Hey this is for anyone interested, I am choosing between BU and Tufts and currently I am leaning towards Tufts 80:20.
Here is my logic (hopefully people find this helpful):
Both are very reputable institutions. I would consider both in the top 3 out of the 24 national institutions, and both have about 80-90% of each year's students matriculate into a medical school. Both are very good for linkage into their own programs. Both have great curriculums that are very similar. So based on these traits, I feel like I cannot go wrong with either program. So this boils down to a few other things.
I went to BU undergrad. While that is separate from the med school, I always felt like I was just one of a billion students. I didn't like the administration that much, and felt it was very impersonal. Of course this could vary from the graduate programs, but I am now looking for a different experience. Tufts has a smaller class size. This year they are probably accepting 120 students (source: admin office) and that will fall to around 100. Tufts is a little more accommodating to complete within one year, and has thesis options for both lab, clinical, and pure library research. Library and clinical are shorter in time. Tufts has a better location, easier to get to especially since I plan to live with friends in cambridge. Tufts has less deviation for curriculum, therefore I am not competing against anyone who is taking other classes that might not be the same difficulty. Tufts has newer facilities, and a gym located on campus (BU gym, while amazing, a few miles across town). Tufts also has the TUSK system with all lectures/notes/PP online for resources. Also, Tufts provides a committee letter from their med school faculty, whereas BU doesn't, thus requiring you to go back to your undergrad (mine is BU and getting my committee letter in the past was a hassle). Also (not applicable to most I assume) but I already have a degree from BU. Diversifying myself can't hurt.
The only differing pros for BU is that is has a lot longer track record for success, most of its classes are with med students (Tufts is separate) and, personally, its medical school has a lot more diverse patient environment and a very respected emergency department, which would honestly only matter to medical students.
All together, both schools are comparable and highly successful at what they do. But I get a small community, more personal and intimate vibe from Tufts, which is something I desire. And, with all these pros, Tufts is $10,000 less expensive. This is my gut feeling. I'm going today to do a self-guided tour of the school and I'll probably make my decision this weekend. And it will probably be Tufts.
