Go to Private School or Reapply Next Year?

[Avocado24]

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)]This cycle is my second time applying. Last year I applied to a handful of schools and received 1 pre December interview invite (my state school). Unfortunately in December I was told I wasn't selected, and my application would be reviewed again in the spring. March came around and I found out I had been rejected. I decided to meet with the dean of admissions to discuss how I could become more competitive for the next cycle. She suggested retaking the DAT (18 AA, 17TS, 15 PAT, 24 RC) , and some other things.

I graduated with my degree in biology in May (3.57 oGPA, 3.49sGPA) and retook the DAT in June. I improved my scores to a 22 AA, 21 TS, 18 PAT, 25 RC. I applied to 6 schools in the Midwest (it's important to me to stay somewhat close to home). I received an invite at my state school in the first round of interviews, and thought it went well. I also interviewed at Detroit Mercy and really liked the faculty and atmosphere, more so perhaps than my state school. However, my state school costs far less, and I would be able to live with my parents during school. Therefore I decided I would definitely choose my state school if I were to be accepted to both.

On December 1st I learned that I had once again not been accepted to my state school, and that my application would be reviewed again in the fall. However, I was accepted to Detroit Mercy.

In their email, my state school said that the amount of seats remaining for in state applicants was very limited. Therefore, I'm not holding my breath at all for this spring. Assuming I am not accepted at my state school this spring, I am extremely torn on what to do. Attend Detroit Mercy next year and have to move 5+ hours from my family, friends, gf, etc and graduate with 360,000+ in loans, but get a great education, clinical experience, etc. Or reapply to my state school again next year, but have no guarantee they would even accept me.

I'm having a very tough time deciding, and just needed to vent. Part of me is so sick of waiting to resume my education while my best friends are all in dental school, med school, grad school, etc. that I just want to go to Detroit no matter what the cost. But another part of me wonders if I would be setting myself up for failure after reading posts on here about accruing so much debt at private schools.

I'd appreciate input from anybody about what you would do In this situation, or if you are in a similar situation maybe we can try to figure it out together.

Thanks[/COLOR]

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[MasterDental]

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)]This cycle is my second time applying. Last year I applied to a handful of schools and received 1 pre December interview invite (my state school). Unfortunately in December I was told I wasn't selected, and my application would be reviewed again in the spring. March came around and I found out I had been rejected. I decided to meet with the dean of admissions to discuss how I could become more competitive for the next cycle. She suggested retaking the DAT (18 AA, 17TS, 15 PAT, 24 RC) , and some other things.

I graduated with my degree in biology in May (3.57 oGPA, 3.49sGPA) and retook the DAT in June. I improved my scores to a 22 AA, 21 TS, 18 PAT, 25 RC. I applied to 6 schools in the Midwest (it's important to me to stay somewhat close to home). I received an invite at my state school in the first round of interviews, and thought it went well. I also interviewed at Detroit Mercy and really liked the faculty and atmosphere, more so perhaps than my state school. However, my state school costs far less, and I would be able to live with my parents during school. Therefore I decided I would definitely choose my state school if I were to be accepted to both.

On December 1st I learned that I had once again not been accepted to my state school, and that my application would be reviewed again in the fall. However, I was accepted to Detroit Mercy.

In their email, my state school said that the amount of seats remaining for in state applicants was very limited. Therefore, I'm not holding my breath at all for this spring. Assuming I am not accepted at my state school this spring, I am extremely torn on what to do. Attend Detroit Mercy next year and have to move 5+ hours from my family, friends, gf, etc and graduate with 360,000+ in loans, but get a great education, clinical experience, etc. Or reapply to my state school again next year, but have no guarantee they would even accept me.

I'm having a very tough time deciding, and just needed to vent. Part of me is so sick of waiting to resume my education while my best friends are all in dental school, med school, grad school, etc. that I just want to go to Detroit no matter what the cost. But another part of me wonders if I would be setting myself up for failure after reading posts on here about accruing so much debt at private schools.

I'd appreciate input from anybody about what you would do In this situation, or if you are in a similar situation maybe we can try to figure it out together.

Thanks[/COLOR].

