Cheap State Univ or Prestigious Private Univ

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TheLoveMD

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How do you know where to go?
-lets pretend location/satisfaction with DS program are only slight factors

i am mulling this over right now...my state school is dirt cheap (LSU), one of the cheapest in the nation, but ive always wanted to go to some place with a high class reputation

any thoughts?
 
LSU doesn't have a high class reputation? I don't have a state school but from all that I have read, the general consensus is to go to the cheaper university. All schools teach you dentistry and without considering location/satisfaction, I think being in debt tens of thousands of dollars is much better than being in debt hundreds of thousands.
 
spud daddy said:
LSU doesn't have a high class reputation? I don't have a state school but from all that I have read, the general consensus is to go to the cheaper university. All schools teach you dentistry and without considering location/satisfaction, I think being in debt tens of thousands of dollars is much better than being in debt hundreds of thousands.
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im leaning that way as well but im also considering the value of the experience in a new place...ive been living in Louisiana my entire life, i go to LSU for undergrad, LSU-DS is only about 65 miles away (in new orleans)...id just like to consider maybe going to live out on the coast for a few years and seeing what life has to offer outside this state

my biggest worry is that if i stay here ill never get a chance to see if i want to move out of state. id like to see if id rather practice somewhere else after graduating ya know?
 
You have some good points! I wish I could be more helpful.
 
LSU actually has a very nice facility compared to other dental schools and a massive patient base. Throw in the fact it's dirt cheap and why would you want to go anywhere else?
 
No one can answer this question better than yourself. If you ask almost anyone will tell you go to the CHEAPER school HANDS DOWN!

BUT,

You know what you want. If you want a new experience or have your heart set on a certain school than yea it can definitely be worth the extra money. Although many people wouldn't advise being many thousands more in debt because of desires, i would be a hypocrite to say don't do it because im probably going to choose the most expensive school in the country (USC if i get in) just cuz ive always wanted to go there.

Hope that helps!
 
i think maybe ill just go to lsu and use the extra 100k or so and travel often

maybe thats a better course of action
i also think my gf's parents would kill me if i told them i was moving to [insert east coast/west coast city here] with their daughter without marrying her hahaha

what about UoP?
wouldnt graduating earlier give you an extra year of salary and thereby technically offset the tuition difference (excluding interest i suppose?)
 
TheLoveMD said:
what about UoP?
wouldnt graduating earlier give you an extra year of salary and thereby technically offset the tuition difference (excluding interest i suppose?)
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Yea kinda, But personally i dont count UoP as a prestigous school. Most people out of the dental society dont know what/where it is.... IMO everyone just wants to go there cuz its 3 yrs and that shotgunned their avg stats.
 
Tommy43087 said:
Yea kinda, But personally i dont count UoP as a prestigous school. Most people out of the dental society dont know what/where it is.... IMO everyone just wants to go there cuz its 3 yrs and that shotgunned their avg stats.
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That's interesting. So you care more about what people who, by definition, know nothing about dentistry think about your dental school than people who do?

Something seems backwards about that.
 
armorshell said:
That's interesting. So you care more about what people who, by definition, know nothing about dentistry think about your dental school than people who do?

Something seems backwards about that.
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i think u have to take both aspects into account...after all...people who know nothing about dentistry generally transfer into the people u will be treating in your practice
 
TheLoveMD said:
i think u have to take both aspects into account...after all...people who know nothing about dentistry generally transfer into the people u will be treating in your practice
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If you think patients care where you went to school, ask ANY practicing dentist how many times they've been asked by a patient where they attended dental school.

There are dozens of factors that are far more important to patients when selecting a dentist ("Does it hurt when they give me injections?", "Are the staff nice?", "What is the billing policy?", "Do they take my insurance?", "How easy is it to find parking?") than the amount of prestige a school has to a lay person.
 
TheLoveMD said:
How do you know where to go?
-lets pretend location/satisfaction with DS program are only slight factors

i am mulling this over right now...my state school is dirt cheap (LSU), one of the cheapest in the nation, but ive always wanted to go to some place with a high class reputation

any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Hmmm, preplexed here. A few days ago you were commenting on how you couldn't do summer courses due to financial constraints, and then you go and post this question to the forum.

IMO, at the end of the day your name will be doctor no matter where you go to school. Your patients won't care where you went.

