Cheaper school or better school?

[jjdd]

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I have received a few offers for schools. But now I am faced with the decision of deciding where to go (Not a bad problem at all!). Would you choose the cheaper public school? Or go with the more expensive private school? Overall I like the private school much better and think it has much more to offer as a dental school but I have heard from various dentists that you should choose the cheaper option. Any thoughts/input? Thanks!

Considering MWU-AZ or UNLV.

Accepted to MWU-AZ, UNLV, LECOM, and WesternU.

 

[Weakfart]

You might find your answer in the search bar up above.

 

[HatInTheCat]

Awesome!!! What are your stats?

 

[woodwcr]

I am facing the same dilemma. I am trying to decide between Midwestern-Arizona and University of Washington. I agree that Midwestern seemed like an incredible school, but I can't get over the price. My calculations showed that I would make approximately $3750 a month with Midwestern (after income tax, loan payments, and tithing for my church), or $4750 with UW. I think it comes down to two things. First off, will you be happier at Midwestern? Will the greater happiness at Midwestern be greater than the increased happiness you might have over the next ten years paying off your smaller loan if you went to the in-state school? Second, will Midwestern make you a much better dentist than UNLV? Will making you that much better of a dentist allow you to make back the extra money you paid? In most cases I doubt it. I am trying to make the same decision myself. Tell me what you decide.

 

[jjdd]

Awesome!!! What are your stats?

Thanks! 3.9 GPA, 20AA 20 TS 23 PAT.

 

[krdeuce]

I'm deciding that same thing except between Midwestern and Creighton, I go back and forth every day

 

[Dental990DDS]

Most of the time, the cheaper the better!

Sincerely,

Dental student who will be in debt for ~400K

 

[Daneosaurus]

I think only those who interviewed at MWU-AZ can possibly understand. That school really is something. I chose Pitt, but I haven't put the the deposit down yet, nor have I officially declined MWU-AZ. The price tag is huge, but that school has a ton to offer.

 

[Realitydentalstudent]

I would honestly go to the cheaper school. Dental school curriculum is not fun where ever you go. Basically, in the end it is not about how happy you are with each school's curriculum, its about which will make you less miserable. I don't know if there is an accurate way of really comparing two schools curriculum unless you speak to people who have repeated years by transferring.

Also, in the end you will be DMDs/DDSs, no better no worse.

 

[zero0]

Cheaper, unless you're trying to specialize.

 

[Silent Cool]

I am facing the same dilemma. I am trying to decide between Midwestern-Arizona and University of Washington. I agree that Midwestern seemed like an incredible school, but I can't get over the price. My calculations showed that I would make approximately $3750 a month with Midwestern (after income tax, loan payments, and tithing for my church), or $4750 with UW. I think it comes down to two things. First off, will you be happier at Midwestern? Will the greater happiness at Midwestern be greater than the increased happiness you might have over the next ten years paying off your smaller loan if you went to the in-state school? Second, will Midwestern make you a much better dentist than UNLV? Will making you that much better of a dentist allow you to make back the extra money you paid? In most cases I doubt it. I am trying to make the same decision myself. Tell me what you decide.

You are actually debating between UW and Midwestern? Not only is UW a much better school, but it is far cheaper! The decision should be a no-brainer.

 

[Silent Cool]

I have received a few offers for schools. But now I am faced with the decision of deciding where to go (Not a bad problem at all!). Would you choose the cheaper public school? Or go with the more expensive private school? Overall I like the private school much better and think it has much more to offer as a dental school but I have heard from various dentists that you should choose the cheaper option. Any thoughts/input? Thanks!

Considering MWU-AZ or UNLV.

Accepted to MWU-AZ, UNLV, LECOM, and WesternU.

Are you in-state for UNLV?

 

[jwan14]

IMO, I don't know any legitimate reasons people would go to a more expensive school unless the cheaper one was known to be a poor school and I don't know of too many of those in the U.S. It is an absolute no brainer for me to choose the school that I will have around $200k of debt over the one that will cost be $400k. THAT IS SO MUCH MONEY! Yes, I love the fact that I'll be a healthcare provider, but I'm trying to make a comfortable living for my family as well.

 

[Daneosaurus]

IMO, I don't know any legitimate reasons people would go to a more expensive school unless the cheaper one was known to be a poor school and I don't know of too many of those in the U.S. It is an absolute no brainer for me to choose the school that I will have around $200k of debt over the one that will cost be $400k. THAT IS SO MUCH MONEY! Yes, I love the fact that I'll be a healthcare provider, but I'm trying to make a comfortable living for my family as well.

I agree with this. Less debt is always better.

 

[km18]

I have been accepted to SIU and am not really considering it because of the area, reputation, and the general feel or the school that I did not like. The cost of tuition and fees for 4 years there is so cheap at 175,000 for four years. I am ultimately deciding between Marquette and Nova (leaning toward Marquette bc of 10,000 scholarship). Marquette will be roughly 230,000 by the end of four years even if I do not get any more scholarship. Neither of these include living expenses. Would you say that is that huge of a difference? I don't want to be in debt forever but also want to be happy in dental school and not in a small town (not my preference).

 

[Dipdoc]

IMO, I don't know any legitimate reasons people would go to a more expensive school unless the cheaper one was known to be a poor school and I don't know of too many of those in the U.S. It is an absolute no brainer for me to choose the school that I will have around $200k of debt over the one that will cost be $400k. THAT IS SO MUCH MONEY! Yes, I love the fact that I'll be a healthcare provider, but I'm trying to make a comfortable living for my family as well.

What about people facing 200K debt vs 250K debt, state school vs Ivy?

 

[yeslek88]

What about people facing 200K debt vs 250K debt, state school vs Ivy?

Depends if you want to specialize, how nice the facilities are at your state school (since I've heard the ivys clinics aren't great, may or may not be true), and really just personal preference. $50,000 extra is nothing to sneeze at, but I don't think its so much extra that it prohibits you from choosing the school you like better.

 

[jwan14]

Everyone is different. I'm not sure that's a big enough difference to use money as the deciding factor. I personally would go to the state school because I don't care about going to an Ivy league dental school. Maybe if we were talking about law school or business school, but not dental. I'll be able to do the procedures just as well if I apply myself and work on my skills as I would going Ivy. Again, that's my opinion, which is all online forums are for haha.

 

[jjdd]

Are you in-state for UNLV?

I am not an instate resident. But according to UNLV, Nevada allows you to gain residency after attending school there for a year. So I would pay out of state tuition for the first year (about $6,000 more than Midwestern) but the following three years would drop down to normal in state tuition, making it overall a cheaper option.

 

[KittySquared]

Go with the cheaper option. You can specialize out of any dental school.