Emergency help! Harvard vs. UCLA

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Farnaz

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Hi everyone,
I am from LA and I am pretty much set to go to ucla. I was waitlisted at harvard and yesterday I received a call from them that I have got in. I have to let them know by tomorrow if I am going there!
I want to specialize at UCLA or somewhere in california. I like research a lot and want to get involved in academia in the future. I want to make LA my home for the rest of my life, so may be going to ucla and making connections here would help me with specializing here and getting involved. If I go to ucla, I would live at home and will save more than 100K. My whole family and friends are here and a few of my friends are gonna be my classmates if I go to ucla.
Can you guys please throw in some ideas to help me decide? Did any of you go to these schools or were faced with the same decision?
Thanks for your help!
 
Farnaz said:
Hi everyone,
I am from LA and I am pretty much set to go to ucla. I was waitlisted at harvard and yesterday I received a call from them that I have got in. I have to let them know by tomorrow if I am going there!
I want to specialize at UCLA or somewhere in california. I like research a lot and want to get involved in academia in the future. I want to make LA my home for the rest of my life, so may be going to ucla and making connections here would help me with specializing here and getting involved. If I go to ucla, I would live at home and will save more than 100K. My whole family and friends are here and a few of my friends are gonna be my classmates if I go to ucla.
Can you guys please throw in some ideas to help me decide? Did any of you go to these schools or were faced with the same decision?
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

Seems like you've already made the decision, atleast that's what I hear from your post. Harvard is tempting and could provide some great opportunity for you. It would certainly be easier to go to UCLA and that seems to be the wiser choice by far because, from what I know, UCLA is as good a school as any Ivy league. But, if you plan to make LA your home in the future, it is a great life experience to go somewhere else for a few years. I think it comes down to what you want in terms of "lifestyle" rather than schooling. The schools will provide plenty of opportunities for you to do what you want. Good luck. Realize that whichever decision you make will only be good/bad if you make it that way.
 
Hands down Harvard. You dont want to be that person who holds on to your Harvard acceptance letter and say I could have gone there.
 
peezoreamer said:
Hands down Harvard. You dont want to be that person who holds on to your Harvard acceptance letter and say I could have gone there.
Click to expand...
Maybe you do. I think there would be a small bit of pride that says..."They wanted me." But I decided to go somewhere better for me. Sure it would be cool to tell everyone at parties that you were a "Harvard Grad" but that doesn't matter. Harvard's dental school really isn't the best school on the planet where only the best go.

I would say UCLA for you. Unless you really liked Massachusetts and think that you would fit in better at that school.
 
Steer away from ill advice. Ask for more time probably till Monday. Classes start pretty soon. Call the office for contacts of real students at both schools, they should help you make your decision... very few sdners can place themselves accurately in your situation... weigh in on your financial package, it was actually cheaper for me to attend Harvard than my state school.

If you need assistance PM me and I will forward you the contacts of students who faced a UCLA-Harvard dilemma (nearly half the class)
 
If I was you there's no question I'd go to UCLA. I'm a 3rd year here right now and have never regretted my decision. Of course if you want to live in Boston for the next 4 years and suffer through that horrendous weather, go to Harvard. You will get less clinical experience. Anything you get at Harvard you can get at UCLA. Our research center is just as strong as theirs. Academically, I guarantee you will not be left wanting at UCLA. If anything you will wish you hadn't been forced to learn so much seemingly extraneous medical information. I did grad school at Columbia before I started dental school. I loved NYC. I hear Boston is a great city as well. However, after my first year in NYC the weather really got me down. I could not have stayed 4 years. I never figured out if I disliked the summers or winters more. How do you choose between oppressive heat and humidity and windy, freezing cold that makes you not want to go outside? Seriously, it's amazing how much 74 degree weather in the middle of winter quarter raises your spirits. Walking to school I'd be thinking, "Another beautiful day."

I am so happy my family is only 1.5 hours away. If I was back east I'd only see them during holidays as opposed to every month. My best friends are in LA too. I had no desire to leave them either.

Another very important thing to consider is your ability to establish contacts in the dental community while in school. This should not be underestimated. There have been dozens of graduates from UCLA that went on to associate with dentists via relationships established in dental school. I have friends who went to dental school at Columbia and are now doing GPRs in LA, and they stated one of their reasons for doing it was to build contacts in the dental community. Even though you want to specialize this is still important. Success in dentistry is about relationships--with your patients and colleagues.

Lastly, I'm happy I'm saving an extra $100,000 on my education.

So, in my eyes you'd be crazy to take Harvard over UCLA. But as you can see I'm biased. It's your decision to make.
 
drhobie7 said:
If I was you there's no question I'd go to UCLA. I'm a 3rd year here right now and have never regretted my decision.
Click to expand...