As far as getting out of LA...only you can determine whether or not you do that. Does going to dental school in LA somehow obligate you to stay in-state? No way!

I shadow with a group of dentists who are from ALL over. The only one they said they have ever served with who was not a good clinician was from...wait...HARVARD! Their words, not mine.

Prestige is only in the eye of the beholder. Go where you will be happy, and go where you feel at home amognst the student body. If where you are happy and at home is the "prestigious" school, go there. If you are happy and at home in New Orleans, go there. Me...I would go to LSU and not have so much debt, but I am not you. You will find it much easier to get loans for your practice, loans for you car, and loans for your house if your loans from D School are not so mountainous.
 
I was pondering the same question as the OP for a bit. In the end i just didn't want to have to justify paying an extra 100k or whatever everyday i woke up.

The best way I've heard it: Getting into your state school is basically like winning the lottery, you get to be a dentist for less money.
 
State school makes more sense to me too (especially in this tough economic situation).
 
armorshell said:
If you think patients care where you went to school, ask ANY practicing dentist how many times they've been asked by a patient where they attended dental school.

There are dozens of factors that are far more important to patients when selecting a dentist ("Does it hurt when they give me injections?", "Are the staff nice?", "What is the billing policy?", "Do they take my insurance?", "How easy is it to find parking?") than the amount of prestige a school has to a lay person.
Click to expand...

thats true; i never said it was a key aspect, however, all things being equal, it may help
 
subdoc said:
Hmmm, preplexed here. A few days ago you were commenting on how you couldn't do summer courses due to financial constraints, and then you go and post this question to the forum.

IMO, at the end of the day your name will be doctor no matter where you go to school. Your patients won't care where you went.

As far as getting out of LA...only you can determine whether or not you do that. Does going to dental school in LA somehow obligate you to stay in-state? No way!

I shadow with a group of dentists who are from ALL over. The only one they said they have ever served with who was not a good clinician was from...wait...HARVARD! Their words, not mine.

Prestige is only in the eye of the beholder. Go where you will be happy, and go where you feel at home amognst the student body. If where you are happy and at home is the "prestigious" school, go there. If you are happy and at home in New Orleans, go there. Me...I would go to LSU and not have so much debt, but I am not you. You will find it much easier to get loans for your practice, loans for you car, and loans for your house if your loans from D School are not so mountainous.
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my summer courses would be coming out of my pocket because i am at max for student loans right now

in the end i know ill choose lsu, but ive always just wanted to branch out and idk i thought id get some opinions...seems like the most intelligent thing to do would be to go there...its definitely not a low ranked program and it would work well in my favor to do so...i guess ill apply a few other places next year and see where i get in and what scholarships i get and go from there...i suppose its a long road ahead until i can actually make thisw decision lol
 
TheLoveMD said:
thats true; i never said it was a key aspect, however, all things being equal, it may help
Click to expand...

OK, so ask any practicing dentist if they could maybe get an extra patient or 2 every year for a mere 200k. no way. a good dentist won't rely on anyone else's reputation but their own. they get buisness because people hear that they're good at what they do and they take good care of their patients and that's what matters.
 
Oracle DMD said:
OK, so ask any practicing dentist if they could maybe get an extra patient or 2 every year for a mere 200k. no way. a good dentist won't rely on anyone else's reputation but their own. they get buisness because people hear that they're good at what they do and they take good care of their patients and that's what matters.
Click to expand...

right but like i said, im considering it for life experience; not just the school
 
armorshell said:
Being locked in a room in Manhattan or SF for 4 years isn't that much different from being locked in a room in New Orleans. Except you pay 3x as much to do it.
Click to expand...


Well...... not LOCKED, as that would be kidnapping....
 
armorshell said:
Being locked in a room in Manhattan or SF for 4 years isn't that much different from being locked in a room in New Orleans. Except you pay 3x as much to do it.
Click to expand...

And in New Orleans you've got Acme's Oyster Bar! MMMM!
 
LSU-SD produces some of, if not the best clinicians. The hours of hands on work that you get there are far more than you will get at any other dental school. Because of the hurricane their facilities are now some of the best and as you pointed out the cost for in state is great. As far as wanting to move away to see more of the country my advice would be save the money and travel after you get out of dental school. Once you're in it's not like you're going to have a lot of free time anyway.
 
