Advice, please...so I can get some people off the waitlist!

[GINGERvitis]

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So,

I have been accepted to UNC, Columbia, Maryland, and VCU as a North Carolina resident. I am at UNC for undergrad and am from the Charlotte area--aka I'm a little bit sick of NC. AND I loved both Maryland and Columbia. So the question--Because UNC is a great school and the price is awesome, is the location really a significant enough factor to guide me elsewhere?

Thanks guys!

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

This is just me, but cost of attendance >>>>>> everything else. Sure it would be awesome to live somewhere like NYC (I dont find baltimore to be that exciting honestly lol), but you're just going to be studying + going to school most of the time. It's not like undergrad where you had tons of free time to explore the city and the life. So would you rather pay extra to study in a library in NYC or a library in Charlotte?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's going to be some free time in dental school. But not enough where I would actually get to completely enjoy NYC without having to study the next day.

 

[NRG]

if you're going to take a loan out, might as well enjoy the school and the area.
obviously a $700,000 tuition isnt going to cut it, but heck, IMO i would go to a school that i wanted to for maybe 40-50K increase.

you may not have time to "enjoy" the area and culture of a new place, but who knows!

im partial to NC, i love it here. i dont mind going to school here, but If there was an out of state school that i loved and it was not a whole lot more than UNC, then id probably go there. but i havnt found any out of state schools that i like.

 

[SupDanLOL]

I would be looking between UNC and Columbia if I were you. I would have a really really hard time justifying Columbia's price, given how great of a school UNC is and for much cheaper.

I get where you're coming from. I'm facing a very similar choice.

 

[LaFleur]

Sure it would be awesome to live somewhere like NYC (I dont find baltimore to be that exciting honestly lol), but you're just going to be studying + going to school most of the time. It's not like undergrad where you had tons of free time to explore the city and the life. So would you rather pay extra to study in a library in NYC or a library in Charlotte?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's going to be some free time in dental school. But not enough where I would actually get to completely enjoy NYC without having to study the next day.

This is exactly what I have heard from my medical/dental school friends who are in their first year currently! Doesn't make a difference whether you're in Boring Town, USA or Exciting City, USA if you're not going to have too much time to enjoy your surroundings. And I'm honestly sure that dental students have fun everywhere during their limited downtime.

The other thing to consider, IMO (since you mention you're from the UNC area), is support structure. I'm close to my family--I don't know whether you are--and I feel like if I could go to school near them, it would make a lot of sense, since they are an extra support network I'd have around to help me through the rough times.

What's the difference in cost of attendance anyway? And are you taking out loans for this? What's your plan for repayment? Unless you're somehow coming out of school debt-free or have some kind of program you're doing where you'll be debt-free within a few years out of school, I would *seriously* consider the financial implications. Because it's a lot of money to be paying back.

Are all of these three schools going to give you just as good an education? What are the differences in curricula? Where do you want to be in 5 years? Which school is going to get you there faster/more easily?

In the end, it's what you go to dental school for that's the most important factor--the education. Then cost. Then everything else ranked in order of importance to you. Those are my 2 cents.

 

[LaFleur]

Also, this thread seems helpful: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=11869939#post11869939

 

[Lane138]

This is just me, but cost of attendance >>>>>> everything else. Sure it would be awesome to live somewhere like NYC (I dont find baltimore to be that exciting honestly lol), but you're just going to be studying + going to school most of the time. It's not like undergrad where you had tons of free time to explore the city and the life. So would you rather pay extra to study in a library in NYC or a library in Charlotte?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's going to be some free time in dental school. But not enough where I would actually get to completely enjoy NYC without having to study the next day.

Maybe I'm just idealist and unrealistic, but the place that you see yourself being the happiest >>>>>> everything else. Cost (if it's less than $100,000 difference over four years) shouldn't prevent you from going to the school/city of your dreams. If your young and energetic, going to a school that's far from family will develop you as a person way more than sticking with the familiar and family. I encourage you to follow your heart. The money/debt will be paid off eventually, you already know that.

