Boston Clinic

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To Anyone in BUSDM. How is the clinic environment. Are you happy? troubble finding chair time, etc...??? any info you can give you be great~~

Originally Posted by skyhawk

To Anyone in BUSDM. How is the clinic environment. Are you happy? troubble finding chair time, etc...??? any info you can give you be great~~

Hi skyhawk, I'll be joining you at BU as well.. I would like to hear responses to this question as well, any takers?

I dont think there are any 3rd or 4th years that check this site, so you wont really get a great answer. However, regarding chair time, I have spoken to a handful of 3rd years and none of them have had any problems getting a chair. Its a non issue.

It's not hard at all to find a chair especially since we now have two floors (80 chairs) that are exclusively for pre-doc. The other good thing is that BU has the largest patient pool in Boston and you will never hear of a student complaining that they dont have enough patients.

I heart is is very much similar to Tufts...

Awesome, that's what I wanted to hear.. thanks for your responses

Pasha J sounds like they work for BU. I am a 4th year now. Every school has there complaints. My biggist is the booking system at the school. Some schools will book your patients for you. Like in real life. Some have advanced computer systems that actually flow well, like Tufts. BU has SALUD. Which is spanish means "what were we thinking we we decided to use this freaking system." The best about BU is the clinic floor doctors. Most of them are awsome. There are a few that you avoid like the water in Mexico. Over all the clinical experience has been good. Just for your knowledge it apears that at lest 50% of my class will not graduate on time. So sure we have an abundence of patients. But none that help you meet you requirements.

Originally Posted by toddsl

Just for your knowledge it apears that at lest 50% of my class will not graduate on time. So sure we have an abundence of patients. But none that help you meet you requirements.

I was told that BU dental has to hold their graduation in the middle of May because that is when BU as a university holds it. However, the dental curriculum could take longer because it is intended to end towards the end of May and maybe into June. Does that sound right?

50% wow thats alot of people. Im trying to decide whether to attend BU and thats a big negative. So if you dont graduate on time its gonna cost about another 35 grand at least?

Originally Posted by thewince7

50% wow thats alot of people. Im trying to decide whether to attend BU and thats a big negative. So if you dont graduate on time its gonna cost about another 35 grand at least?

No, I dont think it costs money. You just finish your requirements and get out. Its not like it will take an extra semester. It probably takes a couple weeks.

Originally Posted by thewince7

50% wow thats alot of people. Im trying to decide whether to attend BU and thats a big negative. So if you dont graduate on time its gonna cost about another 35 grand at least?

no its not gonna cost anything , if u finish your cases ,u can graduate in . in case u dont, u graduate in september.

I gotta agree that SALUD is not that great, I've heard the system prior to it was better. But to defend my own stance I always get a chair when i want it and I don't stand in line on the first day when the new week opens up or book with my patients. In regards to graduating on time every class is different. I'd say the current 3rd years are well ahead of their milestones and think that less than 20% will not graduate on time and those 20% will graduate by July. Just remember we have an advanced standing class, foreign trained dentists, who share the clinic floor with us and pretty much have the same requirements as DMD's yet must graduate within a year of hitting the floor (we have 2 years) while taking classes half the day and they do graduate on time so it is possible.

Originally Posted by PashaJ

I gotta agree that SALUD is not that great, I've heard the system prior to it was better. But to defend my own stance I always get a chair when i want it and I don't stand in line on the first day when the new week opens up or book with my patients. In regards to graduating on time every class is different. I'd say the current 3rd years are well ahead of their milestones and think that less than 20% will not graduate on time and those 20% will graduate by July. Just remember we have an advanced standing class, foreign trained dentists, who share the clinic floor with us and pretty much have the same requirements as DMD's yet must graduate within a year of hitting the floor (we have 2 years) while taking classes half the day and they do graduate on time so it is possible.

I am having trouble getting a chair 2 weeks out. How the hell do you do it? As for Paying if you don’t graduate on time, you have until august. If you don't graduate by then you have to pay tuition again. It is in fact a pretty early graduation ment to coincide with the rest of BU and it really isn't a big deal to take an extra month if you need it. The bad thing is they don’t tell you that **** until 4th year. After you have already signed a lease to get out of your apartment in May. So now your stuck trying to find someplace to stay while you finish up your 4 unit Bridge. Ok I am done ranting. Overall it is a good school. About the milestones. I doubt many of the 4th years know where to find the milestones .

Originally Posted by thewince7

50% wow thats alot of people. Im trying to decide whether to attend BU and thats a big negative. So if you dont graduate on time its gonna cost about another 35 grand at least?

