Harvard dental??

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Harvard has a very nice program based on what I read on it. If you're dead set on becoming a general dentist or greatly value clinical experience then it may not be the best option for you.
 
Here’s a pretty good post from another thread (I’m too lazy to type my take on HSDM right now):

fit2 said:
I think the program is actually really good. They changed from 2 yrs med school, 2 yrs dental school to 1 yr med schoool, 3 yr dental school. (They changed the medical curriculum as well since med and dental are so intertwined there). It’s really cool the way their curriculum is set up: you focus on academics the first 2 years and then third year you really go hard at hand skills and rotations. D4 you do a 12 week externship in Boston which is longer than externships of many other dental schools. All students were aware that they started clinical training later than people at other schools. No one seemed concerned that they weren’t getting enough training in the end though. Any school you go to, it’s up to each student to get the sufficient training to prep you after 4 years. HSDM curriculum (despite some confusion on sdn) is really great, both academically and clinically.
Click to expand...

I personally think Harvard has made great strides in recent years to become a well-rounded dental school for GP, while also remaining the top school for specializing.
 
You don't do anything dental related your first year (you're in medical school) and don't even pickup a hand-piece until second semester of your 2nd year. Some people might like that but I personally don't; if you're going to Harvard for general you're wasting your $$$$ imo.
 
DMDtoMD said:
Go to Harvard, match into oral surgery, and never worry about money again.
Click to expand...
It doesn't quite work like that. Here is what someone much smarter than me has to say on the matter:

The Anhedonia said:
Columbia Dental Grad + Harvard medical grad. fancy degrees but if you saw how much interest I accrue on my loans monthly you'd have diarrhea for a month at minimum. Go to the cheapest school. Don't second guess "well gee I what if I went to Columbia or Penn or one of those fancy Ivy leagues to help me specialize??" because there are smart kids at ivy/non-ivy and just as many if not more tools at ivy league schools.

Not worth IMO. Cheapest dental school = less loans = less interest = less diarrhea = more money to spend on non-underwear related expenses
Click to expand...
 
schmoob said:
It doesn't quite work like that. Here is what someone much smarter than me has to say on the matter:
Click to expand...
That’s an expensive route. Columbia is $50k more than Harvard for dental school & if it’s all about the money, just go to a 4-year OMFS program.
 
verooka1 said:
it’s top 5
Click to expand...
According to...? According to the most authoritative source, me, the top 5 dental schools are:

1) The cheapest school you get into
2) The next cheapest school you get into
3) And the next cheapest school you get into
4) And the next, next cheapest school you get into
5) And the next, next, next cheapest school you get into

Big Hoss
 
I used to think going to an ivy was worth it, but I think I wasn't taking into account interest and future developments. The price you pay at harvard to try to find an easier way into a residency of any kind is always constant (or in fact likely rising by year). However, the future of any specialty is not a guarantee, nor would your interest in said specialty be. I have no exposure to any specialty other than shadowing a few times as a predental student, and things can change. If I suddenly realize that I love general dentistry the most after a few years of dental school, a 500k debt pointing at the back of my head would be a real shackle once I'm out in the real world. I'm going into research this summer in an area that's not related to my specialty at all under someone who isn't in omfs, so who knows how it could change my perception on things.
 
I would honestly pay another $15k/year for a school that is true P/F and doesn’t rank, it’d make the next 4 years so much more enjoyable
 
0rgansm said:
I would honestly pay another $15k/year for a school that is true P/F and doesn’t rank, it’d make the next 4 years so much more enjoyable
Click to expand...
If someone just wants to do a gpr, would grades and class rank be things to be worried about?
 
Lau Sang said:
If someone just wants to do a gpr, would grades and class rank be things to be worried about?
Click to expand...
If you go to a Pass/fail school you can just pass your classes and spend all the extra time honing in on your clinical skills to become a better GP (or use that extra time to network, study business, or something useful for a GD). If down the road you decide you want to specialize, your class rank and GPA won’t hold you back... because you wont have one!
 
How does Harvard compare to USC? I know Harvard is cheaper by like 50k but in other aspects...?
 
verooka1 said:
How does Harvard compare to USC? I know Harvard is cheaper by like 50k but in other aspects...?
Click to expand...

USC is far better in every aspect except price and weather.
Edit: football as well

But for real. Depends what you are looking for. USC is probably better if your going for GP. You will have an easier time for residency with Harvard
 
FanOfCostco said:
USC is far better in every aspect except price and weather.
Edit: football as well

But for real. Depends what you are looking for. USC is probably better if your going for GP. You will have an easier time for residency with Harvard
Click to expand...

Yeah I guess I just don’t know if I want to do GP or not
 
verooka1 said:
Yeah I guess I just don’t know if I want to do GP or not
Click to expand...
If you don't know (which most people don't), then just go to a cheaper school. No reason in paying for Harvard tuition if you end up going into GP.
 
FanOfCostco said:
USC is far better in every aspect except price and weather.
Edit: football as well

But for real. Depends what you are looking for. USC is probably better if your going for GP. You will have an easier time for residency with Harvard
Click to expand...
What??? I've heard USC curriculum is terrible. I haven't heard of a single HSDM student complain about their curriculum (only complaints are from people who don't even go to harvard lol).
 
FanOfCostco said:
no way dude. the only thing harvard can beat usc at is league of legends.
Click to expand...
Are you kidding me? USC and the rest of the Power 5 schools are lucky that the Ivy leagues arent FBS. The natural born 5-star NFL-bound athletes would have no shot against the 2-star talent pool
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mr.Smile12
Harvard Dental financial aid (Crimson)
Replies
0
Views
887
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
GreekSB24
UT Health Houston (IS) vs. Harvard Dental Medicine (OOS)
Replies
4
Views
814
sumin5924
S
A
dental incomes
Replies
14
Views
1K
JacquesVallee
JacquesVallee
C
Dental HPSP Asthma Waiver
Replies
0
Views
150
Cpat29
C
M
TAMU dental
Replies
0
Views
330
marisolh
M
Top