UC Irvine vs Tufts..... help

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TeachableMoment

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Hey guys so I just got off the waiting list at UC Irvine(california resident). I really liked both schools. Tufts offered me a Half Tuition Scholarship which makes things really difficult(although I do have to apply every year and its not guaranteed that I would get it the other years). So at least the first year would be similar to UCI's tuition. Some other background info is that my family lives 15 minutes away from UCI, I love the weather here (i think i may have seasonal affective disorder 😎). Im wondering what other people think about this? Where would you go and why? What about prestige?

P.S. I want to practice here in California in the future.

Thanks
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Wait.. with the 1/2 tuition scholarship, the schools are equivalent in cost, right?

I didn't hear anything in your post really that made it sound like you should go to Tufts. Your family is in California, you're a resident, the weather is nice, you want to stay there after school. All of the UC schools, including UCI, have good reputations. In fact UCI is probably more prestigious than Tufts, if that matters to you. I dunno... seems pretty clear cut to me.
 
Tufts charges 10 cents per page to use their printers

I think the choice here is clear
 
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Evergrey said:
Wait.. with the 1/2 tuition scholarship, the schools are equivalent in cost, right?

I didn't hear anything in your post really that made it sound like you should go to Tufts. Your family is in California, you're a resident, the weather is nice, you want to stay there after school. All of the UC schools, including UCI, have good reputations. In fact UCI is probably more prestigious than Tufts, if that matters to you. I dunno... seems pretty clear cut to me.
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Yeah... but I have to apply ever year to get the half tuition scholarship and there is a chance that I might not get it every year. Tufts match list is really impressive.. I cant find UCI's.
 
Having been in the area for the past 4 years, I'll say this... if you like Cali weather, you're gonna HATE it in Boston. Most of the school year spans during the legendary New England winter and if you think you have SAD, just wait till you experience a winter here.

Have you visited Tufts yet? It's right at the end of Chinatown, so there's a definite cast of characters you'll see everyday. Some gems as: the Morning Ritual of old Asian men standing/sitting/squatting outside the coffee shop, pounding coffee and cigarettes; the multi-coated Mongolian homeless guy; Ding Ho, the hole-in-the-wall Chinese food place that you go to if you're thinking 'hey maybe this time, I won't get the dinghiarrhea'.

But there are upsides. There are definitely some kickass places to eat. The Boston winter makes you really appreciate warm weather when it rolls around. And there are moments of unmatched tranquility in the winter, right after a snowfall.

I don't know anything about UCI, but I know that Tufts is a great school that is absurdly expensive. Also the administration can be inept, but that's the case with most places, isn't it? Half tuition is a good deal. How likely is it that you would be able to continue getting the scholarship?
 
raab32 said:
Having been in the area for the past 4 years, I'll say this... if you like Cali weather, you're gonna HATE it in Boston. Most of the school year spans during the legendary New England winter and if you think you have SAD, just wait till you experience a winter here.

Have you visited Tufts yet? It's right at the end of Chinatown, so there's a definite cast of characters you'll see everyday. Some gems as: the Morning Ritual of old Asian men standing/sitting/squatting outside the coffee shop, pounding coffee and cigarettes; the multi-coated Mongolian homeless guy; Ding Ho, the hole-in-the-wall Chinese food place that you go to if you're thinking 'hey maybe this time, I won't get the dinghiarrhea'.

But there are upsides. There are definitely some kickass places to eat. The Boston winter makes you really appreciate warm weather when it rolls around. And there are moments of unmatched tranquility in the winter, right after a snowfall.

I don't know anything about UCI, but I know that Tufts is a great school that is absurdly expensive. Also the administration can be inept, but that's the case with most places, isn't it? Half tuition is a good deal. How likely is it that you would be able to continue getting the scholarship?
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I think there is a good probability of getting the scholarship my family is quite poor. Boston and Tufts would be a life changing experience but Im kinda scared that I might end up on the east coast for residency too. Tufts seems like it would be a hit or miss when it comes to the quality of life. Decisions Decisions
 
Evergrey said:
Wait.. with the 1/2 tuition scholarship, the schools are equivalent in cost, right?

