Tufts vs Vanderbilt

[arn_h1234]

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Hi everyone! I feel super lucky to have been accepted to both these schools, but I’m having a really hard time deciding between them and would really appreciate any advice. I did not receive a scholarship at either school, so cost of attendance is likely going to be similar. As a NY resident, I hope to eventually match in the NE for residency, likely IM since I am interested in pursuing oncology. Thanks so much!

Vanderbilt:

Pros:
-Pass/fail curriculum throughout all 4 years, no AOA
-Students seem very happy
-Better research opportunities, lots of NIH funding
-Lower COL
-Love the music/artsy vibes of Nashville
-Administration seems much more organized than tufts
-Will likely take a research year to couples match with partner, and Vandy provides a fully funded year + 30k stipend

Cons:
-Far from home
-Hope to match into NE for residency, and Vandy's match list seems pretty south/midwest heavy although students have told me I shouldn't have a problem matching in the location I want
-Harder to network with hospitals in the NE unless I do away rotations, which I heard can be pretty expensive and not worth my time if I'm applying into IM
-Far from partner and likely wherever his med school will be after his gap year, which will make long distance challenging
-Nashville isn't as exciting of a city to me as Boston

Tufts
Pros:
-Love Boston, hope to match here for residency as I am not a huge fan of NYC
-4 year MD/MPH program, lots of opportunities to explore how to integrate public health into my career
-Students seem to match well across Boston hospitals like MGH, BU, etc.
-Many opportunities to build connections across the Boston hospital system
-Able to serve a lot of Asian patients
-Heard that being in Chinatown makes food and living expenses slightly cheaper
-Administration seems very nice and supportive
-Partner will be in NYC for his gap year (will be applying to med school this year), which will make long distance easier
-Closer to family

Cons:
-Higher COL
-Less prestigious
-Much bigger class size may make opportunities like clinical rotations difficult
-Graded clinicals (although I have never heard it being a significant source of stress for students)
-Research year is free tuition but does not offer a stipend like Vandy
-Less opportunities within the Tufts system, would have to go out of my way to network with other Boston hospitals through things like away rotations

 

[YellowSalamander]

Tufts will close some doors that Vanderbilt will not close! I would certainly not pay more to attend a less prestigious schools with fewer opportunities. You'll have no problems matching to Boston and the Northeast from Vanderbilt.

Proximity to your boyfriend and family certainly does matter, but its not worth hundreds of thousands if that is the difference in cost of attendance.

 

[OrphanAnnieEyez]

Vanderbilt will definitely offer more resources, and it will be a lot cheaper to live in Nashville than Boston. I wouldn’t worry about Vanderbilt’s match list - I imagine a lot of the regional bias is from people choosing to match in the region. I personally would choose Vanderbilt based on what you’ve said here, because it will have more resources and be cheaper overall.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Population growth is in the Southeast while it's still cheaper to live there (and taxes are generally lower).

You said a partner's opinion is in play, but is it serious enough that both of you should be conserving as much debt as possible??? Sure, there are more medical schools in NYC, compared to the 3 total around Nashville. What COA debt is your partner looking at that YOU would have to share if it's that serious?

 

[arn_h1234]

Population growth is in the Southeast while it's still cheaper to live there (and taxes are generally lower).

You said a partner's opinion is in play, but is it serious enough that both of you should be conserving as much debt as possible??? Sure, there are more medical schools in NYC, compared to the 3 total around Nashville. What COA debt is your partner looking at that YOU would have to share if it's that serious?

Yeah, I think cost of living wise Nashville is probably better, right now I’m currently leaning towards Vandy. However, my main concern is financial aid. I haven’t received aid packages yet but I heard Vandy is stingy with need based aid. Also, I would have to use a car for 4 years while for Tufts I might only need it for things like off site clinical rotations. But assuming that Tufts gives a little bit but Vandy gives close to none, do you think the opportunities and resources provided by Vandy are worth the additional debt?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yeah, I think cost of living wise Nashville is probably better, right now I’m currently leaning towards Vandy. However, my main concern is financial aid. I haven’t received aid packages yet but I heard Vandy is stingy with need based aid. Also, I would have to use a car for 4 years while for Tufts I might only need it for things like off site clinical rotations. But assuming that Tufts gives a little bit but Vandy gives close to none, do you think the opportunities and resources provided by Vandy are worth the additional debt?

It's something to think about once you do get the financial aid package.

 

[chilly_md]

Yeah, I think cost of living wise Nashville is probably better, right now I’m currently leaning towards Vandy. However, my main concern is financial aid. I haven’t received aid packages yet but I heard Vandy is stingy with need based aid. Also, I would have to use a car for 4 years while for Tufts I might only need it for things like off site clinical rotations. But assuming that Tufts gives a little bit but Vandy gives close to none, do you think the opportunities and resources provided by Vandy are worth the additional debt?

I think few schools are known for generous need-based aid. You can wait till packages come back but do not expect much.