BU vs. Case Western

[rh647]

Hi Guys!

So currently, I am debating about going to either BU or Case for dental school since the April 1st deadline is approaching. I feel that each school has its own pros and cons. BU is definitely located in a great city but the fact that there are some problems with the clinics such as not getting enough patients worries me a bit. Obviously, I don't want to make life difficult by going to a school that might not prepare me well for real life dentistry. On the other hand, my impression of Case was that it's a great school and has a great clinic as well. However, Case is in Cleveland which in my opinion, probably not as fun as Boston. From what I have heard and read, Cleveland has some dangerous areas around the school.

Can anyone in dental school shed some light on this?
Also, if you want to specialize in the future, does school reputation matter at all?

I would really appreciate any input or advice. Thanks!

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[Bis-GMA111]

Hi Guys!

So currently, I am debating about going to either BU or Case for dental school since the April 1st deadline is approaching. I feel that each school has its own pros and cons. BU is definitely located in a great city but the fact that there are some problems with the clinics such as not getting enough patients worries me a bit. Obviously, I don't want to make life difficult by going to a school that might not prepare me well for real life dentistry. On the other hand, my impression of Case was that it's a great school and has a great clinic as well. However, Case is in Cleveland which in my opinion, probably not as fun as Boston. From what I have heard and read, Cleveland has some dangerous areas around the school.

Can anyone in dental school shed some light on this?
Also, if you want to specialize in the future, does school reputation matter at all?

I would really appreciate any input or advice. Thanks!

it's only 4 years. you have the rest of your life to live wherever you want. i vote case

 

[Duriel]

Clevelands food scene is pretty awesome.

 

[Bds dds]

BU awesome

 

[Daurang]

BU awesome

LOL!!!

1. Pick the cheapest one.
2. If both equal pick Case.

 

[UCSFx2017]

"I have been a big proponent of going to the most affordable school, especially if someone wanted to be a GP. However, yesterday I met an OMFS who graduated first from his class at Penn on the dean's scholarship and then went on to Harvard MD/OMFS residency. He said name matters so significantly that the prestigious residency programs in the Northeast do not even consider applicants from dental schools in the south (please take notice that I said "prestigious" residency programs and not "all" residency programs). I asked him how much the cost of dental school should be considered and he said that it's not important (even with Penn's >$300K price tag). To my surprise, he also said that research (i.e. publications) does not matter so much for matching into OMFS residency. Then he said I should have gone to a dental school with a medical school curriculum (i.e. Harvard, Columbia, or UConn) because I would have to take the CBSE which is a slightly watered-down version of the incredibly difficult beast called the USMLE. Finally, he said P/F curriculum schools like Harvard, UCSF, and UConn do not negatively affect your chances at matching and that H/P/F schools are basically the same as the graded curriculum schools.

I've noticed that if you ask general dentists, they will almost unanimously tell you to go to the most affordable school or the school where you are most comfortable at (their reference point is their GP salary). If you ask practicing specialists from Ivy Leagues, they'll probably tell you to go to the most prestigious dental school or again the school where you are most comfortable at (their reference point is their specialist salary and their past experience).

I've talked to both Ivy League and UC applicants who applied to specialty programs and they say they consistently meet the same applicants from Ivy's and UC's along the interview trail."

^I wrote this in another thread. Although neither are Ivy's, UC's, nor UConn, etc., I would to CWRU.

 

[Contach]

While this is only one student's point of view.. I was very slighted by his experience. I don't see why he would lie to me about any of this... But this is what he said:

I met a 4th year BU student recently and he said that BU is so low on patients, that if he sees 1 patient a day his classmates would consider him busting his ass. He said he pays for many of his patients' dentures. He said that his oral surgery experience amounts to a 2-3 week rotation. After that - no more extracting teeth. He said that he goes to school 2-3 days of the week, and the other days he does nothing. In my opinion - this is really not a good situation...

Mind you - Boston is a great city... But I feel that whereever you go, there'll be classmates that'll make where you are fun. Boston is more expensive to live too. Think about having a car in Case vs not having one in Boston. BU also has great post-grad programs... If you are thinking of specializing, getting a foot in the door could be helpful..

 

[Contach]

"I have been a big proponent of going to the most affordable school, especially if someone wanted to be a GP. However, yesterday I met an OMFS who graduated first from his class at Penn on the dean's scholarship and then went on to Harvard MD/OMFS residency. He said name matters so significantly that the prestigious residency programs in the Northeast do not even consider applicants from dental schools in the south (please take notice that I said "prestigious" residency programs and not "all" residency programs). I asked him how much the cost of dental school should be considered and he said that it's not important (even with Penn's >$300K price tag). To my surprise, he also said that research (i.e. publications) does not matter so much for matching into OMFS residency. Then he said I should have gone to a dental school with a medical school curriculum (i.e. Harvard, Columbia, or UConn) because I would have to take the CBSE which is a slightly watered-down version of the incredibly difficult beast called the USMLE. Finally, he said P/F curriculum schools like Harvard, UCSF, and UConn do not negatively affect your chances at matching and that H/P/F schools are basically the same as the graded curriculum schools."
/QUOTE]

sorry for the thread hijack...

This is all based on his experience... Him being #1 in his class doesn't make him the authority on applying - definitely means he is super smart though - not taking that away from him. On the OMFS interview trail this year, I met a lot of people from non-ivy league institutions. At 6 year program interviews I found I was meeting a lot of people from big name schools... But at 4 year program interviews, I was meeting students from all schools. To me it seemed like those students who would attend an ivy league dental school, and care about the name/prestige, would also be attracted to the name/prestige of an MD degree.

Here's my opinion (a current Penn Dental student who will be attending an OMFS residency next year as well): I would agree about the CBSE and going to a dental school with a medical school curriculum - but noone could have predicted the advent of the CBSE for OMFS admissions. H/P/F is awesome! Everyone comes from a different background and financial situation - $300k to one person whose parents are paying may mean something very different to another who needs to take out loans. I once read a mildly-rigorous journal article that said the only things that predicted NBDE part 1 results somewhat significantly were (A) how many weeks one studied for and (B) reading comprehension score on DAT - not school, . I've heard that Columbia gives there students 3 months to study for Part 1. Penn gives 1.5 months. UoPacific gives 2 weeks?

 

[diasIItema]

it's only 4 years. you have the rest of your life to live wherever you want. i vote case

Yeah, it's only 4 years in your TWENTIES (assuming). You're only young once. Plus, if you're single the school/city you choose could very well dictate where you meet your potential future spouse (again, assumption). If cost isn't an issue, choose the school where you will be happiest. Otherwise, cost is the principal factor, ALWAYS.

 

[GrillSkillz]

Go to the cheapest school.