Harvard vs. Maryland...Which to Choose?

[terpdaderp]

First post here on SDN, here goes nothing!

So I got into a number of schools, and have narrowed it down to Harvard or Maryland (my in-state school). Harvard will cost me $71k a year (without room/board) and Maryland will cost me $45k a year (without room/board). I do like the stress-free atmosphere at Harvard with the pass-fail system and no class ranking. I also like how the classroom is flipped, so no more nod-off lectures. I understand the alumni base of Harvard is much smaller than that of Maryland (35 class size compared to 130 at Maryland, although that 35 seems to pack a punch), but because I plan on coming back to Maryland to practice after school, maybe having more Maryland alumni around would be useful? On a personal note, it would be convenient going to Maryland, having friends and family only a 45 minute drive away from me. Living in Boston (I actually like the cold, so the weather is a plus) would only allow me to see family a few times a year (given how damn busy I'll be). The people at Harvard were really nice, and so were the people at Maryland. I liked the gym more at Maryland though.

Some people might just look at this post and immediately think: Harvard. But the extra cost is really getting to me, and from the dentists I've spoken with (both general dentists), they both immediately said Maryland. From their professional perspective, they thought the money was not worth it and in their 20-30 years of practicing the school they went to was never mentioned (so the whole "go for the name" argument might not be valid).

I can only talk to so many people I personally know, so I thought I'd create an account and give this a shot. Please don't hold back, I want everyone to be as brutally honest as possible. Thanks!

(oGPA: 3.84, sGPA: 3.90, DAT: 23)

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[allantois]

If you want to become a general dentist or specialist, go to Maryland.

If you are interested in academics and the like that Harvard can provide, then certainly go Harvard.

Congrats!

 

[Typical Average Student]

Maryland all the way. No question about it. Absolutely no point of spending an extra 30k+ per year just for the name of an Ivy League, in fact, Maryland would be more prestigious simply because they were the first dental school in the US.
You would be closer to home, you are in a bigger class so you don't have to see the same 34 people over and over again, you would be in Maryland (which is where you would like to practice in the future) so you don't have to worry too much about trying to pass the Maryland Jurisprudence Exam after dental school.

 

[ajj70]

Maryland, save the 100K+ to buy a practice some day...and that is just tuition savings, you are probably taking another 50K in cost of living differences over the 4 years too. I also wouldn't say that Harvard is "stress-free".

 

[periopocket]

I find these types of choices difficult. But Bc you are debating and are an instate student I would go to Maryland...someone out there has Harvard as there number 1 and will accept the seat without hesitating

 

[OhHamburgers]

There are so many debates regarding harvard vs. Other dental school on sdn but, ADEA guide statistics indicate that such debate is useless as no one turns down Harvard at the end of the day(ok, maybe one person every other year). Congratz, you will go to Harvard!

 

[LFA20]

harvard

 

[periopocket]

It's funny 3/5 deans at my school are Harvard grads, yet I keep on hearing it doesn't matter. Then I go on an externship, and guess where the dean of the grad program graduated from....you got it Harvard

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

.

 

[customx]

Maryland. Save the $100k+ and use it to buy your first practice. The money you save will actually be around $130k or more after you factor in interest. Congrats on the acceptances as well

 

[Kittenz]

If you're dead set on academics/research or a specialty, choose Harvard. If you like general dentistry or are considering a specialty, choose Maryland.

 

[vandelayindustries786]

Personally, I would choose Harvard. There's few life experiences that can compare to getting a Harvard education, although if you mostly care about the pay-off, Maryland would be a fine choice.

A good conundrum to have!

 

[Saddleshoes]

I'm a little late to this but I might have a small item to add...

I have a minor role in a post graduate dental residency program. I have not had any experience with Harvard grads but I have had a few Maryland grads pass though. I can tell you that the Maryland grads do just fine in our program! They appear to be prepared as well, if not better, as any of our residents.

 

[ggy]

Go to Harvard. 100k in the grand scheme of things is NOTHING. You'll get much more value from the intangibles at Harvard. This is a no brainer.

 

[Advance]

Go to Harvard. 100k in the grand scheme of things is NOTHING. You'll get much more value from the intangibles at Harvard. This is a no brainer.

I wish I lived in a world where 100k was nothing.

 

[fogorvostan]

Maryland. Save the money.

 

[SXCoronado]

.

 

[Dr.Payne]

Maryland. If you're willing to pay extra for the name then Harvard. But I liked Maryland more

 

[lemoncurry]

Maryland. In the end, you are a dentist. I have been asked maybe twice by patients where I went to school. Save money, skip the hype.

 

[DetermineDent]

Maryland

 

[allantois]

Well, patients may not be asking you directly because they google you prior to coming (at least that's what I do). Harvard could certainly be a great selling point as no one really knows that it was actually Maryland to open the first dental school.

 

[ajj70]

Well, patients may not be asking you directly because they google you prior to coming (at least that's what I do). Harvard could certainly be a great selling point as no one really knows that it was actually Maryland to open the first dental school.

Would you care if you were not going to dental school yourself? Do you google where all of your professors went to college? How about your banker, do you care? What patients want is a dentist that is honest, reasonable and available. I bet if you took a poll at any dental office, maybe 1% of the patients have any idea where the dentist went to school.

 

[Advance]

Would you care if you were not going to dental school yourself? Do you google where all of your professors went to college? How about your banker, do you care? What patients want is a dentist that is honest, reasonable and available. I bet if you took a poll at any dental office, maybe 1% of the patients have any idea where the dentist went to school.

This.
I've been going to the same dentist since I was 10. I didn't ask/care what dental school she went to until I was about to start college.

 

[Faux]

Wasn't the ADEA president a UB grad?

 

[CLAZO121]

Harvard all the way

 

[DroppingBoxes]

First post here on SDN, here goes nothing!

So I got into a number of schools, and have narrowed it down to Harvard or Maryland (my in-state school). Harvard will cost me $71k a year (without room/board) and Maryland will cost me $45k a year (without room/board). I do like the stress-free atmosphere at Harvard with the pass-fail system and no class ranking. I also like how the classroom is flipped, so no more nod-off lectures. I understand the alumni base of Harvard is much smaller than that of Maryland (35 class size compared to 130 at Maryland, although that 35 seems to pack a punch), but because I plan on coming back to Maryland to practice after school, maybe having more Maryland alumni around would be useful? On a personal note, it would be convenient going to Maryland, having friends and family only a 45 minute drive away from me. Living in Boston (I actually like the cold, so the weather is a plus) would only allow me to see family a few times a year (given how damn busy I'll be). The people at Harvard were really nice, and so were the people at Maryland. I liked the gym more at Maryland though.

Some people might just look at this post and immediately think: Harvard. But the extra cost is really getting to me, and from the dentists I've spoken with (both general dentists), they both immediately said Maryland. From their professional perspective, they thought the money was not worth it and in their 20-30 years of practicing the school they went to was never mentioned (so the whole "go for the name" argument might not be valid).

I can only talk to so many people I personally know, so I thought I'd create an account and give this a shot. Please don't hold back, I want everyone to be as brutally honest as possible. Thanks!

(oGPA: 3.84, sGPA: 3.90, DAT: 23)

I doubt it will be stress free, my friend who graduated undergrad w/ 4.0 and 25 DAT is arguably the smartest kid I know (and a big drinker lol?). He went to Harvard and said that getting that stress free Pass/Fail grade was some of the hardest work he has ever done. Going into oral surgery. If you want to go to general dentistry id pick Maryland, if specializing Harvard wouldn't hurt