Columbia vs. Buffalo

[DentalMan123]

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Which is a better overall school to attend? I am somewhat serious about specializing, a NY state resident, and I am not too concerned about money... more concerned about the quality of the education and options, etc.

 

[DentalMan123]

So at Buffalo, you need to be at the top 10% of your class in order to specialize.... but at Columbia, if you are in the top 50% (approx), you can still specialize, since they produce so many specialists (14 Orthos, etc.)....
is this true?
So definitely if you want to specialize, go to Columbia?

 

[Pennywisdom]

So at Buffalo, you need to be at the top 10% of your class in order to specialize.... but at Columbia, if you are in the top 50% (approx), you can still specialize, since they produce so many specialists (14 Orthos, etc.)....
is this true?
So definitely if you want to specialize, go to Columbia?

At UB about 15% of the class go to specialty programs. About 75% of the class go to GPR programs.

 

[DentalMan123]

At Columbia, 50% go to specialty programs and 47% go to GPR
Right?
So your chances for specialty are much better if you go to Columbia?

 

[Pennywisdom]

At Columbia, 50% go to specialty programs and 47% go to GPR
Right?
So your chances for specialty are much better if you go to Columbia?

It's not so much about chances, it's more about what the students prefer to do.

 

[dentalWorks]

So at Buffalo, you need to be at the top 10% of your class in order to specialize.... but at Columbia, if you are in the top 50% (approx), you can still specialize, since they produce so many specialists (14 Orthos, etc.)....
is this true?
So definitely if you want to specialize, go to Columbia?

my understanding has always been that specializing isn't so much related to the school but more so on your work ethic and determination during those 4 years.

 

[2ne1]

Which is a better overall school to attend? I am somewhat serious about specializing, a NY state resident, and I am not too concerned about money... more concerned about the quality of the education and options, etc.

If you are not worried about money and want to specialize, of course it's columbia! I feel many SDNers hate Ivies for some reason, but for situations like this, it is definitely Columbia.. 97% of the class go to post-doc program. It tells you Columbia does a great job in sending students to specialty programs. Anywhere you go, you need to work HARD to get into specialty program. You will be studying/competiting with highly motivated students and residency programs will recognize you are from Columbia..

 

[jon62690]

It's not so much about chances, it's more about what the students prefer to do.

This. Columbia students are the type who want to specialize, and they (as in the students) make that happen because they want it bad enough.

 

[amcmahon]

if this was really true, it just means 50% of colum class are gunners....

I felt the students were not very competitive with each other. All courses are Pass/Fail and its not on a curve so as long as you're driven you'll do fine.

 

[Montserrat]

The assumption you guys are making about Columbia students is off (but very funny) -- there is healthy competition anywhere you go. I wouldn't go to Buffalo expecting to walk your way to the top of the class, nor should you expect cut throat competition at Columbia. Generally though, I will say this --more people are able to specialize out of Columbia than other schools simply because we have a higher % of motivated and highly talented students than other schools as derived from admissions statistics. Talent coupled with drive is tough to beat. It's part school and part ingredients that allow for a solid specialization rate. It is important to note though that the drive to succeed does not necessitate being a jerk to your classmates.

 

[DentalMan123]

For those of you who voted for Columbia, could you please explain your reasoning for why Columbia over Buffalo for an NY resident?
The supporters for Buffalo seem to explain that cost is the factor.
What is the support for Columbia coming from?

 

[glo1984]

The assumption you guys are making about Columbia students is off (but very funny) -- there is healthy competition anywhere you go. I wouldn't go to Buffalo expecting to walk your way to the top of the class, nor should you expect cut throat competition at Columbia. Generally though, I will say this --more people are able to specialize out of Columbia than other schools simply because we have a higher % of motivated and highly talented students than other schools as derived from admissions statistics. Talent coupled with drive is tough to beat. It's part school and part ingredients that allow for a solid specialization rate. It is important to note though that the drive to succeed does not necessitate being a jerk to your classmates.

