Columbia vs UCLA

[xhamburgersamx]

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Why does everyone want to do Ortho when the real money is in perio implants.

 

[jlee1986]

what's the competition like at each school? i think i've heard at ucla it's pretty relaxed and classmates tend to help each other out..is it the same at columbia?

sorry if this info is available on another thread (if it is, could you give me the link?)..

thanks guys!

 

[Danny289]

Why does everyone want to do Ortho when the real money is in perio implants.

because it has shorter resediency. 🙂( if just money is matter)

 

[tooth hurty]

Have you checked this thread out? http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=401980 . It's the one where everyone answers questions about their dental school. Both the Columbia and UCLA person said that their classes are not super competitive with each other and everyone helps each other out.

 

[allstardentist]

Have you checked this thread out? http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=401980 . It's the one where everyone answers questions about their dental school. Both the Columbia and UCLA person said that their classes are not super competitive with each other and everyone helps each other out.

dont believe it too much. all the top dental schools, including UCLA and Columbia, are going to be super competitive period. But it's not like people are trying to kill each other. People do help each other out and share resources, but the fact is that most of the people study their ass off. So it's a healthy competition.

If you want to achieve big things like ortho or omfs or wahtever, you will have to work your ass off. That's it.

All the good things in life are hard to get. It doesn't change in dental school.

 

[Chops]

what's the competition like at each school? i think i've heard at ucla it's pretty relaxed and classmates tend to help each other out..is it the same at columbia?

The only thing I have to judge on is what I heard from the students at the lunches. At UCLA, three out of the four people said that their classes were helpful towards each other and sent out notes and stuff like that. The fourth one said that her class was pretty cutthroat, but she seemed like she was a cutthroat kind of person, so maybe that biased her answer.

At Columbia, the people I talked to were all from one class, and they said that their class helped each other a lot, sent out notes, and tutored each other when they needed it. So I'd say the two schools were about even.

 

[caloriefree]

I've heard from a D4 at Columbia that competition does get fierce among people who intend to specialize, because they shoot for the honor grade (i'm not sure, however, that if tests are curved at columbia) but as someone else said above, i guess one has to work the butt off regardless of where he/she goes in order to specialize. so, jlee, are you leaning towards either of the programs after listening to the people's advice on sdn? gl

 

[Chomp]

I've heard from a D4 at Columbia that competition does get fierce among people who intend to specialize, because they shoot for the honor grade (i'm not sure, however, that if tests are curved at columbia) but as someone else said above, i guess one has to work the butt off regardless of where he/she goes in order to specialize. so, jlee, are you leaning towards either of the programs after listening to the people's advice on sdn? gl

There are gunners are at every school. I say, learn to love/hate them lol. But, don't let the level of competitiveness scare you away! Seems like both schools are pretty equal in your eyes. Just go with your gut feeling and go where you will be happiest.

 

[fightfightfight]

a student i talked to while i was at ucla actually said that the EPR's (equivalent to the honor marks) don't really matter when applying to specialty schools...

can anyone who is at columbia/has graduated recently verify on the class ranking system at columbia (top, middle, bottom 1/3)? also, if you were in this "bottom 1/3" of your class, would your chance of specializing be slim to none?

If you are applying to the specialty programs at UCLA they will look at your EPRs. Also I heard that you can request to have them sent out to other specialty programs that you apply to. There is some sort of ranking but the students dont get to know it because the Dean of student Affairs always writes a cover letter for those who apply to specialty and she "hints at your position in the class". Also I believe there is honors at graduation determined by the rank.

 

[aka47g]

a student i talked to while i was at ucla actually said that the EPR's (equivalent to the honor marks) don't really matter when applying to specialty schools...

can anyone who is at columbia/has graduated recently verify on the class ranking system at columbia (top, middle, bottom 1/3)? also, if you were in this "bottom 1/3" of your class, would your chance of specializing be slim to none?

From what I understand, only dean and you'll know where you stand. Post grad program will have your transcript with P and H, and dean's recommendation letter. I was told that dean would write 'very highly recommended or highly recommended or recommended' but dean would not write your percentage or rank in the letter. That means unless students from same school applied to same specialty program, they can't distinguish each other. I hope this helps.

