State School Vs Private

[dentalgirl7893]

Hello everyone! I was wondering if anyone else is dealing with this issue. I was blessed to be accepted to both my state school and a private school. The state school is 20k less/ year and is closer to home, but they're changing their curriculum this upcoming year so my class would be the "guinea pigs" and I didn't get the best feeling about the school overall. On the other hand I absolutely loved everything about the private school and have heard amazing things from people about it also. Early clinical exposure, professors who are very willing to help and accessible, award winning curriculum, etc. I really feel I would thrive better there but don't know if I'm being stupid going someplace further away and expensive. Anyone else dealing with a similar situation?

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[Kittenz]

Had I not been accepted to UConn, I would be in a situation of Columbia vs UF. I did not like UF but I moderately liked Columbia, and the price difference is around 115K or 28K/year. It would have been a tough decision because the extra expenses and distance from family is nothing to laugh at, but I know that if I were in that situation, I would pay the difference and go to the school I thought was more instrumental to my personal interests because my attitude for the next 4 years and increased chances to specialize without as much stress is more important to my goals than my interests in monetary gains. Your price difference isn't as high, so you have a little more wiggle room. You may hope to open up your own practice soon after dental school, then lower expenses might be more important than your "happiness" variable over the next 4 years. Seems like there's just too many variables that only you can answer. My point is that I would base my decision on what I hold most important. I hope this hypothetical situation was helpful!

 

[wowyourecool]

Yep, I'm dealing with the same situation. Got into a couple schools, but narrowed it down to my state school, Rutgers, versus Columbia. I loved Rutgers because of it's emphasis on clinical experience (I also went to RU for undergrad), but it's hard to pass up the opportunity to attend Columbia. Out of all my interviews, the students and faculty at these two schools seemed the most warm and helpful. For me, it would amount to $20k more per year as well.

 

[squigloo]

State school. Unless the students were telling you not to go there, then I wouldn't be concerned about your "bad feeling." $80k is a lot of money.

 

[deleted518758]

Hello everyone! I was wondering if anyone else is dealing with this issue. I was blessed to be accepted to both my state school and a private school. The state school is 20k less/ year and is closer to home, but they're changing their curriculum this upcoming year so my class would be the "guinea pigs" and I didn't get the best feeling about the school overall. On the other hand I absolutely loved everything about the private school and have heard amazing things from people about it also. Early clinical exposure, professors who are very willing to help and accessible, award winning curriculum, etc. I really feel I would thrive better there but don't know if I'm being stupid going someplace further away and expensive. Anyone else dealing with a similar situation?

Are you referring to UW as your state school?

 

[dentalgirl7893]

Are you referring to UW as your state school?

Yeah

 

[Greyangel6]

^^ It's a good dilemma to have, there are those willing to kill to be in your shoes. I made a priority list, and I stuck to it so I don't waver haha.. Try it, maybe it can help you.

 

[shonster460]

Yep, I'm dealing with the same situation. Got into a couple schools, but narrowed it down to my state school, Rutgers, versus Columbia. I loved Rutgers because of it's emphasis on clinical experience (I also went to RU for undergrad), but it's hard to pass up the opportunity to attend Columbia. Out of all my interviews, the students and faculty at these two schools seemed the most warm and helpful. For me, it would amount to $20k more per year as well.

I'm actually in the same situation. Columbia vs. Rutgers. I wish I had shadowed more dental specialties because that would make this decision much easier for me. I'm currently leaning towards Columbia because there appears to be better opportunities if you want to specialize, but Rutgers appeared to have better clinical training and requirements. With that said, the Rutgers faculty I spoke to said a lot of students interested in general dentistry do GPR's anyway. I agree that the students and faculty at both schools seemed extremely happy.

 

[yeslek88]

Just think about it logically. 80K in extra debt (probably a little more with rising tuition costs) will mean an extra 3+ years of being in debt. If you're a younger applicant this might not be such a big deal, but just be honest with yourself. Being in debt is no fun.

