Why Tufts??

[Londres011]

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I've been noticing that quite a few people having been choosing to go to Tufts over their state schools or other top universities, and I was just wondering what attributes of Tufts makes it so appealing (other than its location)?

 

[zorie]

For me it was that the students I spoke to seemed really relaxed. I'm not into the gunner mentality, so I asked several of the students about it when I was there. Several of them said that they'd gone to Ivies for undergrad and chose Tufts because they had felt relaxed there, and that it was exactly as they had perceived once they got there. They said students tried to help each other out and while there were the handful that were gunning, most people shared notes and helped each other study and that the class was like a family, etc etc. While I take it with a grain of salt, I felt this kind of atmosphere more permeating at Tufts than most of the other schools I interviewed at (Boston was the exception, but I liked Tufts' facilities a lot better than BU's).

 

[sweetpea2]

Many reasons- ill list a few:
1. VERTICAL EXPANSION
2. Awesome Dean and faculty
3. Tufts places a good amount of students in specialties
4. Amazing atmosphere in Boston and also top notch facilities (again, see #1)
5. Plain and simple-Tufts is a prestigious school

 

[achilles2]

Many reasons- ill list a few:
1. VERTICAL EXPANSION
2. Awesome Dean and faculty
3. Tufts places a good amount of students in specialties
4. Amazing atmosphere in Boston and also top notch facilities (again, see #1)
5. Plain and simple-Tufts is a prestigious school

This

I was really really impressed with the dean at Tufts. My decision to not attend Tufts was a difficult one due to the great atmosphere of the school and really the dean. Even when I informed him of my decision he wrote back a very kind and professional letter. He is really a driven and classy individual.

+ my father who is a dentist told me "2 things you want in school, one digital technology and second LEARN TO PLACE IMPLANTS!!!' Tufts is doing many great things but they are building a brand spanking new implant clinic.

 

[DrReo]

This

I was really really impressed with the dean at Tufts. My decision to not attend Tufts was a difficult one due to the great atmosphere of the school and really the dean. Even when I informed him of my decision he wrote back a very kind and professional letter. He is really a driven and classy individual.

+ my father who is a dentist told me "2 things you want in school, one digital technology and second LEARN TO PLACE IMPLANTS!!!' Tufts is doing many great things but they are building a brand spanking new implant clinic.

Isn't that for the post-docs?

 

[achilles2]

Isn't that for the post-docs?

yes but I believe if you are ahead of the game in terms of clinic you can do some rotations in there....also if you make friends with some of the professors I'm sure they wouldn't mind having you drop in during your 4th year.

At my interview it seemed that they wanted to expose the predocs if not work something in. Everything is new so the program is being tweaked but regardless having brand new equipment in an area that you can most likely get access to for at the very least observation doesn't stink.

 

[tinman831]

Anyone who has a patient who is getting an implant is required to show up during the implant placement surgery otherwise they don't get the points for the implant diagnosis and treatment planning. If you don't have a patient and you're interested, you could probably schedule something with the resident and patient. I doubt that you would be able to find a resident who would be comfortable enough to let you place the implant. It hasn't happened yet.

yes but I believe if you are ahead of the game in terms of clinic you can do some rotations in there....also if you make friends with some of the professors I'm sure they wouldn't mind having you drop in during your 4th year.

At my interview it seemed that they wanted to expose the predocs if not work something in. Everything is new so the program is being tweaked but regardless having brand new equipment in an area that you can most likely get access to for at the very least observation doesn't stink.

 

[cybermech]

For me it was that the students I spoke to seemed really relaxed. I'm not into the gunner mentality, so I asked several of the students about it when I was there. Several of them said that they'd gone to Ivies for undergrad and chose Tufts because they had felt relaxed there, and that it was exactly as they had perceived once they got there. They said students tried to help each other out and while there were the handful that were gunning, most people shared notes and helped each other study and that the class was like a family, etc etc. While I take it with a grain of salt, I felt this kind of atmosphere more permeating at Tufts than most of the other schools I interviewed at (Boston was the exception, but I liked Tufts' facilities a lot better than BU's).

Yes, yes... ditto to all of the above. I just got a really good vibe from Tufts and the city of Boston in general. I spend 2 weeks in Boston, and absolutely loved it! Also, Tufts has everything I'm looking for in terms of facilities and programs. The only thing that bothers me a bit is the increase in class size to ~200. However, I feel that I still made a good decision.

This

I was really really impressed with the dean at Tufts. My decision to not attend Tufts was a difficult one due to the great atmosphere of the school and really the dean. Even when I informed him of my decision he wrote back a very kind and professional letter. He is really a driven and classy individual.

