Tufts vs. BU - which one???

[David Blonder]

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i'm holding a place at tufts, and still waiting for a response from bu. i know that if bu accepts me, i'll have to provide an immediate response. in anticipation of this, please help me compare the pro's and con's of each school. us news ranks bu higher, while the gourman report of the top 30 medical schools ranks tufts 23, and bu 25 (although, i have no knowledge of the criteria used by gourman). my questions include: 1) which provides greater/earlier clinical exposure, 2) which matches ortho residencies better, and 3) which students seem happier. i know both have similar grading systems, and, of course, locations.

thank you!

 

[Brewster]

I wouldn't worry about the rankings too much. As I recall, USNews had BU one spot higher than Tufts, while Gourman puts Tufts 2 spots higher than BU...hardly a significant difference.

As you said, the location is pretty much the same. Both in Boston, something like 2 miles away from each other.

When you interviewed, how did you feel at each school? None of us can answer this question for you, and it is one of the most important to ask yourself.

For who matches ortho better, take a look at the match lists I linked below. Keep in mind that evaluating match lists is a difficult process, so take these with a grain of salt. Also, don't get ortho tunnel vision. If you are going to look at match lists, look at the whole thing since you may very well end up changing your mind when your time comes to apply for residency.

BU: http://www.bumc.bu.edu/Departments/PageMain.asp?Page=2800&DepartmentID=42

Tufts: http://www.tufts.edu/med/medissue/ (follow the links for 2003 match list)

Hope this helps...good luck.

 

[JlazyMD]

In terms of reputation and matching, I would say BU and Tufts are essentially the same. I would base your decision on other factors including:

1) which school did you like better when you visited?
2) look over the curriculum- do you prefer one to the other?
3) Clinical training facilities- BMC is a has a public hospital, high minority/low income patient population, while NEMC has a private hospital, higher income + significant asian patient population. You will do out-of-town rotations at Tufts.
4) Location- Tufts is in a nicer, but more expensive part of town.
5) If you can, talk to several students at each school to get their take.

Good Luck!

 

[bridgie]

This is TOTALY out of the rumour mill but....I work at harvard hosps, and the housestaff that I have encountered have always advised me against BU. I don't know where the sentiment comes from but apparently their past pres was not very well respected or something...that is just an impression I got from a few comments made.

 

[bridgie]

but i relaly have no idea what I am talking about, i probably should not have said anything. i hate being a gossip. sorry.

 

[Jalby]

I've recently heard that people look down on BU graduates because when they say they are from BU, it reminds people of when they were little and said PU (sound it out) whenever they smelled something bad, and the didn't want such negative connotations in the workplace.

 

[srmonkey]

Tufts is in a slighty more expensive part of town but in either case you will be spending a large amount of money on housing - you can always hop on the T. Considering that both schools are expensive, see what financial aid you get out of BU as compared to Tufts. As stated above, they are pretty much equal in terms of ranking and in reputation. In terms of personal knowledge, i had some friends who did research at BU and liked it, but that's about it.

 

[srmonkey]

Naw, when people hear PU they think Providence University, who incedentally do stink. You're much more likely to hear "It sucks to BU."

 

[berriesarie]

Actually, I've heard that clinically speaking BU graduates are very well respected. I know a doc at MGH who is an attending and in constant contact with med students from BU and other boston schools and says he has always been pleased with the students from BU. They seem to come out of their education not afraid to get their hands dirty and handle what load they are given no matter how large the task (maybe b/c of the public hospital situation)

 

[Spitting Camel]

I heard esentially the same thing that berrie heard... that of all the Med schools in Mass (yes, including Harvard), BU students are the best clinically trained and blow other students out of the water.

 

[kkrew417]

i dont know who this guy thinks he is or what he's trying to pull but why would someone initiate the same exact post two years in a row. supposedly he held a spot at tufts last year and was also accepted to bu. something smells doesnt it. maybe the rest of you didnt realize it but he cant fool the doctor in me. david blonder is nothing but a chachki. bottom line.

here is the proof

 

[Spitting Camel]

i dont know who this guy thinks he is or what he's trying to pull but why would someone initiate the same exact post two years in a row. supposedly he held a spot at tufts last year and was also accepted to bu. something smells doesnt it. maybe the rest of you didnt realize it but he cant fool the doctor in me. david blonder is nothing but a chachki. bottom line.

here is the proof

Woah, I can't believe this! + Karma for you!

Maybe he's a mole sent to check out what people think about the schools!

 

[VCMM414]

i dont know who this guy thinks he is or what he's trying to pull but why would someone initiate the same exact post two years in a row. supposedly he held a spot at tufts last year and was also accepted to bu. something smells doesnt it. maybe the rest of you didnt realize it but he cant fool the doctor in me. david blonder is nothing but a chachki. bottom line.
here is the proof

Uhh maybe you need to recheck the date on the initial post of this thread...
seems like he was waitlisted at bu when he first wrote this post, then when he got off the wl he posted the one that you unearthed. everything looks fine to me.

- karma for you (j/k)

 

[exmike]

this is what happens when people resurrect threads from the dead.

 

[jlee9531]

this is what happens when people resurrect threads from the dead.

lessons are never learned haha...

 

[Odaroloc]

This thread is interesting bc I am coincidentally in contact w/ David who is a tufts u/grad alum, as am I, and I got his name off the mailing list. I can tell you he seems like a very straight-up guy that is really pleased with his decision to attend Tufts Med and very generous with advice and candid responses (he ended up with a BU acceptance BTW). I had no idea he had posted when he was in a very similar position as I now find myself...history is constantly repeating itself on good 'ole SDN...

 

[LP1CW]

If given the choice, I would choose Tufts. I got rejected from Tufts and accepted at BU. I've since released my seat from BU. Neither school excited me too much.

but, i'd lean toward Tufts. It's a solid program. Also, my dad's best friend is an alumn. It has a good reputation. The problem with being on a waitlist is that you won't have financial aid offers to compare. You'll only have the one school that you are in at and the other school you'll have only an idea of what it probably will consist of. But, from what i've heard, BU is all about the loans.

 

[Spitting Camel]

If given the choice, I would choose Tufts. I got rejected from Tufts and accepted at BU. I've since released my seat from BU. Neither school excited me too much.

but, i'd lean toward Tufts. It's a solid program. Also, my dad's best friend is an alumn. It has a good reputation. The problem with being on a waitlist is that you won't have financial aid offers to compare. You'll only have the one school that you are in at and the other school you'll have only an idea of what it probably will consist of. But, from what i've heard, BU is all about the loans.

BU is all about the loans. They said at our Financial Aid talk that every student gets a 3,000 doalar grant and then the rest are loans... 🙁

 

[skypilot]

Actually, I've heard that clinically speaking BU graduates are very well respected. I know a doc at MGH who is an attending and in constant contact with med students from BU and other boston schools and says he has always been pleased with the students from BU. They seem to come out of their education not afraid to get their hands dirty and handle what load they are given no matter how large the task (maybe b/c of the public hospital situation)

All else being equal I would choose BU because of the affiliation with the public hospital. Otherwise flip a coin because the reputations of each are about the same.