Bebating between NYU and Pittsburgh

[stillincollege]

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Hi Everyone,

I am debating between New York University College of Dentistry and University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Both schools are among my top choices...in a few weeks, I need to decide whether to pay deposit or decline the offer.

1. tuition is one of the most important factors.

For NYU Class of 2015, tuition is $59,921+fees+Instruments and Books+Health Insurance summing up to be $70,897. I can ignore room and board because I can live with my parents. Transportation shouldn't be too much, around 1000 dollar (subway cards). Commuting by subway takes around 20 mins. Together, it is around $71,897.

For Pittsburgh, 2012-2013, out of state tuition is $46,566+Instruments+Fees+Health Insurance+Books & Materials summing up to be around $64,000. However, I will need to rent a place but I heard $400-500 a month is enough. so 500 * 12 = $6,000. Together, it is about $70,000. I think I will have to take the bus if I cannot find an apt. close but that fee should not be much.

About the same?

2. Class size, Pittsburgh class is around 80 students and NYU has about 360 students. I personally think both has its pros and cons. What do you guys think?

3. Clinical Training: NYU is famous for its clinical education. I heard good comments for Pittsburgh graduates as well. Where can I find their clinical requirement before graduation? That may be helpful.

4. Location. Yes, NYC is noisy and has lots of "fun" stuff to do. Pittsburgh is so quiet but "fun" is not too far away by bus. I don't think I will have time to watch movie in dental school.

5. Research. Both school received lots of funding so that is even too.

6. Prestige. What do you guys think?

What else!? I want to eventually practice in NYC so going to NYU will make networking a bit easier for me. However, after saying so much, I still love both school since the interview day...I am confused which one to pick...

I feel very lucky to have been admitted to both schools. Thank you in advance for all your inputs. Happy New Year!🙂

P.S. If I said something wrong, please let me know through PM. Thank you.

 

[Menthol]

pitttt

 

[jwnichols21]

Hi Everyone,

I am debating between New York University College of Dentistry and University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Both schools are among my top choices...in a few weeks, I need to decide whether to pay deposit or decline the offer.

1. tuition is one of the most important factors.

For NYU Class of 2015, tuition is $59,921+fees+Instruments and Books+Health Insurance summing up to be $70,897. I can ignore room and board because I can live with my parents. Transportation shouldn't be too much, around 1000 dollar (subway cards). Commuting by subway takes around 20 mins. Together, it is around $71,897.

For Pittsburgh, 2012-2013, out of state tuition is $46,566+Instruments+Fees+Health Insurance+Books & Materials summing up to be around $64,000. However, I will need to rent a place but I heard $400-500 a month is enough. so 500 * 12 = $6,000. Together, it is about $70,000. I think I will have to take the bus if I cannot find an apt. close but that fee should not be much.

About the same?

2. Class size, Pittsburgh class is around 80 students and NYU has about 360 students. I personally think both has its pros and cons. What do you guys think?

3. Clinical Training: NYU is famous for its clinical education. I heard good comments for Pittsburgh graduates as well. Where can I find their clinical requirement before graduation? That may be helpful.

4. Location. Yes, NYC is noisy and has lots of "fun" stuff to do. Pittsburgh is so quiet but "fun" is not too far away by bus. I don't think I will have time to watch movie in dental school.

5. Research. Both school received lots of funding so that is even too.

6. Prestige. What do you guys think?

What else!? I want to eventually practice in NYC so going to NYU will make networking a bit easier for me. However, after saying so much, I still love both school since the interview day...I am confused which one to pick...

I feel very lucky to have been admitted to both schools. Thank you in advance for all your inputs. Happy New Year!🙂

P.S. If I said something wrong, please let me know through PM. Thank you.

Could you elaborate more on NYU being famous clinically? Are you basing this off SDN or personal opinions from others or what..I find when people say a school is good "clinically" it's always so subjective. How could you measure this..

 

[Member902507]

I haven't been to both schools, but NYU's class size kind of scared me. My undergrad classes were that big and I did not do well at all--it's too easy to blend into the background. However, I can see how you're torn. Pitt has a lot of the qualities that I was looking for in a dental school, and I think it's absolutely great! But if you know you wanna work in NY, and being close to home (or in your case, being AT home) is really important (for me, at least). If cost is insignificant, you just have to see which school you think you could do better at. Networking as you mentioned is key, but proximity to home and number of students in a class are also pretty big determining factors. Perhaps go check out the schools again if you have time, and you might feel a little different knowing that you could be at either one of these places within the next few months.

Congratulations on acceptances to your top choices! You're lucky to have this hard decision to make 🙂

 

[stillincollege]

Could you elaborate more on NYU being famous clinically? Are you basing this off SDN or personal opinions from others or what..I find when people say a school is good "clinically" it's always so subjective. How could you measure this..

Yes, I agree it is very subjective. I did saw many SDN members comment on NYU as a good clinical school.

On my interview day, I was impressed with their lab facilities. All the students are busy working on waxing and other procedures. The lab is bright, clean, and well equipped.

 

[stillincollege]

pitttt

May I know your reason? 🙂

 

[Bis-GMA111]

go to pitt.

it'll cost >100k a year to go to nyu.

in the grand scheme of things you'll prob save like 150k if you go to pitt.

 

[rootz02]

go to pitt.

it'll cost >100k a year to go to nyu.

in the grand scheme of things you'll prob save like 150k if you go to pitt.