I would plan on going to UDM, and hope that your state school accepts you. I'm in the same boat. Exactly the same situation. Input down the deposit for my OOS expensive school ~340K debt, and I'm hoping I might be able to get off the waitlist at my state school, which is close to impossible. I would suggest just planning on going to Mercy for now. I loved that school.


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[UCSFx2017]

Is military an option?

 

[Hannah Banana]

Go to school.

 

[hopefuldentistry]

go to detroirt mercy. You could be waiting forever for your state school to accept you. Plus those DAT scores will only last so long. If you want to be a dentist go to detroit mercy. If you want to hang out with family and friends then stay home. Depends on what is most important to you. Personally, f I was in your shoes, I'd go to detroit mercy. Your family and friends will still be there on school breaks and you can move back to them once school is over.

 

[HookahLungs]

Is marquette the state school? Or is it UIC or siu? What's the state school?

 

[dauntless123]

go to dental school. You will become a dentist in the end anyway no matter what school you choose. Don't wait another year just to go to your state school. The debt will be paid off. You will find a way to pay it off. If I were you, I would just go. Best of luck!

 

[Bis-GMA111]

my personal advice: if you're not going the military route, or any scholarship route, then

see if you can defer your acceptance for a year. if you can, do that and get a full time job, and re apply to your state school.

worst case scenario: you don't get into your state school the next cycle, but you'll have $$ to go towards your tuition at the private school.

 

[divinewind]

Yes, put down deposit to detroit. if you get in to state school, then cool, if not, then whatever. I'm going to assume you didnt think about this before choosing where to apply. I cant understand why some people would apply to nyu, get accepted, and then say should they try again next year. At that point why did you bother wasting money applying to nyu in the first place

 

[Bis-GMA111]

Yes, put down deposit to detroit. if you get in to state school, then cool, if not, then whatever. I'm going to assume you didnt think about this before choosing where to apply. I cant understand why some people would apply to nyu, get accepted, and then say should they try again next year. At that point why did you bother wasting money applying to nyu in the first place

getting in and having the option to defer > not applying to the school at all. by getting into detroit OP has a little more wiggle room. nothing wrong with deferment in my opinion.

 

[zero0]

Ah, the age-old question...

+1 for reapply. Every dentist who mentored me couldn't stress this enough:

Keep. Those. Loans. Down.

 

[DentalFox]

Lets say the same thing happens next cycle. That's one year wasted... Put your deposit. If you don't hear back, well those are the cards you were dealt.

 

[jeffk805dent]

getting in and having the option to defer > not applying to the school at all. by getting into detroit OP has a little more wiggle room. nothing wrong with deferment in my opinion.

I dont know how much things are different on the AADSAS since I applied back in 2009 but I was under the impression that you had mention on the application that if you were accepted to a dental school in the previous application cycle.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

you do have to mention it still, but they still give you space to explain your circumstances. i'd still risk it, just by applying to the one state school.

OP could also try to shadow someone at the state school and try to build connections. wouldn't hurt.

in the grand scheme of things, you're losing a year of practicing...which is nothing

 

[DentalFox]

you do have to mention it still, but they still give you space to explain your circumstances. i'd still risk it, just by applying to the one state school.

OP could also try to shadow someone at the state school and try to build connections. wouldn't hurt.

That doesn't always guarantee that you will get in. I know people that went to football games with someone on the admissions board and still didn't get in!

 

[Bis-GMA111]

That doesn't always guarantee that you will get in. I know people that went to football games with someone on the admissions board and still didn't get in!

better to take the risk in my opinion. that's why i suggested getting a full time job. in case it doesn't work out you can at least put some of that income towards paying the private school.

 

[SM555]

better to take the risk in my opinion. that's why i suggested getting a full time job. in case it doesn't work out you can at least put some of that income towards paying the private school.

work next year and make maybe $20k-$30k or be one year closer to making $150k?

 

[SM555]

The only commodity you can't get back is time. Don't waste it waiting on an opportunity you already had

 

[HookahLungs]

Send your state school a letter of intent. Tell them you're already accepted - but you'd rather go to their school and would like to express your interest in the school. They'd look at that positively.

