harvard... edge?

[MinyMegs]

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So-- I have already put down a deposite on Iowa... toughest choice I ever made. Then I recieved an acceptance from Harvard on Friday... now my question is... is there ANYTHING about Harvard that would give me an edge in dentistry (compared to say... Iowa)? I want to specialize... and I know the stats at Harvard are awesome, but I also believe that if I work hard enough I will be able to specialize from any school.

Perhaps I will pursue an academic career in dentistry later on, but truely... I want to know if the extra 80K would be a worthwhile investment. What are your thoughts?

 

[DUBS]

i don't know much about Iowa, but I believe Harvard is the top school in terms of how many students go on to specialize. If I were you, I would go with Harvard. As a graduate from there, not only will you have a plethora of options to make up that 80K easily, you will be able to develop very good connections. Then again, go where you fit in better and think you can do better in. Good luck and congrats on your acceptances.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

You seem like a very determined person and I'm sure you'll be successful at either Iowa or Harvard but dental school is a different place. There's no guarantee that you will be in the top of your class at Iowa, therefore there's no guarantee that you will match to the specialty of your choice. But going to Harvard seems to "guarantee" that you will match to whichever you choose to do. Just do a search and check out their specialty matches, they're astounding.

 

[fightingspirit]

.

 

[gryffindor]

i kinda second COMMI, wherever you go, you'll make it. if you got into Harvard d-school, then you're of the same quality of students that graduate and match to their top choices from there....so you'll be all right. however, if it were me (i am biased and subective off ocurse), i'd go for Iowa.

good luck

If I had to do the dental school process over again knowing that I wanted to be an orthodontist at the end.... I would have gone to Harvard. High part I board averages, no class rank, very small class. If you go to Iowa and they have class rank, then that brings about an entirely different level of stress. Sometimes the slackers who barely got into dental school find religion and graduate right there at the top of the dental school class. Those coming in with the high stats may find it difficult to deal with the dental school environment - too many classes, not enough time. Basically, with class rank, there are no guarantees. You have to always be cognizant of your grades & rank and it just sucks. Yeah sure, doing well on Part 1 is all about the student's efforts, not the school, blah blah, blah. But if there is a dental school with a 90+ average on Part I, that means the majority of the students (all 35 of them) are scoring 90+ as well. Big plus in my book.

Of course, I didn't actually go to Harvard so maybe this is a "grass is greener on the other side" comparison, but I think dental school is a crazy amount of work at most schools no matter what. And if you are trying to stay at the top of your class, that brings on more work and stress. Why not just do all the hard work and eliminate the stress of class rank if you have the opportunity?

But if you know you want to be a general dentist in your small hometown in a square state (Iowa or any other state next to it), then go to Iowa. Harvard wouldn't really be that worth it in that scenario.

And you get to spend 4 years in Boston! Iowa vs. Boston? Seriously!

 

[HermeytheElf]

So-- I have already put down a deposite on Iowa... toughest choice I ever made. Then I recieved an acceptance from Harvard on Friday... now my question is... is there ANYTHING about Harvard that would give me an edge in dentistry (compared to say... Iowa)? I want to specialize... and I know the stats at Harvard are awesome, but I also believe that if I work hard enough I will be able to specialize from any school.

Perhaps I will pursue an academic career in dentistry later on, but truely... I want to know if the extra 80K would be a worthwhile investment. What are your thoughts?

If I remember correctly, you have some sort of scholarship at Iowa. Personally, I wouldnt pass up free money at a school I liked for anything...even Harvard. You can specialize from any school...it's true the Harvard name helps, but if you want it enough its completely possible to specialize out of any school in the country. Tough choice...good luck with it.

 

[beredsox2]

If you plan on specializing go to Haahvaad. If not then go where it would be cheaper, in your case Iowa.

 

[adamlc18]

If you are still thinking about doing perio, it won't matter where you go. Perio isn't as competitive as many of the other specialties. I still think that $80k (more likely $100k due to tuition increases over the next 4 years) is too much more to pay for a comparable education.

 

[anonymuz]

So-- I have already put down a deposite on Iowa... toughest choice I ever made. Then I recieved an acceptance from Harvard on Friday... now my question is... is there ANYTHING about Harvard that would give me an edge in dentistry (compared to say... Iowa)? I want to specialize... and I know the stats at Harvard are awesome, but I also believe that if I work hard enough I will be able to specialize from any school.

Perhaps I will pursue an academic career in dentistry later on, but truely... I want to know if the extra 80K would be a worthwhile investment. What are your thoughts?

wowww harvard.. 🙂 congrats! can u share your stats?