👍

 

[aspiringdds02]

go to pitt.

it'll cost >100k a year to go to nyu.

He said he would be living with his parents so it would be more like 70/year.

 

[stillincollege]

go to pitt.

it'll cost >100k a year to go to nyu.

in the grand scheme of things you'll prob save like 150k if you go to pitt.

I can live at home if I go to NYU so they are pretty close on cost. Both are at around 70K a year. Detailed calculation can be found above. Please let me know if you spot any error. 🙂

 

[Bis-GMA111]

wow, my mistake. i just skimmed thru the original post the first time. 😳

WELL, if they're that close, i'd say nyu. w/out a doubt.

and clinically-----you'll never have a shortage of patients at nyu. nyu has the largest patient pool. yea the class size could be a con, but you'll be divided up into groups.

not to mention, the student: faculty ratio will remain at about 1:11. they've hired/are still hiring more faculty to compensate for the d1 class size boost.

another plus is, is that you don't have to go to all of your classes due to everything being recorded. if you're the independent type who likes to learn at your own pace then this might be for you.

 

[jwnichols21]

Yes, I agree it is very subjective. I did saw many SDN members comment on NYU as a good clinical school.

On my interview day, I was impressed with their lab facilities. All the students are busy working on waxing and other procedures. The lab is bright, clean, and well equipped.

That's how I came to the conclusion as well haha. Wish they had a "Clinical Excellence" ranking haha..

 

[stillincollege]

That's how I came to the conclusion as well haha. Wish they had a "Clinical Excellence" ranking haha..

That will surely be helpful. 🙂

 

[aspiringdds02]

Since both schools will come out to be around the same price I'd probably say go with NYU. You get to stay with the family and assuming your mom will still cook for you, that is a lot of time and money you are saving on food expenses.

I guess Pitt would def have the advantage in terms of class size, but I still choose NYU over a school with a smaller class primarily b/c it came out cheaper for me but also b/c I'm coming from a university with huge class sizes and never found it to be a problem.

As far as clinical all I can comment is that after speaking to a least a dozen current NYU students, they all mentioned that there is no such thing as a shortage of patients and if anything they feel like they might have too many at times.

 

[shootingstar7]

I dont think you can find a decent place to live near Pitt for that cheap. Unless you want to room with several other people.

 

[UltimateHombre]

Could you elaborate more on NYU being famous clinically? Are you basing this off SDN or personal opinions from others or what..I find when people say a school is good "clinically" it's always so subjective. How could you measure this..

Yes, I agree it is very subjective. I did saw many SDN members comment on NYU as a good clinical school.

On my interview day, I was impressed with their lab facilities. All the students are busy working on waxing and other procedures. The lab is bright, clean, and well equipped.

NYU does have a good reputation for being strong clinically. However, when comparing "clinical strengths", I think there are some indicators that can somewhat be measured.

I think certain things could certainly play a factor in clinical strength:

1. Average number of procedures (from talking to a dstudents)
2. Size of patient pool
3. Location of school (usually ghetto is a good thing)
4. If you have to find and schedule your own patients or not
5. Number of chairs in clinic vs. number of students
6. Diversity of cases and frequency in which they were seen
7. When your start in the pre-clinic/sim clinic? D1, D2? How many times a week?
8. # of available off site rotations
9. Availability of specialty programs (could be good or bad)
10. # of students who proceed with a GPR/AEGD after graduation
11. General reputation amongst dental community

Many of these things are anecdotal, but can still factor into the overall "clinical strength". Just some food for thought.

 

[stillincollege]

Since both schools will come out to be around the same price I'd probably say go with NYU. You get to stay with the family and assuming your mom will still cook for you, that is a lot of time and money you are saving on food expenses.

I guess Pitt would def have the advantage in terms of class size, but I still choose NYU over a school with a smaller class primarily b/c it came out cheaper for me but also b/c I'm coming from a university with huge class sizes and never found it to be a problem.

As far as clinical all I can comment is that after speaking to a least a dozen current NYU students, they all mentioned that there is no such thing as a shortage of patients and if anything they feel like they might have too many at times.

I totally agree with you. I have no problem deciding to pick NYU. It is a great school and fits my situation well. With that said, I deeply appreciate Pittsburgh's recognition. They only accept 80 students. I also really liked the school's "atmosphere".

 

[stillincollege]

NYU does have a good reputation for being strong clinically. However, when comparing "clinical strengths", I think there are some indicators that can somewhat be measured.

I think certain things could certainly play a factor in clinical strength:

1. Average number of procedures (from talking to a dstudents)
2. Size of patient pool
3. Location of school (usually ghetto is a good thing)
4. If you have to find and schedule your own patients or not
5. Number of chairs in clinic vs. number of students
6. Diversity of cases and frequency in which they were seen
7. When your start in the pre-clinic/sim clinic? D1, D2? How many times a week?
8. # of available off site rotations
9. Availability of specialty programs (could be good or bad)
10. # of students who proceed with a GPR/AEGD after graduation
11. General reputation amongst dental community

Many of these things are anecdotal, but can still factor into the overall "clinical strength". Just some food for thought.

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[KittySquared]

NYU's clinical program far exceeds that of pitt's. The lack of patients at Pitt isn't really going to get better. But you can live luxuriously in Pittsburgh and buy a car and still, your total cost will be less than that of NYU's. It all depends on what you want.