 

[seaweed719]

a student i talked to while i was at ucla actually said that the EPR's (equivalent to the honor marks) don't really matter when applying to specialty schools...

can anyone who is at columbia/has graduated recently verify on the class ranking system at columbia (top, middle, bottom 1/3)? also, if you were in this "bottom 1/3" of your class, would your chance of specializing be slim to none?

Weird. While I was at UCLA for the interview, some UCLA students told us the honor grades do matter when applying to specialty programs. Granted your number of H's may not be the most important criterion they look at, but naturally it seems to help if you have more honor grades.

 

[cwebb4]

Weird. While I was at UCLA for the interview, some UCLA students told us the honor grades do matter when applying to specialty programs. Granted your number of H's may not be the most important criterion they look at, but naturally it seems to help if you have more honor grades.

It's true that getting more H is good and it will look better for sure.
But even if you don't honor every class, high board score can lead you to the next level. P/F schools (including honors) do have an advantage b/c they don't have an exact rank for residency director and even if they do get less honors, they can increase a chance by getting higher board score.

 

[jlee1986]

I've heard from a D4 at Columbia that competition does get fierce among people who intend to specialize, because they shoot for the honor grade (i'm not sure, however, that if tests are curved at columbia) but as someone else said above, i guess one has to work the butt off regardless of where he/she goes in order to specialize. so, jlee, are you leaning towards either of the programs after listening to the people's advice on sdn? gl

ugh, i really don't know. everytime i hear positive things about ucla, i lean in that direction; everytime i hear positive things about columbia, i go the other way...

i just e-mailed dr. davis at columbia and he mentioned that pre-clincal and dental courses will start early in the first year; this is contrary to what many have been saying on sdn, saying that students won't be doing anything dental related until half-way into their second year, so that was comforting. also, i think i want to specialize, but i'm not 100% sure and i want to keep my options open for later.

for ucla: does the dental school offer a joint dds/mph program? i tried looking for it on the website but wasn't able to find it.

for both schools--are dental students allowed to be involved in research that is outside the dental school (i.e. medical school, etc.)?

 

[hattrack04]

ugh, i really don't know. everytime i hear positive things about ucla, i lean in that direction; everytime i hear positive things about columbia, i go the other way...

i just e-mailed dr. davis at columbia and he mentioned that pre-clincal and dental courses will start early in the first year; this is contrary to what many have been saying on sdn, saying that students won't be doing anything dental related until half-way into their second year, so that was comforting. also, i think i want to specialize, but i'm not 100% sure and i want to keep my options open for later.

for ucla: does the dental school offer a joint dds/mph program? i tried looking for it on the website but wasn't able to find it.

for both schools--are dental students allowed to be involved in research that is outside the dental school (i.e. medical school, etc.)?

Regarding the EPR's.....they do and don't matter. They DO NOT show up on your transcript. So you could have one or 40 and no specialty program will know. They will only know the number that you may include in your application or personal statement. They do matter if you want to make the dean's list or possibly a solid letter or rec, I'd assume...I haven't gotten that far to really prove that. But all in all, I consider them more of a bonus than anything. If I get one, great. If I don't, no biggie, because it's not like it shows up on my transcript.

regarding the joint dds/mph question: I don't know..call student affairs..but I think you will soon realize that dental school itself pretty much consumes all of your time. I don't see how you could ever consider doing a dual degree during your first 2 years. Maybe 3rd and 4th year, maybe. But there is one of my classmates doing a joint dds/masters in science......I don't know how he does it though

And I'm sure you could do research outside of school if you'd like....but again....this is not undergrad anymore.....I am at school now from 8-6 just about every day...and thats before I even begin to try and study for upcoming quizzes / exams........

But I'm really starting to like it at UCLA.....have a ton of cool classmates, people share notes, and I don't feel any cut-throat competition.....only competition in the sense that we all want to do well so we all study hard...

 

[Waitlisted2009]

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[NyCzPeter]

UCLA dude! Bruce Lee went there!

