Tufts vs Hofstra

[meemat]

Hey everyone,

I'm very grateful to be making this decision, and was wondering if anybody could weigh in on this. I am currently accepted to Tufts and Hofstra and am on waitlists for Temple and Ohio State MSTP. I don't think Temple is a contender in my decisions, but OSU definitely is if I get off the waitlist. I have a pretty strong research interest as well as in internal med and neurosurgery, but am open to anything obv.

Tufts

Pros:

• Loved the facilities and curriculum
• Scholarly project incorporates research
• Pretty stellar match list imo
• SO of 2 years is going here...
• Boston is pretty great for clinical sites/living
• Established and pretty good reputation

Cons:

• Mega expensive, not expecting any financial aid. Equates to roughly 95k a year I think? I'm also completely clueless about how to pay for med school and how that works lol...
• Pretty darn far from family (in Philly). They're going through a really tough time and I would've liked to support them.
• Some non-recorded mandatory classes. Very minor thing for me but eh it's on the list

Hofstra

Pros:

• The. Curriculum. I'm a sucker for that independent and small group-based learning style, and Hofstra has one of the most modern types of medical school curriculums I've seen. Edges out Tufts' by a bit imo
• Location is pretty nice, in a nice suburb but right next to Queens, which the affiliated health system serves.
• Decently close to family
• Financial aid is usually pretty strong, especially merit-based, which I am expecting sometime soon. Medical students there with around my stats have traditionally gotten 75-100% costs covered.
• Match list decent, not as great as Tufts though

Cons:

• I'm really getting uneasy with this Step 1 P/F nonsense, and I'm worried that Hofstra will not be able to shine as much because of it. It's lower ranked and not too established, but had great step 1 scores to compensate (higher than Tufts).
• SO not going here, and kinda far from where she's going. She tells me to not make that a decision factor but it definitely is lol
• Research opportunities not quite as strong as Tufts

I'm not going to put OSU on the comparison yet as I'm not accepted there lmao, but it would complicate the decision yet further. I'm interested in the internal application for MD/PhD for Tufts and Hofstra, but not entirely sure if that's the path I want to go down. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated haha, I'm starting to slightly lean towards Tufts (SO definitely has to do with it) but Hofstra was amazing as well.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[walterwhite3556]

It's interesting that you listed "Some non-recorded mandatory classes" as a con for Tufts but then listed Hofstra's curriculum (mandatory, nonrecorded, 8am classes) as a pro.

 

[meemat]

It's interesting that you listed "Some non-recorded mandatory classes" as a con for Tufts but then listed Hofstra's curriculum (mandatory, nonrecorded, 8am classes) as a pro.

I believed that Hofstra's curriculum largely reduced big hall lectures, with some mandatory group-based sessions. I guess this is kinda still a contradiction though hmm

 

[Grapesurgery]

Seems like you preferred the curriculum at Hofstra. On my interview day, they were very proud that on average each student gets a scholarship worth half tuition (though varies by individual, of course). My point is that financial aid seems very good. I have a hard time believing Tufts is worth ~380k. Despite their ranking, Hofstra’s match lists are typically quite strong. You can participate in research easily if you so choose.
My vote is for Hofstra!

 

[glee123]

Also vote for Hofstra for similar reasons as @Grapesurgery!

 

[meemat]

Thanks for the replies, I guess I'm trying to gauge if going to Hofstra will at all limit my residency options compared to Tufts. And yes I definitely realize that the financial side of things makes Hofstra incredibly appealing haha