[wow, i was reading another post when i ran into this thread...it brought back a lot of memories for me....
Let me add my 2 cents...........I graduated SC 2006 class....I'll keep this short.
When I graduated I came out with a lot of concern....due to such negativity that has been posted here and other SC bashing; I thought I got the worst education ever and wondered how i made such a mistake. When I did my residency after graduation I was embarrassed to tell people I went to SC for all the reasons I hear on this thread.....
But.....then I started to see things....when I was in dental school you think you have it the worst and other schools are the best...etc....
Well, let me tell you something very interesting. After graduation I went into the military due to the HPSP scholarship. Being in the military you get to meet dentists graduating from dental school just like you, but they are from all walks of life; ie all name and types of dental schools.
Due to my concerns I thought i was the worst dentist out there. Well, when i got to interact with other recently graduated dentists and saw their lab work, prep, dental knowldege etc...i was extremely shocked by what i found out.
I saw varying degrees of competence. I was shocked at how some of my friends graduated from certain schools and they never had to do certain procedures to graduate? One dentist didn't know/ understand the concept of a red line for a margin on a die; i asked why and he said his dental school didn't do any of that stuff; Another dentist his requirements to graduate dental school was a joke compared to what i had to produce to graduate.... etc etc etc etc. Clinical comparisions?? wow, i was better prepared then I reallized. Preps, not even close; lab work; if things needed to get done and the lab couldn't do it on the spot; i just walked in and did my own lab work. etc etc...i could go on....
I thought ok these are residents....well after practicing dentistry for last 6+ years I have met as many types of dentists you will meet...and it confirmed what i learned during my time in residency and is cemented by the dentistry i do to this day.
Everyday I treat patients and provide dentistry I am happy to say I am very proud of what I do. This is reflected by the quality of work i produce, and my work stand equal to and above any dentist i will ever meet...
Let me tell you this; YES USC PBL had its problems and probably still has some problems. However, what you are missing is that any large institution has its problems. USC its problems were just more magnified due to the PBL going large scale. Its'funny but people say PBL is terrible; well if its so terrible then why are so many medical schools using it for their education? In my humble opinion PBL is fantastic for academic learning; however I believe it needs to be supplemented by lectures and there are certain aspects of education where teaching directly to students are essential. Please i don't want to hear about traditional lecture learning is superior...i've been there and no it is not better....if anything lecture and PBL should be combined....and please don't tell me listening all day to lectures and you listened all 6-8 hours worth.....come on'...be real.
I disgree that there is no learning going on. When I was in dental school it was rough in my 2nd year I spent long hours in the lab working on waxups preps etc....there was a lot of clinicals that got us prepared before we started clinic. etc etc
Anyhow....i will summarize how to decide on a dental school for all you future dental students.
1) Cheapest dental school = THE BEST DENTAL SCHOOL
2) If you can't get into the cheapest school in the nation then you can still go to an expensive school
a) Military Scholarship --- Have the federal government pay your school if you are that concerned about debt. Don't listen to people who say you can pay it off in 2-4 years etc..yes it can be true but for most it is not....if you are that concerned about debt then you fit the latter category and you will be miserable.
b) Other governemtn scholarship --- if you hate the military idea then go Public Health or NHSC...
c) Go where the opportunities are! If you go to NYU, USC, etc and graduate with 300k debt and you are stressed about getting a nice job then look outside of California, New York, etc....go to the midwest, etc....go and suck it up for x-amount of years make a lot, save a lot, and then say to yourself I miss caly too much; then move back.
d) Do an AEGD/GPR, or some associateship for a year and look to buy a practice immediately....
In summary, you can go to the worst institution anywhere and be successful, and you can go to the best institution and fail miserably. In the end you get what you put in...everyone is different; some people get a lot out of dental school and are ready; some need another year or 2 to get ready........
I don't understand the utter bashing of SC; look i talked to fellow dentists from dental schools across the country.....every school had their problems.......you should hear the concerns and problems they have.
I loved my time at SC; living the LA life, etc...dental school was hard work, but i had the LA nightlife to relieve my stress, and USC football was on a tear back then. etc etc...........however, without the military scholarship I wouldn't have gone to SC but somewhere else; this is due to financial reasons... I planned on going military from the start so going to SC from the start was easy decision.........
OK, I'm done....this is my 2 cents....so please don't try to argue with me....i did this out of courtesy and to give a level headed view on things from someone who actually can look back and reflect. =)