I didn't hear anything in your post really that made it sound like you should go to Tufts. Your family is in California, you're a resident, the weather is nice, you want to stay there after school. All of the UC schools, including UCI, have good reputations. In fact UCI is probably more prestigious than Tufts, if that matters to you. I dunno... seems pretty clear cut to me.
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I actually think Tufts is ranked and UCI is not. Correct me, if I'm wrong.

Edit: One of my best friends goes to Tufts and he does enjoy it there. He's from Cali, and said it's a very student friendly environment since there are colleges everywhere. I think alot of Tufts students from Cali also are able to go back to Cali, so I'm sure it's really up to your board scores and what you want to pursue.

They're both great schools.
 
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I think u have already answered your own question. Roll with UC Irvin + there are better looking chicks in cali :laugh:
 
Um, the previous poster is wrong. Tufts is much more prestigious than UCI in both name and overall medical reputation (look at the residency director's rankings). And it's a bit higher in US News as well.

However, in your case I would go to UCI. I think the fact that your family is close, the price, the almost guaranteed california residency , the weather, etc. But having been to both Boston and Irvine, I do think Boston is a WAYY cooler city than Irvine. And I think the Tufts curriculum and facilities are far better than Irvine. But again those are small things compared to what you would get from going to UCI.

Good luck at UCI. Too bad we wont be classmates at Tufts
 
All other thigns being equal, if you say you want to do residency/practice in CA, think about how much time and money you will spend flyng back and forth from MA to CA for residency interviews. It's a lot. I did the opposite, went to school in CA and interviewed for east coast residencies. Not fun.
 
Ok so I just found out that UCI is giving me $10,000 a year making tuition around 20k as opposed to Tufts scholarship making tuition around 26k. So i think the consensus on this thread is UCI????
 
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TeachableMoment said:
Ok so I just found out that UCI is giving me $10,000 a year making tuition around 20k as opposed to Tufts scholarship making tuition around 26k. So i think the consensus on this thread is UCI????
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Wow, good job. Yea for sure go with UCI. Good luck!!!
 
The choice is up to you and no one else. It doesn't seem like the costs are significantly different, but UCI is close to home. It depends on whether you want to stay close to home or experience a new setting/environment. Tufts is definitely ranked higher (more prestigious?) and has really impressive matches, so I'm pretty sure it's not a disadvantage if you want to go back to California. I've read over and over on this thread that going to UCI doesn't guarantee you a California residency and going somewhere like Tufts wouldn't limit you. I say think it over and decide it for yourself. I'm jealous as I think both are great schools.
 
TeachableMoment said:
Ok so I just found out that UCI is giving me $10,000 a year making tuition around 20k as opposed to Tufts scholarship making tuition around 26k. So i think the consensus on this thread is UCI????
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I was also lucky enough to get into both these schools, though will be going elsewhere. Of the two, I definitely liked Tufts better (better/more modern curriculum, better facilities, etc.) but money/desiring a california residency would probably have me go to UCI in your shoes

Tufts:

Pros:
1.75 year pre-clinical integrated curriculum
Brand spanking new/beautiful educational facilities (save anatomy lab)
Interesting Chinatown location, right near downtown
More prestigious, matches extremely well on the east coast.

Cons:
Uncertainty about future cost
Slightly more expensive even with scholarship
Cold winters
Less ideal for matching in CA (though definitely can be done, especially if you have family in CA/reasons for wanting to be in CA)

UCI:

Pros:
Weather
Cost (though I'm a bit paranoid about rising UC tuition)
Extremely chill student body
On undergrad campus (more things to do)

Cons:
Old school non-integrated curriculum
Not great research facilities/opporunities


If I were you I would go to Tufts if I could be guarenteed the scholarship for all four years. If they can't offer you a guarantee, then go to UCI, as Tufts isn't worth 25k more per year. I would call Tufts and ask them about that before you make a final decision, it definitely can't hurt.
 