Hey, then you must know my buddy that left UCLA and transferred out here. He was in your class, wasn't he?
 
Farnaz said:
Hi everyone,
I am from LA and I am pretty much set to go to ucla. I was waitlisted at harvard and yesterday I received a call from them that I have got in. I have to let them know by tomorrow if I am going there!
I want to specialize at UCLA or somewhere in california. I like research a lot and want to get involved in academia in the future. I want to make LA my home for the rest of my life, so may be going to ucla and making connections here would help me with specializing here and getting involved. If I go to ucla, I would live at home and will save more than 100K. My whole family and friends are here and a few of my friends are gonna be my classmates if I go to ucla.
Can you guys please throw in some ideas to help me decide? Did any of you go to these schools or were faced with the same decision?
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

Easy, Harvard.............. Why, because you have more dentist in LA that went to UCLA. If you go to Harvard, you patients will think they are getting something better than what they are use to. And you know that in LA that is a big thing. Alot of people there are all about prestige. Also, I would go just to do something different that what I am custom to. It is good to leave home sometimes so you can learn something different to bring back. Good luck!
 
Brutus0725 said:
Easy, Harvard.............. Why, because you have more dentist in LA that went to UCLA. If you go to Harvard, you patients will think they are getting something better than what they are use to. And you know that in LA that is a big thing. Alot of people there are all about prestige. Also, I would go just to do something different that what I am custom to. It is good to leave home sometimes so you can learn something different to bring back. Good luck!
Click to expand...


People don't care where their dentist went to school. I think Dr. Jeff said on here that in his multiple years of practice he has been asked a couple of times max.

I would go to UCLA if I were you and it sounds like you want to go that way. The biggest thing to me is the money you would save. People on here act like 100g of debt is nothing. Granted, dentistry is a relatively stable profession but that is a lot of money. If you could save that by living home you would be a leg up when you get out.

I have done several rotations and have had the opportunity to observe several Harvard grads at specialty programs. They may be on top of the science behind dentistry but they sucked with patients. They will be fine in time with experience but their emphasis on research is evident in their inexperience with patient care. I know some people (harvard students) will get bent out of shape by reading that and say it's out of jealousy, etc but I have seen it multiple times.

Either way you can't go wrong but as others have said it sounds to me like you know what you want to do.
 
peezoreamer said:
Hands down Harvard. You dont want to be that person who holds on to your Harvard acceptance letter and say I could have gone there.
Click to expand...
Haha...ask a few people that have seen the hand skills of people that have come out of Harvard...

Harvard's medical school may be impressive, but try to find someone that thinks the dental school is prestigious. It won't happen. Go to UCLA.
 
Brutus0725 said:
Easy, Harvard.............. Why, because you have more dentist in LA that went to UCLA. If you go to Harvard, you patients will think they are getting something better than what they are use to. And you know that in LA that is a big thing. Alot of people there are all about prestige. Also, I would go just to do something different that what I am custom to. It is good to leave home sometimes so you can learn something different to bring back. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Ask a dentist how many patients have asked them where they went to school--next to none. People care about their relationship with the dentist and the painlessness of the treatment. Your ability to connect with your patient is something that cannot be learned. As for painlessness, I can teach anyone to give a painless injection in 30 minutes. As for the rest of the material that dental schools have to offer, it's all dependent on your ambition to learn the material. I promise you that a slacker will learn less at the best institution than a motivated person will learn at the worst.

As for getting away from home, I agree with this completely. It's a good thing to branch out and put yourself into an unfamiliar situation. You'll learn a ton by getting "out of the box." If you are wanting to have a "vacation" from LA and your LA life, go to Harvard. However, don't go there expecting to get a mind-blowing dental education. People that have a Harvard tradition in their family, or those that attend Harvard, believe that Harvard is the best at everything. Furthermore, they will say that anyone that thinks otherwise missed the cut or is in some other way inferior. Get educated, and your decision will make itself for you.
 
if you wanna specialize, harvard. u are almost guaranteed as long as you make good with the profs. that is why they focus less on hand skills, coz they assume u all will specialize so no need to be good clinically.

if you want to be general dentist..hmm, if you are rich go to harvard, if you are not or greedy and dun care about prestige go to UCLA. Coz going to Harvard is an experience that not everyone will have. Even though it won't matter in the end, you know deep down inside that you went to Harvard... lol
 
ItsGavinC said:
Hey, then you must know my buddy that left UCLA and transferred out here. He was in your class, wasn't he?
Click to expand...

It is uncharacteristic for a SDN moderator to be as childish and petty as you are. Write something more useful. Thank you.