 

[jeffk805dent]

work next year and make maybe $20k-$30k or be one year closer to making $150k?

one minor nitpick, most starting dentists wont make $150k unless they have a side job or are working at corporate sweat shop office or somewhere in Alaska/New Mexico. However 100-120k is definitely possible.

congrats on Creighton, my older brother went there, liked the school and faculty which was a good thing cause he hated the outdoors during the winters (we're used to surfing on California beaches)

 

[SM555]

one minor nitpick, most starting dentists wont make $150k unless they have a side job or are working at corporate sweat shop office or somewhere in Alaska/New Mexico. However 100-120k is definitely possible.

congrats on Creighton, my older brother went there, liked the school and faculty which was a good thing cause he hated the outdoors during the winters (we're used to surfing on California beaches)

I'm from New Mexico so my idea of dental salary is a bit skewed.

Ahhhh don't tell me that haha. I hate cold weather but decided I would rather be a little colder than pay 120k extra for warm weather at MWU.

 

[jeffk805dent]

I'm from New Mexico so my idea of dental salary is a bit skewed.

Ahhhh don't tell me that haha. I hate cold weather but decided I would rather be a little colder than pay 120k extra for warm weather at MWU.

please tell me there are numerous job offers in Albuquerque. Im used to Phoenix and other large cities so I'd hate the idea of moving to rural places (at rural imo) such as Farmington and Kayenta to get work.

if you have a REI nearby just buy some winter clothes. I kind of overexaggerated on the winter, you'll be studying a lot enjoying that hot coffee and time will fly.

 

[Daneosaurus]

my personal advice: if you're not going the military route, or any scholarship route, then

see if you can defer your acceptance for a year. if you can, do that and get a full time job, and re apply to your state school.

worst case scenario: you don't get into your state school the next cycle, but you'll have $$ to go towards your tuition at the private school.

I hate this advice. State schools re not the only schools worth going to. OP already waited a cycle. As I have previously stated, being a dentist with debt is better than not being a dentist at all.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

I hate this advice. State schools re not the only schools worth going to. OP already waited a cycle. As I have previously stated, being a dentist with debt is better than not being a dentist at all.

the sad thing is, this profession is so hyped up to the point where people will pay anything to get a degree. dental schools are businesses too, believe it or not. at what point is paying 400k for a degree+interest+another half a mill loan to start a practice (at least) worth it to you? really? you mean to tell me deferring a year to try again for a state school (or schools) isn't worth saving, potentially >100k + interest? you do know that interest starts to pile up the moment you take out loans, right?

if there's a significant difference in price with state schools, there's no reason why you shouldn't defer 1 YEAR if you have the chance. let me remind you-deferment means you'll STILL be a dentist. 1 year is NOTHING for your dental career.

state schools should always be your #1, unless you're loaded/mommy and daddy can foot most of the bill.

 

[Schwanz]

the sad thing is, this profession is so hyped up to the point where people will pay anything to get a degree. dental schools are businesses too, believe it or not. at what point is paying 400k for a degree+interest+another half a mill loan to start a practice (at least) worth it to you? really? you mean to tell me deferring a year to try again for a state school (or schools) isn't worth saving, potentially >100k + interest? you do know that interest starts to pile up the moment you take out loans, right?

if there's a significant difference in price with state schools, there's no reason why you shouldn't defer 1 YEAR if you have the chance. let me remind you-deferment means you'll STILL be a dentist. 1 year is NOTHING for your dental career.

state schools should always be your #1, unless you're loaded/mommy and daddy can foot most of the bill.

Deferring for a year also means you are giving up a year of income as a dentist. This lost year is being taken from the end of your career = your max earning potential. So that's a big reason not to defer.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

Deferring for a year also means you are giving up a year of income as a dentist. This lost year is being taken from the end of your career = your max earning potential. So that's a big reason not to defer.

i'm curious..

so, based off of your assumption--if OP was to go straight into private practice after graduating, after making loan payments, and after taxes--what number would make 1 year worth of dentist income worth more than saving upwards of 100k? what if OP pursues a residency afterwards?

 

[Schwanz]

i'm curious..

so, based off of your assumption--if OP was to go straight into private practice after graduating, after making loan payments, and after taxes--what number would make 1 year worth of dentist income worth more than saving upwards of 100k? what if OP pursues a residency afterwards?