 

[tnguyen2512]

me too, I'm in the same situation. UF vs NOVA, it's a 113k difference (all 4 years) in the price tag . I don't know where should I go with

 

[dentalgirl7893]

^^ It's a good dilemma to have, there are those willing to kill to be in your shoes. I made a priority list, and I stuck to it so I don't waver haha.. Try it, maybe it can help you.

Trust me, I know I'm extremely thankful! Cool that's a good idea thanks!

 

[Incis0r]

I remember you made a thread a few weeks ago counting down to Dec. 1. Congratulations! So glad it worked out for you

Hello everyone! I was wondering if anyone else is dealing with this issue. I was blessed to be accepted to both my state school and a private school.

 

[mandy thompson]

I'm in a similar situation! I am instate at Washington and got into the uw, but leaning towards university of Maryland. The difference is about 40k, but I think choosing the more expensive school will be worth it in the end for me... I don't really like being the first class with a brand new curriculum/the students and I really did not get a great over all vibe there

 

[wowyourecool]

I'm actually in the same situation. Columbia vs. Rutgers. I wish I had shadowed more dental specialties because that would make this decision much easier for me. I'm currently leaning towards Columbia because there appears to be better opportunities if you want to specialize, but Rutgers appeared to have better clinical training and requirements. With that said, the Rutgers faculty I spoke to said a lot of students interested in general dentistry do GPR's anyway. I agree that the students and faculty at both schools seemed extremely happy.

I shadowed three different specialties, but I still don't know if I'd want to specialize. It's definitely hard for me to make that decision at this time. But then again, I've read a lot about how being able to specialize is more student-dependent as opposed to school-dependent. I'm SO confused at this point. Don't know if Columbia is worth the extra 100k in the end.

 

[Realitydentalstudent]

To answer this question there are a few questions you have to ask yourself. But there are a few parameters you need to know.

1. The difference in cost is not what you think.
Although the difference might be 80k now, with close to 8% interest over the years and through loan repayment, you end up paying well over 100k...probbaly closer to 140k. So do not use the raw difference in cost as it means nothing.

2. You learn more in your first year in practice than you do in your entire clinical dental school years.
The experience you get in your first year in practice is so great that the head start of doing the extra 5 root canals at a private school becomes meaningless after 1 or 2 years in practice.

3. GPR programs
These are becoming very popular recently. If you end up doing these programs, something like 30% of graduates are doing these, I guarantee you the extra clinical experience you get in the more expensive school will be meaningless after you graduate your GPR program.

4. Licensing exams
These exams STANDARDIZE the dental students!

So,

Will the extra cost of education pay for itself?
If you think more clinical experience of doing 5 more crowns or whatever is worth the 140k, then I don't know what to say to you.

CE programs such as Implant dentistry only costs 10k, the billing for an implant is 5k. So paying that extra 100k to just get more experience on a procedure you already know how to do is ludicrous in my opinion.

 

[Realitydentalstudent]

That being said a few good reasons to choose more expensive schools are if you're rich, military scholarship, or you will be HAPPIER at a different city.

 

[Masterus]

In the end, debt is something you will have no matter what after 4 years of school. Whether you specialize or not can change in the course of 4 years. Your debt will probably increase when you specialize unless you get into a residency that pays you. If you looked at the numbers for how much the loans increase for private vs state, it's pretty substantial.

Also, no matter what school you go to, if you want to specialize and you work towards it, you can get it done! It's a matter of work ethic and motivation. It's not the school that gets you there, it's your own efforts. You can do well at any dental school you go to so why not choose the cheapest.

I graduated from an ivy and now for me it's more important to save money which is what every dentist tells me. I'm choosing UConn over the rest of the privates I got into.

 

[dentalgirl7893]

I remember you made a thread a few weeks ago counting down to Dec. 1. Congratulations! So glad it worked out for you

Thanks so much!!

 

[dentalgirl7893]

To answer this question there are a few questions you have to ask yourself. But there are a few parameters you need to know.

1. The difference in cost is not what you think.
Although the difference might be 80k now, with close to 8% interest over the years and through loan repayment, you end up paying well over 100k...probbaly closer to 140k. So do not use the raw difference in cost as it means nothing.