+ my father who is a dentist told me "2 things you want in school, one digital technology and second LEARN TO PLACE IMPLANTS!!!' Tufts is doing many great things but they are building a brand spanking new implant clinic.

One can learn how to place implants by taking some continuing education courses. I believe Creighton is one of the only schools that allows undergrads to place implants (or at least I think this is the case?)

 

[shinbone86]

I am going to Tufts because:
#1)To become my own man. I have been supported by parents up until college. Making the transition from socal to Boston will help me become independent.
#2) I want to retrace the roots of the city I was born in.
#3) My father completed his residency training at Tufts.
#4) Boston culture is kick-ass.
#5) Diversity.
#6) I love Chinese food. It's in Chinatown.
#7) State of the art technology unmatched by many schools.
#8) The addition of 5 more floors.
#9) The name is respected by every patient (at least every Asian) that I have come into contact with. I know the average American has never heard of it. Well, that's because they're ******ed.
#10) Even though the class size is large, I personally don't care if I specialize or not. I just know that I will get the education and experience I need to become a competent dentist.

 

[Waitlisted2009]

#7) State of the art technology unmatched by many schools.

What kind of technology do they have? Can you name some other schools you went and visited that Tufts Beats or schools that have better Tech than tufts? I am lost on how they have better technology

 

[shinbone86]

honestly idk. i was kind of talking out of my ass. Out of the 4 schools I interviewed at, it seemed Tufts was the most advanced technologically. It says it on its website and if you don't believe it, then u gotta see it for yourself. nonetheless, I know for sure that I will get my money's worth going to Tufts.

 

[shinbone86]

oh i also interviewed at Boston U., Temple, and Lousville.

 

[supraman]

If you thought the technology at Tufts was unmatched Shin, you shoulda seen UMD. For some reason I think Tufts wants to make a big surprise opening for all the students to showcase the latest and greatest, but we'll see ha

 

[DrReo]

Did Tufts show us anything technology related?

 

[DrReo]

Minnesota let's use their sim clinic after the interview.

 

[telebeans]

Tufts was the most comfortable interview I had. It felt like they valued each candidate unlike some of the other schools at which I was treated more like a statistic. They also brought dental school students to the lunch that had something in common with us (ex. someone from my sorority came). Super cool.

 

[somethinpositiv]

Tufts was the most comfortable interview I had. It felt like they valued each candidate unlike some of the other schools at which I was treated more like a statistic. They also brought dental school students to the lunch that had something in common with us (ex. someone from my sorority came). Super cool.

Similarly, someone from my undergrad came to the interview to greet me. He also had facebooked me earlier, having been informed by Tufts that someone from his alma mater was going to interview soon. Seems that Tufts has a vast network across the country.

 

[Londres011]

I actually did not think that Tufts was any more student friendly than NYU or UMDNJ, for example. I did not have any current dental students from my undergraduate present and the ones present did not seem very approachable. I also felt very depressed when going through the clinics and labs. I know that the new floors are being built but I can't help to think that it won't make much of a difference. Laslty, I don't know much about Boston as I am very much a New Yorker. If anyone who has lived or gone to school in NYC and then moved to Boston could share their experience, that would be amazing. I was recently accepted to NYU and am heavily considering it due to these factors. I just don't want to make a biased or hastey decision so any insight would help!!

 

[DentGuy]

When I revisited Boston I stopped at NYC for a few days. Let's just say I am VERY happy I will be living in Boston versus New York. I like how Boston has tons of students walking around its streets (there are like forty universities in Metro Boston). New York has a great transportation system like Boston, but everything still seemed rather far.

The new floors that Tufts is building will hold the most state-of-the-art equipment. I think that will make a very big difference.

 

[supraman]

I went to NY for NYU and withdrew my NYU interview hours before it was scheduled. I absolutely hated the city, hated how unfriendly people were, how expensive a damn egg and cheese was at Dunkin and how expensive everything was in general. I GTFO of NY asap. I am happy with boston

 

[DrReo]

Supra, you were heading to the interview but hated the city so you left?

 

[ButImLETired]

I actually did not think that Tufts was any more student friendly than NYU or UMDNJ, for example. I did not have any current dental students from my undergraduate present and the ones present did not seem very approachable. I also felt very depressed when going through the clinics and labs. I know that the new floors are being built but I can't help to think that it won't make much of a difference. Laslty, I don't know much about Boston as I am very much a New Yorker. If anyone who has lived or gone to school in NYC and then moved to Boston could share their experience, that would be amazing. I was recently accepted to NYU and am heavily considering it due to these factors. I just don't want to make a biased or hastey decision so any insight would help!!