I'm not assuming anything, so not sure what you're asking. If the OP started dental school with the class of 2019 instead of 2020 he would be earning an extra year of income at his (presumably) highest career yearly salary. What that income is will depend on each person, but it should be greater than 100k+interest. Obviously a residency will also come with the lost opportunity of earning for those peak years, in exchange for an average income that is hopefully higher than what the person would have made as a general dentist.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

I'm not assuming anything, so not sure what you're asking. If the OP started dental school with the class of 2019 instead of 2020 he would be earning an extra year of income at his (presumably) highest career yearly salary. What that income is will depend on each person, but it should be greater than 100k+interest. Obviously a residency will also come with the lost opportunity of earning for those peak years, in exchange for an average income that is hopefully higher than what the person would have made as a general dentist.

i see where you're coming from, but i have to respectfully disagree.

if after all is said and done (paying taxes, and paying a monthly payment for loans), you mean to tell me that the OP 'should' be able to take home 100k+interest then i find that very hard to believe, especially right out of school+without a residency. i mean sure, it has probably been done, but i feel that putting that kind of value in today's market is pretty unreasonable. from what i've researched and heard, getting anything over 100k base is difficult. dentists that i talked to usually made that kind of money with production bonuses, per their contracts (around 30-33%)+a base of like 80-90k

however, it's more believable if OP goes the corporate route, or has a decent hookup after graduation

 

[Schwanz]

i see where you're coming from, but i have to respectfully disagree.

if after all is said and done (paying taxes, and paying a monthly payment for loans), you mean to tell me that the OP 'should' be able to take home 100k+interest then i find that very hard to believe, especially right out of school+without a residency. i mean sure, it has probably been done, but i feel that putting that kind of value in today's market is pretty unreasonable. from what i've researched and heard, getting anything over 100k base is difficult. dentists that i talked to usually made that kind of money with production bonuses, per their contracts (around 30-33%)+a base of like 80-90k

however, it's more believable if OP goes the corporate route, or has a decent hookup after graduation

You're not understanding the lost year of income, it's not the income from that first year of practicing that the OP would be missing out on, it's the last year of the OP's career that would be lost. Everyone is going to be slow and not produce that much the first year, but that has no bearing on this question of starting or deferring. It's the income level of that last year you need to consider. To help you understand, let's say the OP retires at 65. If he starts school this year and graduates at 30, he will practice for 35 years. If he defers he would be 31 at graduation, hence practicing for 34 years. He's going to have that first year of low income no matter what, the difference is in having the 35th year or not. Get it?

 

[Bis-GMA111]

You're not understanding the lost year of income, it's not the income from that first year of practicing that the OP would be missing out on, it's the last year of the OP's career that would be lost. Everyone is going to be slow and not produce that much the first year, but that has no bearing on this question of starting or deferring. It's the income level of that last year you need to consider. To help you understand, let's say the OP retires at 65. If he starts school this year and graduates at 30, he will practice for 35 years. If he defers he would be 31 at graduation, hence practicing for 34 years. He's going to have that first year of low income no matter what, the difference is in having the 35th year or not. Get it?

no, i understand that and i see where you're coming from, but again i'm sticking with the notion that 1 year isn't going to make much of a difference in the span of your career, after you've made serious money and assuming that you manage that $$ wisely. with a lower debt burden, OP would have more wiggle room when it comes to 1. getting a loan for a practice 2. starting a family 3. buying a home, etc.

there are too many extrinsic variables to consider to be honest, as well but at the end of the day, it's still worth it for 1 year in my opinion. taking an acceptance now, and working for an extra year sounds great, but it's something that i think is a personal choice--to me, a year of lost income after having an established career of 30+ years really is nothing monetarily. by 60 i'd personally look into selling my practice and actually have the process done a few years later---but hey that's only a wish.

 

[distressstudent]

You're not understanding the lost year of income, it's not the income from that first year of practicing that the OP would be missing out on, it's the last year of the OP's career that would be lost. Everyone is going to be slow and not produce that much the first year, but that has no bearing on this question of starting or deferring. It's the income level of that last year you need to consider. To help you understand, let's say the OP retires at 65. If he starts school this year and graduates at 30, he will practice for 35 years. If he defers he would be 31 at graduation, hence practicing for 34 years. He's going to have that first year of low income no matter what, the difference is in having the 35th year or not. Get it?

