Harvard vs. MUSC

[BU2012]

This message is intended for current dental students or dentists.

I'm accepted at two schools, MUSC and Harvard. I'm from South Carolina.

In a nutshell, cost is relatively the same. In the end, my choice basically boils down to preference.

Overall, I prefer MUSC. I don't know if I want to specialize, but I've been assured that as long as I'm in the top third of my class at MUSC, I'll have no difficulty.

The clinical education at MUSC is one of the best in the country (which probably correlates with their historically high match rates). They also have a brand new clinical facility which is the best I've ever seen. Harvard's clinical education, as many know, is not so great. The pass/fail curriculum at Harvard is very enticing, since it will be far less stressful. However, years 3 and 4 at MUSC would be far more enjoyable than years 3 and 4 at Harvard, since Harvard crams all of the clinical training into two years.

Basically, my decision comes down to prestige. It's hard to turn down Harvard, but I honestly think MUSC might be the better dental school and I'll probably be a better dentist for it. People say Harvard would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and tend to scoff at my decision to turn down such a "prestigious opportunity that others would kill for." I just tell them that dental school is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I just want to get some opinions from current students. I'm thinking MUSC is the school for me. Is it worth giving up the pass/fail curriculum, opportunities for research, and prestige for better clinical education, better weather/location/etc.? As current students, what are your thoughts on Harvard as a dental school?

Thanks, guys.

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[jera891]

I'm not a dentist or a dental student at one of those two schools, but it definitely sounds like you already know the answer to your question. Plus you get in-state tuition at "the school for you"

 

[7 Iron]

I had a similar situation last year ... my state school or go to Penn. You're right, it was hard to turn down "Ivy league". But I have no regrets going to my state school. A week later I had already forgotten about it. Anyway, it sounds like you already know MUSC is the school for you. I wouldn't let the prestige sway you. In fact, my understanding is that Harvard dental school doesn't have the best reputation in New England (if it were the business school that would be a different story).

 

[NileBDS]

I can not speak to the DMD curriculum at HSDM, but it is a generally accepted fact that most students that go to Harvard, do not go there to become general dentists. It is a highly competitive environment, and naturally (and falsely), the culture at HSDM is that it is more successful to become a specialist than a general dentist. Actually, chances are if you were not planning on specializing before going there, you will end up specializing anyway. This is true for any ultra competitive school, I believe.

Furthermore, if you decide to go against the grain and do not specialize ... you're still screwged. The pre-doc clinical curriculum is weak at best, and will most likely not adequately prepare you for any type of real world private practice clinical setting upon graduation.

Unfortunately, I know very little about MUSC.

 

[Pat Kelly]

I think if your state school is a lot cheaper than Harvard, you should go for your state school. Anyone can specialize independent of school if they are good enough and puts effort into it. If it's the same cost, I would consider going to harvard - the difference in clinical training between schools makes so little difference once you graduate. If anything, you should pick schools that allow you to have summer student licenses during your 3rd year summer so you can practice at a speed that is acceptable in the real world. It's a tough decision for sure and I am sure you will be successful no matter which school you choose.

 

[gryffindor]

I once met an MUSC grad who said the girls used to wear their swimwear under their scrubs because they would go to the beach after clinic. And you're questioning passing up on that to go to dental school in the New England winters?

 

[Romas]

This message is intended for current dental students or dentists.

I'm accepted at two schools, MUSC and Harvard. I'm from South Carolina.

In a nutshell, cost is relatively the same. In the end, my choice basically boils down to preference.

Overall, I prefer MUSC. I don't know if I want to specialize, but I've been assured that as long as I'm in the top third of my class at MUSC, I'll have no difficulty.

The clinical education at MUSC is one of the best in the country (which probably correlates with their historically high match rates). They also have a brand new clinical facility which is the best I've ever seen. Harvard's clinical education, as many know, is not so great. The pass/fail curriculum at Harvard is very enticing, since it will be far less stressful. However, years 3 and 4 at MUSC would be far more enjoyable than years 3 and 4 at Harvard, since Harvard crams all of the clinical training into two years.

Basically, my decision comes down to prestige. It's hard to turn down Harvard, but I honestly think MUSC might be the better dental school and I'll probably be a better dentist for it. People say Harvard would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and tend to scoff at my decision to turn down such a "prestigious opportunity that others would kill for." I just tell them that dental school is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I just want to get some opinions from current students. I'm thinking MUSC is the school for me. Is it worth giving up the pass/fail curriculum, opportunities for research, and prestige for better clinical education, better weather/location/etc.? As current students, what are your thoughts on Harvard as a dental school?

Thanks, guys.

I didnt go to Harvard Dental, and although people in d-schools all around the country specialize in every field every year, I dont think you should underplay Harvard's reputation when it comes to dental specialties. You will need to be much more than the top 1/3 of your class at MUSC to specialize...try being top 2 or 3. Especially now that there arent even boards scores available to dissect applicants apart on anymore. HSDM students do well after match, probably because theyre the kind of students getting the top test scores to begin with even as pre-dents, but I would argue the reputation has a big part as well, and have heard program directors assume a harvard grad knows their stuff vs someone from a less prestigious school who may have to automatically prove themselves more.

One thing people always fail to point out on these forums is that after youre in dental school, when you apply to residencies or your first jobs, its not like employers/program directors have any clue what your actual clinical ability and knowledge base is either. all they can go off of is your personality, recommendations, class rank/test scores, and the reputation your previous training has. So it's definitely worth it, if you want to have the freedom to apply successfully to jobs/residencies out of state, for example, to go to a school with national vs. regional recognition. Because at the end of the day, they wont know if you're a good dentist until they directly observe your work.

Also, based on the people/coworkers I know that graduated from HSDM, I can tell you that the common adage that Harvard, while being academically rigorous, isnt a clinical strong school just doesnt hold up. You'll gain enough experience, one-on-one attention (only 35 students per class!), and a killer knowledge base for when you graduate. Plus, you get the added benefit of being part of a class full of truly smart, interesting people with diverse social and academic backgrounds- which you may find at MUSC, for example, but not quite like at harvard. Call it what you want, but being around people who are successful and motivated to explore dentistry really adds to your education outside of the classroom.

One thing to keep in mind with a lot of other schools that have more volume of patients is whether theres a lot of follow up/one on one guidance. It doesnt matter that you get to see X number of pts or do X number of root canals if half of them fail, or if the people teaching you arent following evidence-based principles.

 

[diasIItema]

You will need to be much more than the top 1/3 of your class at MUSC to specialize...try being top 2 or 3.

False. MUSC has very high match rates for anyone in the top 20 to even 30% of their class due to a very well-respected clinical education and now perhaps the nicest and most advanced dental clinical facility in the nation. For several years their students consistently ranked MUSC top 5 on the NBDE II before it went P/F. They were also the first school to fully integrate CAD/CAM technology into the curriculum. Don't correlate higher or professional education with a state's primary and secondary education. They don't go hand-in-hand.

Also, this thread is almost a year old. That individual already made his or her decision and I'm sure they're perfectly happy.

 

[jay47]

You're both wrong, the thread is from a year ago, so the OP is already in dental school.

 

[shulk]

Why has every other thread in the dental forums a necrobump lately? Please people.... before you hit the reply button think about what you're doing.

 

[thewobblytooth]

You're both wrong, the thread is from a year ago, so the OP is already in dental school.