Decision Time!!! UPenn (scholarship) vs. Meharry!!!!

[wetsum3]

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Hey guys,
Thanks for reading. I know that it's the time of year that people have multiple deposits down at schools. I was granted the scholarship at Penn in december and i really loved the school, so I put a deposit down there. Then recently i was pulled off the waitlist at Meharry in april and it basically made me reevaluate my entire situation. So i confirmed my spot there as well. Now i only have a few days left to decide where I am going to spend my next for years. I really like the laided back setting at Meharry and i know they have a strong clinical program. Has anybody hear the positives and negatives of these two programs? Is the scholarship enough to sway you to Penn??? Thanks for any imput, I looking forward to just picking one and moving forward. Best of luck to everyone out there. 😡😕😀😍😱😛😴

 

[Zerconia2921]

Hey guys,
Thanks for reading. I know that it's the time of year that people have multiple deposits down at schools. I was granted the scholarship at Penn in december and i really loved the school, so I put a deposit down there. Then recently i was pulled off the waitlist at Meharry in april and it basically made me reevaluate my entire situation. So i confirmed my spot there as well. Now i only have a few days left to decide where I am going to spend my next for years. I really like the laided back setting at Meharry and i know they have a strong clinical program. Has anybody hear the positives and negatives of these two programs? Is the scholarship enough to sway you to Penn??? Thanks for any imput, I looking forward to just picking one and moving forward. Best of luck to everyone out there. 😡😕😀😍😱😛😴

If i was in your shoes I would take the scholarship it will def help unless your loaded and driving an R8 Audi with 20z flashing the bling then go with your gut. peace homie😎

 

[DrReo]

How much of a scholarship? All 80k/yr? If so, UPenn for sure!

But really, go where you feel the most comfortable. If that's a tie, go for the cheapest. Don't you love tuition.

 

[Ninster]

Upenn = Ivey

 

[DMDRi]

CONGRATS!!! You are very lucky to be in the situation that you are. I hope that when my time comes around I will have multiple acceptances as well. Having said that, if I were you I would choose PENN in a heatbeat, without looking back. No brainer IMO. Good luck and again congrats!

 

[MnBr63]

Scholarship. Meharry may be more laid back...but you can lay back a LOT better after school if you had taken a scholarship and not had to pay $300,000 in student loans.

 

[litldime]

How much money are you getting? What is the price comparison? What school do you like better? I think you have to answer these questions and more for yourself.

 

[Montserrat]

Upenn = Ivey

So much for namesake recognition.

 

[tamkhan]

i vote for penn. you'll adjust to the atmosphere in due time.

 

[ytran]

CHOOSE UPENN!!! it's definitely a better school that offers higher quality of professors as well as laboratory facilities. Not to mention it's an IVY League!!! And if you have a scholarship offer from UPenn, but not from Meharry, then it's gotta be a no-brainer.

UPenn also offers more specialized programs compared to Meharry. Do some research of your own, and I'm sure you'll find UPenn the smarter choice.

Good Luck!

 

[TheDrewYouKnew]

Even if Meharry offered you a full ride and Penn offered nothing, I would say go Penn. Ask around and do some research.

 

[jonxjizza]

Meharry, for sure. 🙄

 

[sillygoose47]

Don't go with Meharry, UPenn has more specialized programs so you will be more experienced when you are finished with rotationals. Meharry only have oral surgery so there isn't any other specialized area such as orthodontics or periodontics. Additionally, when I was there to interview, a dental student informed me that there are some students at Meharry that have to pay an additional $25,000 for patients because the patients cannot afford to pay. UPenn is an extremely good school with a diversity of student body and faculty. Meharry is not so much diverse. UPenn is definitely a better choice. Let us know what you choose.

Good luck and congrats.

 

[doc3232]

Don't go with Meharry, UPenn has more specialized programs so you will be more experienced when you are finished with rotationals. Meharry only have oral surgery so there isn't any other specialized area such as orthodontics or periodontics. Additionally, when I was there to interview, a dental student informed me that there are some students at Meharry that have to pay an additional $25,000 for patients because the patients cannot afford to pay. UPenn is an extremely good school with a diversity of student body and faculty. Meharry is not so much diverse. UPenn is definitely a better choice. Let us know what you choose.