Well said.

 

[flapaTron]

do you just want to specialize for the sake of specializing? kind of sounds that way... (not to be too presuming or anything).

 

[armorshell]

Generally though, I will say this --more people are able to specialize out of Columbia than other schools simply because we have a higher % of motivated and highly talented students than other schools as derived from admissions statistics. Talent coupled with drive is tough to beat. It's part school and part ingredients that allow for a solid specialization rate. It is important to note though that the drive to succeed does not necessitate being a jerk to your classmates.

Post of the freaking year.

 

[pinetar321]

Honestly when I think of the word "gunner," I think of a person who is utterly unwilling to help his/her classmates academically achieve and will even go as far as sabotaging or confusing them to their own gain. Our class at columbia is pretty chill I might add. Of course you always have one or two bad apples, but on the most part when you come to columbia, the faculty congratulate you and welcome you as their colleagues. We are encouraged not to compare ourselves to each other, but rather to encourage each other to become better, because were all going to be in this field together. So corny, but I buy into it.

So to answer the gunner question, its really not a big deal. If you want it bad, work as hard as you can and nobody will sabatoge you here

 

[Regmata]

You do not need to be in the top 10 or even 15% in Buffalo to specialize. Furthermore, the top students from Buffalo often don't specialize. Not everyone wants to spend more time in training following dental school. Whether or not you are able to specialize will have more to do with what you accomplish in dental school, than the actual school you choose attend.

 

[kitejunky27]

The above post makes good points but is also true here. Not everyone in the top half of the class wants to specialize. Sure driven students can do well anywhere but I have a hard time believing that people in the bottom half of most dental schools can be competitive for the more selective specialties.

There is no way to prove it, but i feel like there has to be something more then just we are "smarter, more driven, or more hardworking" then other dental students and thats why we specialize more. Some of the smartest people I know go to state schools since cheaper is such a selling point.

 

[dentalWorks]

You do not need to be in the top 10 or even 15% in Buffalo to specialize. Furthermore, the top students from Buffalo often don't specialize. Not everyone wants to spend more time in training following dental school. Whether or not you are able to specialize will have more to do with what you accomplish in dental school, than the actual school you choose attend.

Thats exactly what my sister said after D school "I don't wanna go through more schooling".... She ranked 3rd in her class

 

[ToothBlaster]

Was there a final verdict?

 

[MedDevil]

Was there a final verdict?

In the end, it's still all up to you. Take what you will from the previous posts to help guide your decision but no one will tell you where to go.

 

[Maygyver]

Was there a final verdict?

Buffalo.

 

[ToothBlaster]

Buffalo.

Why?
You go to Columbia though? lol

 

[Maygyver]

Why?
You go to Columbia though? lol

Because you would save 200k?

 

[rockclock]

Why?
You go to Columbia though? lol

keen eye. good catch, blaster. May's obviously playing mind games...he's clearly intimidated by a fellow student as astute and decisive as yourself. I say splurge on the extra 200K for columbia, that'll show him.

100% SARCASM

 

[TheOMSProject]

Because you would save 200k?

But you chose Columbia over OSU. I heard OSU has a good program as well.

Anyway, I think both are great programs. You can't go wrong with either.

 

[Maygyver]

But you chose Columbia over OSU. I heard OSU has a good program as well.

Anyway, I think both are great programs. You can't go wrong with either.

OSU isn't as cheap as Buffalo I don't believe. Plus I don't want to go to the same school for 8 years. Plus, I also didn't have to make a thread about it. He obviously has no huge favorite, so money would be the smart decision maker.

 

[TheOMSProject]

OSU isn't as cheap as Buffalo I don't believe. Plus I don't want to go to the same school for 8 years. Plus, I also didn't have to make a thread about it. He obviously has no huge favorite, so money would be the smart decision maker.

Fair enough.