decide between Tufts MBS and Georgetown SMP having been accepted to both.
I was wondering if any current or past MBS student could shed some light on the percentage students that get interviews/acceptances WITH TUFTS during the year they that are in the program. I know this program is only 3 years old, and I've tried to find older posts about this, but there doesn't seem to be any concrete numbers. Also, since this year's class ('09-'10) is larger, I'd think that a larger % of students would get interviews with Tufts during the academic year (not the top 25% for the NEXT cycle), just like Georgetown interviews the top 50% and eventually accepts ~15% of the SMP students. In short, does anybody know how many current MBS students out of ~100 have received interviews/acceptances/pre-interview rejections for this app cycle?
Second, I'd like to know how MBS students feel about the competitiveness of the program. I'm willing and committed to work hard in either program, but I've heard that it is so cut-throat at Georgetown to the point that people don't bother making friends and that the medical students look to their post-bacc counterparts with a condescending eye.
Lastly, I'm completely torn between these two programs, and if any of you were in my shoes last year and had decided to go with Tufts over Georgetown, I'd love to get your thoughts.
Thanks in advance and I'm looking forward to your responses! 🙂
I'm new to this forum and am looking for some info regarding the Tufts MBS program. I'm trying to decide between Tufts MBS and Georgetown SMP having been accepted to both.
I was wondering if any current or past MBS student could shed some light on the percentage students that get interviews/acceptances WITH TUFTS during the year they that are in the program. I know this program is only 3 years old, and I've tried to find older posts about this, but there doesn't seem to be any concrete numbers. Also, since this year's class ('09-'10) is larger, I'd think that a larger % of students would get interviews with Tufts during the academic year (not the top 25% for the NEXT cycle), just like Georgetown interviews the top 50% and eventually accepts ~15% of the SMP students. In short, does anybody know how many current MBS students out of ~100 have received interviews/acceptances/pre-interview rejections for this app cycle?
Second, I'd like to know how MBS students feel about the competitiveness of the program. I'm willing and committed to work hard in either program, but I've heard that it is so cut-throat at Georgetown to the point that people don't bother making friends and that the medical students look to their post-bacc counterparts with a condescending eye.
Lastly, I'm completely torn between these two programs, and if any of you were in my shoes last year and had decided to go with Tufts over Georgetown, I'd love to get your thoughts.
Thanks in advance and I'm looking forward to your responses! 🙂
I had a friend that did the Gtown program. I have heard that the med students look down on you there, but that is because they force you to sit in the same class as the med students rather then just hving the professor teach it separately to you but with the same or similar exams to them as at BU. I've seen the same attitude at USF IMS program as well. A lot of kids resent former IMSers that get into the med school thinking they had an unfair advantage. it is true at a lot of schools. But the part about people being so cut throat that no one makes friends. that is the biggest load of bullcrap I've heard. i've had friends who did the program and they made friends with 1-2 people or so they could study with. I would highly doubt that people do not do things together or that people cannot make even a single friend. Probably just that people have their cliques as is the case up at BU.
Cannot answer the rest of your post. will need central MD or goobers or Moo to answer the rest. but don't believe garbage that anyof these programs are that cut throat that no one will help you or that people will not be friendly. Its just garbage.
Out of the people who applied during the first year of the masters, I know of 2 who got into Tufts in the 2007-2008 class and 3 who got in from the 2008-2009 class. I'm not sure how many people applied, though and don't know much about the class that started in 2009. I never had a problem with competitiveness with the people in my class. When I applied to SMPs, I was deciding between BU and Tufts (I wanted to be in Boston) and chose Tufts because it was cheaper (since that was the only difference in the programs I could find). Good Luck with your decision!
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I think you mean a larger number of students as opposed to a larger percentage. My guess would be that the percentage of students that got interviews would actually decrease as the class size increases, because the Med School class size is not increasing and they are most likely looking to fill the same number of positions with MBS students. However, it is possible that they try to maintain a certain uniformity in which I would expect the percentage of interviewed to be the same as previous years (25% guaranteed and about 50% total), thus more total students, but most likely not a greater percentage.
