Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 18% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the candidate's interests in veterinary medicine, how they manage stress, their views on current issues in the field, specific experiences mentioned in their application, reasons for choosing veterinary medicine over other paths, and their future goals and aspirations post-graduation. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format, implying a structured interview process, potentially subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
They didn't really ask me any questions, strangely enough. They just talked about themselves and the program and then asked what questions I had. Be prepared with at least 6 good questions. By question 4 I ran out of things to ask and we sat in silence for awhile... awkward!
They mostly just wanted to know about me and my experiences. The interview was more of a dialogue among three people, than two people drilling you with questions
How do you feel about mice used in your research (I said that I was ethically ok with it because we were working towards treating diseases, but that I still felt uncomfortable and that there are some procedures that even though I am ethically ok with them I emotionally would not want to do myself--they said it was a good answer and that it's good for researchers to be a bit uncomfortable with this)
It was more of an open conversation than formal interview: they talked about themselves and then asked me to tell them about the path that took me here interjecting with follow up questions and statements about the school and how the program fits with my interests.
There's another student applying this year who had gone abroad and got the opportunity to neuter a cat under a veterinarian's supervision. We believe the owner was not informed who performed the surgery. Is that ethical? What if owner's consent was obtained?
Not really a question. "What I really like about your file is that you have a lot of teaching experience, and I find that being a veterinarian/vet student requires just as much skill in teaching as in learning." I was expected to respond to that in a more conversational way I guess?
You are in small animal practice and a family brings in a dog that has been showing aggressive tendencies and they have a small child at home. They ask you for advice. What do you say?
Let's say that you are completely stressed out. The electricity is out, you have 5 tests the next day and all of your underwear is dirty. How would you handle this stress?
I asked if there was anything else they wanted to know about me, she asked about my courses I'd taken in addition to the prerequisites, and said those courses will really prepare me for the course load.
I honestly can't tell you a second question they asked, it was really a conversational style, so we started talking about stuff I'd done at the zoo and then began discussing shelter medicine and the new program at the school for that.
The first thing they asked me after looking at my experiences, looking at your experiences, you have a lot of exotic/zoo animal experience, is that the area you're interested in?
All of the questions I was asked had to do with my specific situation. Although, they do expect you to come prepared with questions about their program and school, and that exchange comprised a majority of my interview time.
Have you ever encountered a class that you had some difficulty in? (They followed my answer by letting me know they just wanted to make sure I have had to work hard for a grade before)
Conservation Medicine Questions:
What are some of the challenges facing the veterinary medical profession?
Where will veterinary medicine be in 20-30 years?
What would be necessary to cause a shift in the veterinary medical field towards Conservation Medicine?
Another way to go into Conservation Medicine would be to get an MD. Why a DVM?
Ethics Questions:
How do you feel about euthanasia?
What is the ethical difference between euthanizing a mouse and euthanizing a dog?
Lately wild coyotes have been attacking pets in the area. The locals have taken to just shooting the coyotes. How would you fix this problem in both the long and short terms?
General Questions:
Why veterinary medicine and why Tufts?
Tell us about your research.
How much do you think a small animal vet makes right out of school? (I answered correctly, and then...) Do you think that's too much or too little?
What do you do to relieve stress?
Do you think not having any clinical experience will be a disadvantage compared to the other students if you are accepted? (All of my animal experience is with laboratory animals).
Students said the most interesting question asked at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including research, ethical dilemmas, career goals, favorite animals, and personal interests. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on references to nondisclosure agreements and varied questions from different interviewers with similar interests/backgrounds, leading to engaging conversations rather than specific questions.
They wanted to know about the person I chose for my essay and asked me a lot about my major in English Literature! They wanted some book recommendations haha
Have you ever disagreed with any of the ethical opinions of the veterinarians you have worked with? (I said I disagreed with convenience euthanasia and they had a lot of follow-up questions)
What questions do you have for us?--I asked them what they would tell me that I haven't heard from admissions or already told them that would make me want to come to Tufts.
"How did you come to combine your mom's interest in horses (she's a dressage trainer) with your dad's profession in human medicine? How do they feel about your decision?"
Because the interview style was so conversational it is difficult to say there were any interesting "questions".