Pwndy said:
LSU-SD produces some of, if not the best clinicians. The hours of hands on work that you get there are far more than you will get at any other dental school. Because of the hurricane their facilities are now some of the best and as you pointed out the cost for in state is great. As far as wanting to move away to see more of the country my advice would be save the money and travel after you get out of dental school. Once you're in it's not like you're going to have a lot of free time anyway.
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Are you serious?? Do you have statistics on how many hours of hands on work you get at each school?

I'm not saying LSU isn't a good school by any means...I just don't understand how people can make statements like this as if they are fact.
 
everyone is making a compelling argument for LSU...i suppose i should make the smart choice...maybe ill splurge before going to dschool and spend a month in italy =)
 
LSU hands down. A dentist is a dentist. Paying 100k more for an education doesn't make it more prestigious, and it will have no bearing on your future. I think if you choose a private school you will be kicking yourself in four years.
 
ok agreed. lsu is by far the best choice. anyone know good spots to live OUTSIDE of the city? i wouldnt mind the commute but my gf/fiance hates the area (and she hates metarie...its where she grew up)
 
TheLoveMD said:
my summer courses would be coming out of my pocket because i am at max for student loans right now

in the end i know ill choose lsu, but ive always just wanted to branch out and idk i thought id get some opinions...seems like the most intelligent thing to do would be to go there...its definitely not a low ranked program and it would work well in my favor to do so...i guess ill apply a few other places next year and see where i get in and what scholarships i get and go from there...i suppose its a long road ahead until i can actually make thisw decision lol
Click to expand...

So this is all hypothetical, well in that case go were you get in.
 
Skygrandpager said:
So this is all hypothetical, well in that case go were you get in.
Click to expand...

well, the reason i ask is because i am confident enough to think that ill have my pick...i want just be trying to get in, but ill have options..thats the point of this thread

i hope i dont come off cocky, i just think highly enough of my intellectual abilities as well as my people skills
 
TheLoveMD said:
well, the reason i ask is because i am confident enough to think that ill have my pick...i want just be trying to get in, but ill have options..thats the point of this thread

i hope i dont come off cocky, i just think highly enough of my intellectual abilities as well as my people skills
Click to expand...

That DID come off cocky. Recommend taking a bite of humble pie.
 
subdoc said:
That DID come off cocky. Recommend taking a bite of humble pie.
Click to expand...

i dont see how its cocky...i have a 4.0 and if my practice DATs match my actual DAT score ill have sumthin like a 23/23/20 with decent ECs and LORs so i think its pretty good

i dont think im above anyone else but i think ive worked my a** off to get where i am
 
TheLoveMD said:
i dont see how its cocky...i have a 4.0 and if my practice DATs match my actual DAT score ill have sumthin like a 23/23/20 with decent ECs and LORs so i think its pretty good

i dont think im above anyone else but i think ive worked my a** off to get where i am
Click to expand...

i've seen people with similar stats turned down. confidance is key, cocky is devestating. good luck.
 
TheLoveMD said:
i dont see how its cocky...i have a 4.0 and if my practice DATs match my actual DAT score ill have sumthin like a 23/23/20 with decent ECs and LORs so i think its pretty good

i dont think im above anyone else but i think ive worked my a** off to get where i am
Click to expand...

There are several cases of people on both SDN and predents with STELLAR stats who have no offers. Just a hunch, but I am willing to bet they are hard-working overachievers too. So, yes...it is cocky.

Confidence is believing you will get in because you know you have worked exceptionally hard to get where you are. Cockiness is knowing you will have the pick of the litter due to your "intellectual abilities and people skills." Pssst...take it from someone who has worked for the past 13 years with the epitome of type-A, overachievers who were all top of their class and all in the top percent of their peer groups...cockiness does NOT equal people skills. Cockiness tends to result in your karma running over someone's dogma which alienates you from your group.

I hope I am wrong and you have your pick.
 
