I had to make the same choice when I was deciding where to go. A large part of it came down to which school I would feel the most comfortable at and would meet my needs. I think going into the application process, I was UCSF all the way. It's cheaper, has a better name, etc. But after visiting both schools and seeing the faculty/student interaction, and also the huge difference in how they treat potential applicants, I started to really think about what I wanted rather than what seemed the most "practical". I did my undergrat at Berkeley and honestly, the school whooped my ass. The atmosphere was just way too dependent on student self-motivation and knowing that probably wasn't me, I decided not to put myself through 4 more year of a UC education. UOP also offered me a little cash to go to their school, so it took a little bite out of the hefty price. Dental schools going to be busy where ever you go. And when UOP students ever claim to be busier, someone will always claim their school is even busier. I have no way of knowing since this is the only school I've attended.
Make a list of what you want to get from your education and see which school will fit the best for you. If you like research, better academics, and community service, UC might be for you. If you're interested in getting out in 3 years, a really kinda bend-over-backwards attitude by the faculty, or more clinically geared curriculum, come over to UOP. It really has to be your own decision, there's going to be pros and cons for choosing either school. If you have the time, I would really consider visiting both schools once more before deciding. Best of luck!
ps. feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions.