Tufts matches you up with interviewers who have similar interests/backgrounds as you, so that lends itself to interesting conversation.
What do you like and dislike about your current job? (They were both familiar with the place where I work, so this allowed for more of a conversation.)
Students said most difficult question asked at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including handling difficult clients, ethical dilemmas, future goals in the field, and personal attributes. Some respondents mentioned being asked about euthanasia, ethical issues in the veterinary field, and dealing with verbal abuse from clients.
I mentioned that I liked Tufts ethical approach to teaching and they asked "Are other vet schools not ethical?" I floundered a bit because I didn't want to insult other vet schools, but wanted to show that Tufts is relatively progressive in their animal use policies.
Honestly, I was not asked anything difficult or unexpected. It was pretty conversational. Though I do feel I had a difficult time phrasing why exactly I want to go into vet med and probably didn't state it as eloquently as I would have liked!
All of the questions were fair and straightforward, but the most difficult was probably "how do you deal with euthanasia? Are you prepared to enter a part of the profession where you will need to deal with death?"
The compare between countries. I actually couldn't answer it because i had not really seen much of vet medicine in the country i had lived in due to the fact i moved wheni was just over 10 years old.
Given your experience using lab. animals, how do you feel about horse racing? Follow up, dog racing?
I didn't really see the relevance of this question within the context of a conversational interview. I couldn't tell if they were just making conversation or if it was some kind of test- this caught me off guard.
You're an older student and we worry about your ability to cope with going back into a very difficult curriculum after so long out of school. How do you plan to handle it?
''Explain your college grades.''
They asked this in the nicest way possible and acknowledged that I've done really well in my pre-vet courses (taken after college). But I still had to walk a fine line between explanation (good) and excuses (not so good).
We ended up talking about sourcing of teaching cadavers, and they asked me about what I thought about Tufts's unique donor program. Make sure you know about it before hand!
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by thoroughly reviewing their application materials, reading interview feedback on Student Doctor Network (SDN), practicing answers to common questions, and researching the specific veterinary program at Tufts University. Many also prepared questions to ask the interviewers and sought insights from current students or alumni of the school to feel more confident and well-prepared.
SDN, looked over my full application- including my personal statement, used other interviews to prep
Read other SDN reviews; looked over my transcript, my application, and thought about what made tufts stand out to me. I also had an entire list of questions already prepared so I had plenty to ask them as they had about a 10 minute period where I could ask questions.
Took notes on my answers to possible interview questions, reviewed my application, reviewed journal entries I had written about my animal experiences as a refresher.
I went over my VMCAS application since most of the stuff was similar. Reviewed my recent research projects, and read up on a number of different things in the curriculum.
Read my application, senior thesis, prepared answers to "tell me about yourself" and "why Tufts", read website descriptions of dual degree programs, selectives, etc.
Used the tufts interview feedback and googled vet school interview questions. Determined what my ethical beliefs are and what my career plans are. Read Tufts Vet Magazine which taught me a little more about the school
relaxed and tried to be as confident as possible. I looked over some SDN questions, but didn't prepare answers because I didn't want to seem rehearsed. Just know about your experiences and be confident that this is what you want and you'll be fine!
Learned about the school, read SDN, spoke with the vets I work with about interviewing, made answers to common questions. But I think, as a 2nd time interviewee, that the most important thing you can do is to just really feel confident about why you want to be a vet and how you are going to save the world! Not in a pompous, flashy, kind of way, but one that leaves you self-assured and happy.
Read SDN Interview feedback, read over my application, prepared tons of questions, read up on veterinary news, read through the brochure they gave me again and read their website
SDN interview feedback, REviewed application, talked to a vet i work with that is alumni of the school, Research the school, wrote responses to possible questions
Thoroughly researched the school and everything about it on the website, looked at SDN feedback, reread my application, prepared a few answers from questions listed as asked at other schools.
I re-read my Tufts application. I spent a good amount of time on their website reviewing faculty members and programs. Also, I emailed with a current student.
I read about the signature program I was interested in, read admissions brochure, read about interview questions past years on SDN, prepared basic why tufts, strengths/weaknesses answers, PREPARED LOTS OF QUESTIONS TO ASK THEM
Read SDN pre-vet forum! Thoroughly reviewed application and essays. Mentally rehearsed answers to questions that were likely to be asked (and in fact, were): ''Why vet school?'' ''Explain your college grades (not too hot).''
