Buffalo vs NYU

[wantDDSalready]

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Hey future doctors/dentists!😀

I've been trying to make a decision between these two schools for a while now and still nothing. To a point where I have now placed a deposit at both spots, just to buy myself more time till April. I know many people will chose Buffalo over NYU based on tuition but for me, I not the type of person who thinks money should be the biggest thing. Im more looking for a great experience and a place where I can benefit the most opportunities and grow as a person. I would like to hear from more experienced individuals (especially those who were in my shoes) to help me make a decision. Here's the pros/cons I see currently with each school:

About me: I'm a bit older. Non-traditional applicant that's now 28. Dreaded my previous career and switched to dentistry b/c its an amazing field I wish I discovered when I was younger. Recently, I came out of the closet and just trying to catch up on life (for those who are gay, you can understand how this is a BIG weight off my shoulder). One of the most important for me now is to find a balance of my current life as well as continue to pursue my future career.

NOTE: I'm fortunately enough to not be taking out loans for the 4 years. My parents has money saved up and willing to pay for my tuition and it'll just reimburse them without having to dealing with incurred interest.

NYU - The HUGE class size is a big turn off for me but I can see some benefits to it (networking opportunity) and diverse class where I can meet people who had different walks of life. Also, since I plan to work in Manhattan after DS school and there are so many faculties from NYU that works outside of the school in the city, it can be a great networking opportunity for future employment. TUITION IS A KILLER! but my family is from Queens and is roughly an hour away from the school. I'll be living at home throughout my 4 years (unless it becomes a pain and affects my grade and then it'll move to the city if I have to). Not considering the cost of living and misc. expenses that comes with it, it's a little over 70k/year. To all my LGBTs out there, you can understand why I want to stay in NYC. I'm trying to catch up on life and the things I've missed since I've came out so late in the game. Even if I'll be too busy during dental school, when free time comes up, I can go out to places and be me.

Buffalo - Tuition obviously is favorable, especially since I'm a NY resident and it is a great school, much better fit for the type of learning style I want. However, not a big fan of the cold and frankly, there's nothing much to do in buffalo and I would LIKE to have the option to do something if I have free time. I've been there for weekends before and besides a house parties, there isn't much to do.. Never lived away from family before and dorming/living in remote location might make me more independent. Living expense + housing is about 55k. (about 25k difference from NYU/year)

I've been logical up till this point in my predental career. However when it comes to where I want to spend the next 4 years of my life, my logical (ub) and young (NYU) sides are constantly fighting. Maybe its the fact that I came out so late and don't want to lose another chunk of my life for the next four years at the wrong place that's making this so hard. Certain days logic wins, but other days it's the young, naive me that conquers.

Couple of questions that might help me figure things out:
- One will help me land a job better in NYC? (since NYU has a large class, does it make employers less favored to hire those (new grads) compared to those who graduate fewer students? i.e. employer sees more resumes with NYU on it vs 1 resume from UB? will employer pay more attention to the one UB new grad?)
- How do people in the profession view those who graduated from NYU vs UB? are those from NYU looked down upon compared to other schools?

SORRY FOR THE LONG POST! This is a difficult decision for me (hence the reason for the essay) and would appreciate opinions. Thanks, take care, and enjoy the rest of the week.😳

 

[mmmsteakdinners]

Hey future doctors/dentists!😀

I've been trying to make a decision between these two schools for a while now and still nothing. To a point where I have now placed a deposit at both spots, just to buy myself more time till April. I know many people will chose Buffalo over NYU based on tuition but for me, I not the type of person who thinks money should be the biggest thing. Im more looking for a great experience and a place where I can benefit the most opportunities and grow as a person. I would like to hear from more experienced individuals (especially those who were in my shoes) to help me make a decision. Here's the pros/cons I see currently with each school:

About me: I'm a bit older. Non-traditional applicant that's now 28. Dreaded my previous career and switched to dentistry b/c its an amazing field I wish I discovered when I was younger. Recently, I came out of the closet and just trying to catch up on life (for those who are gay, you can understand how this is a BIG weight off my shoulder). One of the most important for me now is to find a balance of my current life as well as continue to pursue my future career.

NOTE: I'm fortunately enough to not be taking out loans for the 4 years. My parents has money saved up and willing to pay for my tuition and it'll just reimburse them without having to dealing with incurred interest.

NYU - The HUGE class size is a big turn off for me but I can see some benefits to it (networking opportunity) and diverse class where I can meet people who had different walks of life. Also, since I plan to work in Manhattan after DS school and there are so many faculties from NYU that works outside of the school in the city, it can be a great networking opportunity for future employment. TUITION IS A KILLER! but my family is from Queens and is roughly an hour away from the school. I'll be living at home throughout my 4 years (unless it becomes a pain and affects my grade and then it'll move to the city if I have to). Not considering the cost of living and misc. expenses that comes with it, it's a little over 70k/year. To all my LGBTs out there, you can understand why I want to stay in NYC. I'm trying to catch up on life and the things I've missed since I've came out so late in the game. Even if I'll be too busy during dental school, when free time comes up, I can go out to places and be me.

