Would anyone go to the places they apply?

2PacClone23 · Jun 18, 2010

I mean, yeah we apply to like 12 schools. Everything is grand and fine and people tell you to apply everywhere you wanna go. For example, I applied to Maryland, USC, NYU, Boston, etc but would we EVER actually go there?

I mean, I'm from CA! We have the sun, family, everything; heck my girlfriend is based here.

But let's say you had to make the decision to become a dentist and study 4 years somewhere TOTALLY unrelated, would you take it? Yeah I know you applied everything, but don't most people get in where they want?

I mean, it's gonna be really hard for me to adapt to NYU or Maryland or Boston! Of course, the #1 #1 #1 thing that will sway my views and everything is gonna be the weather. I can't even imagine how I'm gonna copy with FOUR YEARS of Boston or New York or Baltimore weather. I don't know, do you guys think about this stuff too, or do you just TRUTHFULLY apply to where you really wanna go? Of course, if it came to becoming a dentist, or not becoming a dentist and you only got into like a school 4000 miles away, would you take it? I would, but I know some people who wouldn't.

UndergradGuy7 · Jun 18, 2010

I go wherever it is cheapest so in state. If tuition for instate and out was the same or I got a scholarship I would maybe go where it is warmer (CA). Think it would be kind of weird moving away alone though. I also look at class size/rep of school. But most dental schools are the same.

DoctreDrey · Jun 18, 2010

all of the schools im applying to i think i would happily attend if i was accepted. location to me is #1. rep #2. price #3.

takedailyfiber · Jun 18, 2010

I don't know that one would actually deny an admission without another admission to lean on because just they didn't like the location, unless there were reasons beyond personal preference (special circumstances, finances, etc.) Personally, I wouldn't want to deal with AADSAS, DATs, LORs, and everything else a second time if I didn't have to.

That said, ignoring the above:

Personally, I've grown up on the West Coast, and live in a location that is pretty easily accessible to pretty much any setting (urban/rural/green/ocean). Exempting my in-state school, which I'd rather attend above every other school, I'd be open to any West Coast schools including some further in, like UNLV or a school in AZ. If I was to go to the East Coast, I would almost certainly stick to larger cities like NYC, Boston. I wouldn't go anywhere in the Midwest except Chicago. I really need my dose of pedestrian-friendly urban living.

redchesus · Jun 18, 2010

UndergradGuy7 said:
Think it would be kind of weird moving away alone though.

Really? That's one of the things I'm most looking forward to. I'm pretty tired of where I'm living. I want to start fresh somewhere. All my friends are splitting up and moving away for jobs and stuff so I'm going to have to start fresh anyway, might as well be somewhere new. I love my family and all, but I need something new.

Money is a big issue for me, but it's not the be-all and end-all of the final decision making. I think the majority of people tend to stay where they are after graduation (this is all anecdotal evidence by me, I don't actually have numbers to back this up, it's just a trend I see around my area, most of the dentists come from schools within a 3 hour drive of here...), so really I want to go to school in an area I can see myself living in.

I have one school on my list that I have a very good chance of getting into, but in the end if that's the only school I got into, I would have some re-evaluating to do. Any other school on my list I would definitely go without question.

MrBeans · Jun 18, 2010

I've pondered this question myself.

To me, the factors that I consider important in school selection are:

Location > Opportunities (research) > Price > Reputation

I really want to stay around where I'm at because of family, the location, and lastly the price. As far as denying acceptance, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it (if I'm so fortunate).

herkulease · Jun 18, 2010

I'm in california too. I'd like to stay here because all my family and friends are here. Great pool of victims, err...I mean patients for boards.

it would be nice to stay around and continue seeing my nieces and nephews grow up also.

But if the only school that accepts me is in the middle of Kansas(no offense to Kansas people) then I will pick up a go and then return home.

Beggars can't be choosers. At this point in my life I'm a beggar. I'm not getting any younger. I can't get picky. It maybe my only chance so I can't pass up an admission offer because I'm far away from home.

Plus there's webcams and everything. so I won't miss home that much.

