Anyone here help me please, current student

[theotherside]

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Hey all, hoping I can get some help here

Im in dental school now and Ill keep the name private until I can get some advice. However, I am really having a tough time thinking that the school I currently attend is where I want to finish my education. LEt me start by saying that I am currently top 20 in my class and doing just fine. I have gone to a good high school and college and seen the good bad and the ugly when it comes to teachers etc. Nonetheless, I am truly disgusted by the way my current school is run
To name a few
-The administration is unwilling to take advice from students, while they will listen they will always say not even for something as menial and simplifying the snow day notification system on the basis that they have never done it differently and won't start now.
-The teachers do not want to help students. Many do not even know their own material and refuse to discuss it without their books. Some have even said that there is so much material how could they be expected to know it all. Yet students need to know it all for all the classes. Teachers cannot write multiple choice questions. Most exams have questions challenged because of the ambiguity and multiple or nonexistent answers. It is as if no time or consideration is put into the exams. They even admit fault at times but refuse to change the answer key. The impression is that these teachers do now want us to do well.
-My school which was previously recognized for their clinical experience I have now come to find out has trouble filling chairs for their students.

I apologize for the rant and I can promise you that I do not speak alone where I am nor is this out of spite for poor grades. I just do not want to put my career at stakes because my school neglects the students.

I m just curious how current students feel. Is this normal because I know it can't be, when i visited other schools people were happy even with all the work. I dont mind a challenge and working hard is why I am here but I do not feel that my hard work should go without something to show for it because a teacher can't word a question properly or because a TA(grad student not even in dental school) grades my exam worth 50 percent of my grade and takes off points because they can't interpret something properly. I really think I want to transfer. Please dont be harsh or mean spirited, I just want to figure out what to do. Thanks for the help

 

[CMistry]

I admire that you would consider leaving your school due to the quality of its education. But I'm still going to tell you to stick it out and keep your head down. All schools have their problems, in fact we had many of the same problems at my state school. If you really want to better your education you can always read well-recognized textbooks in the field (which will also prepare you for the exams). Dental schools can survive with these poor practices because they are in such high demand - remember how badly you wanted to get into dental school at one point? I'm not saying it's OK, and I'm not saying it can't change, but I VERY MUCH doubt that a dental student can make any significant impact (especially without ruining your experience at the school). Keep your head down, work as hard as you can, and get the heck out in a few years. I'm going to be honest... it will get worse when you get to clinic.

 

[doc toothache]

Even if successful, you could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

 

[jda02624]

Fast forward a few years and this same school will be bugging you to donate money. Look forward to telling them where to go.
Just finish up there and get out. No school is perfect.

 

[lwen5]

Even if successful, you could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

 

[sgv]

Hopefully the faculty turnover is high for the bad professors or they're not on a track to tenure. When it comes to donation, try to remember the good professors that you've met and hopefully those experiences outweigh the negative. Maybe you can donate more money so the school can afford to hire or keep the good ones. I am still very grateful and would still donate to the school even if they kept this one particular professor.

 

[jeffity]

Repeating everything:

Stay put
All schools have a suck spot somewhere (and it'll be different for different people)

Faculty, specifically, it's been okay so far. Open door policy, open to feedback and actually making changes (town hall meeting coming up where we can really whine), no tenured faculty. But there may be others in my class that hate faculty. Who knows. You could be in my class for all I know. Overall, it's supportive and not oppressive.