As someone who has had a lot of involvement with Tufts Med (I did their MBS program - similar to the Georgetown SMP), I can tell you that it's a good school - it's very well regarded, although I don't think it's as prestigious as people on these forums will lead you to believe (and research-wise there's a bit of an inferiority complex with Harvard and MIT sitting on the other side of the river). The teaching is very solid and there seems to be a genuine concern for student welfare.

On the other hand, their new "integrated" curriculum leaves a lot to be desired, IMO. I didn't really notice a whole lot of actual integration - all it really meant is that your schedule is absolutely packed with lecture time and, rather than having separate exams for each class, all your material is loaded into four or five tests throughout a semester. You still get separate grades for each class, and you still need to pass each individual section. There may be some advantages in terms of board prep, but the big downside is that if you have something go wrong (ie. you get sick, family emergency, etc.) before a test, you're not in trouble in just one class, you're in trouble across the board. Some people liked the curriculum, most did not. At the end of things, I was happy about my performance/learning experience, but felt like the curriculum was a sort of failed experiment - and might have been more beneficial financially to the school as opposed to educationally for the students. They also had to lower the passing threshold in Biochemistry from 65% to 60% in order to ensure that a respectable number of the first year class actually passed.

Additionally, while Boston is a nice city, Tufts is in one of the few areas where it's not really safe to walk around at 2 am. when you're leaving the library. And whatever charm there is in Chinatown fades. Quickly.

Definitely PM me if you have any lingering questions about class/life at Tufts or living in Boston. I think that you're making a great decision with UCI. I wouldn't lose any sleep over whatever "prestige" you're sacrificing. Good luck and enjoy next year.
 
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My PI is in academic med at UCLA (and did his residency there) and got his MD at Tufts. I've never heard him say a single bad thing about the school, he seemed to love everything there and it clearly got him into a top program.
 
OGMD said:
My PI is in academic med at UCLA (and did his residency there) and got his MD at Tufts. I've never heard him say a single bad thing about the school, he seemed to love everything there and it clearly got him into a top program.
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Hmmmm i hate being so indecisive!!!!!!!
 
TeachableMoment said:
Hmmmm i hate being so indecisive!!!!!!!
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Good luck with your decision!

One bit of advice I will give though is once you've made your choice, forget about the other school all together. Both schools are more than good enough to make the limiting factor your performance at said school, not where you go. Pick your school, then throw yourself into it 100% with no regrets.
 
Don't trust Tufts. The administration at UCI will work with you and the class to make it the best possible experience. Not so with Tufts.
 
If we're going to debate prestige (oh brother), Tufts is 44, UCI is 47, which means that the ranking difference is negligible. Depending on the region, you will definitely have people saying that one is more prestigious than the other. I'm sure you'll get an excellent education at both, and since the difference in "prestige" is negligible... I dunno, I guess UCI seems like a much better choice for you. Also, match lists lie. 🙂
 
^ I think in research, but in primary care, Tufts is 33, and UCI is 83. I just googled this, so I'm not sure if someone else has a better/more accurate ranks. But it think it really just comes down to which school you like more.
 
Hey TeachableMoment!

(bias = i'm going to be at irvine) and with that said..

UCI FOR SURE!!!!
there were a ton of really cool people at second look, getting a research position will be easy as a medical student, and it's LESS EXPENSIVE for you/closer to your family. Along with ample time to study for step 1, UCI offers a free kaplan course to help you review. concerning teachers - uci profs have recieved the last two AMSA golden apples (this year's was for the prof for physiology, the year prior it was for an anatomy/neurobiology prof. - http://today.uci.edu/briefs/?ta=Teaching)

the weather (feb. average temp hovers at 70 i'm guessing? :laugh::laugh:), nice grad housing, killer rec. center, rad nearby cities (you're studying on the border of corona del mar, newport, laguna etc..), and gorgeous beaches (the water was VIBRANT blue today) are only pluses you'll get to enjoy while de-stressing 🙂:laugh:🙂.
 
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So what did you decide to do OP?
 