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, where interviewers and students made them feel comfortable and engaged in conversational interviews. They appreciated the genuine interest shown by interviewers, the laid-back environment, and the emphasis on creating a positive experience throughout the admissions process.
Both interviewers were beyond nice, and seemed genuinely into learning about who I am as a person. Definitely more conversational than most other interviews. They were very willing to answer any questions that I had for them
The two interviewers were really nice and eased my nerves almost immediately by introducing themselves and then asking a nice simple question for me to answer. There weren’t any awkward pauses as whenever I finished speaking they had another question for me. They were very knowledgeable about the school and both taught courses throughout the program.
The laid back environment. The whole day was informative and fun but the interview also was laid back and like a conversation. I even stumbled on my words a bit once and paused and they kinda helped me through it
The interview was extremely conversational and laid-back. Both professors were funny and kind, making for an awesome atmosphere. They asked questions they genuinely wanted to know about me and my application and never tried to trick me or ask me very difficult questions.
I was thoroughly impressed by the passion and support of all the students and faculty as well as the opportunities for intl vet med and wildlife and conservation med. The other applicants were also super supportive/friendly.
The campus is beautiful, the facilities look great, and I like how the campus is small and spaced out, not all scrunched together. The Tufts community seems really tight - knit, and I was impressed that so many of the faculty there were residents who liked it too much to leave! Further, the curriculum at Tufts really tries to get students interacting with animals from the start - not every day, but once every few weeks you'll spend some time learning how to handle every species. A particular emphasis is put on getting first years experience with farm animals, as they assume that most of their students come in with little to no FA experience.
The enthusiasm of the students and faculty. Everyone seems so genuinely happy to be there! The professors really seem like they care about the success of all of their students.
By far the most relaxed interview I have had in this entire process. The interviewers spoke about funny stories from their past and i was only asked one or two straightforward questions.
Their kindness and interest in my responses. I felt like I was talking to the 2 coolest people :) (With my experience, I love talking with my profs, so that might have helped). The school, the student life, the extensive programs & specialties available for me.
How friendly they were & how enthusiastic about the school & its programs all the staff/students/admissions are. How they don't try to trick you or ask anything random just to see how you respond. The events on interview day--panels, tours, financial aid talks, etc. to really get you interested in the school.
Connected LA & SA hospitals.
No terminal procedures to teach surgeries, other invasive procedures
Everybody was so incredibly friendly and genuinely interested in making interviewees feel comfortable about the day. I was a nervous wreck approaching this interview and I'm a pretty shy person in general, but I assure anybody out there that's like me in that regard, they are there to make YOU feel at ease, and really welcome you to their institution.
This was a VERY friendly, very relaxed interview. They provided a lot of information about the school during the day and tried to sell us on the school, instead of the other way around.
The overall atmosphere of the interview. I never felt drilled or uncomfortable. Even when i was asked a question that i couldn't answer, I didn't feel like it hurt me to admit that i didn't know the answer.
They match you up with interviewers who share your interests and areas of expertise. I got a goat reproduction specialist and a bovine ambulatory doctor. We got to talk a lot about the large animal industry instead of just nitpicking at my application, which was fun and interesting. I ended up getting in and they were even nice enough to sign the bottom of my letter.
The only thing that was strange was that they asked me so many dairy questions! Luckily, I had just covered a lot of the hot topics in my Dairy Herd class, but hadn't really focused my entire undergrad on dairy cows.
I like that Tufts doesn't track, and I talked to my interviewers about the advantage/disadvantage of that approach. All of the students and admissions staff were extremely friendly and willing to answer questions.
Everything-- I love the school, the facilities, the friendliness of the staff & students....Several first-years hung out & told us about their experiences, which was a nice perspective.
I think it really varied depending on the interviewers, but mine were VERY laid back. It was a conversation, not an interview. I overheard others' conversations and think they were asked such things as 'what is your favorite book' and such.
The friendliness of the interviewers and students, the efficiency of the admissions staff, and the timing of tours/presentations through the day. The facilities are decent.