After speaking with one of the Clinical instructors at BU I found that the reason for our classes lack of getting requirements done is because we are a competency based school. Which translates to mean "It's okay to slack off" At least that is what my class has taken it to mean. Now of course we are getting our **** together with 2 months left. It will be a race to the finish for sure. But BU is fun, laid back, and if you don't want to specialize the school is very easy. They let you get a D every year for crying out loud. If you do go to BU I suggest that you use that policy. Very nice for Micro

Originally Posted by Rezdawg

I was told that BU dental has to hold their graduation in the middle of May because that is when BU as a university holds it. However, the dental curriculum could take longer because it is intended to end towards the end of May and maybe into June. Does that sound right?

This is true. They just didn’t tell us that until this year. Suck when you have to be out of your apartment in May though. I'm glad they let you know in advance.

IT sounds like you are on the right track. Keep it up. Listen to the horror stories and learn from them. It will be easy. When you get in the clinic Salud should be a little better. Supposedly you will be able to book appointments online. You are very lucky if that happens.

Originally Posted by toddsl

After speaking with one of the Clinical instructors at BU I found that the reason for our classes lack of getting requirements done is because we are a competency based school. Which translates to mean "It's okay to slack off" At least that is what my class has taken it to mean.

Does that mean, those who want to specialize, it's easier for them to be on top of the class - since there is a "slacking off" atmosphere?

Originally Posted by Cold Front

Does that mean, those who want to specialize, it's easier for them to be on top of the class - since there is a "slacking off" atmosphere?

I wish that was the case...hardest working people I have ever come across. If you want to be in the top 10-15%, not only do you have to dedicate your life to school, but you gotta catch some breaks and have some luck along the way.

Rezadwg

I was probably told this during my interview, but how soon do pre-docs start seeing patients? and what tips would you give to freshmen at BU?

By the way, staying in the top 10-15% = 15 - 20 students. That's not so bad, is it? unlike Case or Louisville, where the class size is about 75 or so, which would formulate to 7 - 10 students.

Finally, are there any academic scholarships during dental school at BU?

many thanks

Originally Posted by Cold Front

Rezadwg

I was probably told this during my interview, but how soon do pre-docs start seeing patients? and what tips would you give to freshmen at BU?

By the way, staying in the top 10-15% = 15 - 20 students. That's not so bad, is it? unlike Case or Louisville, where the class size is about 75 or so, which would formulate to 7 - 10 students.

Finally, are there any academic scholarships during dental school at BU?

many thanks

1st year is mostly basic sciences. 2nd year is mostly pre-clinical sciences. 3rd year is when you start your patient care.

As far as class ranking, its all a percentage, so it doesnt matter if there are 50 kids in a class or 150...the difficulty is still the same. Its tough to make it in the top 15 here when there are about 30-40 kids who basically make all A's with a B+ here or there. Basically, you need to make A's in all your basic science courses (biochem, physio, neuroanatomy, gross anatomy, micro, pathology, etc...). At least, thats how its worked out for my class...the top kids here are ridiculously intelligent. I definitely dont belong with them.

As far as scholarships are concerned, there are some that they give out. I think there is info on the website about it. It is merit based.

Keep up with the classes, dont fall too far behind, and you'll be good to go.

At some schools you actually have to wait in line for a chair, or worrying about one being available? WTF. I'm a 3rd year at kentucky and I always have patients and chairs for them. Even if I have a cancellation and call someone up the same day and ask them to be here in a hour. Everyone graduates on time. I'm slammed with patients that are booked for me. There is no way in hell I would go to a program where I had to worrying about 1. patients, 2. chair availability, 3. graduating on time.

Originally Posted by KY2007

There is no way in hell I would go to a program where I had to worrying about 1. patients, 2. chair availability, 3. graduating on time.

1. BU has the largest pool patient in the city of Boston.

2. Every student gets a chair (that's what I was told during my interview, and I don't there was a reason for the school to lie about it).

3. Graduation problems always occur to any student who doesn't commit to school work, and that happens at every school. People drop out from dental schools for whatever reason, graduating late is mainly students' responsibilities.

and finally....

Boston is a great city!

Originally Posted by Cold Front

1. BU has the largest pool patient in the city of Boston.

2. Every student gets a chair (that's what I was told during my interview, and I don't there was a reason for the school to lie about it).

3. Graduation problems always occur to any student who doesn't commit to school work, and that happens at every school. People drop out from dental schools for whatever reason, graduating late is mainly students' responsibilities.

and finally....

Boston is a great city!

As far as every student getting a chair, Im not sure about that. However, other than toddsl, I havent heard of people having problems getting a chair. Ive talked to a bunch of third years and they have been fine with the situation.

Regarding the graduating on time situation, 1st year of dental school runs from August-July, as does 2nd and 3rd year. During your 4th year, BU as an institution holds graduation in mid-May, interrupting the dental curriculum. Therefore, some people do not "graduate" by the mid-May deadline, but that is mostly due to the fact that the curriculum isnt set up that way. Regardless, get your stuff straight and it'll be fine.