Its sounds like you guys are saying there is no accountability in academia. That's outrageous.
Golfed yesterday, did quite good actually. Practice even helps on the golf course! After golfing we sat down to lunch with a retired physician, Tufts alumni. I thought I would share some insight with you.
He is very active with his alma mata and was recently in Boston touring the medical and dental school. He states Tufts is very aware of the stress and problems students face regarding their staggering debt. He, like me, has many concerns. He is in his 70's. I was already aware their dental school is concerned, as they discuss it on their web site. Tufts like many private institutions has a very nice size endowment; however, at the moment, it doesn't seem to be having any effect in reigning in the cost of higher education, at least from the student's perspective.
It is very obvious from the dental school related articles I can retrive from as early as the 1990's, cost has been a big concern of dental school administrations for sometime. However, the schools that closed did so because they became unprofitable. Many of you will find when you start a dental practice, just how expensive the profession of dentistry is to run.
However, for all the talk and concern, nothing is getting done. Tufts continues to raise it's tuition and fees. Case which in the past had fixed tuition for all 4 years for an entering student, recently changed it's policy. Please correct me, if I am mistaken. Tuition and fees continue to go up as a faster clip than inflation. Should inflation really hit someday, the interest rates on private loans that students also depend on will go up too. Not a pretty thing. Been there, done that.
It's a mess. A solution, when in practice, raise dental fees. Then how will many be able to afford dentisitry? Our profession is already well aware of the reduced number of dentists graduating. Access to care could become a real issue over the next couple of decades.That problem can be rectifed, on the patient's behalf, should the federal government decide to pursue managed care. But, what happens to dentist's incomes and, more importantly, the students left holding the financial bag of school debt? The thought has me worried.
I know for a fact that dental schools are relying more and more on part time dentists as instructors. They barely get enough to cross the bridge and pay for parking. The part timers are by no means doing it to get rich. Other than small pay for the day, and, for some, the parking fee, there are no perks.
By the time I got to this board, my debt was long gone, before age 40, and I won't go into it anymore than to say, it was work to get out from under that debt. I am sincerely concerned about the length of time students will be paying back their school loans and that it may be a hardship for some.
However, talking about it doesn't match action. As I said, I think it's discouraging when you hear schools that use to fix their tuiton for entering students for four years are moving in the opposite direction and that tuition and fees continue to rise faster than the pace of inflation.
I can do no more than tell you the facts whether they make anyone feel good/bad/or uncomfortable. I'm presenting the financial aspect so you can better see what lies ahead and be prepared. For any of you that are as naive as I was, I know it is appreciated. For young dentists, there may be things you can relate to. For those who are arrogrant, my posts are not for you.
Even should you have that monkey of school debt on you back, it is not all bad, there is a lot opportunity in dentistry, as I have discussed before.
😉
Got to hit the golf course, hoping for an equally good day today.
Have a good weekend and Best wishes, Lesley
each year and plans on continuing this trend! Ouch! I got out right in the nick of time before too many raises had acrued.