There were quite a few students mingling throughout the day - and it was really nice to be able to talk to them before going into the interview. Everyone was so friendly and it seemed like they really want you there and want to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
Interviewers were responsive and encouraging. The stress of it was not due to their style or demeanor at all. One of them especially was enthusiastic about animal welfare (related to his work) and gave info about what's happening in that area at Tufts.
The interviewers had both read my file and so it was a lot easier to talk to them. They asked really specific questions, so it was clear that they had really read it. They were really easy to talk to and really positive about their school. They didn't try to trick me at all.Everyone was extremely friendly. The financial aid talk was frighteningly honest. The administration is great and really tailors things to your interest and provides $$ to go abroad for summer research. No elitism. Broad curriculum.
The facilities (classrooms, hospitals) were great and the people (students, administrators, faculty) were very friendly. Some current students talked very favorably about opportunities afforded to them through the selectives program. They are also building a new student center on campus that will have a gym!
The area is beautiful, the students seemed nice, the interviewers were relaxed and friendly. The facilities are good, and the teaching hospital seemed reasonably busy. They have a lot of opportunities for research.
Applicants shared concerns about limited interview time, lack of enthusiasm from tour guides, outdated facilities, remote location, and disorganization during tours. They also mentioned issues with the interview process, such as feeling rushed, unprepared interviewers, and interruptions during interviews. Some applicants expressed dissatisfaction with the school's isolated location, limited campus activities, and the quality of facilities compared to other schools.
I wish we had more than 45 minutes to talk. I felt like I did not get to ask them enough questions.
Not really a big deal or much they can do about it but the activities for the day started at 8:45 but my interview wasn’t until 3:10 at the end of the day. I was the last person there and my guests got kicked out of the conference room because they had to clean
Large animal hospital doesn't really take too many cattle, so student experience working cattle cases are with the ambulatory rotation, although that's extremely hands-on from what I gathered. However, students do get a lot of experience getting handling experience with the dairy cows there.
As many people have said, the surrounding area isn't the greatest, but all in all it's a great school and program, and if accepted I will definitely attend.
The school appears to be in the middle of nowhere (it's still only and hour away from Boston though). I would have liked them to try to sell the area and talk about what there is to do in Grafton.
The way their anatomy lab works. Groups of four dissect animals but their space isn't big enough for everyone to go to every class. So, you're supposed to only go to half of the classes and meet with your labmates to get info from the other half--so you aren't actually there for all (only half) of the hands-on learning. Also some classrooms they said were too small for the class.
Nothing really; maybe got a bit intimidated by how tough the schedule will be, but that's nothing against the school, just the hurdles of the profession
Not one thing. Even all of the snow I viewed with a positive. Some people mention the area isn't the greatest but it's right by Boston and I'd watch my Celtics all the time ;)
The hospitals seemed old and run down. The new student center is nice, but I don't think students even get to use the new lecture hall for most classes.
location (very rural) and the fact that it is so isolated from the med school and other graduate programs; I was in the last interview slot and I could tell that my interviewers were rushing me a bit
Nothing, really. I didn't like how the interview was done during school vacation - I don't have a sense of how the campus would feel while classes are in session.
the commuter rail train I was supposed to take got canceled, but there wasn't really any way to know so me a few others sat there for an hour and half. When the sun goes down it gets quite cold. Also, the ice covered sidewalks between the station and the school were kinda hard to navigate, not that that is their fault.
Believe it or not, I would have actually liked to be asked a few more questions! From our conversations I'm sure they did learn a lot about me, it was just a different environment than I was expecting.
The campus is very small and isolated. It could be maddening.
Also, I thought I did poorly (but I got accepted). They told a couple of students they were accepted in front of me but didn't tell me anything- I found this a little unprofessional and it made me very worried/stressed out.
The hospitals aren't as nice as Cornell or Penn's by a long shot, but you get hands on animal work early. But the classes are smaller and the administration actually cares. Grafton is very small, probably hard to meet non vet students.
One of my interviewers started her career in clinical vet med and then moved more towards policy research. She couldn't quite grasp the idea that I was moving in the opposite direction as she, and unfortunately, the interview sometimes became more about her and her evolution than about me and my goals. I felt like she wanted the job that I was leaving! My other interviewer, however, was not nearly as self-focused.