Judging from what I've seen it seems that about 20-30 students at max will get into a host school from an SMP at that same school. i.e. if you are at Gtown, most numbers show only about 22-29 students get in each year. At smaller SMPs they set their number of SMP seats to about the same as they would most likely accept from their own given SMP i.e. 15-20 students or so. At BU its about the same numbers at Gtown. if Tufts has about 100 students that would be about 1/4 of the class to 1/ 5 of the class that I could see getting in.
that is getting in though not interviewing. A larger percentage may actually be interviewed at a host school and I don't include in that number people who will get into a non host school from an SMP. So you might have 30 SMPers from Gtown at gtown but another say 5 from Bu, 5 from cincy, for all you know. just throwing random numbers on the 5 from BU or 5 from cincy to make a point. But the 30 or 20-30 is a real number based on what I observed from alumni lists and have heard even here at BU from a friend and from numbers I saw at USF and other places.
Also, do not assume that not being in the automatic interview group will mean not being in the interview group of people who get interviewed at Tufts. That is just the people who are guaranteed and interview. Also, note gruaranteeing an interview does not guarantee an acceptance. But the great thing with Tufts, BU, gtown, Cincy, and to some extent Loyola is that they are known to both their own school and other schools and at least the first 3 and the last of the 5 I mentioned are also more well known as universities that schools seem to trust their reputation compared to other lesser well known programs.
PS Goobers was kind of to PM me a new list with schools people have gotten into longer then Central MDs. I will post it on here.
that is getting in though not interviewing. A larger percentage may actually be interviewed at a host school and I don't include in that number people who will get into a non host school from an SMP. So you might have 30 SMPers from Gtown at gtown but another say 5 from Bu, 5 from cincy, for all you know. just throwing random numbers on the 5 from BU or 5 from cincy to make a point. But the 30 or 20-30 is a real number based on what I observed from alumni lists and have heard even here at BU from a friend and from numbers I saw at USF and other places.
Also, do not assume that not being in the automatic interview group will mean not being in the interview group of people who get interviewed at Tufts. That is just the people who are guaranteed and interview. Also, note gruaranteeing an interview does not guarantee an acceptance. But the great thing with Tufts, BU, gtown, Cincy, and to some extent Loyola is that they are known to both their own school and other schools and at least the first 3 and the last of the 5 I mentioned are also more well known as universities that schools seem to trust their reputation compared to other lesser well known programs.
PS Goobers was kind of to PM me a new list with schools people have gotten into longer then Central MDs. I will post it on here.
Albany Medical College,
Boston University,
Cincinnati
Creighton University,
Dartmouth University,
Drexel,
Emory
EVMS,
FIU
GWU,
Georgetown,
Howard,
University of Kansas
MC Georgia,
NYMC,
Ohio State,
Oklahoma State,
Penn State
St. Louis
Suny Downstate,
SUNY Upstate
Tufts,
Tulane,
UMass,
Univ of Illinois,
Univ of Iowa
Univ of Arkansas,
UConn,
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UCSF
UMDNJ
USF
Vanderbilt
VCU
Wake Forest
You guys are lucky that Goobers and Central MD are around and even Moo.
The 3 of them I can see are far more helpful then people were when we were applying to Tufts in terms of providing more useful information. Although, we had someone like them for the BU thread then and bleargh is now taking over that arena quite well.
Boston University,
Cincinnati
Creighton University,
Dartmouth University,
Drexel,
Emory
EVMS,
FIU
GWU,
Georgetown,
Howard,
University of Kansas
MC Georgia,
NYMC,
Ohio State,
Oklahoma State,
Penn State
St. Louis
Suny Downstate,
SUNY Upstate
Tufts,
Tulane,
UMass,
Univ of Illinois,
Univ of Iowa
Univ of Arkansas,
UConn,
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UCSF
UMDNJ
USF
Vanderbilt
VCU
Wake Forest
You guys are lucky that Goobers and Central MD are around and even Moo.
The 3 of them I can see are far more helpful then people were when we were applying to Tufts in terms of providing more useful information. Although, we had someone like them for the BU thread then and bleargh is now taking over that arena quite well.
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hey guys,
Someone said that we can just put up a revised version of our personal statement for the tufts essay. I plan on doing that too, just my personal statement with a paragraph or two as to why tufts is a god choice for me.
But did anyone actually do this? Or did you guys write a whole essay on why the tufts program is good. i would do the latter, but I can't think of an entire page worth of content for that.
Thanks
Someone said that we can just put up a revised version of our personal statement for the tufts essay. I plan on doing that too, just my personal statement with a paragraph or two as to why tufts is a god choice for me.
But did anyone actually do this? Or did you guys write a whole essay on why the tufts program is good. i would do the latter, but I can't think of an entire page worth of content for that.
