Columbia vs. State School

[cmills66]

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i am weighing my options for dental school and at this point, i have narrowed them down to columbia and buffalo. it seems as though many SDNers have agreed that price is the main consideration. i honestly liked the school/curriculum and the advantage that it holds if i decide that i want to specialize in the future. Buffalo is cheap (cost wise), and the consensus is that you get great clinical skills/own chair. i was just curious to see if others have had a similar decision between a state school and columbia/penn, what you chose and why? thanks guys.

 

[sajjy]

i am weighing my options for dental school and at this point, i have narrowed them down to columbia and buffalo. it seems as though many SDNers have agreed that price is the main consideration. i honestly liked the school/curriculum and the advantage that it holds if i decide that i want to specialize in the future. Buffalo is cheap (cost wise), and the consensus is that you get great clinical skills/own chair. i was just curious to see if others have had a similar decision between a state school and columbia/penn, what you chose and why? thanks guys.

I am not sure how much is the cost difference between Columbia and Buffalo but there are some other remarkable differences:
1) Columbia is H/P/F while Buffalo is graded. Personally after being in D school for 4 months, I would take P/F over grading in a heart beat.
2) How much of medicine do you like? If you like studying medicine for two years then its Columbia otherwise take Buffalo.
3) I would take Buffalo over Penn though because of cost (Penn is graded so might as well go to a cheaper school), but that's just me.

 

[reapply2007]

Columbia has a pretty high specialization rate. I don't know if this is because the school beats everyone to death with core sciences or if the clinical education leaves students no choice but to specialize. Personally, cost is the largest consideration.

 

[cmills66]

thanks guys, i am planning on asking the dentists that i shadowed, but im pretty sure what they're going to say. they all graduated from UB!

 

[TJNova2011]

Normally I'd say "go to the cheaper school"

But the P/F system would be awesome. Hell with the % system, every point matters.

 

[Regmata]

P/F means spec programs rely heavily on boards and LOR for slots. Better slay the NBDEs, be clinically good and a great kiss ass. BUT, you don't have to work as hard throughout school to maintain rank...

 

[Istr8nthem]

P/F means spec programs rely heavily on boards and LOR for slots. Better slay the NBDEs, be clinically good and a great kiss ass. BUT, you don't have to work as hard throughout school to maintain rank...

And when the boards go to P/F, better slay whatever admission exam the specialties decide to conjure up and consider gospel....

 

[gryffindor]

Normally I'd say "go to the cheaper school"

But the P/F system would be awesome. Hell with the % system, every point matters.

An earlier poster mentioned that Columbia H/P/F which is not the same as P/F. Choose the cheaper school of the ones you mentioned. I did nearly a decade ago and don't regret it. Students graduate and go on to specialize from UB every year. Columbia just likes to advertise it more.

 

[Istr8nthem]

The previous poster (gryff), and myself are both Buffalo grads turned ortho residents/grads telling you from experience that the ability to specialize, the cost, and the experience at Buffalo should not be discounted. Coming out of school with half to 1/3 the price tag is a HUGE deal. Not to mention specialty programs can add on another 60K a year depending on the specialty and program you match at.

 

[toothlover]

I'm having a hard time deciding between columbia and stony brook. I really like the H/P/F system and want to keep my options open if i do choose to specialize. do you guys think i will have the same chance at getting into specialty programs if i go to stony brook? i also really like cost of stony brook and their emphasis on clinical training. which one would you choose if you were me? i appreciate any advice!

 

[gegogi]

I'm having a hard time deciding between columbia and stony brook. I really like the H/P/F system and want to keep my options open if i do choose to specialize. do you guys think i will have the same chance at getting into specialty programs if i go to stony brook? i also really like cost of stony brook and their emphasis on clinical training. which one would you choose if you were me? i appreciate any advice!

def. cheaper school. Nobody see you as an ivy leaguer unless you went to ivy league UNDERGRADUATE.

 

[TheWiredNerv]

I don't understand why most people here think they can't specialize unless they go to a specific school.

Only people who go to Columbia or UConn specialize. All other dental schools block you from specializing because they say so.

 

[buzpuck11]

I don't understand why most people here think they can't specialize unless they go to a specific school.

Only people who go to Columbia or UConn specialize. All other dental schools block you from specializing because they say so.

👍 I think too much emphasis is put on going to a specific school with the intention of specializing. I think it is up to the student to make the most of their respective school and perform well. All schools will make you a dentist and/or a specialist if you so choose in the end.

 

[MTD52]

👍 I think too much emphasis is put on going to a specific school with the intention of specializing. I think it is up to the student to make the most of their respective school and perform well. All schools will make you a dentist and/or a specialist if you so choose in the end.

Well said. Everyone just wants the security I think.

 

[jay47]

👍 I think too much emphasis is put on going to a specific school with the intention of specializing. I think it is up to the student to make the most of their respective school and perform well. All schools will make you a dentist and/or a specialist if you so choose in the end.

Right, just some schools do it a lot cheaper than others!

 

[tooth knockn]

Bump

 

[diasIItema]

I chose my state school over Harvard and Columbia. Choosing a school based on its potential to help you specialize in the future is about the most ignorant and inadvisable reason to choose a school as a pre-dent; you honestly have no idea of your actual ability to succeed or true desire to specialize at this point. Dental school is dental school. One can accomplish the same path from any school. Cost and fulfillment should be your primary considerations. Everything else is probably pre-dent ignorant speculation. If given 1000 more opportunities, I'd choose my state school every time. I absolutely love it!

 

[KittySquared]

I chose my state school over Harvard and Columbia. Choosing a school based on its potential to help you specialize in the future is about the most ignorant and inadvisable reason to choose a school as a pre-dent; you honestly have no idea of your actual ability to succeed or true desire to specialize at this point. Dental school is dental school. One can accomplish the same path from any school. Cost and fulfillment should be your primary considerations. Everything else is probably pre-dent ignorant speculation. If given 1000 more opportunities, I'd choose my state school every time. I absolutely love it!

Thank you. Glad there are reasonable people on this board. The specialty and Ivy League worshipping predents can be overwhelming. It's like they can't fathom how anyone not from an Ivy League dental school can specialize lol

 

[predent12]

I chose my state school over Harvard and Columbia. Choosing a school based on its potential to help you specialize in the future is about the most ignorant and inadvisable reason to choose a school as a pre-dent; you honestly have no idea of your actual ability to succeed or true desire to specialize at this point. Dental school is dental school. One can accomplish the same path from any school. Cost and fulfillment should be your primary considerations. Everything else is probably pre-dent ignorant speculation. If given 1000 more opportunities, I'd choose my state school every time. I absolutely love it!

Out of curiosity... Which dental school do you go to? I love that you are so excited about your school! 😀

 

[tizom]

I currently @ Buffalo

- the P/F vs. grading --- that is huge for Columbia, the grades and gunners are vicious
- Buffalo is a great school with a great atmosphere, solid patient pool, faculty are awesome and the price is right.
- our current senior class - everyone who wanted to specialize, matched. except 1 IDP I think..
- any other specific Buffalo questions, inbox me