Applicants commonly wish they had known ahead of time about the conversational nature of the interview, the importance of being oneself, and the low-stress atmosphere. Suggestions include being well-prepared, staying relaxed, focusing on personal experiences, and familiarizing oneself with the school and program details.
That they would ask specific questions regarding my personal statement and why I wrote about what I did
That they would focus more on me and who I am/ the actions I make rather than the experiences I have at work. They really seemed to want to know how I am with interacting with clients and how I am dealing with stress/ things going wrong.
It's difficult to tell after the interview how well you did. I left thinking I failed and didn't answer their questions well/wished I answered things more fully and in a different way. It is a conversation so the interviewers give their opinions on the questions they are asking. Try to take a deep breath. They understand this interviews are stressful. It is ok to say you are not sure in response to a question they ask.
It's difficult to know how the conversation is going to go in regard to topic since there is not a standardized list of questions. Meaning preparation can be a crap shoot in what to prep. I've heard many students say they were asked "Tell me about yourself" for which you can talk about something non-veterinary related that you like to do in your free time and how that makes you different and interesting and an interesting reason why you like doing it. I did not receive this question but it is still important to think about what you would say in response if you do receive this question.
The food for lunch. No one in my party liked it and we would have brought lunch or grabbed some somewhere else. It was a long day and we didn’t end up eating.
I was a little thrown by just how low stress the interview was. At the end I asked them if they had any other questions about my application, which I worry may have come off as a criticism of how casual the conversation was. I really like how committed they are to evaluating you at your calmest/best.
Nothing, really. I think I went into it pretty prepared. As everyone else has said, it is a very laid back atmosphere. I still was quite nervous going into it, but there really wasn't any need to be. Just be yourself and you will be okay :). If you get an interview they are confident you can handle the program, they just want to get to know you a bit more as a person.
JUST RELAX!! Technically I knew this ahead of time since everyone on SDN says it, but obviously it's much easier said than done. I was very nervous while I waited to go into my interview, but once I sat down the nerves were gone. Tufts tries to match you with interviewers who share your interests, which helps immensely. Just take a breath, be yourself, and you will do great!
Nothing. The admissions office did a great job providing information on what to expect. Do keep in mind that this is a low stress interview. One of the professors who talked during the faculty panel even said that if any interviewer tries to make you feel like you don't know what you are talking about they should not be on the admissions committee there.
The program ended at 2:30pm. There was a train to Boston at 2:18 and the next one wasn't until 5pm. They are fine with you leaving a bit early to catch the train but I did not know that. As such I sat around in the library for a while. Luckily for me I found a student willing to take me to places not on the tour and talk to me about the school.
The interview is extremely conversational. Be yourself, and show your personality from the start. If you've done research, make sure you know it inside and out - I felt like I was in a thesis defense panel.
I don't think there's anything I wished I knew earlier. I felt quite well prepared. I asked straightforward questions, but I would have maybe read up on the school even more.
Everyone says not to stress out about Tufts, but I did anyways. My stomach was in knots all week before and the morning of the interview, but as soon as I got into the room with my interviewers, all my nerves went away. Don't stress about this interview!!!
As stupid as it sounds, I was really worried about my shoes for the tour. There was supposed to be a snow storm and I wore heels for the interview, but changing into weather-appropriate, comfy shoes was not a big deal at all. No one cared about my feet, haha.
Probably that the admin building is where everything takes place, I was fortunate and just walked in their first thing but that's where you are for most of the day.
I wish I had known that the tour would take so long because I didn't end up getting to see all of campus and I also spent most of the time worrying I would be late for my interview.
Cabs in North Grafton are incredibly expensive. I paid $20 to get to the hotel (Days Inn) from the train station. It cost $15 to get to campus the next morning. I used up all my cash and there were no working ATMs to be found on campus...
Don't rely on taxis! I tried to use them twice, neither time did they show up, the first time they got lost, the second, I don't even know. Fortunately I hitched rides. I really don't know how someone without a car is supposed to get around. Maybe it's better to stay in Boston and take the rail to Grafton in the morning- then you can walk or get a ride with campus police.
I didn't really discover anything new. I had already been fairly familiar with the campus and general surrounding area, all of which I felt very positive about.