TeachableMoment said:
Im about 80% sure its UCI... the only thing holding me back is what would my live been like if I went to Boston? Also the match list for Tufts is better than UCI.
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Did undergrad at UCI and MBS/MPH at Tufts - so I can speak for both (I think). Boston certainly has an upside, but every day of the winter I yearned for it to be above 15 degrees. Plus rent is insane in Boston. Those two factors make it enough to stay in CA if I were you. Plus, you are guaranteed instate tuition all 4 years. I think that should answer what your life would be like in Boston.

My thoughts on matching are that it tends to be very regional. Tufts matches a lot at Harvard affiliates b/c they are in the same city much like Tulane (where I will start in 2 weeks) matches a lot in Louisiana. I have to imagine UCI probably has a very regional emphasis - why don't you contact the Dean's Office to ask if they have a match list you can look at. At the end of the day, I really think rankings are a bunch of BS. You will have the opportunity to get a great medical education as long as you go to an accredited MD school...and adding close-by family, good weather, the beach, and NO SNOW seem to all be great bonuses!
 
Tufts said that its a good probability that I would continue to get the scholarship but cannot guarantee it.
 
TeachableMoment said:
Tufts said that its a good probability that I would continue to get the scholarship but cannot guarantee it.
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I think they don't guarantee it because you have to maintain passing grades. As long as you don't fail, I'm sure they'll continue to give you the scholarship.
 
Go experience a new place!! You can always come back to cali 🙂 and boston is a much cooler city than irvine
 
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^ Do you know why they lost this? My friend is a 3rd year and he said as long as you don't fail classes, it shouldn't be a problem.
 
TeachableMoment said:
Ok so I just found out that UCI is giving me $10,000 a year making tuition around 20k as opposed to Tufts scholarship making tuition around 26k. So i think the consensus on this thread is UCI????
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uci for sure it shouldnt even be a question. You get to live in a place with a better location, cheaper, close to family, and you dont have to worry about a non-renewable scholarship. Match lists are fairly meaningless and you dont know what people want or what a good match even is. Believe or not just because it says duke or john hopkins doesnt mean its a good match. Its not as simple as med school where if you go to jhu there is a significant difference between that and say tulane as far as "rankings" are concerned. There are several posts from people such as law2doc and others that explain in excruciating detail why match lists are useless to base anything on. I wouldnt base my decision on a match list, uci would seem to be the better choice in near every area
 
^ No way is Irvine a better location than Boston (besides the weather).

But I do agree, it makes no sense to go to Tufts if you have an acceptance to UCI. I am heading to Tufts, but if I had the opportunity to attend UCI I would be there in a flash.
 
COdoubleMO2theN said:
^ No way is Irvine a better location than Boston (besides the weather).

But I do agree, it makes no sense to go to Tufts if you have an acceptance to UCI. I am heading to Tufts, but if I had the opportunity to attend UCI I would be there in a flash.
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+1, Irvine is one of the most dead and boring cities I have ever visited (except Newport Beach 😀). Boston>>>>>>>>>>Irvine

But despite Boston being a better city and Tufts (in my opinion) being a bit stronger of a school, go with Irvine. It is a luxury to be close to family. I would pick Irvine in your situation too. The price is amazing.

But I do want to say that I saw lots of people on Tufts' match list come back to California. I really dont' think it should limit you if you do well. Also if deep down you do want a change, then I can't think of a better place than Boston.

EDIT: Let us know what you decide!
 
alibai3ah said:
+1, Irvine is one of the most dead and boring cities I have ever visited (except Newport Beach 😀). Boston>>>>>>>>>>Irvine

But despite Boston being a better city and Tufts (in my opinion) being a bit stronger of a school, go with Irvine. It is a luxury to be close to family. I would pick Irvine in your situation too. The price is amazing.

But I do want to say that I saw lots of people on Tufts' match list come back to California. I really dont' think it should limit you if you do well. Also if deep down you do want a change, then I can't think of a better place than Boston.

EDIT: Let us know what you decide!
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I decided on UC Irvine!!! Thanks guys for all the input, it was hard to withdraw from Tufts!!!!
 
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