UMass Worcester vs Tufts University

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kriss906

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First time posting, but I've read many comments and think everyone on the website is helpful, so I'm going to try my luck.

I was very fortunate to get into Tufts and UMass (MA native). Now I have to immediately choose between these two great schools and I'd love some feedback.
 
Congrats!

To begin with, I don't think you can do wrong with either school in terms of quality of academics, so it really comes down to how you felt about each one. Was there anything about either that really stuck in your head on interview day? Did you have an instinctual sense that you belonged at one more than another? It is a very personal choice, so first try and get a sense of if you would feel more comfortable at one over the other.

That being said, I will say that my experience at Tufts has been fantastic. The program of classes is good at keeping the level of work manageable, and there is a lot of opportunity for clinical exposure early on. One of the things I find most important, and yet very hard to see on paper, is how well the class meshes together. Admissions does a great job of picking a group of people that fits well together, but has a great deal of diversity in terms of interests and experience. Plus, being in the middle of Boston is a lot of fun.

If I had to make the argument for UMASS, it would be that it is far less expensive for a quality education. The difference in tuition (20-30k I think) is significant. The importance of this depends on you though. If you are planning on starting a family, or have lots of past debt, or have any other financial issue, then the the cost difference is extremely relevant and likely will be the deciding factor. If, on the other hand, money is not an issue, then cost is not as pressing. I can't speak to the specifics of Umass' program, but I have never really heard anything bad about it except for being a bit isolated.

If you have any questions about Tufts, feel free to PM me. Also, don;t be afraid to call the school and ask to visit if you need another look at the place.
 
UMASS is ranked much higher and costs much less. Go there.
 
umass is better and cheaper. just don't pronounce it worchester. apparently it's pronounced wooster
 
People at Tufts seem super-happy, but I've never heard of UMass people being unhappy, either. The rankings difference is negligible. Seems to come down to a relatively straightforward location-vs-cost decision for you. How much do you love Boston? Given the choice myself, I'd be willing to trade $100k to live in my favorite city, but few people are that singleminded.

PS: I recall that Tufts is ranked noticeably higher by residency directors, but I'm suspicious of that ranking's utility.
 
UMass, with the caveat that pretty much every student I met there stated their reason for being there was cost.
 
Or if you have a Boston accent, Woosh-tah

lol bostonians don't add ridiculous h's to their words...it's more like woosstah

if I had to pick between the two, I'd probably pick umass. Tufts medical is probably the 5th or maybe even 6th or 7th most important hospital in boston
 
Go where you'll be in less debt. The Tufts name probably won't provide much added value, and UMass matches well, whether you'd like to go into rural medicine or not.
 
People at Tufts seem super-happy, but I've never heard of UMass people being unhappy, either. The rankings difference is negligible. Seems to come down to a relatively straightforward location-vs-cost decision for you. How much do you love Boston? Given the choice myself, I'd be willing to trade $100k to live in my favorite city, but few people are that singleminded.

PS: I recall that Tufts is ranked noticeably higher by residency directors, but I'm suspicious of that ranking's utility.

Just a quick postscript, when you factor in compounding interest and the fact that none of us are going to be making debt payments for a number of years, that $140 thousand (if not more because of cost of living differences between the two cities) easily doubles. I absolutely love Boston and would kill to go spend four years there, but I don't know if going there is worth over a quarter million dollars...

Also, ditto to the fact that UMASS is the only academic game in town in Worchester (WOOSTAH!), whereas Tufts is competing with MGH, Brigham, Beth Israel, Boston Medical Center, the other 17 million Partners hospitals, etc. Just some things to think about!

I know I'd be happy at either, but the difference in cost is really just enormous. Don't think I could justify going to Tufts over UMASS unless I won the lottery.

P.S. Goucher2013 I see you've survived postbacc! Congrats on finishing up.
 
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