CWRU vs VCU - Any Suggestions/Advice Appreciated

[ClassIVMobility]

Hello, I am in the process of matriculating into either of these schools. I am OOS student for VCU and looking for a more comprehensive comparison between the schools. I do not doubt the quality of education of either schools. Any additional consideration would be appreciated, pros or cons of either school.

CWRU
New clinic in 2019
Faculty (Dr. Chuck for example make it very welcoming)
Slightly Cheaper than OOS cost of VCU

VCU
Job opportunities for my wife
Location ( I remember students saying its a short drive to anything like the beach, etc.)

If you have voted, I would appreciate your reasoning even if it is a repeated reason why to go to the school.

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[madel]

cwru is cheaper than vcu ??

 

[FanOfCostco]

a few years back, cleveland tried to pay someone 120 million dollars over 5 years to stay....maybe something to think about

 

[JLV]

PROS

I'm a little biased since CWRU is most likely were I will be matriculating in 2017 but...I bleepin' love this school. The vibes were amazing, students and faculty all were super chill and and everyone seemed very happy. The clinical experience from what I have gathered from multiple people is awesome (the dentist I shadowed graduated from CWRU about 6 years ago, give or take). I really like the team based learning concept as well; the REAL curriculum. I think it's very exciting to have the opportunity to attend the new health science building and dental clinic that are up and coming! There's the opportunity to do research in between your D1 and D2 years during the summer if that interests you. I really like the relatively low class size too. New clinic, new health science building, the sim lab is awesome, this just seems like the place to be!

CONS
Other than the lack of outlets in lecture halls to charge you laptop , the popular consensus seems to be that Cleveland in not a desirable area. I can't really comment on this since I've only been there twice. But really how bad could it be, I'm from MI where the weather is pretty random so moving to Cleveland, at least for me, isn't that big of a deal.
Also the cost, mehhhh whatever, D school is expensive. I though the tuition at VCU was pretty low compared to CASE, could be wrong, I'm not entirely sure.

Additionally, and this might not appeal to you but I really like it: I think it's awesome that as dental students we will be surrounded by other health professionals in training (nurses, physicians) - you know that whole inter-professional communication thingy. It just seems like Cleveland breads health professionals with CWRU's highly valued programs, dental, medical, nursing. I just think it's neat to view other perspectives in health care, and have the opportunity to communicate with different professionals about topics in science; I think everyone benefits from that.

Anyway, good luck! I'm sure that wherever you go you'll have an amazing experience!


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[madel]

PROS

I'm a little biased since CWRU is most likely were I will be matriculating in 2017 but...I bleepin' love this school. The vibes were amazing, students and faculty all were super chill and and everyone seemed very happy. The clinical experience from what I have gathered from multiple people is awesome (the dentist I shadowed graduated from CWRU about 6 years ago, give or take). I really like the team based learning concept as well; the REAL curriculum. I think it's very exciting to have the opportunity to attend the new health science building and dental clinic that are up and coming! There's the opportunity to do research in between your D1 and D2 years during the summer if that interests you. I really like the relatively low class size too. New clinic, new health science building, the sim lab is awesome, this just seems like the place to be!

CONS
Other than the lack of outlets in lecture halls to charge you laptop , the popular consensus seems to be that Cleveland in not a desirable area. I can't really comment on this since I've only been there twice. But really how bad could it be, I'm from MI where the weather is pretty random so moving to Cleveland, at least for me, isn't that big of a deal.
Also the cost, mehhhh whatever, D school is expensive. I though the tuition at VCU was pretty low compared to CASE, could be wrong, I'm not entirely sure.

Additionally, and this might not appeal to you but I really like it: I think it's awesome that as dental students we will be surrounded by other health professionals in training (nurses, physicians) - you know that whole inter-professional communication thingy. It just seems like Cleveland breads health professionals with CWRU's highly valued programs, dental, medical, nursing. I just think it's neat to view other perspectives in health care, and have the opportunity to communicate with different professionals about topics in science; I think everyone benefits from that.

Anyway, good luck! I'm sure that wherever you go you'll have an amazing experience!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

I really liked the school during my interview .I think I will be going to case as well

 

[ncide]

Will your wife's job opportunities offset the tuition difference?

RVA is a great place and I love it here. Great restaurants, breweries, and pretty good night life. Housing isn't too expensive and you can find lots of interesting places to live in (like old tobacco warehouses). It's got one of the best art museums in the country too. Lots of culture in RVA.

 

[ClassIVMobility]

PROS

I'm a little biased since CWRU is most likely were I will be matriculating in 2017 but...I bleepin' love this school. The vibes were amazing, students and faculty all were super chill and and everyone seemed very happy. The clinical experience from what I have gathered from multiple people is awesome (the dentist I shadowed graduated from CWRU about 6 years ago, give or take). I really like the team based learning concept as well; the REAL curriculum. I think it's very exciting to have the opportunity to attend the new health science building and dental clinic that are up and coming! There's the opportunity to do research in between your D1 and D2 years during the summer if that interests you. I really like the relatively low class size too. New clinic, new health science building, the sim lab is awesome, this just seems like the place to be!