That there would not be any bottled water available in the snack room! (Maybe I just got there too late...) I really could have used a cold drink prior to my interview, but somehow I managed to talk almost non-stop for 60 min.!
Applicants generally found the Tufts interview process to be relaxed, conversational, and insightful, emphasizing the importance of being oneself and preparing questions to ask. The friendly atmosphere, comprehensive information sessions, and opportunities to interact with current students were highlighted as positive aspects, while some expressed minor concerns about the interview structure and campus location.
This is probably the most chill interview you'll ever do. Just take a deep breath, and be yourself - they just want to get to know you. The best thing you can do to prepare is to come up with questions you want to ask about the interviewers / about the school.
I thought this was a good interview and I appreciated them taking the time to introduce themselves as it made them seem more sympathetic to what I was going through as they’ve been in my shoes before.
I definitely recommend taking Tufts up on their offer to stay overnight at a current student's house. There is "Lunch with Current students" during the interview day but there are so many other applicants and it feels so much more formal to ask all of your questions. It was nice to see the host's living environment, class material, the curriculum and Tufts in general.
The interview is more conversational than other interviews by design. Keep that in mind.
The day is full of tours and info sessions and it’s a great way to learn about the school. My interview wasn’t until 3:10 while the events started at 8:45 so I brought my suit to change into later and wore comfortable clothes in the morning. It was a great choice.
I loved that the goal of the interview seemed to be to sell Tufts to me and to get to know me as a person. It didn't feel evaluative at all. Just be yourself and you will be great!
Being from rural New England, Tufts felt very home-like, from the land to the architecture. A beautiful campus, nicely tucked away with a great community of veterinarians and researchers alike, with similar goals.
Tufts has so much to offer. While I'm not crazy about the location, the staff (admissions, professors, etc.) seem PHENOMENAL. They seem genuinely dedicated to students and their success. There are so many opportunities for students to take advantage of. The program is one-of-a-kind, which I feel is more important than the location.
It was most definitely an extremely laid back interview, and absolutely nothing to stress over. Overall, pretty good feelings were received at the interview. I felt as though the atmosphere didn't really foster too much interaction between the students and interviewees (the ratio of students to interviewees was very lowwwwww). But I did like the setup of the information sessions.
The admissions office was great and very responsive. You are provided short bios on your interviewers when you arrive that morning and they try to pair you with interviews who work in your area of interest. There are tours of both the hospitals and classrooms as well as information sessions on financial aid, research and dual degree programs, a faculty panel, and a student Q and A during lunch.
I love this school. If you want a big city environment, it's not for you, but if you're looking for a tightly knit community, this is it. Tons of opportunities available here.
Relax and be yourself. The school is clearly interested in you, so take the time to see if you're interested in them and show them who you are outside from your application.
Honestly, Tufts is a great fit for me. I'm considering professors, administration, the location, cost, and anything else I can think of. I can truly picture myself there and am hoping for the best.
Really friendly atmosphere. Just like everyone said, the interview's like a conversation. I honestly wasn't sure how I did coming out of it because I didn't really get to talk much, the two interviewers talked a lot more about their work, research, programs, etc. than I did about myself. I remember being asked that one question about how I liked my college. The rest of it was conversational. I asked questions throughout the interview, so I kind of got awkwardly choked up at the end when they asked (twice) if I had any additional questions. A few of the conversations they started I wasn't sure if I responded well. I guess it was good enough though since they ended up taking me! One of the interviewers wrote a little note on the letter I received a few days later saying congrats.
Tufts interviews are very conversational. The school provides you with profiles of the interviewers shortly beforehand, so you'll know who is interviewing you and a little bit about their background/interests.
My interview had a lot of awkward pauses. They would make a comment about something on my application without asking a question leaving me clueless on how to respond.
Great process! Even if i don't get in, your process made me feel confident about my application. Loved that you match my interviewers with my interests.
It was a very enjoyable interview and tour. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. They just hung out in the waiting room and talked to everyone between tours. The small animal hospital was equipped with a brand new oncology ward and had tons of nifty machines. The large animal hospital wasn't huge, but had a very cool sport medicine testing center. There was also a wildlife center, and lots of farm land!
If you aren't from New England and aren't used to blisteringly cold weather, make sure to wear extra clothing.
