Does the college I go to matter?

[hs2013]

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I am interested in the dental field and am taking that into account when I am applying for colleges, and as of now I have my top 2 schools narrowed down. UW- Madison or UW-Oshkosh, both are 4 year colleges and good schools, UW-Madison easily the best public college in Wisconsin, and UW-Oshkosh 2nd or 3rd best public college in Wisconsin. I am pretty sure that I can meet all the pre-med requirements from either school, but the differences are quite big in my opinion. UW-M is about $23,000 a year while UW-O is about $7,000 because if I go to UW-O I'll stay at home, it's a 10-15 minute drive from where I live and that brings me to another thing, I would probably be more comfortable at home, not sure if I want to live 1.5 hours away from home and in a dorm with complete strangers. So considering money and everything else UW-O seems like the better choice for me, but since it isn't that big name of a school, would that make my chances less of getting into a dental school? Lets say I go to UW-O and get a 3.8 gpa and do very well on the DAT(sorry don't know how DAT scoring works), plus quite a bit of shadowing and other extra-curricular, would I be guaranteed into a dental school?

 

[DocWheels]

If getting into D-school is all that matters, choose the cheapest school that will give you the highest gpa. So whatever is cheapest and easiest.
But the thing is if your undergrad college has a hard curriculum and you come out with a good GPA you will be all the more prepared for the rigors of D-school.

 

[PreDent321]

It won't make a difference. It's not like you're attending Harvard or MIT. In fact, many people incorrectly assume that UW-Madison and UW-Oshkoshbgosh are the same school, but different campus locations. In the end, it's going to be about GPA and DAT scores. It's going to be a tradeoff between saving $$ and a fun party school.

 

[jackalo34]

It won't make a difference. It's not like you're attending Harvard or MIT. In fact, many people incorrectly assume that UW-Madison and UW-Oshkoshbgosh are the same school, but different campus locations. In the end, it's going to be about GPA and DAT scores. It's going to be a tradeoff between saving $$ and a fun party school.

I love how people always mention Harvard and MIT lol-any1 know how hard they really are?

I agree though-go to the cheapest and easiest.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

Go for the cheapest. If you're taking out loans for undergrad, and planning to attend dental school, by beard of zeus pick the cheapest university. Trust me, I Wish somebody would've told me this!

 

[Baker2010]

In regards to those two schools,
The difference doesn't really matter.
Although, in general the school you go to DOES matter. People look at a degree from an place like UCLA, or UCSF much more kindly than somewhere like WVU.
I have learned this from going on many job interviews, doing internships, and getting feedback from health professionals.
Many times when talking to people whether it be at interviews or w/e, they would ask me the name of my school before they ask my GPA.
Not saying that the name of the school is all that matters but if me and you both applying to a dental school with the similar gpa, dat, and extracurriculars I seriously believe that you going to Brown vs me going to a not big name school will definitely make the difference.

Im not trying to sound biased and I'm just telling you what I have experienced.

Also, currently I work in a lab of Harvard Medical School and I will tell you, I see people get jobs here with lesser stats who are from Harvard, MIT, Columbia, etc than people who did better at less prestigious institutions. I personally think its bs because many of the small institutions have much harder curriculums than the prestigious ones.

In summation, contrary to what some people may say, the name of your institution DOES matter and at some places it matters more than others.

Hope this helps

 

[jackalo34]

In regards to those two schools,
The difference doesn't really matter.
Although, in general the school you go to DOES matter. People look at a degree from an place like UCLA, or UCSF much more kindly than somewhere like WVU.
I have learned this from going on many job interviews, doing internships, and getting feedback from health professionals.
Many times when talking to people whether it be at interviews or w/e, they would ask me the name of my school before they ask my GPA.
Not saying that the name of the school is all that matters but if me and you both applying to a dental school with the similar gpa, dat, and extracurriculars I seriously believe that you going to Brown vs me going to a not big name school will definitely make the difference.

Im not trying to sound biased and I'm just telling you what I have experienced.

