Harvard vs. UPenn

[cherry22]

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Hi,
I am having a tough time deciding between Harvard and UPenn, and was wondering if anyone had any advice. I am interested in both general dentistry and research (so if I did any more school after dental school, it would probably be to get a Ph.D., not specialize...but I am also considering practicing right after dental school and would like to have that option).

My questions are:
Which school would you go to, and why?
Which dental school has a better reputation among current dentists?

Here is the list of positives and negatives that I have made (feel free to add to them):

Harvard positives:
a lot of research opportunities, good location, good professors, pass/fail first two years, small class size, nice housing and athletic facilities for students

Harvard negatives:
no hands-on experience until end of 2nd year, very poor and crowded pre-clinic facility, no international internship opportunities, take classes with med students

UPenn positives:
good research school also, don't take classes with med students, pretty nice clinic and sim lab, students can live in dental house, international internship opportunities

UPenn negatives:
no afternoons free like at Harvard, not pass/fail, housing may be in an unsafe area and will almost definitely be farther from the dental school (anyone know anything more about the safety of the area around the d. school?)

Thanks guys!!

 

[marshall]

Hi,
UPenn negatives:
no afternoons free like at Harvard, not pass/fail, housing may be in an unsafe area and will almost definitely be farther from the dental school (anyone know anything more about the safety of the area around the d. school?)

The area around the dental school is perfectly safe. I read the weekly crime reports and there is nothing in that area that you wouldn't expect in any big city. The dental school is located at 40th & Spruce which is right near many of the undergraduate dorms and frats/sororities. Almost all of the people I know at Penn (undergrads and dental students) feel safe. If you lived within a few blocks of the school you will almost certainly be safe because the only people out at night are raging undergrads. I live at 45th & Spruce and I feel safe going to the dental school in the wee hours of the night. If you are sincerely worried you might want to utilize Penns free night time door-to-door shuttle service.

 

[ItsGavinC]

To the OP: for what you listed as your career goals, Penn suits you much better.

 

[toony]

i'd definitely go for harvard.. a lot of people choose to go to upenn b/c of their high post-graduate acceptance rate.. i think i heard the dental house program is no longer being offered..!? fyi: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=169092

anyways, more than anything else, you're interested in PhD program, and so getting hands-on experience a year later shouldn't get into your way of making a decision, imo.. and you can get more research experience at harvard, which is a bonus for PhD. i also think that, for PhD candicates, it's good to learn a broad spectrum of medicine in general - not necessarily dentistry only, so taking classes with medical students shouldn't hurt you at all. well, harvard's the #1 school in the nation. 👍

 

[ecdoesit]

both are great schools. Though from what I have heard, over 90% of Harvard graduates dont go to be a GP. But I have heard many people saying they love Upenn. They have a good rate sending people to specialty. And they have a good resesarch program. Again, since Upenn is in the nicer neighborhood, they dont have the same patient pool as Temple. Always a trade off between safety and patients. the same goes for Harvard and UCLA. U will get enough patients to graduate, but not as many practices as you would in other schools. (keep in mind that a fresh graduated dentists need time to pick up skill and speed anyhow)

May I know why you want to get a PhD? Sometimes doing a postdoc afterward maybe more time/cost effective. You should ask around to see ur options.

 

[Sprgrover]

I didn't apply to Harvard, but I am a bit biased towards Penn. One of the things that drew me to Penn were their selectives program and many opportunities to augment my education with courses from other colleges at Penn - and they do have plenty of research there if that is what you are interested in. Speaking of the area, while I was there several students that I spoke to said the area around campus is really not that bad and they stated that they feel fine walking home. Congratulations on being able to make a choice! 👍

 

[edkNARF]

UPenn positives:
good research school also, don't take classes with med students, pretty nice clinic and sim lab, students can live in dental house, international internship opportunities

Sorry. The dental house program is no longer being offered.

 

[cherry22]

Wow, that stinks. Too bad they led us to believe that it would be an option during our interview, and never told us in the acceptance letter that they've discontinued it! Anyone know why they won't have it anymore? Are there any other graduate school housing options at Penn (and how far are they from the dental school?), or does everyone have to just find an apartment?
Thanks!

Sorry. The dental house program is no longer being offered.

 

[toony]

Wow, that stinks. Too bad they led us to believe that it would be an option during our interview, and never told us in the acceptance letter that they've discontinued it! Anyone know why they won't have it anymore? Are there any other graduate school housing options at Penn (and how far are they from the dental school?), or does everyone have to just find an apartment?
Thanks!

upenn has sansom apts (east): http://gpsp.business-services.upenn.edu/