Buffalo - Tuition obviously is favorable, especially since I'm a NY resident and it is a great school, much better fit for the type of learning style I want. However, not a big fan of the cold and frankly, there's nothing much to do in buffalo and I would LIKE to have the option to do something if I have free time. I've been there for weekends before and besides a house parties, there isn't much to do.. Never lived away from family before and dorming/living in remote location might make me more independent. Living expense + housing is about 55k. (about 25k difference from NYU/year)

I've been logical up till this point in my predental career. However when it comes to where I want to spend the next 4 years of my life, my logical (ub) and young (NYU) sides are constantly fighting. Maybe its the fact that I came out so late and don't want to lose another chunk of my life for the next four years at the wrong place that's making this so hard. Certain days logic wins, but other days it's the young, naive me that conquers.

Couple of questions that might help me figure things out:
- One will help me land a job better in NYC? (since NYU has a large class, does it make employers less favored to hire those (new grads) compared to those who graduate fewer students? i.e. employer sees more resumes with NYU on it vs 1 resume from UB? will employer pay more attention to the one UB new grad?)
- How do people in the profession view those who graduated from NYU vs UB? are those from NYU looked down upon compared to other schools?

SORRY FOR THE LONG POST! This is a difficult decision for me (hence the reason for the essay) and would appreciate opinions. Thanks, take care, and enjoy the rest of the week.😳

wantDDSalready,

I gave up an acceptance at NYU and have a deposit down in buffalo.

I understand you may view your situation as 'not taking any loans,' but you are taking loans, just not from the bank. You are blessed not to deal with interest, but tuition should play somewhat of a factor.

If you were going to live in the city, I would understand why you would see this as a positive for your "young" side. But are you really going to take advantage of it living at home? A girl on my tour lived in queens, and she said it was fine, but it was almost impossible to go out with friends after tests and class due to trains and getting home at a reasonable hour.

Ultimately it is up to you, but if you cant take it anymore and need to move into NYC, you're looking at around 100K a year, which is double what you would be borrowing at Buffalo. Interest or not, that is still a lot of money.

However, you should ultimately do what makes you happy. You will find a job in NY from both schools. They are both great schools.

good luck.

 

[gryffindor]

Couple of questions that might help me figure things out:
- One will help me land a job better in NYC? (since NYU has a large class, does it make employers less favored to hire those (new grads) compared to those who graduate fewer students? i.e. employer sees more resumes with NYU on it vs 1 resume from UB? will employer pay more attention to the one UB new grad?)

I don't know what field you are coming from, but in dentistry, especially in NYC, the employers you speak of are just dentists who graduated before you running small businesses and looking for some help. Employers in NYC are mainly looking for people with a license and a pulse. There are far more awful jobs than there are good ones. It takes time and luck to find a job you like in NYC. Which school you come from will make little difference.

- How do people in the profession view those who graduated from NYU vs UB? are those from NYU looked down upon compared to other schools?

I would always look at a UB grad over an NYU grad because too many people graduate out of NYU with awful clinical competence.

I would keep the $100k you will save by going to UB and use it to start or buy your own practice after you graduate. That's where you'll make real money and not be at the mercy of awful associateships. Yeah, Buffalo is boring when you compare it to NYC but it makes for a better environment to study. You are there to learn and dental school will eat most of your time. You also will get some time off during the summers when you can come home and get away for a while.

 

[rewJW]

UB. Seriously, why even think twice? You will be working hard in dental school. You can still have a social life and will still have time to enjoy yourself, but you're not going to have nearly as much free time of an undergrad student. It absolutely makes no sense to spend way more in tuition to get what is ultimately the same degree as another dentist; do you think in 10 years you will really care that you 'had a little more fun' in dental school while you're paying back that extra $100k? Buffalo really isn't the deadest place around -- there is a lively night life on Elmwood (a ton of different bars), and you can drive to Toronto if you have a passport or enhanced driver's license. The partiers in my class seem to be enjoying themselves just fine. The lameos like me find a ton of things to do as well 😛 I know nothing about gay culture/if there are gay bars and whatnot around if that's what you are looking for, but there's a few gay guys in my school and Buffalo surely isn't devoid of single people.

I'm sorry if this sounds snotty--- but when you're looking at $100k+ difference, I don't understand how ANYONE can chose the more expensive school. $100k is a LOT of frickin' money, even without interest.