Also, currently I work in a lab of Harvard Medical School and I will tell you, I see people get jobs here with lesser stats who are from Harvard, MIT, Columbia, etc than people who did better at less prestigious institutions. I personally think its bs because many of the small institutions have much harder curriculums than the prestigious ones.

In summation, contrary to what some people may say, the name of your institution DOES matter and at some places it matters more than others.

Hope this helps

How do you know that? If that's the case, it seriously makes one wonder WHY the big name schools have big names....there has to be something there. Interesting lol

 

[Lane138]

If you work hard at both schools you will get in either way and go on to succeed. Going to a more challenging school, however, will better prepare you not only because your classes will be more challenging, you will also be surrounded by hopefully more ambitious and gunner students that will motivate you.

More importantly in my opinion, you should pick the college that will give you the best undergraduate experience, e.g. UW-Madison. Life isn't about getting INTO dental school! I've been to UW-Madison, and the campus is beautiful and the students are really diverse and fun. Living at college and being surrounded by your college environment is an amazing experience that you might not live again. Living at home might save you money, but when you look back three decades from now you will feel that you've missed out.

 

[jackalo34]

If you work hard at both schools you will get in either way and go on to succeed. Going to a more challenging school, however, will better prepare you not only because your classes will be more challenging, you will also be surrounded by hopefully more ambitious and gunner students that will motivate you.

More importantly in my opinion, you should pick the college that will give you the best undergraduate experience, e.g. UW-Madison. Life isn't about getting INTO dental school! I've been to UW-Madison, and the campus is beautiful and the students are really diverse and fun. Living at college and being surrounded by your college environment is an amazing experience that you might not live again. Living at home might save you money, but when you look back three decades from now you will feel that you've missed out.

I agree with this. You should assimilate to living on campus or living away from home. Not only will you meet new people and make friends, but you can build study groups. Get away from home lol

 

[dentalWorks]

the most important undergrad criteria of getting into dental school is GPA.... the name of the school and/or major are almost irrelevant.

 

[UCLAzy]

In regards to those two schools,
The difference doesn't really matter.
Although, in general the school you go to DOES matter. People look at a degree from an place like UCLA, or UCSF much more kindly than somewhere like WVU.
I have learned this from going on many job interviews, doing internships, and getting feedback from health professionals.
Many times when talking to people whether it be at interviews or w/e, they would ask me the name of my school before they ask my GPA.
Not saying that the name of the school is all that matters but if me and you both applying to a dental school with the similar gpa, dat, and extracurriculars I seriously believe that you going to Brown vs me going to a not big name school will definitely make the difference.

Im not trying to sound biased and I'm just telling you what I have experienced.

Also, currently I work in a lab of Harvard Medical School and I will tell you, I see people get jobs here with lesser stats who are from Harvard, MIT, Columbia, etc than people who did better at less prestigious institutions. I personally think its bs because many of the small institutions have much harder curriculums than the prestigious ones.

In summation, contrary to what some people may say, the name of your institution DOES matter and at some places it matters more than others.

Hope this helps

if you've met someone with an undergrad degree from ucsf, i've got a bridge to sell ya =)

 

[Seahawk]

No.



/thread

 

[PreDent321]

Would it matter if I went to Devry or University of Phoenix online?

 

[UltimateHombre]

Would it matter if I went to Devry or University of Phoenix online?

Actually that helps your application! ADCOMS have really been encouraging distance education from challenging universities. 👍

Actually my buddy has a Business degree from Kaplan and he has an interview at 6 of the 8 places he applied!!

 

[Screwtape]

.

 

[iamjackbauer]

plenty of people in my class went to po-dunk schools no one has ever heard of.

 

[Vigilante]

Would it matter if I went to Devry or University of Phoenix online?

Beware. I took a few distance learning classes because I was active duty when I decided to apply for dental school and was doing a lot of travelling for training and was scheduled for a deployment. I checked with the schools I was thinking of applying to beforehand, and most gave me a wishy-washy answer...now in the middle of the cycle, I've been told they are unacceptable and have to repeat the courses.