Well, I might be able to help with this (I was lurking around the predent forum, teehee). I did part of high school in NYC and worked there every summer for 4 years, and went to Tufts undergrad (go Jumbos!).

NYC and Boston are remarkably different cities. For one thing, Boston proper is really pretty small. New Yorkers who move there tend to feel like it's more of a "little town" than a real city, and I admit it often feels like that- but that was also my favorite thing about it. It's VERY manageable. You really can walk just about anywhere, the T (the subway system) is wonderful and VERY simple (the NYC subway still totally confuses me, and I always get on the express trains by mistake). Bostonians are (as a rule!) much nicer, clam chowder is glorious, and Tufts med (and dent) is right by this place the name of which I forget that makes the best dim sum in Boston.
Boston is also quite a bit cleaner and friendlier. It has a real "center" instead of New York's kind of spread out neighborhoods. I always felt that New York was sort of hard to navigate for anyone who's not from there, plus it tends to be dirty and loud and the way it's set up is very isolating. Boston, thanks to its definite "downtown" is much more welcoming and much easier to get used to. It also has a lot of history (if you're into that kinda thing).
The main thing about Boston though is the fact that it's THE college town in the US. When you walk around there, you'll see that almost everyone is in their 20s. It makes for an incredibly fun and vibrant social life, and one in which you're not always hanging out with the same people (you'll meet students from a zillion different schools every time you go to a bar). I remember the main thing I'd notice when going home on breaks was the fact that I hadn't seen children or old people (except professors) in AGES. It's sort of a surreal feeling. Even the Charles will be full of students rowing for their various universities. It often feels like one big college campus.
Finally, it's an incredibly liberal, educated city. I once was standing in line for the iPhone for 8 hours (me = nerd) and met a huge scary bearded guy on a motorcycle who had a PhD in EE from MIT, an Amherst music and lit double major who was writing a book on musicology, a German guy who was getting his PhD in AstroPhysics at Harvard, and so on. These are the people you'll see at the coffee shops and malls. It's an amazing feeling. You'll be able to attend lectures given by the best and greatest of every field imaginable, concerts at Berklee School of Music or the New England Conservatory, watch a baseball game at Fenway (do this even if you're not a baseball fan- BoSox fans are nuts- yes, even more nuts than the Yankees fans- oh and don't say you're from NY), and they're all super close.

Ok ok I'm done gushing. Seriously though, Boston's the best. NY is an acquired taste to be sure, and you might miss how 24/7 it is and how big it is and you might feel that Boston has less culture- but truthfully, it just has a younger, different kind of culture. Oh and Tufts is the best, but I'm sure you guys already know that 😉

 

[Londres011]

Thanks for your opinions guys! However, I went to college at Columbia and absolutely love NYC. I know that I said I was unsure about the city but what is most important to me is the school. I can get used to Boston if need be, but I want to make sure the school is right for me. I have learned, the hard way, that the better school may not always be the right fit. Although, I think that NYU and Tufts are pretty much on the same level sans the class size, which to me doesn't make such a huge difference since we are subdivided into groups in lab and clinc. Do you think I am totally off base and should be looking at this from a different perspective?

 

[supraman]

Supra, you were heading to the interview but hated the city so you left?

haha I left out the part that I was puking/on the toilet all night prior but yea prior to that I hated NY, couldn't wait to be home!

 

[Cat8788]

i went on several interviews and out of all of them, I have to say Tufts was my favorite. I'm originally from NYC and attend Buffalo for undergrad, two VERY different cities. I prefer a bit warmer, city-like location. Tufts can definitely offer that. I actually went to boston the past weekend and I think I like it more than NYC. The subway system is much cleaner, easier to understand its so historical (I went on the freedom trail) and the city is cleaner in general. The city is so walkable, I LOVE IT.

But its not mainly because its a city that attracted me, I mean if anything, Tufts appearance is definitely not appealing right now due to all the construction. But once I entered the dental school, I immediately loved it. It's beautiful inside, with its display cases and bright hallways. The dean is awesome, Mark definitely played a major role in my decision to attend. Also, the Tufts book is awesome. It almost has every statistic you need in it. It's doing more than other schools to try to provide the best education they can and constantly improving. Tufts is also a very prestigious school. The 5 new floors is also a plus. And I agree with one of the posts up there saying how its a college town. There are so many young adults around, its just a great atmosphere.

 

[DentGuy]

Well, I might be able to help with this (I was lurking around the predent forum, teehee). I did part of high school in NYC and worked there every summer for 4 years, and went to Tufts undergrad (go Jumbos!).