Good luck and congrats.

Pay for patients????
That would be a terrible situation.

 

[Montserrat]

Don't go with Meharry, UPenn has more specialized programs so you will be more experienced when you are finished with rotationals. Meharry only have oral surgery so there isn't any other specialized area such as orthodontics or periodontics. Additionally, when I was there to interview, a dental student informed me that there are some students at Meharry that have to pay an additional $25,000 for patients because the patients cannot afford to pay. UPenn is an extremely good school with a diversity of student body and faculty. Meharry is not so much diverse. UPenn is definitely a better choice. Let us know what you choose.

Good luck and congrats.

Wait a second - your statement doesn't make sense. When a school has less post graduate programs, the dental students get to field more complicated cases that would otherwise be funneled to post grad students. Therefore, dental student from a school with several post grad programs isn't necessarily going to be more experienced than a dental student from a school with none.

 

[CMistry]

Wait a second - your statement doesn't make sense. When a school has less post graduate programs, the dental students get to field more complicated cases that would otherwise be funneled to post grad students. Therefore, dental student from a school with several post grad programs isn't necessarily going to be more experienced than a dental student from a school with none.

Come on, you really don't see it? He is referring to the fact that you can get you shoe in the door of more specialty programs if you go to a school with more specialty programs. So if you decide you want to do say... Perio, you can get "in with" the perio dept. at the school and greatly improve your chances of admissions. Versus at a school without a Perio residency, it's all GPA/NBDE since it's all at other schools.

Did that make any sense? lol

-Cyrus

 

[dentaldude8]

I hope your joking man. Go to Penn. Crazy, I was just looking at Meharry's incoming classa averages- 16 AA and a 2.9 science GPA.

 

[anon1025]

I hope your joking man. Go to Penn. Crazy, I was just looking at Meharry's incoming classa averages- 16 AA and a 2.9 science GPA.

LOL that is what I thought when I first saw his post. I would go to Penn even without scholarship. Meharry and Howard are most peoples back up schools.

 

[denniss1]

I also agree that even Penn without scholarship is better than Meharry with scholarship. Your situation is a no-brainer. If you go to Penn, you will become an ivy leaguer for the rest of your life. Also, you will meet some of the brightest mind of this country. On the other hand, if you go to Meharry, you will see some of the dumbest mind of this country. Also, the name recognition is next to nill.

 

[Talisa3636]

May I ask why some small minded people consider Meharry a smalltime school with some of the "dumbest" people in the country. That fact that a person is even in a dental school is a major acheivement. All dental schools are hard, so if your reasoning behind going to Meharry is because its an easier ride, you may be in for a rude awakening. I say go to the school where your heart leads you whether its Penn or Meharry. No one knows your situation more than yourself and your more than likely going to do fabulous regardless of your school choice 🙂

Btw Howard is just a backup school why are people with great score getting rejected? The last time I checked on aims of schools like Meharry and Howard are to prepare people to serve the underserved in America and beyond along with preparing students to ace the board exam...

 

[rollredroll]

Though I am a Nashville native, and Nashville is one heck of a city, I'd suggest Penn.

Think about it: Rocky...philly cheese steaks...hating the Eagles...some dentistry. what more could you ask for?

But seriously, I have a good friend who just graduated from Penn Dental last week who chose between Columbia, Michigan, Kentucky, and Penn. He said he had no doubts/regrets about his decision.

 

[Montserrat]

Come on, you really don't see it? He is referring to the fact that you can get you shoe in the door of more specialty programs if you go to a school with more specialty programs. So if you decide you want to do say... Perio, you can get "in with" the perio dept. at the school and greatly improve your chances of admissions. Versus at a school without a Perio residency, it's all GPA/NBDE since it's all at other schools.

Did that make any sense? lol

-Cyrus

Did you read the guys post, or just freestyle interpret it ? This is what he said verbatim.

UPenn has more specialized programs so you will be more experienced when you are finished with rotationals. Meharry only have oral surgery so there isn't any other specialized area such as orthodontics or periodontics.

No mention was made of post grad matching - this guy is saying with more post grad programs, you will have more experience as a dental student when you graduate from D-school, which is not necessarily true.

