about UOP's 3-year program...

[HSO]

hello all,
i have a question about UOP's 3-year program. is the 3 year program a whole lot harder, more accelerated than other dental programs? is the only difference just not getting the summers off, or is the whole program incredibly accelerated? if it is accelerated, will students at UOP get as much clinical experience, be as prepared, etc. as 4 year dental school students? also, are UOP students more stressed out than 4-year school students because of the 3-year program? thanks!🙂

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[mcataz]

I work for a dentist who graduated from UOP 3 years ago. I have talked to a lot of his friends about UOP. I have taken his comments with a grain of salt knowing he is an alum. I have done my own research and this is what I cam up with.

UOP's first year is hell. The first 9 months is 2 years of basic sciences crammed in there. I have heard the workload is almost impossible since you have exams every week. You don't really learn the material. You are studying off old exams and you truly rely on your friends for support. One person studies one section while the other studies another subject etc.

The second year is cake because it is a transitional year between first and third year. People party a lot. I have heard going out 4 days a week is not uncommon during second year.

Third year becomes challenging again but it's still better than first year because it's all clinical related material. Therefore, it's very maneagable.

The only negative vibe I get from UOP is that it is difficult to specialize there. The schools is comprised of really bright people who were slackers at one time. Their avg GPA is 3.27 but their average DAT is 20 AA and 20 PAT. Plus, their hectic pace weeds out people faster than other dental schools. And their class size isn't small. It's not huge like NYU but it doesn't have that small class size like Columbia either.

However, if your heart is set on general dentistry from the onset, I can't think of a better school than UOP. It's quick. Students are happy there unlike most schools. They have great facilties and clinical training. And you get to live in downtown SF.

I do want to elaborate upon students being happy there. All these ex-UOP guys still party together. They fly down to hang out. A big group of UOP alum went to Mardis Gras last year. The class is very cohesive and laid back The schools throws a lot of formal events and really makes sure that the students enjoy themselves. And the dental school is the pride of UOP since it is their most prominent graduate program. so they really go out of their way to cater to students. (UOP has no affiliated medical school) For example, Columbia's dental school takes a backseat to its medical school.

 

[ShawnOne]

UOP is on a trimester schedule. They get minimal breaks and I beleive the trimesters are a little shorter than semesters. People speak very highly of their school! It may be compressed in 3 years, but students seem happy. They study hard, party on some weekends, and finish in 3 years. Real good progam I think.

What i thought seemed like a tough program is Arizona. ! was reading the thread by GavinC and he seems to be working his ASS OFF! Arizona seems to have many strengths like a cutting edge facility, Vitalbooks, cheap cost of living, a program geared towards the future, however their modules seem killer! I beleive Gavin wrote the modules that are supposed to be taught in 3 weeks are taught in 1 week! Seems to me that maybe importing professors from outa' town for a week might be a stressfull situation for the students.

All that said, i commend Gavin for handling it well. Formerly being in the IT field, I think the cutting edge program is very cool! I also like saying... 'Zona dude!

 

[mcataz]

Originally posted by ShawnOne
UOP is on a trimester schedule. They get minimal breaks and I beleive the trimesters are a little shorter than semesters. People speak very highly of their school! It may be compressed in 3 years, but students seem happy. They study hard, party on some weekends, and finish in 3 years. Real good progam I think.

What i thought seemed like a tough program is Arizona. ! was reading the thread by GavinC and he seems to be working his ASS OFF! Arizona seems to have many strengths like a cutting edge facility, Vitalbooks, cheap cost of living, a program geared towards the future, however their modules seem killer! I beleive Gavin wrote the modules that are supposed to be taught in 3 weeks are taught in 1 week! Seems to me that maybe importing professors from outa' town for a week might be a stressfull situation for the students.

All that said, i commend Gavin for handling it well. Formerly being in the IT field, I think the cutting edge program is very cool! I also like saying... 'Zona dude!

I live in Zona' so I'm inclined to attend school there if I'm fortunate to get in. But at the same time, I am scared by it's program since it is so unorthodox.