Also, if you want to refresh your short-term memory, perhaps you should read this Aug 15th post http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2881238&postcount=123
🙄
 
Brutus0725 said:
Easy, Harvard.............. Why, because you have more dentist in LA that went to UCLA. If you go to Harvard, you patients will think they are getting something better than what they are use to. And you know that in LA that is a big thing. Alot of people there are all about prestige. Also, I would go just to do something different that what I am custom to. It is good to leave home sometimes so you can learn something different to bring back. Good luck!
Click to expand...


This makes absolutely no sense. To think that patients in Los Angeles will prefer Harvard over UCLA trained dentists is ridiculous. I doubt your patients will ever know where you went to school. Like I said, success in dentistry is about relationships--with patients and colleagues. Going to Harvard isn't going to give you that. You can't waive your diploma and create a solid relationship. You have to learn it on your own through plenty of interpersonal experiences. Seeing as many patients as possible will help. Spending nights and weekends in lab will not.

There was one good comment in this posting. It was the point about trying something new. Still, you don't have to do it for 4 years. If it turns out you don't like that new thing you tried, you're stuck. I think it would be much better to go on externships during vacations, travel to different countries with flying doctors, participate in an exchange program (like UCLA's Japan exchange), or intern with the Indian Health Service.

But I'm sure your goals are much different from mine. If you have no desire to be a clinician, enjoy the frigid cold, and like the Red Sox, Harvard may be a good place for you.
 
ItsGavinC said:
Hey, then you must know my buddy that left UCLA and transferred out here. He was in your class, wasn't he?
Click to expand...

Yeah I know Wes. He is a friend of mine. We won the 1st year talent show together with our kick-ass rendition of Super Mario Bros. You should feel lucky to have him at your school. He's the kind of guy who could really improve the reputation of a brand new school like U of A.

Are we just making smalltalk here or is there some other message you're trying to communicate?
 
Woodsy said:
if you wanna specialize, harvard. u are almost guaranteed as long as you make good with the profs. that is why they focus less on hand skills, coz they assume u all will specialize so no need to be good clinically.
Click to expand...
If you want to specialize in OMFS, and want to go to a good program (not Harvard), then forget that you ever heard this piece of advice. Guaranteed my ass. Assume all will specialize? Give me a break. Do some investigating to see the percentage of those that specialize each year from Harvard, where they go, and what those places are like. If you want a career in a lab doing research, then it may be the place for you. Otherwise, be wary of what you hear from Harvard kids...
 
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your advice!
I decided to go to UCLA.
Go Bruins! 😉
Farnaz
 
drhobie7 said:
Yeah I know Wes. He is a friend of mine. We won the 1st year talent show together with our kick-ass rendition of Super Mario Bros. You should feel lucky to have him at your school. He's the kind of guy who could really improve the reputation of a brand new school like U of A.

Are we just making smalltalk here or is there some other message you're trying to communicate?
Click to expand...
Why did this kid transfer to AZ?
 
unlvdmd said:
Why did this kid transfer to AZ?
Click to expand...

Personal reasons. You'd have to talk with him. I doubt it was because UCLA was too hard for him. He's a bright guy. It's too bad though. He had just gotten through the worst of it (2nd year) and was set up with a great treatment group in clinic. His 4th year student had completed all the graduation requirements so he would have had his pick of the cases. Of course the biggest shame is that he and I can no longer defend our talent show grand championship.
 
The only emergency is figuring out what happened to your mind. Why would you want to go to Harvard?
 
IMHO, I would say yes. Harvard doesnt require deposit, right? You always have the option to decline it, right?

As for the choice between two schools, I would come to UCLA if you want to practice in LA later on. The network that u could build, the alumni(not just the SOD, but the whole campus) connection is there. Seriously, I have never looked at my DDS or DMD's diploma. Who knows if they have a degree, as long as they are cheap and dont cost me pain. Specialty-wise, you are pretty much equal in both schools.

yes, the big R. as far as i know, our dean is very proud of the fact that we moved up on our dental NIH funding ranking within top 10. i know harvard is rich bcos they have all kinds of private donations. harvard wins this battle since the students actually have time to do research. at ucla, unless u r truly interested in research, it is hard to motivate urself to do that.

I hope u all know it is really hard to transfer to another dental school. I heard about the guy transferred to arizona. I am pretty sure no matter where he goes with his board score, he could get into pretty much any residency he desires. a sound product from UCLA!

Just to be fair, I would go to Harvard, if:
u cant stay the nice weather in LA any more. recently, they do have overcast in august, which is the weirdest thing to me.
if u r into PBL system (i think I will like the re-structured UCLA 1st quarter better though)
if u want to use that extra 100K to buy urself a harvard diploma. jk
it would be a nice change of environment to know how good CA is.