 

[carborn2]

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[GenieG]

I agree with Lane, when it comes down to it school is expensive no matter where you go. I would go where you think you'll be happiest because it's four long, hard years. You want to get as much joy out of them as possible! I'm in the same situation, considering Columbia or Stony Brook (NY resident) and even without taking cost into account I'm having trouble. Maybe I'll see you next year.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

I'm all for enjoying the next 4 years, having the best time of your life in dental school. But let's look at the financial picture.

Using this for reference:
http://dent.osu.edu/admissions/COST%20of%20ATTENDANCE%20-%202011.pdf

UNC will cost a shade under $200,000 since OP is a resident. Columbia will cost $338,000. That's a difference of $138,000 spread over 4 years with interest. Under a 20 year repayment plan for the loan, OP will pay the $138,000 original difference as well as $169,000 in interest. That's almost an extra $307,000 OP will pay in the end for going to Columbia.

307K!!! Just to live in NYC and go to Columbia. UNC is a good school. This is not worth it. Take the money you save and go take an amazing vacation in NYC when you're done with dental school. Ask any dentist that isn't bias what he/she would rather do and they will tell you to go to UNC.

 

[cottonschwab217]

Honestly, go where you want to be for the next 4 years. I know everyone says cost is the most important thing, but I honestly think that is a mistake. You have an opportunity to completely change your surrounding and way of living for the next 4 years. That's something very few people have the option of doing, so why not take advantage of it? If you want to live in NY and you got into NYU, then go. Yeah, it's expensive, but you can't put a price on life experiences. I'll gladly pay off an extra 150k over the course of my life if it means I get to live my mid twenties in the place of my dreams. There is a huge difference between going to an expensive undergrad college and getting a liberal arts degree, and going to an expensive dental school and becoming a dentist. For the most part, money won't be that big of an issue after you graduate. Cost should factor into your decision, but it shouldn't be the determining factor. You're only young once.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

I'll gladly pay off an extra 150k over the course of my life if it means I get to live my mid twenties in the place of my dreams.

I'm not sure why I keep coming back to this thread, maybe it's because I feel like everyone's giving OP grand illusions of prancing around New York having a blast.

You're going to dental school. Do you know what that means? Studying. ALOT. And being in the clinic. ALOT. You're not gonna have that much fun as you think. Sure there's some down time. But overall, I'd rather save my fun times for after dental school. You can vacation in New York. Living there and paying crazy living expenses for four years is not my idea of having a good time.

For the most part, money won't be that big of an issue after you graduate. Cost should factor into your decision, but it shouldn't be the determining factor. You're only young once.

Money should be the biggest determining factor. Because you ARE NOT going to be rich right after you step out of dental school. Many people seem to think you're going to get out and make a million bucks right away. But you have student loans that are going to suck the fun out of life. And the more you minimize that, the more money you have to enjoy your life when you actually become a dentist.

You're only young once. But I don't want to spend the early part of my 20's and 30's paying off that extra 150K just because I wanted to sit in a library in NYC. (And actually, it's going to be more like 300K with interest).

 

[cottonschwab217]

I'm not sure why I keep coming back to this thread, maybe it's because I feel like everyone's giving OP grand illusions of prancing around New York having a blast.

You're going to dental school. Do you know what that means? Studying. ALOT. And being in the clinic. ALOT. You're not gonna have that much fun as you think. Sure there's some down time. But overall, I'd rather save my fun times for after dental school. You can vacation in New York. Living there and paying crazy living expenses for four years is not my idea of having a good time.



Money should be the biggest determining factor. Because you ARE NOT going to be rich right after you step out of dental school. Many people seem to think you're going to get out and make a million bucks right away. But you have student loans that are going to suck the fun out of life. And the more you minimize that, the more money you have to enjoy your life when you actually become a dentist.

You're only young once. But I don't want to spend the early part of my 20's and 30's paying off that extra 150K just because I wanted to sit in a library in NYC. (And actually, it's going to be more like 300K with interest).

different strokes for different folks. To clarify, I definitely am not saying you will be rich after dental school. Far from it. What I am saying is that you will have a good enough job to be able to pay your monthly fees and have enough money to live relatively comfortably. If that's not your end goal, then don't take my perspective to heart.