I think that's a fair assessment, but personally speaking I don't think I will care much about the potentially extra income at the age of 65. On the other hand, when I am in my late 20 and early 30, I am going to care much more about having 300k debt instead of 400k debt.

Let's say a person is 22 going into a 400k dental school. Then graduates with about 450k debt at 26. Let's say in 4 years, he was able to reduce his debt by 150k to 300k (for easy # sake, no interest).
Compare to a person at 23 going into a 300k dental school. Graduates with 340k debt at 27. In 3 year, he was able to reduce his debt by 112k to 188k.

At age 30, 300k is a lot more limiting to your lifestyle than 188k. At 65, the impact of your decision to attend a year later or not is almost negligible to your lifestyle. Ultimately it comes down to lifestyle vs more cash in your bank at an old age.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

I think that's a fair assessment, but personally speaking I don't think I will care much about the potentially extra income at the age of 65. On the other hand, when I am in my late 20 and early 30, I am going to care much more about having 300k debt instead of 400k debt.

Let's say a person is 22 going into a 400k dental school. Then graduates with about 450k debt at 26. Let's say in 4 years, he was able to reduce his debt by 150k to 300k (for easy # sake, no interest).
Compare to a person at 23 going into a 300k dental school. Graduates with 340k debt at 27. In 3 year, he was able to reduce his debt by 112k to 188k.

At age 30, 300k is a lot more limiting to your lifestyle than 188k. At 65, the impact of your decision to attend a year later or not is almost negligible to your lifestyle. Ultimately it comes down to lifestyle vs more cash in your bank at an old age.

^agreed. at that point in your life, a year's worth of income will probably be negligible if all goes well and you're handling your money correctly.

 

[yeslek88]

Waiting a year is not as simple as it is described above. First, a 20-30k/year job will contribute almost 0 in the long run. Living expenses and taxes will eat up well over half of that. Not to mention costs of reapplying, costs of potentially taking the DAT over, and costs associated with interviews. Also does not take into account loans that OP may have taken out for undergrad; in the end it would leave you with a couple thousand at best. All of this for something that is far from certain. I also disagree with the notion that losing a year of "dentists salary" is all that is at stake; how about the idea of putting your life on hold for an entire year? Even if the school allows you to defer, it is a risky proposition.

 

[jippyslim]

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Admission to your state school next year is not guaranteed. Though it's an expensive bird, you'll begin working 1 year sooner. Plus, there are many loan repayment/service obligation programs that will be available upon graduation.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Waiting a year is not as simple as it is described above. First, a 20-30k/year job will contribute almost 0 in the long run. Living expenses and taxes will eat up well over half of that. Not to mention costs of reapplying, costs of potentially taking the DAT over, and costs associated with interviews. Also does not take into account loans that OP may have taken out for undergrad; in the end it would leave you with a couple thousand at best. All of this for something that is far from certain. I also disagree with the notion that losing a year of "dentists salary" is all that is at stake; how about the idea of putting your life on hold for an entire year? Even if the school allows you to defer, it is a risky proposition.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Admission to your state school next year is not guaranteed. Though it's an expensive bird, you'll begin working 1 year sooner. Plus, there are many loan repayment/service obligation programs that will be available upon graduation.

That's how I think, too. Why would you defer a year when you have an acceptance now? Deferring the school you currently have an acceptance to in no way guarantees acceptance at a different school. Then what, you defer again? That makes absolutely no sense. You go to the cheapest school you are accepted to. Most people can't put their life on hold for an extra year.

 

[Avocado24]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I really appreciate it!

 

[mkhan27]

Dude put that deposit down and go to school! You are blessed to get into a dental school.

 

[predentalgirl]

Go to school. No guarantee you will get in next year. New applicant pool, new things that adcoms look for.

You'll be a dentist making money to pay the loans off.

You'll be pissed if you don't get in next year.

 

[Ferneezy]

OP: twice you rolled the dice and the market has spoken.

**** or get off the pot.

 

[Avocado24]

I have decided to attend UDM next year! Thank you everyone for your advice.

 

[BillyJoel]

Congrats! Hear nothing but good things about UDM!!