MrBeans · Jun 18, 2010

herkulease said:
I'm in california too. I'd like to stay here because all my family and friends are here. Great pool of victims, err...I mean patients for boards.

it would be nice to stay around and continue seeing my nieces and nephews grow up also.

But if the only school that accepts me is in the middle of Kansas(no offense to Kansas people) then I will pick up a go and then return home.

Beggars can't be choosers. At this point in my life I'm a beggar. I'm not getting any younger. I can't get picky. It maybe my only chance so I can't pass up an admission offer because I'm far away from home.

Plus there's webcams and everything. so I won't miss home that much.

I understand your point. These are pretty much my sentiments.

ItalianPrincess · Jun 18, 2010

i'm gonna go wherever someone takes me!! but....

i'm from new york and applied to 9 out of 13 schools on the east coast, then 2 in the middle and 2 on the west coast. if i get in anywhere on the east coast, esp in new york i'm going to stay. mainly because all of my friends and family are here, ik i'll make new friends easily but the thought of just going to arizona or cali is terrifying to me...if i do only get in at those schools i'll probably try to come back to new york for residency so i can practice here

and i think the midwest sounds like it would be pretty and less scary than going all the way to the west coast i'd probably still trek back to good old new york eventually 🙂

o and 2pacClone23, don't knock the snow before you've lived in it haha you may become addicted to snowboarding 😉

Just Peachy · Jun 18, 2010

If you aren't willing to live somewhere then don't apply to a school in that area. You'd just be wasting your time and money and the school's time. Also you could take a spot away from someone who DID want to live in that area. It is ridiculous to apply somewhere if you can't see yourself actually going. As someone who moved from GA to CA for school, I can tell you that it's not a big deal. There have been times before a test that I didn't see the outside of my apartment for 3 days. You're so busy (at least the first two years) that you won't really know where you're living anyway. Sure, it kind of stinks to miss weddings, birthdays, funerals, etc - but in all likelihood I'd be missing them even if I was still on the east coast. In addition, moving somewhere brand new is exciting - it's fun to be totally on your own and to explore a different part of the country (when you have a second to breathe). Just my $0.02.

New2Philly · Jun 18, 2010

I am born and raised in So. Cal., and I got into two So. Cal schools (USC and LLU), but I am going to attend Temple.
I turned down USC, b/c of the price, and how bad their reputation has gotten over the last few years; and I turned down LLU for personal reasons.
I wish I got into UCLA, or UCSF b/c of instate tuition, but I got rejected......
I am going to attend Temple b/c I liked the vibe of the school, even though the area is a bit rough.......

2PacClone23 · Jun 18, 2010

New2Philly said:
I am born and raised in So. Cal., and I got into two So. Cal schools (USC and LLU), but I am going to attend Temple.
I turned down USC, b/c of the price, and how bad their reputation has gotten over the last few years; and I turned down LLU for personal reasons.
I wish I got into UCLA, or UCSF b/c of instate tuition, but I got rejected......
I am going to attend Temple b/c I liked the vibe of the school, even though the area is a bit rough.......

I'd go to USC for sure! But that's just me and my location discrimination.

KCH12 · Jun 18, 2010

2PacClone23 said:
I'd go to USC for sure! But that's just me and my location discrimination.

This is coming from the person who wouldn't go to temple because of location. Temple is an awesome school, so is USC. Its not like all of the students are living in South Central or North Philly. I know for both schools there are nice and safe neighborhoods within 5 miles of the schools where students live.

The only time location may play a role for me is if we are talking about a school in the middle of nowhere, but that could just be because I have lived in a big city all of my life

BearTeeth · Jun 18, 2010

This is a great thread - I wonder the same thing.

I know that if you want to be a great dentist then the school doesn't 100% matter, but I would hate leaving the west coast if I didn't get into schools over here. I'd do it and I would probably not enjoy it for the first few months if I was away, and I know I'd make great friends in my class pretty quickly, but gosh I just want to go to a CA school.

UndergradGuy7 · Jun 19, 2010

Most of the pre-dents in this thread say money is not an issue, location is important.

Compare to the opinions of dental students and dentists in this thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=738583 saying go to cheapest school. It is more important.