Did that make sense ? lol

 

[bounty101]

Wait a second - your statement doesn't make sense. When a school has less post graduate programs, the dental students get to field more complicated cases that would otherwise be funneled to post grad students. Therefore, dental student from a school with several post grad programs isn't necessarily going to be more experienced than a dental student from a school with none.

Not if the more complicated cases are just referred out of the school.

 

[gryffindor]

The answer is always the same. Pick the cheaper school. Loan money is not the same as lottery money. When you actually have to start repaying those loans in a few years, nothing else matters except the amount you send to the loan company each month.

 

[sillygoose47]

Hey Wetsum 3,

You should make your decision because there are some people on the waiting list for both schools are also dependent on your decision too. PLease make your decision soon.

Thanks😳

 

[jigabodo]

The answer is always the same. Pick the cheaper school. Loan money is not the same as lottery money. When you actually have to start repaying those loans in a few years, nothing else matters except the amount you send to the loan company each month.

Completely agree. Choose the cheaper school. You will thankful in the future. Good luck! 🙂

 

[sillygoose47]

Choose UPENN!

 

[crazy4clana]

UPenn of course! I am suprised you are even considering Meharry.

Btw Howard is just a backup school why are people with great score getting rejected? The last time I checked on aims of schools like Meharry and Howard are to prepare people to serve the underserved in America and beyond along with preparing students to ace the board exam...

Because they are overqualified applicants and the school knows that if the applicant gets into a better school then there is little chance that they would attend Howard...so they save face.

 

[OMFS08]

UPENN ALL THE WAY!!! Meharry is cool but scholarship beats no scholarship any day. NO matter how much the scholarship is. Its worth it. Plus name recognition of Upenn is pretty good. Good luck and congrats.

 

[Ninster]

May I ask why some small minded people consider Meharry a smalltime school with some of the "dumbest" people in the country. That fact that a person is even in a dental school is a major acheivement. All dental schools are hard, so if your reasoning behind going to Meharry is because its an easier ride, you may be in for a rude awakening. I say go to the school where your heart leads you whether its Penn or Meharry. No one knows your situation more than yourself and your more than likely going to do fabulous regardless of your school choice 🙂

Btw Howard is just a backup school why are people with great score getting rejected? The last time I checked on aims of schools like Meharry and Howard are to prepare people to serve the underserved in America and beyond along with preparing students to ace the board exam...

+++++

 

[sarah_bellum]

LOL that is what I thought when I first saw his post. I would go to Penn even without scholarship. Meharry and Howard are most peoples back up schools.

That's actually wildly incorrect.

Of the 2008 pre-dents stats, 93 applied to Meharry. 4 were accepted. Just 4.

Of the 2008 pre-dents stats, 253 applied to Penn. 61 were accepted.

Have you been through an application cycle yet? I'd be more likely to select Penn as a "back up" school than Meharry.

 

[TNhopeful]

Well I am in Nashville and I dont think Meharry has some of the dumbest minds in the country. I know personally some dentists who attended Meharry. My uncle being one of them. If he is one of the dumbest minds in the country I would like to be just like him. He has his own Endo practice with 4 offices and is opening another one within the year. He is one of the most respected Endodontists in the area. So to say that going to Meharry you will see some of the dumbest minds could have only come from one of the dumbest minds in the world. The day you go to Meharry and meet some of the students and faculty and attend some classes is the day you can judge them.

 

[armorshell]

That's actually wildly incorrect.

Of the 2008 pre-dents stats, 93 applied to Meharry. 4 were accepted. Just 4.

Of the 2008 pre-dents stats, 253 applied to Penn. 61 were accepted.

Have you been through an application cycle yet? I'd be more likely to select Penn as a "back up" school than Meharry.

Pre-dents, while useful for some things, is wildly inaccurate for comparing straight numbers like that. There's wayyyyy too much self-selection, especially when people think that schools like Meharry and Howard are easy to get in to because they have lower averages, and use them as "backups"

 

[sarah_bellum]

Pre-dents, while useful for some things, is wildly inaccurate for comparing straight numbers like that. There's wayyyyy too much self-selection, especially when people think that schools like Meharry and Howard are easy to get in to because they have lower averages, and use them as "backups"

I agree with you entirely. I was just using the stats available to illustrate the point that no school is easy to get into, particularly Howard and Meharry (and the fairly narrow range of students that they're targeting). A school I thought was a reach accepted me, and I was rejected by many of my "backups."

