Typically students of the Health Professions Division (HPD), which included dental students, live around campus or on campus housing. If you choose to live around campus, then there are 4 great apartment complexes within walking distance to the school that you can choose from.
For a bedroom, expect to fork out $700-800 a month (util. not included)
For a two-bedroom apartment, it's around $1000 (roommates will work wonders at $500 a piece).
If you choose campus housing, then there are ups and downs sides to this option.
Negatives:
-just as expensive as luxury apartments, but not as nice in quality
-same distance to HPD campus as other luxury apartment
Positives:
-util. are included
-internet access (high speed) included
-may be cheaper for 1 bedrooms
My recommendation: if you have or want a roommate, go with the luxury apartments option.
I also have some classmates that bought a condo right before they came down here last year, but more are doing the "buying" thing this year.
Oh yes, one thing I do STRONGLY recommend you guys doing right now is to start collecting exacted teeth from dentists, especially from Oral Surgeons.
This is what you do:
Call up a dental practice:
The receptionist: Dr. "so-so"'s office, can I help you?
You: Yes, I'm Joe Millionaire and I'm a dental student starting next fall and I was wondering if I can have Dr. "so-so" save all of his extracted teeth for me for education purposes if I provide you a jar?
The receptionist: (puzzled)...you're who and you want what?
You: Yes, repeat the above.
The receptionist: please hold....
(receptionist comes back)
The receptionist will either say "yes" or "no" or that she's going to take your info down so Dr. "so-so" can call you back to discuss your request further.
If a dentist or surgeon agrees to save/collect teeth for you, be sure to ask to meet him or her to thank them in person. At that time, you bring in a jar with teeth solution and your letter of acceptance to show him or her that indeed you are starting dental school.
Usually the dentist or the Surgeon will know exactly what the collected teeth are used for so they won't question you at all why you're collecting these teeth.
Teeth juice = 1 part chlorine + 1 part water + splash of listerine
Have couple of dentists or surgeons collect for you meaning having couple of jars going around. I had three oral surgeons and two dentist collecting for me from March to when I left for Florida in August. The more the better. Leave these jars at their offices until you need to leave for school.
Also, another perk about this, by leaving a teeth jar at these offices, this will provide you another "in" to observe procedures if you wish. I shadowed my Oral surgeons many hours that collected teeth for me. Now that you're a dental student, spend more time in the dental offices if time permits. Get the dental lingual down (mesial, buccal, distal, lingual, incisal, cervical...).
I'm typing too much, I'll stop for now.
😎
