Tufts(NOT mbs) v. Harvard Ext v. UNCG

[startithere]

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I am currently trying to decide between the three programs I've listed above. I would love some informed opinions about the programs and applying coming out of these programs.

And since this never ceases to be a point of confusion - I am referring to these three programs in their PBPM stage. I will be taking all my premed requirements through them. And yes, Tufts has a PBPM program.

There is a lot of great information on these forums about Harvard Extension, and I feel really positive about the program. My one hesitation is a little strange perhaps, but I am nervous about how late in the day the classes are held. Since I will be taking on a whole new learning style, it seems like I should play to my strengths...which includes being way more of a morning person. I know this might seem arbitrary, but considering how hard the next year will be I think it makes sense to start out with a good foundation in how I work/learn best.

UNCG is my state school, so it would cost a bit less than Harvard Extension. But am I losing a lot of support/name recognition by opting for UNCG? I would love to end up in NC, and would love a shot at UNC. I have registered car/family/license/voting record in NC, so I should be able to maintain residency even with going to Boston for school if I maintain my records. I know there are plenty of posts of people getting into med school going the state school route, but I'm just curious whether the caliber of schools I would be competitive at changes? If I got the same GPA at all 3, at the end of the day, would I get a closer look because I came from Tufts v. state school?

There is minimal information on either Tuft's PBPM program or UNCG on here. Do any current/former students exist out there? Tufts is a lot of money to cough up, and I would want to feel like I was getting my money's worth in terms of advising, application support, etc...and I am totally unclear whether the Tufts name would even matter to adcoms, as I already went to well-respected undergrad. I do like the idea of being back in a university setting.


It just all seems like a lot of smoke and mirrors, and I would appreciate any insight.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'd do hes still, it's the best of your choices and probably one of the most affordable. Furthermore, since the classes are at night, you'll do more studying during the day, in which case being a morning person is very helpful.

 

[jslo85]

Drizzt, HES should hire you for their official SDN rep on supporting their program.

Tufts is a lot of money to cough up, and I would want to feel like I was getting my money's worth in terms of advising, application support, etc.[/B]..and I am totally unclear whether the Tufts name would even matter to adcoms, as I already went to well-respected undergrad. I do like the idea of being back in a university setting.


It just all seems like a lot of smoke and mirrors, and I would appreciate any insight.

HES is an extension program abeit quite a good one and offers solid education for a very affordable price. That said it probably isn't as formal and structured as Tufts but if you're the type of person who is proactive, I don't see why HES shouldn't be your best option. It seems like money is a huge factor for you as well as "reputation and strength" and I think HES is the best combination of both that you will find. I agree that there isn't enough information to formulate a decent picture of Tuft's program but if cost is an issue then I don't feel that you're really getting any less by turning to HES.

 

[drizzt3117]

They can pay me back with an interview at MGH or BWH 😉

Drizzt, HES should hire you for their official SDN rep on supporting their program.



HES is an extension program abeit quite a good one and offers solid education for a very affordable price. That said it probably isn't as formal and structured as Tufts but if you're the type of person who is proactive, I don't see why HES shouldn't be your best option. It seems like money is a huge factor for you as well as "reputation and strength" and I think HES is the best combination of both that you will find. I agree that there isn't enough information to formulate a decent picture of Tuft's program but if cost is an issue then I don't feel that you're really getting any less by turning to HES.

 

[DrArete]

You might want to factor in living expenses into the cost equation. I believe the HES program is usually 2 years to complete.
Tufts is one year.

 

[startithere]

You might want to factor in living expenses into the cost equation. I believe the HES program is usually 2 years to complete.
Tufts is one year.

I would be doing the same timeline for both HES and Tufts - summer, academic year, summer (MCAT August)

UNCG would summer and one academic year (MCAT in May)

If money were less of an issue than I make it seem, would the scale tip to Tufts?

 

[klmnop]

I've spoken to someone who did the Tufts post-bacc, and is now enrolled in HES for pre-dental and he couldn't complain enough about Tufts.

Here's what he told me:

"I can tell you one thing about Tufts as a school, it is extremely challenging to do well in undergrad classes. With that being said if you do well at Tufts they tend to really support students who put in the time in their programs. For example friends of mine got killed in post bac, had like 3.3 gpa's and average MCAT's but since they went through the Tufts gauntlet, Tufts Med guaranteed them an interview and they all ended up getting in. They basically reward you for the misery when all is said and done.Tufts loves to sell you on these "if you do well" type scenarios and in my opinion it has been next to impossible to meet that criteria....though this is all from my Medford experience with the loser undergrads....My last piece of advice would just to be to consider all of the options before embarking on anything, I think I rushed a bit once Tufts accepted me. Now I am going to the Harvard Extension school and getting A's, wish I never even went to Tufts"

Thought it might help.
Keep in mind I have no personal problem with Tufts and am most likely attending MBS this fall.

 

[DrArete]

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[drizzt3117]

I am going to Tufts soon.

Sounds like your friend had a negative experience, which colors his comments. Even so, he still highlighted positive parts of the program.

I think it is a very good thing to have challenging post bacc classes.

If you can't do well in basic science courses at Tufts undergrad, from everything I have heard, you will likely being hoping into a bathtub with a plugged in hairdryer before you get through the fall of MS1.

