UVM vs Tufts *URGENT*

[frosty42]

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Just got the A off the WL at UVM and I have 5 days to decide.

Super conflicted bc I’ve been set on Tufts for a little while now but I’ve been having some doubts about it. I turned down my significantly cheaper state school for Tufts and am still feeling conflicted about that decision.

Biggest factor is location

UVM
Pros
- Love Burlington and VT itself - toured the undergrad campus back when I was deciding where to go for college and absolutely loved it
- Significantly smaller class size (85 VT students and ~120 total)

Cons
- Not very diverse at all in student body and patient population (major con)
- Maybe how isolated it is and that I would have to drive home (no public transport options) 6 hrs (could be scary in the winter)
- Potentially not as good clinical training bc of less urban location

Tufts
Pros
- Biggest pro is Boston
- More diverse student body and patient population
- 6 hr train ride instead of drive from home (so I can be productive/study on the ride)

Cons
- Didn’t love accepted students day (faculty and students were very underwhelming - seems like faculty tends to be more traditionally-minded old white men)
- Seems like a lot of the student body is New England prep school people which I don’t love
- Big class of 200

Academically I think these schools are very similar.
I think UVM might align better with my values but I’m worried about the lack of diversity and not being in an urban environment in terms of clinical training.

Boston is a 5 hr drive, 6-7 hr train ride from home
Burlington is a 6 hr drive
^In my mind pretty much equidistant except VT has no public transportation options

Please help!

 

[mdog31415]

Something to note: with UVM, you will get out of the Burlington-Plattsburgh area to do rotations. Doing away rotations is essentially a must for all med students their. You will get a ton more snow at UVM than Boston, and winters are a lot colder. Tufts, on the other hand, is in hot water over the whole Children's Hospital gig with it closing- UVM gets a decent number of pediatric patients and does pediatric surgery, so consider that if you have any interest in peds. Seems Tufts has more research opportunities than UVM as well, though someone can correct me on that if needed. If geographic location is the ultimate factor, Tufts is a clear winner. If campus location/type is the factor, it's UVM.

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

What are the cost differences and are they important to you ? Tuition and cost of living. My guess is Tufts is going to be noticeably more expensive in terms of total COA.

Which curriculum do you like better ? I know at Vermont you're looking at different locations for clinical.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

UVM so I can have your spot! :’)

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

Tufts is better

Maybe not enough better to offset cost difference and curriculum differences. Tufts is no T20 school.

 

[frosty42]

There is essentially no cost difference for me. Tufts cost of living is higher but not enough to be a factor.

I prefer the campus location/type of UVM but I’m somewhat worried about missing out on research and other opportunities that are more prevalent in Boston.

My main specialty interests are neurology and ophtho. Both match similarly in ophtho but Tufts has barely any neuro matches and UVM has way more.
I know neuro isn’t competitive, but the number of matches do speak to the quality of mentorship available at the school.

 

[mdog31415]

There is essentially no cost difference for me. Tufts cost of living is higher but not enough to be a factor.

I prefer the campus location/type of UVM but I’m somewhat worried about missing out on research and other opportunities that are more prevalent in Boston.

My main specialty interests are neurology and ophtho. Both match similarly in ophtho but Tufts has barely any neuro matches and UVM has way more.
I know neuro isn’t competitive, but the number of matches do speak to the quality of mentorship available at the school.

Wow, Tufts didn't match anyone in neuro? That's crazy, especially since Tufts Medical Center, Lahey, and Maine Medical Center have very robust neuro programs. I'd say that is a red flag, and combined with your campus desires and slight cost differences is good enough reason to go to UVM. When it comes to research between M1 and M2 year, consider doing research elsewhere in the northeast (Dartmouth, Boston, Worcester, Albany, Hartford, Yale, and NYC) if you can't get what you want at UVM. Fun fact: did you know UVM has an affiliation with St. Mary's in Palm Beach, FL?? One other site for summer research if you need it.

 

[frosty42]

Wow, Tufts didn't match anyone in neuro? That's crazy, especially since Tufts Medical Center, Lahey, and Maine Medical Center have very robust neuro programs. I'd say that is a red flag, and combined with your campus desires and slight cost differences is good enough reason to go to UVM. When it comes to research between M1 and M2 year, consider doing research elsewhere in the northeast (Dartmouth, Boston, Worcester, Albany, Hartford, Yale, and NYC) if you can't get what you want at UVM. Fun fact: did you know UVM has an affiliation with St. Mary's in Palm Beach, FL?? One other site for summer research if you need it.

Yeah they only matched one person in neuro at UMass this year. Out of a 200 person class. And previous years are similar from what I can tell. Definitely seemed like a red flag to me but I’m glad to hear you confirm it.

I’ll definitely do away rotations and research, hopefully in Philly bc that’s where I’d like to end up. Thanks for your input!

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

There isn’t a significant difference in prestige. So go to the cheaper one and or where you are more happy.

Boston isn’t a great place to be a student unless you’re wealthy or are fine with having three roommates

 

[We Love Bacon]

Hi current UVM med student! DM me and let me try to answer any specific questions

 

[LunaOri]

Just got the A off the WL at UVM and I have 5 days to decide.

Super conflicted bc I’ve been set on Tufts for a little while now but I’ve been having some doubts about it. I turned down my significantly cheaper state school for Tufts and am still feeling conflicted about that decision.

Biggest factor is location

UVM
Pros
- Love Burlington and VT itself - toured the undergrad campus back when I was deciding where to go for college and absolutely loved it
- Significantly smaller class size (85 VT students and ~120 total)

Cons
- Not very diverse at all in student body and patient population (major con)
- Maybe how isolated it is and that I would have to drive home (no public transport options) 6 hrs (could be scary in the winter)
- Potentially not as good clinical training bc of less urban location

Tufts
Pros
- Biggest pro is Boston
- More diverse student body and patient population
- 6 hr train ride instead of drive from home (so I can be productive/study on the ride)

Cons
- Didn’t love accepted students day (faculty and students were very underwhelming - seems like faculty tends to be more traditionally-minded old white men)
- Seems like a lot of the student body is New England prep school people which I don’t love
- Big class of 200

Academically I think these schools are very similar.
I think UVM might align better with my values but I’m worried about the lack of diversity and not being in an urban environment in terms of clinical training.

Boston is a 5 hr drive, 6-7 hr train ride from home
Burlington is a 6 hr drive
^In my mind pretty much equidistant except VT has no public transportation options

Please help!

Do you have the option of CT campus of UVM? It’s more urban and diverse, and easy to get to NYC for train or airport.

 

[frosty42]

Do you have the option of CT campus of UVM? It’s more urban and diverse, and easy to get to NYC for train or airport.

I’m accepted to the VT campus so I think that means I’m set on staying there all 4 years. I went to undergrad in CT and I’d rather be in VT anyway, though!

 

[craig90]

What did you end up deciding?

 

[frosty42]

What did you end up deciding?

Sleeping on it for one more night bc tomorrow is the deadline

 

[frosty42]

Sticking with Tufts! UVM is great and I love Burlington, just would rather spend my 20s in a bigger city. Thanks everyone for your help!