NYC and Boston are remarkably different cities. For one thing, Boston proper is really pretty small. New Yorkers who move there tend to feel like it's more of a "little town" than a real city, and I admit it often feels like that- but that was also my favorite thing about it. It's VERY manageable. You really can walk just about anywhere, the T (the subway system) is wonderful and VERY simple (the NYC subway still totally confuses me, and I always get on the express trains by mistake). Bostonians are (as a rule!) much nicer, clam chowder is glorious, and Tufts med (and dent) is right by this place the name of which I forget that makes the best dim sum in Boston.
Boston is also quite a bit cleaner and friendlier. It has a real "center" instead of New York's kind of spread out neighborhoods. I always felt that New York was sort of hard to navigate for anyone who's not from there, plus it tends to be dirty and loud and the way it's set up is very isolating. Boston, thanks to its definite "downtown" is much more welcoming and much easier to get used to. It also has a lot of history (if you're into that kinda thing).
The main thing about Boston though is the fact that it's THE college town in the US. When you walk around there, you'll see that almost everyone is in their 20s. It makes for an incredibly fun and vibrant social life, and one in which you're not always hanging out with the same people (you'll meet students from a zillion different schools every time you go to a bar). I remember the main thing I'd notice when going home on breaks was the fact that I hadn't seen children or old people (except professors) in AGES. It's sort of a surreal feeling. Even the Charles will be full of students rowing for their various universities. It often feels like one big college campus.
Finally, it's an incredibly liberal, educated city. I once was standing in line for the iPhone for 8 hours (me = nerd) and met a huge scary bearded guy on a motorcycle who had a PhD in EE from MIT, an Amherst music and lit double major who was writing a book on musicology, a German guy who was getting his PhD in AstroPhysics at Harvard, and so on. These are the people you'll see at the coffee shops and malls. It's an amazing feeling. You'll be able to attend lectures given by the best and greatest of every field imaginable, concerts at Berklee School of Music or the New England Conservatory, watch a baseball game at Fenway (do this even if you're not a baseball fan- BoSox fans are nuts- yes, even more nuts than the Yankees fans- oh and don't say you're from NY), and they're all super close.

Ok ok I'm done gushing. Seriously though, Boston's the best. NY is an acquired taste to be sure, and you might miss how 24/7 it is and how big it is and you might feel that Boston has less culture- but truthfully, it just has a younger, different kind of culture. Oh and Tufts is the best, but I'm sure you guys already know that 😉

👍 Dentguy likes this.
This is totally how I felt.

 

[nhpham2]

i went on several interviews and out of all of them, I have to say Tufts was my favorite. I'm originally from NYC and attend Buffalo for undergrad, two VERY different cities. I prefer a bit warmer, city-like location. Tufts can definitely offer that. I actually went to boston the past weekend and I think I like it more than NYC. The subway system is much cleaner, easier to understand its so historical (I went on the freedom trail) and the city is cleaner in general. The city is so walkable, I LOVE IT.

But its not mainly because its a city that attracted me, I mean if anything, Tufts appearance is definitely not appealing right now due to all the construction. But once I entered the dental school, I immediately loved it. It's beautiful inside, with its display cases and bright hallways. The dean is awesome, Mark definitely played a major role in my decision to attend. Also, the Tufts book is awesome. It almost has every statistic you need in it. It's doing more than other schools to try to provide the best education they can and constantly improving. Tufts is also a very prestigious school. The 5 new floors is also a plus. And I agree with one of the posts up there saying how its a college town. There are so many young adults around, its just a great atmosphere.

How can you tell that Tufts is a prestigious school?

 

[shinbone86]

Although there are many variables in the curriculum that makes Tufts a prestigious school, the main reason why it is a school revered by people of many academic backgrounds is because it is a respected name among the health professional community.

 

[Cat8788]

Well personally, I never even heard of the school until my pre-health advisor recommended me to apply to this school. When I told people I was applying to Tufts, they were like "wow, good school!" Two people that I know that attended the specialized high schools in NYC aka Stuyvesant and Bronx science said that only Tufts only selects about 2 people from their schools to attend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufts_University

^look under Academics.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search/page+2

 

[supraman]

Tufts undergad has a high ranking, like top 20 in the nation. Its funny and it obviously doesn't mean **** to some but when I said I got into Tufts a lot from my work and friends were like WOW that's nuts! That's so good! When I said I interviewed at Maryland everyone sorta just brushed it off and felt no expected elated emotion..take it as you like; Tufts FTW..can't wait to be in the city, especially in the nice weather on the weekends!

 

[supraman]

ALso, the cooler of the people I've talked to via private messages, aim etc got into Tufts so im happy to get the opportunity to meet everyone, they seem like friends you will know forever...

shout out to Reo, shinbone, PhysGuy, dentista, bri028 (hope you get in)!