 

[StudentDentist]

I agree with you entirely. I was just using the stats available to illustrate the point that no school is easy to get into, particularly Howard and Meharry (and the fairly narrow range of students that they're targeting). A school I thought was a reach accepted me, and I was rejected by many of my "backups."

Howard and Meharry the the 2 least selective schools in the country. Students with a 15.8AA don't typically get into other schools. Those schools don't have to accept many to fill up their class. Those who get into Penn often get into other schools and decide to go to a cheaper school.

 

[jonxjizza]

Let's be honest here, if Meharry wanted to they could easily bump their student averages up to a level that is comparable with other dental schools. They don't though because it would undermine the mission of the school which is:

Meharry Medical College exists to improve the health and health care of minority and underserved communities by offering excellent education and training programs in the health sciences; placing special emphasis on providing opportunities to people of color and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of race or ethnicity; delivering high quality health services; and conducting research that foster the elimination of health disparities.

You read about traditional students with great stats getting rejected by Meharry all the time. Why? Because having a great gpa, dat, life story is only part of the package they are looking for, you feel me?

To say that you will find some of the dumbest minds at Meharry is just silly. For most of us the decision between Penn and Meharry is easy - but there may be other factors at play here.

 

[jonxjizza]

Another thing - the total estimated cost for a year at Meharry is about $36,000. At Penn it is about $80,000. Unless that Penn scholarship is $44,000 or more per year, Meharry may still be the better choice, other factors aside.

 

[StudentDentist]

Let's be honest here, if Meharry wanted to they could easily bump their student averages up to a level that is comparable with other dental schools. They don't though because it would undermine the mission of the school which is:

Meharry Medical College exists to improve the health and health care of minority and underserved communities by offering excellent education and training programs in the health sciences; placing special emphasis on providing opportunities to people of color and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of race or ethnicity; delivering high quality health services; and conducting research that foster the elimination of health disparities.

You read about traditional students with great stats getting rejected by Meharry all the time. Why? Because having a great gpa, dat, life story is only part of the package they are looking for, you feel me?

To say that you will find some of the dumbest minds at Meharry is just silly. For most of us the decision between Penn and Meharry is easy - but there may be other factors at play here.

Are you suggesting that there's an abundance of blacks with 22AA? The ones at Columbia got in with an 18AA. No one's saying that Meharry has "some of the dumbest minds." I will, however, say that they have a 15.8AA, well below the national average of 17.7 or so.

But check this out. TKB on predents got into Meharry and claims "disadvantaged background/hardships," possibly to justify a 2.94 GPA and a 17AA. Yet her father's a dentist and has his own private practice. Meharry's stringent acceptance criteria lets in rich, dumb kids.

 

[StudentDentist]

Another thing - the total estimated cost for a year at Meharry is about $36,000. At Penn it is about $80,000. Unless that Penn scholarship is $44,000 or more per year, Meharry may still be the better choice, other factors aside.

Total estimated tuition and fees at Meharry is between 38.5k to 48.6k. Penn's about 75k for tuition, fees, AND living costs. You're an accounting major. How'd you miss this? Given that she received a scholarship to Penn, Penn should cost nearly the same and could cost less if it was the Dean's scholarship. Why would anyone ever go to Meharry under this circumstance? Doesn't cost less, be surrounded by 15.8's, possibly one of the worst reputation in the field.

 

[sarah_bellum]

Howard and Meharry the the 2 least selective schools in the country. Students with a 15.8AA don't typically get into other schools. Those schools don't have to accept many to fill up their class. Those who get into Penn often get into other schools and decide to go to a cheaper school.

It really depends on what you mean by selective. Regardless of the test numbers, Meharry has more applicants per seat than Penn.

 

[StudentDentist]

It really depends on what you mean by selective. Regardless of the test numbers, Meharry has more applicants per seat than Penn.

