Harvard or UCLA? please help....

[shopgirl]

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Hi everyone--I am new to this forum and I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice to help me make a huge decision. I have been very fortunate and honored to be accepted to UCLA, and Harvard. I am a CA resident, and eventually I want to practice in California. I am not interested in going into academic dentisry, but I would like to explore the possibility of becoming a specialist. I like both UCLA and Harvard. I simply love the westwood area where UCLA is locared. I like Boston as well but I would like to come back to sunny California to practice. At Harvard, dental students take classes with medical students in the first two years. Also, they have problem based learing curriculum. My biggest concern with Harvard would be I don't know how I will handle such rigorous curriculum and problem based learning ( b/c my college courses were all traditional style) I know Harvard has an amazing record of sending students to specialty. How about UCLA? Which school should I attend assuming money is not a huge issue? And where should I go if money is a issue? Thank you very much for your help.

 

[Joshua Tree]

Those are two great schools. If you want to specialize, Harvard will get you where you need to go. However, the California boards are the toughest state boards to take, so if you wanted to practice in California, I would use that advantage of the state school to get licensed in Ca. Not saying you can't do it if you went to Harvard, but you would have the patients and the facilities right there in Westwood. Both those schools will look great on your CV when applying to specialites, but given where you want to practice, I'd strongly support UCLA.

 

[mcataz]

You will probably be happier at UCLA than Harvard. But when all is said and done, you will probably be happier that you graduated from Harvard than UCLA.

Harvard is Harvard. It's an experience like no other and you will study at the Harvard Medical School during your first two years which is one of the finest academic institutions in the world. It's an experience like no other.

I hate the East Coast. And I don't like gunners. I'm very West Coast and laid back. I love the sun and people in California. But Harvard is Harvard. You just can't pass up on an opportunity to attend an amazing school like that. I would endure discomfort for 4 years if it means you will experience an amazing education.

It's an amazing opportunity. You shouldn't pass it up.

Good Luck and Godspeed

 

[Blue Tooth]

don't forget that if you're going to specialize, you don't really need to take the cali boards. assuming you go to a specialty program in california, there's no board requirement for patients and you're granted a liscense upon graduation from the specialty program.