Thanks
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That was me, based on their essay question: "explain how training in your degree at Tufts will further the applicant's career goals" I asked their admissions counselor this question specifically and this is what I got in return:
Q: Am I able to use my AMCAS statement for the Personal Statement, or should I write a new one?
A: You may submit your AMCAS application, however I would encourage you to write a personal statement tailored to our program.
I'm not sure about other people, but I just wrote a new one. I talked about my career goals, the strengths and weaknesses of my current applications to medical school, and how I felt that the Tufts program would help me improve on those weaknesses and make me a stronger applicant in 2 years.
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you have no friends at BU
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Thanks for more of your insight!
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Yeah, those are the very same things I have been wondering about... I haven't found too much info outside of their website and brochure. I tried looking through SDN but there doesn't seem to be too much... I'm wondering if I get into Wayne's BMS if I should go there instead of Tufts? I don't want to go to Wayne, not get into their med school, and then be stuck because other med schools don't think highly of Wayne's program...
Is there a way to find out what type of med schools Wayne State BMS students end up going to??
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Hey Guys,
I am applying this cycle for MD, I have an interview in late march but I want to be prepared in case I don't get into medical school.
I am considering applying to Tufts MBS, am I late though? Do you think a lot of acceptances have already gone out?
Also can I use my old AMCAS?
I am applying this cycle for MD, I have an interview in late march but I want to be prepared in case I don't get into medical school.
I am considering applying to Tufts MBS, am I late though? Do you think a lot of acceptances have already gone out?
Also can I use my old AMCAS?
It's not too late to apply - Tufts is only six weeks into their application cycle, but has been distributing acceptances for a class of 100ish (I was accepted and just sent in my deposit).
Without trying to sound pessimistic, many interviews at this stage in game are primarily for the waitlist and if this is your first MD interview of the season, the odds are slim that you will make (I am in a very similar position).
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I've all but given up on Wayne's in favor of Tufts', and heres why:
-Tufts is for medical school primarily, Wayne's is for anything biomedical.
-Tufts has a defined curriculum that the administration knows well, Wayne's is designed to make your own curriculum partially, thus assistance may be harder to come by.
-Tufts helps you apply to med during the program, Wayne tells you not to apply until you have 20 credits completed and graded. (Thus although Tufts' may take an extra year to be accepted, Wayne's will as well... and you can always get into Wayne from the Tufts BMS).
-The Wayne admissions dean I spoke to held the Tufts program in high regard, haven't spoken to other schools about Wayne's so I cannot compare.
-There is no guarantee Wayne's will be easier, and the way I see it, med school is significantly harder than the Tufts program anyway so might as well get an early preview.
I agree with you, if somehow you do amazing in the Wayne program and don't interview well or something, that may be your only true shot. I like the fact that the with the Tufts program there are a number of schools nationwide that recognize it. As far as what school skids get into, I have heard several stories of kids successfully getting into Wayne's Med school through the BMS program... it is, after all, the largest class in the nation, and accepts a ridiculously high percentage of in-state students. I asked them about which schools and I was referred to that vague brochure you mentioned, which tells me nothing. I have a feeling because the program is not necessarily designed for Med-bound students, it doesn't keep track of that specific of information.
I say do the Tufts and work your ass off, you can always go to Wayne's Med School if you do well... a very reputable school indeed.
I'm in agreement. i feel a proper SMP i.e. Tufts, gtown, BU, UCincy, etc. will give you a better shot at getting into med school including MSU and Wayne State then Wayne's own program esp. if it is not an SMP. SMPs are just looked at differently. Plus, its tufts. Tufts and BU and Gtown are pretty well known schools in the mid tier category for which people hold in high regards, and their programs all have medical school courses that MS1s take plus huge support systems from the school in terms of advisors, professors who are easily available and really supportive, etc.
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Thanks for this~ I didn't realize Wayne's was more of make-your-own curriculum method...
I'm definitely looking for support in a program, and I've been hearing a lot about Tufts (and other equal SMPs) great support system. I actually haven't heard that much about Wayne and even my own advisor seemed iffy in introducing it to me as an option...
Is anyone attending the open house that's in the end of May? Does it seem like it will be useful and worthwhile? Especially in terms of maybe looking at housing options?
And is anyone looking into the second-year MPH option or anyone have any opinions about it?
Thanks to everyone who contributes to this... It's amazing 👍
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i am strongly considering the 2nd year MPH - this is probably why i am not leaning towards 1 year programs like georgetown smp or loyola mams. i think the MPH is a beneficial (although expensive) way to spend a gap year if it is something you know you want, as others have already mentioned.
