Does it matter where you attend DS?

[SmilezZz]

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Do you think it matters where you attend dental school as long as its accredited?

Dental schools have to meet certain requirements in order to be up and running, but they all have different price tags that come along with it. If the education is the same everywhere, do you think it matters where you get your degree? Or would it matter when you are trying to look for a job?

Should I just go to the cheapest school I can get into? Or should I go to the school with a bigger name?😕

Any thoughts?

 

[Babnik]

Do you think it matters where you attend dental school as long as its accredited?

Dental schools have to meet certain requirements in order to be up and running, but they all have different price tags that come along with it. If the education is the same everywhere, do you think it matters where you get your degree? Or would it matter when you are trying to look for a job?

Should I just go to the cheapest school I can get into? Or should I go to the school with a bigger name?😕

Any thoughts?

From talking to multiple dentists, I found that the answer is no. Different dental schools might teach in different ways, but there is no best way. Most of what you use in dentistry is learned after dental school. As long as the dental school is accredited you have the opportunity to become the best dentist you can be, its all what you put into it. Also, almost every dentist i talked to said patients do not care where you went to dental school (maybe because most don't know anything about dental schools) as long as your a good dentist, and provide quality work for them. I'm sure every dental school puts out good and bad dentists.

So yea, price is important, you WILL be a good dentist if you put your all into it no matter where you go. 🙂

 

[Dentite99]

From talking to multiple dentists, I found that the answer is no. Different dental schools might teach in different ways, but there is no best way. Most of what you use in dentistry is learned after dental school. As long as the dental school is accredited you have the opportunity to become the best dentist you can be, its all what you put into it. Also, almost every dentist i talked to said patients do not care where you went to dental school (maybe because most don't know anything about dental schools) as long as your a good dentist, and provide quality work for them. I'm sure every dental school puts out good and bad dentists.

So yea, price is important, you WILL be a good dentist if you put your all into it no matter where you go. 🙂

I think that's well said. It seems like every dentist/dental student I talk to says price is #1 and almost all d schools are good.

 

[lphiewok]

although every dental school is good, just make sure to pick the one where you can see yourself for 4 years.
you will become dentist with any schools but the experience you will have, types of people you will meet (from school and alumni network), and city that you will spend 4 years will all be different for each school.
try to gauge price with these factors and hope you make the best decision for yourself!

 

[SuperTank]

From talking to multiple dentists, I found that the answer is no. Different dental schools might teach in different ways, but there is no best way. Most of what you use in dentistry is learned after dental school. As long as the dental school is accredited you have the opportunity to become the best dentist you can be, its all what you put into it. Also, almost every dentist i talked to said patients do not care where you went to dental school (maybe because most don't know anything about dental schools) as long as your a good dentist, and provide quality work for them. I'm sure every dental school puts out good and bad dentists.

So yea, price is important, you WILL be a good dentist if you put your all into it no matter where you go. 🙂

I agree with everything except the part I highlighted. I hope most of what we use in dentistry is learned in dental school.

Other things to consider are where you want to practice, and if you want to specialize. Although you can get to whatever specialty program you want from any dental school, it is easier from some than others. It's also a lot easier to go to a dental school in the general area you want to practice, but again, you can go anywhere.

 

[SmilezZz]

From talking to multiple dentists, I found that the answer is no. Different dental schools might teach in different ways, but there is no best way. Most of what you use in dentistry is learned after dental school. As long as the dental school is accredited you have the opportunity to become the best dentist you can be, its all what you put into it. Also, almost every dentist i talked to said patients do not care where you went to dental school (maybe because most don't know anything about dental schools) as long as your a good dentist, and provide quality work for them. I'm sure every dental school puts out good and bad dentists.

So yea, price is important, you WILL be a good dentist if you put your all into it no matter where you go. 🙂

Yeah, I've heard a lot of people say patients don't care where you went to dental school either. Thanks for posting. I intend on putting in my best when I get to dental school. 🙂

 

[SmilezZz]

although every dental school is good, just make sure to pick the one where you can see yourself for 4 years.
you will become dentist with any schools but the experience you will have, types of people you will meet (from school and alumni network), and city that you will spend 4 years will all be different for each school.
try to gauge price with these factors and hope you make the best decision for yourself!

I can actually picture myself at both of the schools that I have been accepted to, even though they are very different. One is in the city and one is in the boonies. I think I would be happy wherever I go, but this is such a big decision/move. I just don't want to make the wrong one. I have actually thought of all of the factors that you have listed above. I just need to put all of that into a spreadsheet before I can make my final decision. Thank you for your input!🙂

 

[2014orbust]

I think it just depends on which school fits your learning style as well as the atmosphere and if you feel comfortable there, and if you will be happy there for all four years.. Thats the only way they differ... otherwise, you still end up with the same degree

 

[newyorkblork]

I agree with everything except the part I highlighted. I hope most of what we use in dentistry is learned in dental school.

Other things to consider are where you want to practice, and if you want to specialize. Although you can get to whatever specialty program you want from any dental school, it is easier from some than others. It's also a lot easier to go to a dental school in the general area you want to practice, but again, you can go anywhere.

I think the poster meant you get all your practice/speed out of dental school. The dentists I've talked to all agree that you're incredibly slow and nervous out of dschool, almost invariably so.

I would say that for general dentistry, the common truth stands: an emphasis on a high amount of actual practice is important; Temple, for example. The more practice you get, the better you'll be walking out of school.

 

[MTD52]

I think the poster meant you get all your practice/speed out of dental school. The dentists I've talked to all agree that you're incredibly slow and nervous out of dschool, almost invariably so.

I would say that for general dentistry, the common truth stands: an emphasis on a high amount of actual practice is important; Temple, for example. The more practice you get, the better you'll be walking out of school.

I agree here. My 3 main criteria are as follows: 1) price, 2) clinical experience, 3) how I felt when I went on the interview/tour about the faculty and atmosphere. A better area, sure, would make it more fun. But is it worth an extra 200k over the course of my education (that's literally my decision right now)? No. As far as curriculum is concerned, the big thing with me is just that I want a big focus on clinicals. That's pretty much all there is to it.

 

[newyorkblork]

I agree here. My 3 main criteria are as follows: 1) price, 2) clinical experience, 3) how I felt when I went on the interview/tour about the faculty and atmosphere. A better area, sure, would make it more fun. But is it worth an extra 200k over the course of my education (that's literally my decision right now)? No. As far as curriculum is concerned, the big thing with me is just that I want a big focus on clinicals. That's pretty much all there is to it.

I would agree with this. This is what's stopping me from sending in my NYU deposit right now. I was an NYU undergrad and I liked it a lot here, but the cost involved with going to NYU is definitely a huge stopping point.

That said, the dentists that do graduate from NYU aren't fighting to stay above the poverty line while watching all of the State School graduates reach fame and fortune, so who knows?

 

[MTD52]

I would agree with this. This is what's stopping me from sending in my NYU deposit right now. I was an NYU undergrad and I liked it a lot here, but the cost involved with going to NYU is definitely a huge stopping point.

That said, the dentists that do graduate from NYU aren't fighting to stay above the poverty line while watching all of the State School graduates reach fame and fortune, so who knows?

You sure? haha. Seriously, though, I don't really know any dentists personally that graduated there and are having trouble, but you'd have to imagine it's a much more difficult lifestyle with that much left to pay. My other choice is NYU also, by the way, which is where the +200k would come from. I just don't think it's worth it. I know of a dentist affiliated with NYU, and he recommended UMDNJ because of the price difference, adding that the education is comparable/same. Of course, if someone could afford NYU and/or liked it better, that's their prerogative, but just saying.