It's hard for accepted students to decline Meharry's offer when they didn't get into any other school. That's what I mean.

 

[jonxjizza]

Total estimated tuition and fees at Meharry is between 38.5k to 48.6k. Penn's about 75k for tuition, fees, AND living costs. You're an accounting major. How'd you miss this? Given that she received a scholarship to Penn, Penn should cost nearly the same and could cost less if it was the Dean's scholarship. Why would anyone ever go to Meharry under this circumstance? Doesn't cost less, be surrounded by 15.8's, possibly one of the worst reputation in the field.

Per the 2008 - 2009 expense budget I received from Corky Cacas, director of admissions, 1st year total expense at Penn is estimated at $82,928. According to the best estimates I can find on Meharry, total costs for one year are going to run between $35K and $45K.

We're looking at a cost difference of between $37,928 and 47,928 before the scholarship. You don't have to be an accounting genius like me to figure these numbers out! There are plenty of reasons why one might choose Meharry over Penn - maybe not the same reasons you or I might consider.

 

[StudentDentist]

Per the 2008 - 2009 expense budget I received from Corky Cacas, director of admissions, 1st year total expense at Penn is estimated at $82,928. According to the best estimates I can find on Meharry, total costs for one year are going to run between $35K and $45K.

We're looking at a cost difference of between $37,928 and 47,928 before the scholarship. You don't have to be an accounting genius like me to figure these numbers out! There are plenty of reasons why one might choose Meharry over Penn - maybe not the same reasons you or I might consider.

And the "accounting genius" going to UPenn dental from BYU doesn't see the problem of his reasoning, even when he's told directly what that problem is.

 

[jonxjizza]

And the "accounting genius" going to UPenn dental from BYU doesn't see the problem of his reasoning, even when he's told directly what that problem is.

No genius here, just sarcasm lost on you.

 

[StudentDentist]

No genius here, just sarcasm lost on you.

One set of numbers include living expenses. The other doesn't. Have fun at Penn.

 

[sillygoose47]

Go to PENN, there is much more student and faculty diversity. You will be surrounded by people from different blackground and cultures. You will be happier at Penn because there will be a diverse student pool that you can experience socially, the scholarship is a plus. In additional, you must also account that you might not have enough patients at Meharry and might fork out another $20,000 for patients so that scholarship at Penn sounds really nice right now. I am not saying that Meharry is not a good school but the majority of this forum agree that you should choose UPENN. Please make your decision soon, thanks🙂

 

[rladlstns111]

If Penn tuition including your scholarship is still higher than meharry, then I would go to Meharry. It seems like you care more about tuitions than reputation. I know Meharry has the worst reputation because they have the lowest GPA and DATs, but if you do not want to have debts, then definitely go to Meharry. My question is do you get your scholarship for entire four years? If it is just one year, then definitely go to Meharry!!

 

[hoola]

Hey Wetsum 3,

You should make your decision because there are some people on the waiting list for both schools are also dependent on your decision too. PLease make your decision soon.

Thanks😳

Both schools? Why do you pretend you care about people waitlisted at Upenn? We all know that you are waitlisted at Meharry. I am currently waitlisted at Upenn, not Meharry and I never tell people to go to Meharry on this forum just because I am waitlisted at Upenn. Have you ever thought about people waitlisted at Upenn? People voting for Upenn on this forum truly believe that Wetsum 3 should choose Upenn over Meharry, but you are making illogical explanations to convince him/her to go to Upenn. If you got into both Upenn and Meharry and choose Meharry over Upenn, you are truly a hypocrite!!

 

[Montserrat]

Not if the more complicated cases are just referred out of the school.

More complicated is still a wide spectrum. But with a spigot released because of a grad department, the chance of getting more exposure decreases by that much. Talked to previous students at ASDOH about it - from their perspective, it was a positive.

 

[sillygoose47]

You blankly accused me of something that is incorrect. As for myself, I really believe what I wrote and I really wrote in consideration for Westum3. Additionally, it did not hurt that it might also help me at the end. However, I did not think about myself first, I thought about the situtation the most. So please do not wrongfully accused me of being a hypocrite. If I got to choose between UPenn or Meharry, I would choose UPenn in a heart beat.