So I've been accepted to both Penn and Tufts for a while now and have had a really tough time deciding. Penn had me essentially won over but after attending the Tufts accepted students day it was tugging at my heartstrings a bit. Essentially my qualms about Penn, which I've heard some "rumors" about that may or may not be true, are:
-it feels very impersonal and institutional vs. the "cozy/homey" feelings of the small Tufts campus
- professors are often distant/not super interested in students
- there isn't much hands-on animal experience the first two years
- students are competitive amongst one another
- not as many opportunities to do work abroad (e.g. Tufts has a strong international vet med program and students often get grants to do research abroad in the summers)
- the usual stereotype of Philly not being the safest city
I really wanted to go to Penn because it seems to have more extracurricular things to get involved in than Tufts (like intramural sports, meeting non-vet students, and just being able to go out in the city in general without orchestrating a commute from the suburbs), but lately I'm wondering if I would be making the wrong decision based on those things if I wouldn't even end up having much time out of academics. It reminds me a lot of my undergrad in terms of size and being a city school so I was thinking it wouldn't be too much of a culture shock; however, Tufts is also closer to home for me. Essentially my main thing is that I really want to feel at home and part of a community at vet school.
I would really appreciate any input from current students!
I think your reasons are mostly wrong and make me wonder where you are getting your info (this from a person who is pretty critical).
PennVet is certainly not impersonal. It might not be as "homey" as Tufts, Tufts has a smaller class size and an isolated campus so no doubt if you want that feeling Tufts would be better.
Penn has a large faculty, so of course some professors are impersonal and interested in their own research, but for the most part, I find a ton of lecturers (especially the clinicians) who are really wonderful. Not every single professor of course, but then again, I don't want 30 mothers/fathers.
I think Penn has more hands on experience than most schools. 2nd year you have time in both LA and SA hospitals, probably more than you want. Plus there are a ton of wet lab opportunities for 1st and 2nd years. Plus PAWS is pretty awesome for the spay/neuter program. So this is definitely a myth. 10 years ago, by the way, there were a lot less opportunities so maybe you are talking to dinosaur.
Competitive? Actually I think Penn is one of the least competitive vet schools in my experience. Both classes I have been in (I missed a year for medical reasons) have been super supportive. There are a few gunners perhaps, but they don't act competitive with anyone but themselves, and are usually helpful as well. So, again, Penn as a University is a competitive environment, but I doubt many, if any people, who came here as a vet student feel the same way.
Work abroad.. orca addressed it, but there are plenty of opportunities, again, maybe not the focus that tufts has, but that is because there are lots of opportunities at Penn in general not just a few focused ones. If you want to get abroad, you will. I know of one student who spent summers abroad, and then got a number of externships his 3rd and 4th year abroad because he is interested.
- phiily stereotype. Penn is not = philly. The campus area is extremely safe. Are there robberies occasionally? Sure just like anywhere else. Should you go wandering around outside campus in the middle of the night. NO. West Philly west of Penn, and North Philly (no where near Penn) are not safe areas in parts. Just be smart. Again, that is an old stereotype that is just not the reality anymore. 20 years ago, off campus was a little dodgy, that is not true anymore.
So, really, I think you are getting bad info from people who don't have a clue. penn has its problems, but you have managed to miss all of them.
Good Luck.. I am sure either way you will be happy.