"I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal"
-Ron Burgundy
 
alanan84 said:
"I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal"
-Ron Burgundy
Click to expand...

i wrote this line for myself...

lol, but no in all seriousness; its way too easy to get confidence and cockiness mixed up

the reason i believe ill do well is because stats arent the only thing i represent; i find myself well-rounded enough to be a complete package

now that isnt to say that im the perfect candidate who gets everything i want...ive had enough happen in my life to let me know already that life throws you curveballs and sometimes its just plain not fair...that being said, i think my chances would be highly favorable

i didnt mean to throw the light onto myself about "how great i am", i was just trying to put my "hypothetical" situation into perspective

i hope this doesnt turn into a bashing thread...lord knows i had enough of those on the pre-med forum (previous pre-med turned pre-dent)
 
TheLoveMD said:
well, the reason i ask is because i am confident enough to think that ill have my pick...i want just be trying to get in, but ill have options..thats the point of this thread

i hope i dont come off cocky, i just think highly enough of my intellectual abilities as well as my people skills
Click to expand...

man, now I feel like I've wasted my sweet top-notch advice.
 
I think this discussion is pointless since you have not got in to either an in-state school or a prestigious private school. You also cannot equate what you got on practice DAT exams to the real one. They are two different beasts.

If it comes a point where you can actually choose between in-state or private, the decision should not solely be based on cost. Yes, you will become a dentist from any dental schools, but not all schools are created equal. Some schools will prepare you to be a better dentist or a better candidate to go into specialization. Learn as much as you can from the school (online and during the interview), then make your decision based on which school will enable you to be the most successful.

Good luck!!!
 
jj007 said:
I think this discussion is pointless since you have not got in to either an in-state school or a prestigious private school. You also cannot equate what you got on practice DAT exams to the real one. They are two different beasts.

If it comes a point where you can actually choose between in-state or private, the decision should not solely be based on cost. Yes, you will become a dentist from any dental schools, but not all schools are created equal. Some schools will prepare you to be a better dentist or a better candidate to go into specialization. Learn as much as you can from the school (online and during the interview), then make your decision based on which school will enable you to be the most successful.

Good luck!!!
Click to expand...

well how often do you spend thinking about your future?

if the answer is little to none then i feel sorry for you

thinking about the years ahead is the reason why i work so hard. dreams are the best motivators and the best mindset to have IMO is being able to plan the course of action that will get you to your goals...why make a low ball offer to yourself when you know your capable of much more?

that is where i am coming from, and if you find that too idealistic or naive, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion

also, ive read alot of forums about practice DATs, and many of them can relate to actual DAT scores if you take enough...it snot like these tests are designed to NOT prepare you for the DAT

but thanks for the advice. i appreciate all opinions and points of view😀

👍
 
TheLoveMD said:
How do you know where to go?
-lets pretend location/satisfaction with DS program are only slight factors

i am mulling this over right now...my state school is dirt cheap (LSU), one of the cheapest in the nation, but ive always wanted to go to some place with a high class reputation

any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Cheaper state school all day long.....You WILL regret it.....I can assure you when you are paying an extra $1500 EVERY month for 10 years....Mark my words...
 
Last edited:
You can always market yourself later.

Save money (DEBT!!) now!!!!

Go to the cheapest school you can, and then spend the time and energy, and money (if necessary!) on advertising later.

Just market. Dentistry is a BUSINESS!!

Why spend 3x more on Harvard when your local state school will get you licensed?

Find the right cute chick in your neighborhood and make the right ad...

That's as valuable as a specialty if you do it right.
 
Wait you're not even accepted yet, but you're already debating where you should choose between? That doesn't make sense
 
DrDientes said:
Wait you're not even accepted yet, but you're already debating where you should choose between? That doesn't make sense
Click to expand...

its about what schools i should consider

apparently im the only predent who plans ahead?
 
TheLoveMD said:
its about what schools i should consider

apparently im the only predent who plans ahead?
Click to expand...

Well for what it's worth, I don't feel you're attitude is 'cocky.' Given your stats I'd say you're just being realistic, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with planning ahead.

All I'd say is don't get too far ahead of yourself, because the interview is very important at some schools, and make sure you apply to a few less competitive programs "just in case."

Also, stick with SDN. Despite the egos, pointless flaming and trolling, there is a lot of good information to be had here if you're willing to spend the time to sift it out.
 
armorshell said:
Well for what it's worth, I don't feel you're attitude is 'cocky.' Given your stats I'd say you're just being realistic, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with planning ahead.

All I'd say is don't get too far ahead of yourself, because the interview is very important at some schools, and make sure you apply to a few less competitive programs "just in case."

Also, stick with SDN. Despite the egos, pointless flaming and trolling, there is a lot of good information to be had here if you're willing to spend the time to sift it out.
Click to expand...

thanks. i wont drop the forums! i love this site😀
 
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