Ask a lot of questions to the current students who will be around before your interview. My tour was not done by a student and there is no general information session, so it really is the only time that you have to learn about the school. The interview itself is very conversational and they really just want to get to know you. They will ask questions based on your application and possibly some general questions but 90% of the interview was based on my application.
Make sure to have questions prepared to ask them, it was only fifteen minutes into my interview when they asked me if there was anything I wanted to ask about the school. VERY casual! When you check in, they give you the profiles of your two interviewers so you can read about their interests and area of expertise. A student came by and asked me who my interviewers and told me they'd be really laid back, so that was nice.
The admissions committee at Tufts is so nice. I wish I'd been able to take a better look at the campus while I was there but there was a blizzard! In preparing for the interview try to stay relaxed- it's fairly low-key so there is no need to stress too much!
My interview was a better experience than I could have ever imagined. The admissions crew made me feel so comfortable and the interviewers were really casual and relaxed. It was much more of a conversation about my application than a question and answer session.
It was great! They really didn't even interview me, but rather asked me questions about their small ruminant program (my area of interest) and we talked about improvements that could be made, etc etc. My interview was about 15 minutes longer than other people because we got so into the conversation that the interviewers lost track of time!
Overall, I would say it was a positive visit despite the fact that one of my interviewers couldn't get past herself and her own experiences to appreciate a different approach to the field of veterinary medicine.
Excellent. Tufts' interview style is one that allows students to sell their strengths and honestly discuss their weaknesses. No ''hot seat'' questions here!
My interview did not go as conversationally as others have reported theirs went, so I think it depends on your interviewers. It felt more like a Q&A. They spent about half the time asking me 2-3 questions and to my surprise, didn't go into any details about my past experiences or any other ''typical'' interview questions. Then, the other half of the time, I was expected to ask questions. I was very prepared for this part, so be sure that you are too.
So positive! The interviewers were both very nice and asked mostly questions about my application specifically, the interview was more of a conversation really.
My interviewers were nice and laid back, but they asked me really difficult questions! Because I had to reschedule my interview due to the weather, they had all the time in the world to grill me. I was really nervous for the first five minutes, but fortunately I had good answers for all of their questions.
As you can guess, my interview was just as laid back as every one else's. The two doctors were already laughing when I popped my head around the corner, and our conversations were constantly interrupted with comments and laughter. I had a few more straight-up interview questions than I was anticipating, but nothing that caught me off guard. The only complaint I have is all the down time they scheduled in between seminars, tours, and interviews. I guess I was supposed to ''mingle'' and chat with other applicants and current students, but I had no interest in ''mingling'' so there was a lot of down time. To each his own.
The interview was, like everyone says, laid-back. Students actively sought us out to chat before we went in for interviews, and they answered questions with great honesty. The campus was lovely and the facilities were impressive. There are so many opportunities for reasearch and experience there-- my interviewers emphasized that they want to give everyone a taste of everything and don't push students to ''pick something'' the way some schools do. Their internship placement rate was also quite impressive.
If you are planning on taking out loans, the financial aid session is definitely worth attending. There is definitely no sugar coating of anything, but its information that you definitely need to plan financially for vet school.
Very well organized, laid back, and definitely less pressure than the previous interview I had there. First year students always around to answer Qs re: anything was really helpful.
The interviewers were very friendly and really tried to get to know me. Unfortunately I was not very articulate and forgot most of what I had practiced... so I didn't do really well.
Extremely positive. My interview was more of a chat than a question-answer session. They spent more time asking me about hobbies and passtimes than actual academics, and I felt like this really gave me an opportunity to express myself beyond being a ''prospective vet student''.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should consider providing longer and more personalized tours, improving communication regarding the schedule of the interview day, and enhancing the notification process for admissions decisions.
Having a longer tour (important!), having less applicants on the same day (felt so impersonal and felt more competitive), making it more clear that you only need to be their for your interview and you can leave/come at any point.
Personally, I'm a fan of the separate application for Tufts. It was 1) cheaper, and 2) asked some interesting questions, and I think it's a benefit that it filters out people that would apply just because it's a click away.
Increase number of students giving tours, or decrease number of interviewees on tours... it was difficult to interact with students because we were on such a large tour. Also, larger panel of students to speak with during lunch.