2. You learn more in your first year in practice than you do in your entire clinical dental school years.
The experience you get in your first year in practice is so great that the head start of doing the extra 5 root canals at a private school becomes meaningless after 1 or 2 years in practice.

3. GPR programs
These are becoming very popular recently. If you end up doing these programs, something like 30% of graduates are doing these, I guarantee you the extra clinical experience you get in the more expensive school will be meaningless after you graduate your GPR program.

4. Licensing exams
These exams STANDARDIZE the dental students!

So,

Will the extra cost of education pay for itself?
If you think more clinical experience of doing 5 more crowns or whatever is worth the 140k, then I don't know what to say to you.

CE programs such as Implant dentistry only costs 10k, the billing for an implant is 5k. So paying that extra 100k to just get more experience on a procedure you already know how to do is ludicrous in my opinion.

Thanks for the info, idk where you got the impression from that I was choosing it for the few extra implants though UW is an amazing school where I know I would get a great education. The reasons I'm leaning toward the private school is they have an established curriculum that isn't in the process of being changed, the students seemed to all enjoy it more there and there seemed to be better community. You do get patient exposure in the first year which is nice, also. Overall I got the impression that they want to help students succeed more. It's hard to describe over text

 

[dentalgirl7893]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! It's cool to hear different peoples opinions. I spoke with my pre-health advisor and I think I'm pretty set on the private school. After describing the pros and cons to him he agrees I would thrive better in the private school program (I don't believe people can do equally well in any program- at least I know it would change for me). It is a lot of money and I appreciate you guys who give me the hard reality check. I hope you all make the best decision for you!!

 

[Bis-GMA111]

i always consider cost first. it's a matter of ''happiness'' now vs. '''happiness'' later.

happy now---go to the more expensive school and have a harder road later paying off loans
happy later--go to the least expensive school and have >100k (considering interest) saved while you can get a jump start on your career/life

i choose happy later.

**edit just read your last post: gl at the private school. make the best of it***

 

[Bis-GMA111]

I'm actually in the same situation. Columbia vs. Rutgers. I wish I had shadowed more dental specialties because that would make this decision much easier for me. I'm currently leaning towards Columbia because there appears to be better opportunities if you want to specialize, but Rutgers appeared to have better clinical training and requirements. With that said, the Rutgers faculty I spoke to said a lot of students interested in general dentistry do GPR's anyway. I agree that the students and faculty at both schools seemed extremely happy.

i can tell you straight up that clinically, columbia ain't that great. not surprising since they pump out specialists. general dentistry isn't a concern for that school

also they are H/P/F so that seems pretty cool.

 

[y3nd0]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! It's cool to hear different peoples opinions. I spoke with my pre-health advisor and I think I'm pretty set on the private school. After describing the pros and cons to him he agrees I would thrive better in the private school program (I don't believe people can do equally well in any program- at least I know it would change for me). It is a lot of money and I appreciate you guys who give me the hard reality check. I hope you all make the best decision for you!!

Good luck at the private school!

 

[dentalgirl7893]

Good luck at the private school!

Thanks! Still not 100%, things can change. Just commenting where my heads at

 

[SCDP]

Think about it this way, with that 80k you could buy this...

 

[Ferneezy]

Thanks! Still not 100%, things can change. Just commenting where my heads at

i would strongly suggest you put it in a different place.

you're concerned about the changing curriculum of your home school yielding an uncomfortable dental school experience. i'll submit that you don't know what you don't know, and dental school is going to be tough as **** regardless of how it's delivered. furthermore, due to that pesky accreditation, both schools will make you into the same product. we're not talking throwing down $7 for that whole foods white bread over the $4 loaf you can bag from safeway; this is much, much more money that will be painfully real once you begin to pay it back.

also, safeway is UW. cmon.

 

[dentalgirl7893]

I changed my mind to the state school

 

[iheartteeth7]

Ditto. I'm really torn and my mind changes daily.

 

[ajj70]

Just running a quick amortization on that 80,000 over 30 years, You will pay $92,670.82 in interest for a total of $172,670.82. Now, if you pay that $80,000 off over 15 years, you only pay $143.458.59. This, of course, is just the tuition differences and not any benefits for cost of living reductions living closer to home, etc.