Harvard vs. UCLA vs. UofP

[LuckiLeigh]

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I have been pro-conning these schools for weeks now but am totally lost as to where to go.

I loved U of P at my interview but I am interested in specializing (shadowed ortho a lot). Also, it is very expensive despite my $30,000 scholarship.

Harvard pretty much guarantees specializing but if I decide to go into general dentistry I'm nervous about the lack of clinical prep. Also, I'm not a huge fan of the location.

UCLA is good school for GP or specializing but the new curriculum seems to have a lot of kinks still. Also, they did not have a time-line for updating to digital. The facilities at UofP trumped UCLA. However, the weather/location is wonderful and my boyfriend lives in LA.

If anyone has any advice or any insight on these schools that would be great. I have read all sorts of threads but none that compared these 3 schools. ~ Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Maregbe1]

Go to the school which gives you options. You never know what you will decide in 2 or 3 years. ALL 3 schools are amazing. Go to the place and city that makes u happy.

 

[dentstd]

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I have been pro-conning these schools for weeks now but am totally lost as to where to go.

I loved U of P at my interview but I am interested in specializing (shadowed ortho a lot). Also, it is very expensive despite my $30,000 scholarship.

Harvard pretty much guarantees specializing but if I decide to go into general dentistry I'm nervous about the lack of clinical prep. Also, I'm not a huge fan of the location.

UCLA is good school for GP or specializing but the new curriculum seems to have a lot of kinks still. Also, they did not have a time-line for updating to digital. The facilities at UofP trumped UCLA. However, the weather/location is wonderful and my boyfriend lives in LA.

If anyone has any advice or any insight on these schools that would be great. I have read all sorts of threads but none that compared these 3 schools. ~ Thanks

No school doesn't have kinks in the curriculum. Harvard medical is known for average quality instruction, and HSDM doesn't have a preclinic. LA is only a shade better, and UoP don't even give students time to learn the material. Most of learning occurs outside of class. Most of board prep come outside of class during the months you have to prepare for it. Once you actually begin looking at board material, you'll be amazed at the amount of information you've never even seen before! None of the "top 5" teach you everything you need to know. Dental school is for record, partly. You have the rep of the school behind your work and residency application.

Regardless of where you go, you'll be learning much information on your own. The difference is when you apply to residency, what school name do you want to put on your resume?

 

[Doc Ock]

The question always remains...what type of dentist do you wish to be? Ask yourself this question in 5 to 10 years what do I want to be doing?

Do you wish to be a community wet finger clinician?
Do you wish to be a researcher and academic?
Do you wish to specialize and not do any general dentistry?
Do you wish to specialize but be a wet finger clinician?

Answer that and you can pick your school. Harvard would be a wonderful academic experience. But would be sorely lacking in clinical expertise. UOP would be a wonderful clinical experience but lacking in arcane academia. UCLA is a sort of mediocre mix of both (mediocre clinic, more time for didactics but is not HMS) UOP does have an ortho program by the way.. If cost is the factor then UCLA would fit the bill.

 

[AlwaysImproving]

I think that the bf and weather can have a big impact in your decision.
Here might be some questions you might want to ask yourself (please don't answer them here hehehe, they are too private)
Would he move for you?
Do you see yourself marrying him in the future or is he just a bf with no potential?


Lastly, I don't know about U of P, but I heard that UCLA is the only school greatly chosen over Harvard bec/ not only it is a great school but also the weather is better. Do you see yourself living in hot or cold weather for the next 4 yrs?
I personally love the snow and cold but I am not you. So you would need to consider that for yourself. Maybe pay a visit to Boston during the winter and see if you like

just my 1.5 cents

 

[DiNoZeRo2o9]

All I have to say is you got accepted into 6 very top notch programs, all first choices for many applicants. I don't think you can go wrong with where you choose. Heck, if you can't, follow the boyfriend or just draw straws =P

Don't go to UoP though, I don't need more competition!

I kid I kid

 

[ncjdent74]

Wow! I am in a similar position!

I would say first off that its great your thinking about this now and not just going where your bf is.....this a definately a career decision.

I say go to the school that gives you options...so that if you are thinking about specializing but are not 100% sure...and may actually like general dentistry..go to a school that you feel would prepare you well for general dentistry and also give you a good application to be competitive when applying for a residency program.

In all I say good luck and congratulations on getting into great schools. And if you dont like the city..you dont like it....You should see yourself at the school your at...don't force it!!!

Good luck! Maybe I'll see you in an Ortho residency with me in the Fall of 2013....

 

[vamosbears]

that is a tough one. I think it comes down to a personal choice. I also have a bf, been with him/living together for five years, and we plan to marry in the near future. I will probably give up a nice scholarship from uconn just to not only be near him, but also near my family and my top choice.

All those schools are great. I personally love the bay area and San fran is awesome. LA gets really hot and there's way too much traffic but there are nice places in LA. Boston seems cool because there are so many universites there, with lots of students=social activites, and you can travel the east coast easily.

Make it your own decision. I think you should go with your gut feeling.

 

[somethinpositiv]

UCLA is more affordable, better weather, better sports, possibly more versatile in terms of specializing or not, and the boyfriend factor. Shouldn't that be enough?

 

[Plopper]

between your choices i would only seriously consider Harvard and UCLA, both are top schools. Would your bf move with you if you chose Harvard? Relationships are all about compromising haha, but seriously i would go where you feel you will enjoy the most and will be the best. There is something to be said for enjoying where you are, and if that is with the bf in LA, or in boston, certainly go where YOU feel you will succeed and where YOU felt like part of the school.

Once we're all dentists/specialists, school name isn't going to matter

 

[somethinpositiv]

between your choices i would only seriously consider Harvard and UCLA, both are top schools.