Yeah, I think we will all learn more about AZ at the end of this year. It's going to be interesting to say the least.

And AZ is focused toward public health so students may be forced to learn additional material that other dental schools don't include.

 

[pddt]

If you ever study quarter not semester, then I think you are fine.
From my school in Seattle is quarter, it is harder, more work in less time than semester like Texas currently now.
pddt

 

[ShawnOne]

Semester is too slow and boring if you ask me. A lot of the time I find myself twiddling my thumbs hoping the "genius" in the back of the class would stop asking so many stupid questions and just read the darn book!

 

[agutier3]

To the OP:

Dental school is HARD to many people no matter what school you attend. I am currently a first year at UOP. What makes UOP a difficult program is the pace at which we go. For every year (12 months) at other dental schools, it is 9 months for us. It is very condensed....yet VERY do-able if you have good TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS!! Expect to do all the "book work" (didactic) stuff while working in lab on top of that. We started doing clinical dentistry by the beginning of our second week! Time management is key.....along with helpful faculty, receptive staff and supporting personnel, upperclassmen, and fellow classmates.

Here is a sample of what we have done so far in lab within 1 month (for those who understand some dental terminology):

Class I and II crown preps
Taking alginate impressions and casting with yellow stone
Cast mounting on articulator (to check for occlusion) using mounting stone
Anterior crown prep for PFM restoration
Splint production
Provisional production
Wax-ups of #8 and 12
Carving of #9 and 11
Investing and casting


If you do not like doing things FAST, then you might have some difficulty here or in any dental school for that matter.

If you majored in a "science" related field in undergrad, you will find the initial material to be alot of review. The material is not hard, but rather it is given to you in large amounts and in a short amount of time. The key is to be proactive about studying and getting priorites straight. But Mcataz is right, first year is HELL.

By the way, this may be hard to believe for some, but students at UOP DO get breaks too. Our "summer" break is between June and July. We get about a month off. We also get one week off after every week of finals. At least this is the case for us D1's.

And yes, we get just as much clinical experience and are as prepared as ANY other dental school in the nation. Graduates are VERY COMPETENT to practice dentistry when they leave the school. I believe last year, UOP had the highest percentage of students (~95%) in California pass Part I of NDBE their first time.

And last but not least, I would like to alleviate some confusion about specializing and UOP. It has been explained to me here at school in this way:

If you want to specialize, you CAN do it! UOP has a VERY GOOD reputation among other dental schools by providing dental graduates who are extremely competent and have seen AND performed many very specialized and complex procedures. We only have Ortho and Oral Surgery departments at UOP, so therefore, we as students do everything else.

Don't let the stereotype that UOP can't get you in or will somehow hinder you from matching into a specialty program limit your opportunities. It's an unsubstantiated generalization and MYTH!! I assure you that students here DO go on to specialize. Not everyone, but some.

What will determine your chances of getting into a specialty is: 1) rank, 2) grades, 3) NDBE scores, 4) research experience (and yes we also have many research opportunities- more towards clinical type research for those who are curious), etc. For the most part, YOU and your accomplishments determine your chances of matching into a specialty program.....not your school!

I'd be happy to answer any further questions anyone might have regarding UOP. Best of luck to you guys this application cycle. Go get 'em!

 

[odie77]

when do most students at UoP do their research? a one month break seems too short to get much done, and it seems like there would not be any time during the times class is in session.

 

[agutier3]

Odie77-

That's a good question. Since I am but a first year, I am not interested yet in doing a full-blown research project, nor do I know what the schedule is like for second and third years. So I couldn't really tell you a definitive answer on this topic. I will attend and ask students at UOP's next research club meeting and will get back to you.

I definately know that there are students who are actively involved in a research project at the school. However, I believe that they are in their second and third years. There is just very little time during first year to do anything. Let alone research. Just my observation however.

Obviously there is some time to do research (or else students would not participate), but I think it takes a certain type of person with excellent time management skills to get any substantial data/results.