Farnaz said:
Hi everyone,
I am from LA and I am pretty much set to go to ucla. I was waitlisted at harvard and yesterday I received a call from them that I have got in. I have to let them know by tomorrow if I am going there!
I want to specialize at UCLA or somewhere in california. I like research a lot and want to get involved in academia in the future. I want to make LA my home for the rest of my life, so may be going to ucla and making connections here would help me with specializing here and getting involved. If I go to ucla, I would live at home and will save more than 100K. My whole family and friends are here and a few of my friends are gonna be my classmates if I go to ucla.
Can you guys please throw in some ideas to help me decide? Did any of you go to these schools or were faced with the same decision?
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
 
Farnaz said:
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your advice!
I decided to go to UCLA.
Go Bruins! 😉
Farnaz
Click to expand...
Wise choice, grass hopper! 👍
Being close to family and friends, good weather and everything else CA has to offer is priceless. You can buy a **** load of Harvard t-shirts and coffee mugs with that $100K!
Frame the Harvard acceptance letter so that if anyone pulls the "I'm a Harvard Grad" card, you can pull that out and say, big deal, I turned them down! This is dentistry, not medicine or anything else, 99% of the patients don't know or don't care about your school, only your interpersonal skills and your technical skills.
Look at the "cosmetic" dentist, William Dorfman from UCLA, he still gets be on TV!
 
Dr. Dorfman made a presentation at UCLA on creating your own Extreme practice. He really knows how to promote himself, his practice, and his company. In doing so, he has also raised the awareness of the general practice. Although people's expectations may be unrealistic, at least they are motivated to see a dentist, gets them through the door, and it gives us a chance to educate and treat them.

It was interesting to hear how he persuaded the show's producers to increase the portion dedicated dentistry on the show by donating his own services for the makeover. Now they will fly potential candidates from across the nation to his office so that he can make the first cut. If they are not a good esthetic case, and he says no, they don't get to be on the show. We had fun looking at slides of potential extreme makeover patients to vote on which ones would be the easiest and most dramatic to accomplish.
 
Just coming back from a long hiatus from SDN, it's amazing how many of you still toss around the same shallow arguments while bashing harvard. PLEASE do some detective work before you make ridiculous accusations that are unfounded, every school in the country deserves a fair and unbiased appraisal. If any SDNer feels like commenting again on all the usuals, (specialities, clinical experience, board scores, research, blah blah blah) ask myself or one of my classmates first about it, we would be happy to get it straight for you. I think every harvard student agrees with all of you in that there isn't a "best" school in the country, just "best fit for you" schools. And tx oms, lighten up man, I think everyone knows your opinion by now, you haven't missed a single chance yet to sound like an uninformed harvard sour grapes wannabe, people are going to start thinking you have Harvard envy 😀
 
lnn2 said:
This is dentistry, not medicine or anything else, 99% of the patients don't know or don't care about your school, only your interpersonal skills and your technical skills.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you're probably right that most people don't know the school from which their dentist graduated. Unless of course you went to harvard. People can spot a harvard degree hanging in the most obscure place in your office. 😛
 
SuperTrooper said:
Yeah, you're probably right that most people don't know the school from which their dentist graduated. Unless of course you went to harvard. People can spot a harvard degree hanging in the most obscure place in your office. 😛
Click to expand...

True
 
This OMFS guy has it in for me whatever it is I write. Just like to mess with me I guess. I really dun care to be honest. Just fun sometimes to respond. It is because I am an arrogant and spoiled rich boy and it pisses him off that I act like a jerk and come off very superficial, elitist, and solves everything with money, at least in real life. He knows that we will never meet in person so of course he will get a chance to rail me. sometimes i deserve it. I would rail me too.
 
Thanks Harvard guys for breaking the trend of giving constructive advice and making this thread lame.
 
drhobie7 said:
Thanks Harvard guys for breaking the trend of giving constructive advice and making this thread lame.
Click to expand...

If you can honestly say it wouldn't burn you up a bit to see people giving advice about your school that looks like it came from bazooka joe then I apologize for breaking the "trend"(????? Dr. Dorfman??????? ) you had going?

The forums are only constructive if the advice given here is the honest truth, otherwise ask your grandma what she thinks, you're probably better off!

So here is an attempt at constructive advice. Unless the person you're listening to goes there, it's only heresay

(interestingly, over half of our class (16) was accepted to both UCLA and Harvard but you don't see any of us lambasting the UCLA program or, even worse, telling people how it is there!)
 
suffolktri said:
And tx oms, lighten up man, I think everyone knows your opinion by now, you haven't missed a single chance yet to sound like an uninformed harvard sour grapes wannabe, people are going to start thinking you have Harvard envy 😀
Click to expand...
Harvard sucks. So do you.
 
tx oms said:
Harvard sucks. So do you.
Click to expand...
You know who has a DMD from Harvard? The dean of UCLA. Oh, and so does the dean of San Antonio. 😱 I think your mom went to harvard as well tex oms.
 
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