I also think it's unfair to completely negate location by saying "you are going to be in the library so it doesn't matter". You will be busy, yes, but to act like you might as well be tied up in a dungeon for the next 4 years is a bit absurd. Location doesn't just mean "going out" when there is free time. It means people, food, events, and experiences. You might not have the time to go barhopping very often, but I would hope you have time to eat and meet new people.

I think, in the end, your priorities will vary depending on what type of person you are and what your end goals are. While I realize cost is a big issue for most people, I wanted to chime in and give a different perspective for those who are not as concerned with cost. Figure out what you, personally, want, and then weigh your options accordingly.

 

[thompsonae12]

Any advice on OSU versus Pitt anyone?

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

different strokes for different folks. To clarify, I definitely am not saying you will be rich after dental school. Far from it. What I am saying is that you will have a good enough job to be able to pay your monthly fees and have enough money to live relatively comfortably. If that's not your end goal, then don't take my perspective to heart.

I also think it's unfair to completely negate location by saying "you are going to be in the library so it doesn't matter". You will be busy, yes, but to act like you might as well be tied up in a dungeon for the next 4 years is a bit absurd. Location doesn't just mean "going out" when there is free time. It means people, food, events, and experiences. You might not have the time to go barhopping very often, but I would hope you have time to eat and meet new people.

I think, in the end, your priorities will vary depending on what type of person you are and what your end goals are. While I realize cost is a big issue for most people, I wanted to chime in and give a different perspective for those who are not as concerned with cost. Figure out what you, personally, want, and then weigh your options accordingly.

You're right, different strokes for different folks. I'm just saying that for $300,000, that better be the best food and the most amazing people I will ever meet. Otherwise, I'm going to take the money and buy me a house later. Evaluate yourself and see what you want.

 

[GINGERvitis]

WOW. I can't believe how helpful everyone has been. Thank you guys so much! I think I am leaning towards UNC in my decision...I think it would be better for me to consider living somewhere like NYC after dental school. If money were not an issue, I'm not sure where I would pick but it's difficult not to consider that aspect.

 

[Rutgers2015]

WOW. I can't believe how helpful everyone has been. Thank you guys so much! I think I am leaning towards UNC in my decision...I think it would be better for me to consider living somewhere like NYC after dental school. If money were not an issue, I'm not sure where I would pick but it's difficult not to consider that aspect.

I'm surprised no one brought this up yet here... but I heard it's somewhar "easier" to specialize if you attend a school like Columbia rather than a state school. Is this true? If it is, I would take this into consideration, possibly over cost of attendance (since it will your income, and thus ability to repay loans lol)

 

[dantemac]

You should be looking at Maryland vs. UNC. Ivy leagues schools are "Ivy" in title only; I would argue UNC and Maryland could give you a great education if not better than Columbia. Also, you're from out of state, consider yourself lucky to have the "lottery" to get into Maryland...60 spots for 500+ applicants from out of state.

Also, as almost everyone has pointed out to you, price is a large consideration and should not be ignored here.

 

[mc719]

You should be looking at Maryland vs. UNC. Ivy leagues schools are "Ivy" in title only; I would argue UNC and Maryland could give you a great education if not better than Columbia. Also, you're from out of state, consider yourself lucky to have the "lottery" to get into Maryland...60 spots for 500+ applicants from out of state.

Also, as almost everyone has pointed out to you, price is a large consideration and should not be ignored here.

👍

 

[supermax]

I would not even consider Maryland. I am a D2 student there right now and I hate everything about the school. Nothing seems to be organized here.

Cons:

1. classes are too full
2. budget cuts, school is losing 6 professors and not replacing them
3. not enough clinic chairs
4. students are too competitive and cut throat (there isn't a great sense of community)
5. hard to find patients and retain patients for specific treatments and requirements
6. too much focus (in my opinion) on research and didatic studies versus clinic
7. too much extra bull**** work, like papers
8. not enough focus on clinical, too much red tape to get through just to get procedures done
9. tough perio department