Let's not totally discount UoP here. Are you saying that Harvard is a top dental school and UoP is not? I can't think of any way that Harvard is a better dental school than UoP, with the exception of the world's most recognizable name and possibly the school that gives you the best chances of specializing. As far as which school will turn out the best dentists, I'll go on record saying that I would trust a UoP or UCLA dentist with my oral care over a Harvard dentist 100% of the time.

 

[Doc Ock]

If you want a dentist to think about your crown prep go to Harvard.
If you want a dentist to do your crown prep go to UOP.
If you want a dentist to think about and do your crown prep go to UCLA, except he/she is out surfing and can't see you.

Harvard: amazing didactics but no pre-clinical dentistry, so no emphasis on hand skills (what is the meaning of dentist?)

UOP: streamlined and condensed didactics, emphasis on clinical dentistry and delivering care to patients (Cox 2 inhibitor...say what?)

UCLA: decent didactics, aging clinic, small patient base, not as much experience in clinical dentistry (Kawabunga dude!)

Seriously consider what type of dentist you want to be, what skills you want to achieve(mental and manual), where you think you might be in 10 yrs and doing what. As for the bf...a lot of relationships do not survive the rigors of D School(including marriages) so be warned.

 

[Amalgam4U]

this is copied from another thread:

This is why I'm grateful that I'm at UCLA (in no particular order).

1. Location
   1. Weather - it's nice. southern california = 72 and sunny. Unless you like the cold...
   2. Entertainment - westwood has a lot of nice stuff close by. Lots of stuff to do. A beach you can use. Magic Mountain, Knotts, and dare I say...Disneyland?
   3. If you're already from CA - it's close to your family and you won't have to buy all new clothes.
2. Program/UCLA specifics
   1. it's a new curriculum - finals are down in number about half, with not as much repetition. Upper classmen are jealous of us. We'll be jealous of you because your curriculum will be more streamlined (we work out all the kinks). But that's given us the opportunity to interact a lot with the faculty and they're very flexible, understanding and responsive.
   2. We have good board scores (unlike those guys across town) and very good match stats.
   3. We have SCHOOL SPIRIT! Complete with a football team and basketball team that will be very good in the coming years. Not to mention nice undergrads. And Wooden.
   4. We're cheap! Well, same price as UCSF, but way cheaper than Harvard!
   5. Focus on being scientifically sound practitioners - i.e. a good balance between science and clinic. I feel like I know more right now after my first quarter than I have ever known in my life (as I think I will continue to do during each progressive quarter)
   6. Cool faculty dedicated to our education.
   7. Lots of research opportunities (we get a lot of money)
   8. Lots of service opportunites/other ways to get involved. There are a lot of clubs/stuff. Plus you can join undergrad stuff.
   9. Cool classmates!!! The adcom's do a good job at picking well balanced, cooperative people who also happen to be super smart.
   10. UCLA - those letters just sound cool when said together. It generates a little something different than most schools when you say it. Nothing pretentious, just cool.

I think there are more...but I'm sleepy. Some negatives you may want to consider are traffic (LA traffic sucks) and that in my experience the new cirriculum is new and sometimes frustrating to have no resources from upper classmates for guidance...but we're working out those kinks for you and we'll be your resources should you choose to attend. Also there's been a little bit of drama here, but you can expect that in any small group of people you spend a lot of time with.

PS. There have been a bunch of people breaking up with their sig. others.

Also take into consideration where you want to practice: boards in Cali or boards in Mass.?

Congratz on your acceptance and good luck with your decision! (go Bruins!)

 

[Plopper]

Let's not totally discount UoP here. Are you saying that Harvard is a top dental school and UoP is not? I can't think of any way that Harvard is a better dental school than UoP, with the exception of the world's most recognizable name and possibly the school that gives you the best chances of specializing. As far as which school will turn out the best dentists, I'll go on record saying that I would trust a UoP or UCLA dentist with my oral care over a Harvard dentist 100% of the time.

true, i'm not saying that UoP is not a great school, i was just saying that if i made the choice i would have only considered the two, but i'm basing that on only things i've heard from being around on these boards (only saw harvard), but they all do have great reputations and there are unique advantages to each school

 

[sajjy]

Let's not totally discount UoP here. Are you saying that Harvard is a top dental school and UoP is not? I can't think of any way that Harvard is a better dental school than UoP, with the exception of the world's most recognizable name and possibly the school that gives you the best chances of specializing. As far as which school will turn out the best dentists, I'll go on record saying that I would trust a UoP or UCLA dentist with my oral care over a Harvard dentist 100% of the time.

So, if you come to Harvard then you wont trust yourself over your colleagues from UCLA or UoP?..LOL

 

[somethinpositiv]

So, if you come to Harvard then you wont trust yourself over your colleagues from UCLA or UoP?..LOL

haha that would never happen cuz i could never get into harvard with my stats (or ucla, or even uop it seems )

 

[sajjy]

haha that would never happen cuz i could never get into harvard with my stats (or ucla, or even uop it seems )

I used to think the same and i got in with similar DAT scores as yours. You never know.

 

[somethinpositiv]

I used to think the same and i got in with similar DAT scores as yours. You never know.

sweet, nice job, congrats. though i have no ivy ambitions even if i did have the stats for it. i got into one of my top four and have an interview at another so i'm pretty content (uic, tufts, uop, uw) and would go to any of those four over harvard to be honest. i just want to be a humble GP

 

[LuckiLeigh]

Thanks for everyone's input you are all helping me to put it in perspective.

If you want a dentist to think about your crown prep go to Harvard.
If you want a dentist to do your crown prep go to UOP.
If you want a dentist to think about and do your crown prep go to UCLA, except he/she is out surfing and can't see you.

This was a funny way of portraying the schools' stereotypes. Haha I like it!