Loma Linda vs. UNLV (OOS) vs. MWU-AZ

[calpredent]

School 1: Loma Linda (IS)
PROS

• In SoCal (where I'm from)
• Religious values (I'm not SDA, I'm Catholic but there's some overlap)
• Large patient pool so lots of clinical experience

CONS

• Have specialty programs, so complicated cases would be sent to the specialist students instead of the DDS students (I don't plan on specializing). Students would be essentially competing with specialist students..
• Surrounding area isn't that great, can't do much either
• Can't eat meat on campus

School 2: UNLV (OOS)
PROS

• Can get in-state tuition after a year (by becoming a resident). This would save me roughly $40,000 in tuition per year. It's also important to note that my family has a condo 15 mins away from UNLV dental campus, so housing is covered already.
• Only have 2 specialty schools (ortho and pediatrics), so there is less competition b/w dental students and resident specialty students. We'd be able to get exposed to and treat more complicated cases (Ex. extractions, etc.) that would otherwise be sent to resident specialists in other schools.
• Small class size (~89 students per class)
• Bustling area (lots of diverse restaurants!)
• Lots of new technology

CONS

• Hot weather
• Students cannot do implants (need to do a GPR residency)
• Far from home, but not too far (only 3.5 hours away)

School 3: Midwestern- AZ
PROS

• No specialty programs; this means alllll cases will be sent to students, since there's no residents. Essentially I'd get more advanced dentistry procedures that would otherwise have been sent to residents.
• Students can do implants (yes, the general practice students)! I believe they can also do laser treatments and ortho..
• Lots of new technology
• Location is great, lots of restaurants/stores in Glendale

CONS

• Super hot weather
• Relatively far from home (~6-7 hours ish)
• Expensive
• Large class size (about 144 students per class)

SUMMARY: Honestly, I'm so torn..my main question is: how important is it to get advanced dentistry exposure in dental school? In other words, is it a good thing if a school doesn't have too many (or none at all) resident specialty programs, since I want to be a general dentist?) Should I take the opportunity if a school lets students do implants and other complicated procedures that would otherwise be sent to specialists? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

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[macsak]

School 1: Loma Linda (IS)
PROS

• In SoCal (where I'm from)
• Religious values (I'm not SDA, I'm Catholic but there's some overlap)
• Large patient pool so lots of clinical experience

CONS

• Have specialty programs, so complicated cases would be sent to the specialist students instead of the DDS students (I don't plan on specializing). Students would be essentially competing with specialist students..
• Surrounding area isn't that great, can't do much either
• Can't eat meat on campus

School 2: UNLV (OOS)
PROS

• Can get in-state tuition after a year (by becoming a resident). This would save me roughly $40,000 in tuition per year. It's also important to note that my family has a condo 15 mins away from UNLV dental campus, so housing is covered already.
• Only have 2 specialty schools (ortho and pediatrics), so there is less competition b/w dental students and resident specialty students. We'd be able to get exposed to and treat more complicated cases (Ex. extractions, etc.) that would otherwise be sent to resident specialists in other schools.
• Small class size (~89 students per class)
• Bustling area (lots of diverse restaurants!)
• Lots of new technology

CONS

• Hot weather
• Students cannot do implants (need to do a GPR residency)
• Far from home, but not too far (only 3.5 hours away)

School 3: Midwestern- AZ
PROS

• No specialty programs; this means alllll cases will be sent to students, since there's no residents. Essentially I'd get more advanced dentistry procedures that would otherwise have been sent to residents.
• Students can do implants (yes, the general practice students)! I believe they can also do laser treatments and ortho..
• Lots of new technology
• Location is great, lots of restaurants/stores in Glendale

CONS

• Super hot weather
• Relatively far from home (~6-7 hours ish)
• Expensive
• Large class size (about 144 students per class)

SUMMARY: Honestly, I'm so torn..my main question is: how important is it to get advanced dentistry exposure in dental school? In other words, is it a good thing if a school doesn't have too many (or none at all) resident specialty programs, since I want to be a general dentist?) Should I take the opportunity if a school lets students do implants and other complicated procedures that would otherwise be sent to specialists? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

cheapest...

 

[justadentalstudent]

you'll end up doing CE after you graduate either way. best to go with the cheapest option right now. If you're gonna have to pay for housing at LLU, then maybe decide between UNLV and LLU depending on the $. Also make sure that it is relatively easy to get instate tuition at UNLV after a year.

 

[DentistaCubano]

This is a no-brainer... UNLV