 

[jlee1986]

Regarding the EPR's.....they do and don't matter. They DO NOT show up on your transcript. So you could have one or 40 and no specialty program will know. They will only know the number that you may include in your application or personal statement. They do matter if you want to make the dean's list or possibly a solid letter or rec, I'd assume...I haven't gotten that far to really prove that. But all in all, I consider them more of a bonus than anything. If I get one, great. If I don't, no biggie, because it's not like it shows up on my transcript.

regarding the joint dds/mph question: I don't know..call student affairs..but I think you will soon realize that dental school itself pretty much consumes all of your time. I don't see how you could ever consider doing a dual degree during your first 2 years. Maybe 3rd and 4th year, maybe. But there is one of my classmates doing a joint dds/masters in science......I don't know how he does it though

And I'm sure you could do research outside of school if you'd like....but again....this is not undergrad anymore.....I am at school now from 8-6 just about every day...and thats before I even begin to try and study for upcoming quizzes / exams........

But I'm really starting to like it at UCLA.....have a ton of cool classmates, people share notes, and I don't feel any cut-throat competition.....only competition in the sense that we all want to do well so we all study hard...

8-6 sounds kinda intense lol. i'm guessing that it's gonna be like that even at columbia..or maybe not?

also, regarding research: did you mean dental students are allowed to do research not only through the dental school but also, for example, the medical school? and i know ucla does school year round where at columbia you have the first summer off-- when do ucla students usually do research (maybe 3rd or 4th year)? the thought of going to school year round for 4 years doesn't appeal to me..

 

[charlestweed]

When I was at UCLA (many years ago), every student was required to do research in order to graduate. We started doing research in the spring quarter of our 1st year. And presented our projects toward the end of our 3rd year.

Because of the P/F system and the research opportunity at UCLA, I was able to get 7 ortho interviews and got accepted to the ortho program of my choice. As Hattrak04 pointed out, honor passes don't show up on the transcript. Until now, I still don't know where I ranked in my class….top 10? bottom 10? or in the middle?

Both Columbia and UCLA are P/F schools. You should have a good chance of specializing at either school. Hopefully, the board won't change to P/F in 2010.

 

[jlee1986]

hey guys!

so i finally decided on my original choice, columbia-- thank you guys so much for your help! my main reason for going to columbia was the fact that i wanted to be closer to my friends and family and also cause i felt more comfortable there. i know i would've loved ucla too, but my gut feeling said otherwise..

thanks again 🙂

 

[hellokittydds]

At UCLA they said with their new curriculum students aren't in class/at school from 8am-6pm...the new curriculum is supposed to give them two half days -
This is what I remember, can anyone confirm?

 

[seaweed719]

At UCLA they said with their new curriculum students aren't in class/at school from 8am-6pm...the new curriculum is supposed to give them two half days -
This is what I remember, can anyone confirm?

Yeah, that's what I heard too. A first year student there told us the new curriculum was more streamlined and gave them more self study time.

 

[fightfightfight]

yes its true. Normally you get one or two days a week where you get to sleep in aka class at 9a or 10a instead of 8 and you would get a day or two when you are out at 12p usually one if the days is a friday. Also there are some classes where the class are spilt up into 3 groups and depending on what week it is you may or may not have to go to class during a certain time slot.

 

[Shunwei]

ugh, i really don't know. everytime i hear positive things about ucla, i lean in that direction; everytime i hear positive things about columbia, i go the other way...

This is why I never answer inquiries dealing with "Oh, please tell me about the school. I can't decide between School X and School Y." It is much more useful to do your own careful research, think carefully by yourself, and in the end, make your own call and be firm about it. This kind of thread simply solicits information, both good and bad, and you are probably worse off than before about what to do. It is much more useful to ask about specific things rather than the all-encompassing "Tell me about the school."

 

[UCLAzy]

hey guys!

so i finally decided on my original choice, columbia-- thank you guys so much for your help! my main reason for going to columbia was the fact that i wanted to be closer to my friends and family and also cause i felt more comfortable there. i know i would've loved ucla too, but my gut feeling said otherwise..

thanks again 🙂

she made up her mind already

 

[WUD UP]

how does everyone feel looking back at this whole debate?