decision time is around the corner

[teethmagnet]

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i've posted this to the pre dents but i assume they wouldnt know as much as you guys, dental students so here ya go:

--->so i have been accepeted into UMDNJ 😀 and just interviewed at Penn, if all goes well i will have to make a decision btw these two schools. I am considering speacilizing, I would really like to but I am not set on a speacilty yet and I could still see myself being a GP. So lemme know what you guys think:


UMDNJ Pro's:

• great clinically​
• cheaper ~60k/yr​
• 45 min away from my house, so i can come home on weekends​
• faculty was very nice when i interviewed there, they really look like they bend over backwards for the students​
• clinics are new and the school is not run down, seems to be very nice​

UMDNJ Con's:​

• in Newark​
• speacilty rates are average (i believe)​

PENN Pro's:

• Great clinically and academically​
• speacilty rates are crazy!(12 people got into ortho in 09')​
• Ivy League/ the name can get you far​
• I heard that the students are not ranked, which i think is an advantage​
• Philli is a great city, so i've heard​
• stressed externships​
• (Dentsims)--but i heard its nothing really speacil​

PENN Con's:​

• clinics are kind of old, basement is like a boiler room its so hard​
• PRICE- some ppl say its not worth the $90k/yr​
• Philli--would be 2 hrs away from home​

Let me know what you guys think
ooo, and "I see myself at both schools," seriously

thanks,
Teethmagnet​

 

[DrReo]

i've posted this to the pre dents but i assume they wouldnt know as much as you guys, dental students so here ya go:

--->so i have been accepeted into UMDNJ 😀 and just interviewed at Penn, if all goes well i will have to make a decision btw these two schools. I am considering speacilizing, I would really like to but I am not set on a speacilty yet and I could still see myself being a GP. So lemme know what you guys think:


UMDNJ Pro's:

• great clinically​
• cheaper ~60k/yr​
• 45 min away from my house, so i can come home on weekends​
• faculty was very nice when i interviewed there, they really look like they bend over backwards for the students​
• clinics are new and the school is not run down, seems to be very nice​

UMDNJ Con's:​

• in Newark​
• speacilty rates are average (i believe)​

PENN Pro's:

• Great clinically and academically​
• speacilty rates are crazy!(12 people got into ortho in 09')​
• Ivy League/ the name can get you far​
• I heard that the students are not ranked, which i think is an advantage​
• Philli is a great city, so i've heard​
• stressed externships​
• (Dentsims)--but i heard its nothing really speacil​

PENN Con's:​

• clinics are kind of old, basement is like a boiler room its so hard​
• PRICE- some ppl say its not worth the $90k/yr​
• Philli--would be 2 hrs away from home​

Let me know what you guys think
ooo, and "I see myself at both schools," seriously

thanks,
Teethmagnet​

If you want to be hit in the head to see reality... This should be a no brainer, the school will not impact your specializing chances. If UPenn is truly Pass/Fair and you're dead set on specializing, that would save a lot of stress.

 

[teethmagnet]

thanks drreo
thats what i've heard, go to the cheaper school,
and in this case i think penn and umdnj are pretty much equal in most aspects

and i wish penn was P/F

 

[DrReo]

thanks drreo
thats what i've heard, go to the cheaper school,
and in this case i think penn and umdnj are pretty much equal in most aspects

and i wish penn was P/F

Going to bed knowing you're $XX,XXX less in debt makes the long days in lab or studying go a little better.

I was in a similar situation. I chose my state school.

 

[Daurang]

Take UMDNJ. $120,000 plus interest is no small sum.

 

[json896]

Get your facts straight before making decisions.

Penn is ranked, however, it is only the top of the class that is so.

There are a lot of specialization coming out of PENN. however, there are alot of students at PENN, i mean alot. so the rate isn't all that impressive and most of them go into GPR. out of 128 for 2009, 20 went into specializations so about 15% specializtion rate. which isn't that grea

Philly is a great city but PENN is in the top 5 for crime on and around campus.

many of schools have DENTSIM as well and many more are having them installed over the next few years.

When it comes down to it, if you are smart enough to specialize at PENN then you could of done it any where. it is just up to you and how well you do in class and ON BOARDS.

go cheaper 60k more a year for 4 years is 250k with interest 500k payback. wich means if you take 20 yrs to pay off loan is 25k a year less salary. which even for the highest paying specialties is alot of money out of pocket.

GO CHEAPER IS BETTER..

 

[teethmagnet]

thanks for your responses guys,

and json896, a d4 told me on the interview day that the students aren't ranked, i guess i just believed him, but thanks for telling me the truth

also, does anyone know where i can find UMDNJ's match list??

thanksss,
teethmagnet

 

[json896]

and json896, a d4 told me on the interview day that the students aren't ranked, i guess i just believed him, but thanks for telling me the truth

well then i will assume he was not in the top of the class. I think it is either 10% or top 10 people its in one of teh many books they give you when you are accepted. I cant quite remember.

BUt if you are not in that top tier, then YES the class is not ranked. But people that arnt ranked still get into specialties and GPRs.

 

[teethmagnet]

Take UMDNJ. $120,000 plus interest is no small sum.

understood,
most people are saying "go to the cheaper school" "cheaper is better"

BUTTTTT, if money was not a main concern, lets say i would work for the army after, which school would you choose---UMDNJ or PENN

 

[json896]

YOu have all the facts about the schools. No one can make this decission for you.

What you need to do is go beyond the stone cold facts about the school and ask yourself what type of experience you would like to have.

A dental education is a dental education. YOu will get what you put in to it. If you want to specialize, then study hard do well in your class and on your boards. the school you chose will not make a difference so much as to how hard you try.

Really look at student life and what you want to walk away from dental school having experienced. FOr me i have a family and decided on a school in suburbia as it is the best choice for me.

Just think hard at how you would like to spend the next four years. in all honesty the next two are going to be similar any ways as you will be spending 90% of your time studying and in class, But what you want for that 10% is up to you.

DOn't make the decision lightly, but i would suggest rethinking this from a point of view of what you would like out of you dental education and then contact current students at each shcool and see if their experience fits what you want to have.

 

[browncrack]

These are both loser schools. Since money is no problem, you should decline both and apply for admission to USC. Get a condo on the beach. Study in the cab between clubs.

 

[jay47]

YOu have all the facts about the schools. No one can make this decission for you.

What you need to do is go beyond the stone cold facts about the school and ask yourself what type of experience you would like to have.

A dental education is a dental education. YOu will get what you put in to it. If you want to specialize, then study hard do well in your class and on your boards. the school you chose will not make a difference so much as to how hard you try.

Really look at student life and what you want to walk away from dental school having experienced. FOr me i have a family and decided on a school in suburbia as it is the best choice for me.

Just think hard at how you would like to spend the next four years. in all honesty the next two are going to be similar any ways as you will be spending 90% of your time studying and in class, But what you want for that 10% is up to you.

DOn't make the decision lightly, but i would suggest rethinking this from a point of view of what you would like out of you dental education and then contact current students at each shcool and see if their experience fits what you want to have.

👍👍

Only you can make the final decision, but I can almost guarantee that saving $120,000 (about a YEAR'S work in loans, more with interest) will be something you can appreciate later. This is of course assuming you money does matter (e.g. you are paying for it)

And as far as specializing; if you want to, you will do it. Every school has students who specialize, just make sure you are one of the top if you really want to. Penn probably has a little more competition for the "top" of the class in my opinion. Therefore, it might even be smarter to go to a less cut throat atmosphere (not that there aren't very talented students at UMDNJ)