CONS
Other than the lack of outlets in lecture halls to charge you laptop , the popular consensus seems to be that Cleveland in not a desirable area. I can't really comment on this since I've only been there twice. But really how bad could it be, I'm from MI where the weather is pretty random so moving to Cleveland, at least for me, isn't that big of a deal.
Also the cost, mehhhh whatever, D school is expensive. I though the tuition at VCU was pretty low compared to CASE, could be wrong, I'm not entirely sure.

Additionally, and this might not appeal to you but I really like it: I think it's awesome that as dental students we will be surrounded by other health professionals in training (nurses, physicians) - you know that whole inter-professional communication thingy. It just seems like Cleveland breads health professionals with CWRU's highly valued programs, dental, medical, nursing. I just think it's neat to view other perspectives in health care, and have the opportunity to communicate with different professionals about topics in science; I think everyone benefits from that.

Anyway, good luck! I'm sure that wherever you go you'll have an amazing experience!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Thank you for your input! I had similar experiences when I visited Case as well. The biggest drawback which may not necessarily be a drawback is the location. I briefly only explored a few blocks around CWRU and did not venture out into other parts, so I have limited knowledge of what the town really feels like. But in my experience the parts around the school however was very welcoming and I would not mind being around those parts.

Will your wife's job opportunities offset the tuition difference?

RVA is a great place and I love it here. Great restaurants, breweries, and pretty good night life. Housing isn't too expensive and you can find lots of interesting places to live in (like old tobacco warehouses). It's got one of the best art museums in the country too. Lots of culture in RVA.

ncide I see that you are in the class of 2020 at VCU, could you give me input as to what reasons made you matriculate to your school if not mentioned in the above comments? In response to my wife's opportunities, we did some research and the unemployment rate in Cleveland is growing and people are leaving the city, but I spoke to some Ohio residence today and they mentioned that most of that is because of the manufacturing industry shrinking. She is focused on political economics and it seems like there are more opportunities if I went to VCU. In regards to if she can offset the tuition difference, it is definitely doable, if the work is there in Cleveland.

 

[Faefly]

VCU
because RVA is better than OHIO!

 

[ncide]

Political economics? Most of my classmates are from NOVA, near DC.

The school has you jump into pre-clinical practice from the get go. You spend hours in lab drilling teeth from the first or second week, and you just keep going until you get into clinic with patients. I have other friends in other schools and they don't seem to get anywhere near as much clinical work as we do.

Research opportunities are pretty solid and the faculty are great. Facilities are decent, but the clinics where the specialists work are really nice.

They have all the specialties here and you can network well. About half the class goes on to residency.

 

[ClassIVMobility]

Political economics? Most of my classmates are from NOVA, near DC.

The school has you jump into pre-clinical practice from the get go. You spend hours in lab drilling teeth from the first or second week, and you just keep going until you get into clinic with patients. I have other friends in other schools and they don't seem to get anywhere near as much clinical work as we do.

Research opportunities are pretty solid and the faculty are great. Facilities are decent, but the clinics where the specialists work are really nice.

They have all the specialties here and you can network well. About half the class goes on to residency.

Now there are some threads that I read about the patient basis is lacking around VCU. Can you confirm or deny these claims?

 

[ncide]

No way. Not a problem.

As an aside...

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/hhlm45fe/the-best-and-worst-citie/#338fba9768ae

 

[ClassIVMobility]

No way.

In terms of being an OOS is there any possibility of switching to in-state tuition after some years?

 

[ncide]

In terms of being an OOS is there any possibility of switching to in-state tuition after some years?

Yes you can, although it isn't something advertised openly. You are able to obtain in-state residency by building a case that you intend to practice in VA, and this can take a number of forms from having secured a job offer within the state, owning a home in the state, having in-state residency (license plate, in state tabs, driver's license), having family members in the area, and whatever else you can show them. One of my friends was able to get it after the first year.

 

[ClassIVMobility]

Yes you can, although it isn't something advertised openly. You are able to obtain in-state residency by building a case that you intend to practice in VA, and this can take a number of forms from having secured a job offer within the state, owning a home in the state, having in-state residency (license plate, in state tabs, driver's license), having family members in the area, and whatever else you can show them. One of my friends was able to get it after the first year.

Thanks for all the info ncide, much appreciated, I figure I have more questions to come as they arise but I do appreciate you taking the time to assist me in my matriculation process!

 

[ClassIVMobility]

cwru is cheaper than vcu ??

According to the financial aid sheets that they provided at the interviews, its slightly cheaper, but no difference to make a decision over. OOS VCU vs CWRU