Clinical vs. Academic Focus – Which Path is Better? Need Advice ASAP

[YogurtYosi]

Hello all,

I’m currently deciding between two dental schools—The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and NEOMED's Bitonte College of Dentistry—and I’d love to hear insights from practicing dentists, dental students, or anyone with experience in the field. From what I’ve gathered, OSU has a strong academic focus, emphasizing specialization and research, that has been teaching a huge amount of dentists around Ohio and the world since 1914 while NEOMED is heavily geared toward clinical experience, aiming to make students as comfortable and prepared as possible for practice. My ultimate goal is to run my own dental office, so I’m trying to determine which path would best prepare me for that. If you’ve been in a similar situation or have thoughts on how different approaches to dental education impacted your career, I’d really appreciate hearing your perspective!

NEOMED has been an established medical school since 1973 which has a steady USMLE pass rate that is the same if not a little higher than the National percentage for each year and a high match rate. It also has been a pharmacy school since 2005, Its brand-new dental program has its initial accreditation and just needs the inaugural class to graduate to complete that final step. They plan on using their medical/pharmaceutical professors to teach the science courses. I am not siding, I would just like to make it known that it is not just some building that was thrown up in the middle of nowhere and is just calling itself a dental school.

Seems what I understand between the two:
OSU:

• Focus: Strong academic foundation, research, and specialization opportunities.
• Clinical Exposure: More traditional clinical experience timeline, in the third year of the curriculum.
• Specialization: Strong support for students interested in specializing.
• Curriculum: Academically demanding, with a strong emphasis on research and didactic learning.
• Ideal for: Students interested in specializing or pursuing advanced education.
• Location: 4 hours away from my parents in downtown Columbus, OH.
• Class size: 120
• Cost of attendance: Both are virtually the same.
• Seems to be geared toward residency/corporate practice
• Practicing and getting connections strictly with their faculty (Why it may help to specialize). Most things at the clinic are done by residents/specializing students, not the dental students.
• Patients to meet your requirements are passed down by upperclassmen/you have to advertise and find your own.

NEOMED:

• Focus: Heavy emphasis on clinical experience and hands-on training
• Clinical Exposure: Early and intensive clinical exposure to ensure students are comfortable in practice I am talking D1 year you are all around the area at different locations.
• Specialization: Primarily focused on general dentistry and clinical preparedness and no specialty programs at the school.
• Curriculum: More clinically driven, with a focus on real-world patient interactions.
• Ideal for: Students who want to feel highly confident in clinical practice upon graduation.
• Location: 1.30 hours away from my parents.
• Class size: 50
• Cost of attendance: Both are virtually the same.
• Provide courses on practice management.
• Currently affiliated with like 20 different hospitals and will be working alongside these professionals to make those connections.
• Patients will be provided to you at these different locations and onsite clinics.

Thank you for your valuable insight.

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[Big Time Hoosier]

OSU without question.

Big Hoss

 

[Saddleshoes]

#1 ---- I have worked with OSU dentists many times in the pass, ALL were very good operators.
#2 ---- All new schools have problems and you will have holes training.
#3-----New schools never flunk anyone out in the first class or two.