BU vs UNE

[SEW413]

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Hi all! I am having a really hard time deciding between BU and UNE. Here is my pro/con list:

BU pros
- I like Boston
- close to family
- s/o lives in Boston
- medium class size
BU cons
- expensive....
- interview day was really weird (they kept us in that one room for basically the entire time...)
- outdated clinical facilities, not a very great looking school
- doesn't have the greatest reputation (on SDN, word of mouth from my family who are Tufts grads)
- not too keen on the south end area of Boston
- location not very convenient via T/bus
- APEX program is cool but I have been a dental assistant for a while now, so I feel kinda meh about it

Honestly I am really trying to convince myself that BU is a good school but my experiences with it are not stellar.... just a lot of negatives and not enough positives.

UNE pros
- small class size
- Portland is fun and new for me, I love the outdoors
- brand new beautiful facilities, nice small campus vibe
- interview day was great, felt comfortable
- great externship program
- cheaper than BU by like $10k in tuition
UNE cons
- program very new, no stats on students specializing
- no research program, really only clinical
- I would probably need a car
- I will have to take Anatomy I before matriculating (which I plan on doing regardless of attending UNE or not)
- my s/o and family will be further away

So, what it all boils down to: Go to the brand new school with not much of a reputation yet, or choose the more established school with a seemingly mediocre reputation?

I am still interviewing and I have other schools I am waiting on that I would definitely choose over BU and UNE (Penn, Tufts), but I have to make this BU vs UNE decision by January to secure my seat in a class.

I go back and forth almost every day on this decision, so I would really appreciate any input from my fellow pre-dents 🙂

Thanks!!!

 

[Incis0r]

UNE

 

[Likkriue]

UNE

 

[deleted696582]

I feel like the fact that your family and s/o is in Boston is fairly important. If you've been together a long time, that might be worth considering. Of course, these are your professional goals.

The 10k tuition difference shouldn't be a deciding factor either. While it seems like you've heard negative opinions about BU, maybe you just haven't heard things from a positive point of view yet?

 

[FanOfCostco]

do you want to specialize? i'm not saying that if you go to BU you are guaranteed a spot cause you still have to put the effort into it. What I am going to say is that if you went to BU, you have a higher chance of going there for specialty. They kinda like to keep it "in the family". Plus its like 10 residents/specialty/year so you got a pretty good chance. Also if you got the $$$

 

[toothdoctor123]

I really don't think BU has a reputation problem. Tufts alumni wouldn't talk trash if they didn't feel that they were competing against BU in some way. And whether they're right or not, the average patient in New England does think that BU and Tufts are both among the best dental schools in the country.

Also, I don't understand why people get hung up on the appearance of facilities. Things that matter: number of clinic chairs, quality of equipment, access to study spaces, etc. Things that don't really matter: architecture, interior design, view out the window, etc.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I really don't think BU has a reputation problem. Tufts alumni wouldn't talk trash if they didn't feel that they were competing against BU in some way. And whether they're right or not, the average patient in New England does think that BU and Tufts are both among the best dental schools in the country.

Also, I don't understand why people get hung up on the appearance of facilities. Things that matter: number of clinic chairs, quality of equipment, access to study spaces, etc. Things that don't really matter: architecture, interior design, view out the window, etc.

Sounds like you're describing things I loved about Columbia in the things that don't matter 😛

 

[FanOfCostco]

I really don't think BU has a reputation problem. Tufts alumni wouldn't talk trash if they didn't feel that they were competing against BU in some way. And whether they're right or not, the average patient in New England does think that BU and Tufts are both among the best dental schools in the country.

Also, I don't understand why people get hung up on the appearance of facilities. Things that matter: number of clinic chairs, quality of equipment, access to study spaces, etc. Things that don't really matter: architecture, interior design, view out the window, etc.

Window views matter!! It represents the freedom you wont have for 4 years

 

[htdt]

Window views matter!! It represents the freedom you wont have for 4 years

LOL my dental school does not have ANY windows in the sim lab, clinic and lecture halls. I'm looking at 4 years of being depressed.

 

[577455]

I interviewed at both. I would choose UNE. I feel like UNE has a great program and they are very focused on making it one of the best in the country. Living in Boston will also be significantly more expensive than Portland. After touring BU I wasn't impressed by the clinical curriculum.

 

[FanOfCostco]

LOL my dental school does not have ANY windows in the sim lab, clinic and lecture halls. I'm looking at 4 years of being depressed.

At least you won't ever have to worry about sunblock?

 

[SEW413]

Thanks to all for the input! I really appreciate it.

 

[Toothout]

If i was you, I would go to BU because your significant other lives there. I mean, you need to evaluate how serious your relationship is. If you are planning on getting married in the future, I would go to BU.

 

[Typical Average Student]

When I saw you wrote that your s/o and family were in Boston... I couldn't really understand why you would choose any other school (unless you hate everybody lol). Your s/o and family are critical support through your dental education.

 

[Typical Average Student]

Additionally, the slight price difference is offset when you noted that you would need a car if you went to UNE.

 

[FrenchyM.D/D.O]

BU

 

[trule01]

BU

 

[Tooth Ferry]

Happy to answer specifics about BU if you have questions. I can't speak to UNE but almost no one here has a car and pretty much everyone lives within walking distance/shuttle bus. Family is a huge support, significant others in particular. I've seen numerous long distance relationships melt down. Just my $0.02, though.