Hmm...?

adrift1984 · Jun 19, 2010

2PacClone23 said:
But let's say you had to make the decision to become a dentist and study 4 years somewhere TOTALLY unrelated, would you take it? Yeah I know you applied everything, but don't most people get in where they want?

Let me just say that only a 1/3 of applicants are accepted.......so I'm sure you can deduce from that that an even much smaller percentage gets into their choice school. That of course also depends on the competitiveness of your choice school.

If you have the stats then don't worry about it......but I would suggest that you step out of your shell and be ready to experience something different for 4 years if you don't. For example Boston and New York may be cold but if you can't see the attraction of studying in a big city like that then why did you apply. I guess that should answer your question....only apply to schools you will attend!

I don't mean to be harsh in any way, but I have always considered that "broadening one's horizons" as a crucial component of being successful and having perspective. The beach and sunny weather is far from important. You will one day be treating people from all walks of life and if you can not relate to them it will show. I say take whatever opportunity is presented to you and see what it brings. The situations you dread the most will most often be the ones in which you learn the most from. Good luck.

herkulease · Jun 19, 2010

UndergradGuy7 said:
Most of the pre-dents in this thread say money is not an issue, location is important.

Compare to the opinions of dental students and dentists in this thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=738583 saying go to cheapest school. It is more important.

Hmm...?

well cost is a factor if you have multiple offers. OP in that thread was looking at 80K extra and cost of relocating and the likelihood of tickets to fly back and forth between NY and LA. I'd take LA in that case depending where he/she lives relative to campus, hell free rent/food etc by bumming it with family.

Too bad there's no dental schools in San Jose. I'd totally love free rent/food/utilities

babyblue3b · Jun 19, 2010

thats a waste of money if u wouldnt attend...i only applied to schools in the north east so i know i will attend b/c thats where im from ..also i would hate to waste money traveling to an interview that goes bad across country:/

Vicviper · Jun 19, 2010

Sadly, even though my DAT scores were enough to get me into the schools I wanted to if I had applied earlier, I took my DAT in November, and applied the next day. Of the 23 Schools I applied to, 3/4 of my interviews were on the east coast, and that's where I got in. Being from CA myself, it was very tough to leave home and head to Pittsburgh and area of the country that I really don't have any family or friends before coming here, especially since my girlfriend of many years is still in college back home, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do, and with dental school, the golden rule is that you go where you get in. On top of that, you have the knowledge that you're sure as hell going back after, haha.

longhornpride · Jun 19, 2010

HAH... I always said the same thing. That I would stay instate. Would I really ever go to the schools I applied to???

Well... I'll give you my story.

I've lived in Texas most of my life. Just graduated from UT-Austin and thought I would stay instate. I applied to 14 schools total (mainly because my gpa is a little below average... 3.38).

So I interviewed at 2 instate schools. They went great and I thought I would forsure get in. Well, both schools liked me as a candidate but my gpa was a problem for both of them. I ended up getting accepted at Boston University. I've probably spent a total of 10 hours in Boston and that was for my interview.

So now I have to leave my family. I have to leave my girlfriend. I have to leave my life long friends. Everything I love about the state... weather, culture, food, football, etc... I have to leave it all.

So just letting you know, be ready for anything. I thought I would be close to my family/gf/friends for the next 4 years. Instead, I'll be 2000 miles away.

As excited I am about starting the next chapter of my life... it also saddens me knowing that I might only get to see my family and gf about twice a year.

DMD 4 Me · Jun 20, 2010

I was too lazy to read all the responses, but here is the truth:

(This only applies if you are like 99% of us and are paying for this adventure with loans.)

The road to dentistry is not cheap.

COA trumps everything. If you are lucky enough to get into multiple schools, go where it will be the cheapest.

Location is only relevant when you are accepted to two or more schools that have similar tuition and COA.

Unless...you get into only 1 school. If that happens you will have to suck it up and go to that school, even if it will cost you $100k a year.

AND remember this, you will still be better off than thousands of other applicants who didn't get in anywhere.

And just a word of advice...not to be harsh but..I wouldn't even factor the girlfriend into the dental school selection process.

Would anyone go to the places they apply?

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