I'm not sure I agree with this, you might be more prepared, but the point of a postbac is to get you into med school. Your potential performance as a first year is irrelevant until you actually get into med school.

 

[DrArete]

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[klmnop]

Sounds like your friend had a negative experience, which colors his comments.

I tried to probe him further about the things that he thought were better at Harvard but haven't heard from him, so its kind of a lopsided post.. sorry.

I look at this the same way as I do when I responded to high school kids asking me if it was better for college to take AP classes and get good grades, or take regular classes and get As....I said, you should take AP classes and get As.

With the benefit of hindsight, I would say take the APs and the tests, but don't take the credit and instead take the easy A's in undergrad to boost the GPA.

 

[startithere]

klmnop - I really appreciate your response and passing on that info. Your friends disgruntlement with Tufts is evident...but I still appreciate having a concrete comment from someone who has been through the program. Anyone out there with a positive experience? It seems like everything floating around about Tufts is on the negative side.

Though even if you go through a year of hell at Tufts, it doesn't seem like that raw of a deal to get into Tufts med with a 3.3 and an average MCAT.

I do agree that it's good for the classes to be more challenging (if it actually prepares you better for the MCAT that is, not just for the sake of weeding people out) - that aspect doesn't really turn me off it. HES just seems like a better bang for your buck from what's on the forums.

 

[klmnop]

HES just seems like a better bang for your buck from what's on the forums.

He also complained about the cost of Tufts..

 

[startithere]

I look at this the same way as I do when I responded to high school kids asking me if it was better for college to take AP classes and get good grades, or take regular classes and get As....I said, you should take AP classes and get As.

Well said.

 

[BeachBlondie]

I look at this the same way as I do when I responded to high school kids asking me if it was better for college to take AP classes and get good grades, or take regular classes and get As....I said, you should take AP classes and get As.

I can see you logic; I can.

But, I think there is a very big gap between "preparation" by taking more challenging courses, and a solid work ethic when you get to the next level. To use your analogy of AP classes, I took 4 of them when I was in high school and did well in college. Another friend of mine took 8 and was booted out of his university after being put on academic probation for too many Fs. The difference between us is very clearly not that I took more challenging courses beforehand, but that I was willing to work my ass off when I got to my undergraduate university.

You only get one chance to really sculpt your career as an impressive undergrad for adcoms--why squander it?

 

[startithere]

I can see you logic; I can.

But, I think there is a very big gap between "preparation" by taking more challenging courses, and a solid work ethic when you get to the next level. To use your analogy of AP classes, I took 4 of them when I was in high school and did well in college. Another friend of mine took 8 and was booted out of his university after being put on academic probation for too many Fs. The difference between us is very clearly not that I took more challenging courses beforehand, but that I was willing to work my ass off when I got to my undergraduate university.

You only get one chance to really sculpt your career as an impressive undergrad for adcoms--why squander it?

And I took 10 APs and did well in college - I don't follow your point. You say you understand his logic, but you're responding with anecdote.

DrArete is saying you should strive for the best preparation AND the best work ethic, not one or the other.

Any constructive insight on the programs would be greatly appreciated, though unfortunately it seems the knowledge on Tufts might be tapped out. Thanks for the comments everybody!

 

[BeachBlondie]

And I took 10 APs and did well in college - I don't follow your point. You say you understand his logic, but you're responding with anecdote.

DrArete is saying you should strive for the best preparation AND the best work ethic, not one or the other.

Any constructive insight on the programs would be greatly appreciated, though unfortunately it seems the knowledge on Tufts might be tapped out. Thanks for the comments everybody!

Well, I said I understand his point of view. THEN I preceded my argument with "But..."

I know exactly what he is saying. However, I think that going to Tufts simply because it's difficult isn't necessarily the outlook to have. If you can do both, more power to you. But, I think that solid grades at a good institution will reflect more highly on the applicant than mixed grades at one that is supposedly harder.

*shrug*

 

[drizzt3117]

Ok I think we need to take a step back.

I'd argue (and have the benefit of having taken courses there and had lots of friends go through the program) that harvard faculty (and you will be taking classes there) are higher quality than those at Tufts. Independent of how hard the grading scale is at Tufts (and I have no idea how it compares to HES, but the classes I took at Harvard were easy to get As in)

I can assure you that no adcom is going to give you more points for going to Tufts over HES. They couldn't care less how courses are graded, just the perceived quality of your education. As a HES sponsoree, you'll have a committee letter, LORs, and sponsorship from Harvard faculty. As someone who evaluates candidates for admissions, I can tell you all else equal, the HES person is going to get picked the majority of the time, and if they're more likely to get better grades, so much the better.

You really don't get much credit for rigor of school, I went to a top 5 school that's considered one of the most difficult (it's in the same city as harvard) and had arguably the most difficult major (chemical engineering). If I could do it all over again I would've just went to Harvard or Yale for ug (I got into every ivy I applied to) sleepwalked thru with a 3.9 (instead of working like a dog for a 3.5) and done whatever I wanted <shrug>

 

[startithere]

Thank you drizzt! This was really useful.

 

[iMSPH]

STARTITHERE,
I have been accepted into UNCG's program. I am excited about it. I also would love a chance to got to medical school in NC, however my only concern is there MCAT prep? Do they have a formal MCAT preparation element?

 

[hazmat2]

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