 

[Audio]

So-- I have already put down a deposite on Iowa... toughest choice I ever made. Then I recieved an acceptance from Harvard on Friday... now my question is... is there ANYTHING about Harvard that would give me an edge in dentistry (compared to say... Iowa)? I want to specialize... and I know the stats at Harvard are awesome, but I also believe that if I work hard enough I will be able to specialize from any school.

Perhaps I will pursue an academic career in dentistry later on, but truely... I want to know if the extra 80K would be a worthwhile investment. What are your thoughts?

wow, congrats. Would you mind sharing some info with those of us waiting for the big news? For example, around when did you interview and how your acceptance package looked (was it big and bulky or just a plain envelope?)

When I spoke with them, they said that they'd let everyone know something by the end of January (accepted, waitlist, rejection) so I guess my fate is in the mail and should reach Canada tomorrow or Tuesday 😀

 

[MinyMegs]

If I had to do the dental school process over again knowing that I wanted to be an orthodontist at the end.... I would have gone to Harvard. High part I board averages, no class rank, very small class. If you go to Iowa and they have class rank, then that brings about an entirely different level of stress. Sometimes the slackers who barely got into dental school find religion and graduate right there at the top of the dental school class. Those coming in with the high stats may find it difficult to deal with the dental school environment - too many classes, not enough time. Basically, with class rank, there are no guarantees. You have to always be cognizant of your grades & rank and it just sucks. Yeah sure, doing well on Part 1 is all about the student's efforts, not the school, blah blah, blah. But if there is a dental school with a 90+ average on Part I, that means the majority of the students (all 35 of them) are scoring 90+ as well. Big plus in my book.

Of course, I didn't actually go to Harvard so maybe this is a "grass is greener on the other side" comparison, but I think dental school is a crazy amount of work at most schools no matter what. And if you are trying to stay at the top of your class, that brings on more work and stress. Why not just do all the hard work and eliminate the stress of class rank if you have the opportunity?

But if you know you want to be a general dentist in your small hometown in a square state (Iowa or any other state next to it), then go to Iowa. Harvard wouldn't really be that worth it in that scenario.

And you get to spend 4 years in Boston! Iowa vs. Boston? Seriously!

Thank you so much for this insight... It is VERY appealing to have the 90+ average on the boards, and all the students I talked to there had very low stress! HMMMM

As for specializing in perio... (adamlc) I am not too sure that will be the route for me. The more I learn at the office, the more bored I get with it. Even the doctor I work with said she thinks that I will get bored in perio. (Which surprised me). I really want to keep my options open for specialty.

And Hermey... you are so right... free money is what attracts me to Iowa. I mean that is REALLY hard to pass up, plus Iowa has a great program and everyone is really nice. But I met a lot of nice people at harvard too.

As for the acceptance, I recieved a phone call Thursday (at my parents home andonmy cell phone) but they did not get a hold of my until Friday morning. She told me that everything will be mailed out to me, so I have not recieved any sized enevelope yet! Good luck to you though!!!

 

[Dental DL]

hmmmm.... does that mean my little (or big) letter is in the mail too?!

 

[HermeytheElf]

hmmmm.... does that mean my little (or big) letter is in the mail too?!

Why is it that every time I look, you have a different picture of your ass posted as your avatar? Do you honestly just get so little attention that you have to post semi-inappropriate pictures just to feel better about yourself? Don't get me wrong, you have very good taste in underwear, but I just don't think its necessary to show everyone.

 

[Audio]

Why is it that every time I look, you have a different picture of your ass posted as your avatar? Do you honestly just get so little attention that you have to post semi-inappropriate pictures just to feel better about yourself? Don't get me wrong, you have very good taste in underwear, but I just don't think its necessary to show everyone.

You're gay (not that there's anything wrong with it) 😀

 

[HermeytheElf]

You're gay (not that there's anything wrong with it) 😀

False. I like girls.

 

[DUBS]

hey, i love dentaldl's avatars...keep them comin 😉

 

[Dental DL]

sorry to go avatar crazy haha

my last picture got deleted for some reason so i had to post another. i could always not post them at all if they are so 'offensive' 🙄

 

[beredsox2]

sorry to go avatar crazy haha

my last picture got deleted for some reason so i had to post another. i could always not post them at all if they are so 'offensive' 🙄

I need a little more variety to be honest with you. 😴

 

[Dental DL]

ok ok, i'm no longer controversial 😴

happy hermey?

 

[HermeytheElf]

ok ok, i'm no longer controversial 😴

happy hermey?

You're such a pushover...how are you gonna get through life if you're always doing what every tells you to? 🙂

P.S. Thanks now basically every guy on this forum hates me for taking away their booty pics.

 

[Audio]

ok ok, i'm no longer controversial 😴

happy hermey?

NOOOO don't listen to hermey the gay elf 🙁

 

[bloodygums]

NOOOO don't listen to hermey the gay elf 🙁

👍