Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
North Grafton, MA
Veterinary Schools | Private Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 18% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.5
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 463 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (90%)
Negatively (1%)
No change (8%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (37%)
Good (41%)
Average (20%)
Poor (1%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the Tufts interview process to be laid-back and conversational, focusing on getting to know the applicant rather than a formal evaluation. They appreciated the friendly atmosphere, the opportunity to ask questions, and the comprehensive information provided about the school and its programs.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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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.
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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.
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Come up with lots of good questions to ask and be ready with them as soon as the interview starts!
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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.
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Relax, it is very casual! Do a power pose in the bathroom before (1 min) and that will naturally decrease your stress!
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
41 Minutes Average
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Number:
2.1 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
77% One-on-One
23% Group Interview
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File Type:
100% Open-File
0% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
TUFTS-VET-COMP interviews are an average of 41 minutes, with an average of 2.1 interviews. 77% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 0% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around the applicant's motivations for pursuing veterinary medicine, their experiences in the field, their research background, how they handle stress, and their future goals post-graduation. Some interviews followed an MMI format with a focus on personal experiences and dialogue, while others included questions about specific courses, extracurricular activities, and ethical considerations in veterinary practice. Applicants may have been asked about their interest in zoo medicine, research goals, views on animal welfare, and reasons for choosing a particular veterinary school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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A current issue in veterinary medicine
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I noticed your extracurriculars in your application, do you still [insert extracurricular]?
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What kind of problems do you think are affecting the veterinary community right now?
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Why did I want to go into vet med
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Tell me about your current job? what is a typical day like? what do you like and dislike about it?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including research experiences, ethical dilemmas in veterinary clinics, future career aspirations, favorite animals, and personal interests. The interview format seemed to be conversational and engaging, with some participants mentioning a match with interviewers sharing similar backgrounds or interests, leading to diverse and thought-provoking discussions. It is worth noting that some responses hinted at an MMI format, possible nondisclosure agreements, and inquiries about personal experiences and unique perspectives in the field of veterinary medicine.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Off the bat, they asked about my research
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What would you do if you weren't a vet?
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How do you plan on overcoming difficult situations, having had the training but being unable to use it?
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What was my favorite animal at the zoo I volunteered at
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What do you do for fun?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by thoroughly reviewing their application materials, reading feedback on Student Doctor Network, researching the school and its programs, and preparing questions to ask the interviewers. Many also practiced answering common interview questions and focused on understanding their motivations for pursuing veterinary school and why they were specifically interested in the school they were interviewing at.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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SDN, looked over my full application- including my personal statement, used other interviews to prep
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1. Went through my application thoroughly 2. Prepared a lot of questions to ask the interviewers
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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.
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Reading SDN and reviewing all of my application materials
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Read SDN, googled common vet school interview questions, read AVMA articles, read over my application
What was the most difficult question?
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, career goals, and personal attributes like weaknesses. While some faced specific questions about their experiences, others found the overall interview conversational. Notably, there were references to MMI format and nondisclosure agreements, suggesting a structured interview process beyond traditional queries.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Differences in private vs corporate vet med.
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How do you deal with clients that are verbally abusive? What would you do to protect your technicians when in practice?
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How do you plan on overcoming difficult situations, having had the training but being unable to use it?
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How the vets and I deal with rude/ difficult clients and what we do afterwards. (Do we discuss it, do we ignore it etc)
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Give a two minute pitch on yourself
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness, warmth, and genuine interest shown by interviewers, faculty, and students during their interactions. Many appreciated the conversational and relaxed atmosphere of the interviews, the welcoming campus environment, and the wealth of opportunities available for research and specialization in various fields. Suggestions included maintaining the current positive and engaging approach to interviews, continuing to prioritize a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, and further highlighting the school's facilities and programs.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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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
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The interviewers had a very genuine / caring vibe. I felt like the interview was more of a chat with friends.
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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.
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Interviewers were very friendly and made me feel more comfortable, asked several times what questions I had for them
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Seeing the baby sheep on our tour, seeing students actively examining a cadaver in the anatomy lab, speaking with a student on my overnight stay
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about limited interview time for questions, unenthusiastic tour guides, remote rural location, outdated facilities, disorganization during tours, and some interactions with interviewers. Suggestions included providing more time for questions, ensuring enthusiastic tour guides, addressing facility improvements, enhancing organization during tours, and ensuring interviewer engagement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I wish we had more than 45 minutes to talk. I felt like I did not get to ask them enough questions.
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They didnt ask too many questions and I wonder how these interviews are rated to determine who gets in and who doesnt
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How many students there were on interview day and how we did not have enough time to fully see everything we were supposed to on our tour.
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I didn't answer the IVM question "correctly"
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It’s literally perfect
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interview would be conversational and low-stress, with a focus on personal qualities and experiences rather than technical knowledge or work experiences. Additionally, many applicants recommended being well-prepared to discuss personal statements, bringing comfortable shoes for the campus tour, and not stressing too much before the interview.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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That they would ask specific questions regarding my personal statement and why I wrote about what I did
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I wish I had known that 45 minutes is not a lot of time. I would have asked different / more important (a/c to my own preference) questions.
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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.
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I wish i had been better prepared to talk about what I have done since applying, was focused more on remembering things from my undergrad
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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.
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
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.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office consider offering longer and more personalized tours, provide clearer instructions for interview days, and improve communication regarding admissions decisions through email or phone calls rather than snail mail. These suggestions aimed to enhance the overall experience and clarity for prospective students going through the admissions process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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They are quite perfect, honestly.
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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.
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None
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Everything was great!
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Change nothing. You are perfect!
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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BOS
20% interviewees used BOS (BOS), with 20% using Logan (Logan) and 20% using Boston Logan (Boston Logan) and 10% using PVD (PVD) and 7% using Boston (Boston) and 3% using HPN (HPN) and 3% using Manchester (Manchester) and 3% using Logan International (Logan International) and 3% using Providence, RI (Providence, RI) and 3% using US Airways (US Airways) and 3% using Logan Intl Airport (Logan Intl Airport) and 3% using Logan airport in Boston (Logan airport in Boston).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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40% Airplane
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52% Automobile
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8% Train or Subway
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0% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Days Inn in Shrewsbury (average ranking 6.3/10), with some staying at Westborough Inn (Bed & Breakfast) (average rating 8.5/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Days Inn in Shrewsbury
6.3/10
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Westborough Inn (Bed & Breakfast)
8.5/10
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Courtyard Marriott
7.5/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (10%)
Other (3%)
Student (88%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (79%)
Neutral (21%)
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