I didn't want to do this... Tufts vs. Western

[iamsyc]

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Hey everybody,

I didn't want to make this thread and I posted it already on the dental forums so sorry for the double post but I am so torn! It's long so bear with me. I read every post/thread about both schools and I've been talking to a lot of people from either school. The cost is about the same for either school so that's not a factor. And both are very focused on community service, which I love.

Tufts: class size 170, very well known and reputable school both within the dental community and everywhere else, strong clinically, very nice, new facility due to VE, winters (although we due have potential snow days which are a pro), 5 hour bus ride from home, Boston!!, public transportation system, overall a really great school

Western: class size 70, not well known (yet), seems to be very strong clinically (they try to get you in as early as possible), brand spanking new facility, beautiful weather all year long (doesn't add that extra bit of misery into your already stressed out to the max life), 5 hour flight from home (so flying back and forth factors into cost) Pomona is a hole but the suburbs around it are very nice and you are an hour away from everything! (beach, LA, skiing, etc.), but you need a car (need to ship my car to CA + gas money), but cost of living overall (apts, utilities, etc.) seem a bit cheaper than boston, seems like it will be a really great program

The main things that drew me to Western are that it is so modern in that they don't do "wax-ups" which are apparently an outdated technique and the students can do 3-4 externships their 4th year (serving the poorer areas) vs. 1 at the end of 3rd year at Tufts. I have also wanted to go to school/live in CA for the longest time because I love the lifestyle, culture, weather, etc. I felt so welcomed and comfortable during my interview day and everybody was super nice.

However, it's so new so nobody knows how the students will do on the boards (we will find out this summer). But everyone seems fairly confident that the students are well prepared (intensive basic science courses). And my parents and I love the idea of having that diploma from Tufts (and so my parents can brag about their daughter going to Tufts dental, it's the Korean in us 😀 ).

I feel that I would make the most out of wherever I go. I'm very used to fast-paced, city life and I love it. Boston is a great city for students. But I want to experience life on the other side.

Should I go to Tufts and then try to do a GPR/specialty residency out in CA [requires me to take the WREB, which I might not be as well prepared for], or should I take a chance with Western?

Thanks everybody!!

 

[iamsyc]

And also since the CA licensing exam will become portofolio based, that could change things in the future if I wanted to practice in CA/west coast in general and Western would better prepare me for that.

 

[lnngu]

And also since the CA licensing exam will become portofolio based, that could change things in the future if I wanted to practice in CA/west coast in general and Western would better prepare me for that.

Do we know that for sure? I was under the impression that was still in the proposal stage?

PS: I'd go to Tufts, if nothing else because Western tried to sell me their podiatry program... but that's just me.

 

[iamsyc]

Do we know that for sure? I was under the impression that was still in the proposal stage?

PS: I'd go to Tufts, if nothing else because Western tried to sell me their podiatry program... but that's just me.

http://www.cda.org/about_cda/news_links/governor_signs_portfolio_licensure_bill

But I don't know anything else about it myself. The link was given to me when I asked about it as well.

 

[wantveneers]

In reading your several posts over the past few weeks about the matter, I really don't think that this forum is going to supply the answer for you. I would be thrilled to get into either of the 2, but it all comes down to what you feel in your gut...and I think that you already have the answer but don't want to make the final decision!

Best of luck. Your Lady Gaga picture is kinda bothersome. 🙂

 

[predentdude]

i vote tufts.

 

[321931]

I don't know how "Korean" you are, but so-cal has a large Korean population. In fact, they have a large "K-town" located further out from Western that has a huge following. I guess it might add some incentive to go to Western if you want to be around your culture.

SF having a large population of Cantonese people (I believe it is actually largest in the world outside of China) was one of the biggest reasons for me applying/wanting to get into any SF school. My Cantonese background plays a large role in my life.


I guess I'm just throwing out something for you to think about.

 

[lnngu]

http://www.cda.org/about_cda/news_links/governor_signs_portfolio_licensure_bill

But I don't know anything else about it myself. The link was given to me when I asked about it as well.

Very cool. Thank you for the link.

 

[iamsyc]

i vote tufts.

Ulterior motives. Tsk tsk lol. Don't worry I'm sure they will contact you shortly!

 

[iamsyc]

In reading your several posts over the past few weeks about the matter, I really don't think that this forum is going to supply the answer for you. I would be thrilled to get into either of the 2, but it all comes down to what you feel in your gut...and I think that you already have the answer but don't want to make the final decision!

Best of luck. Your Lady Gaga picture is kinda bothersome. 🙂

Hah yeah I know, sorry for being annoying with the same posts!!! I know it is ultimately up to me. I just wanted some more opinions/feedback to really get a feel for both schools. And honestly I really don't know! A part of me is yelling go to Western! And then another part of me screams no go to Tufts! Lol.

And is bothersome a bad thing? Just cause she has a song out called "teeth" I thought it fitting :-D

 

[Machiavelliansm]

PS: I'd go to Tufts, if nothing else because Western tried to sell me their podiatry program... but that's just me.

👍 for good reason and nice sig 😀

 

[iamsyc]

Ok let me narrow this down.

I'm probably going to Tufts but I keep thinking about the different things that Western offers that in a sense might be "easier" (grain of salt) like no wax-ups (do people think they are necessary, waste of time, or doesn't matter), and the opportunity to do 3-4 externships your 4th year is very very appealing/tempting

(the girl at who interviewed me at Tufts even told me i should have applied to ASDOH because they do externships their 4th year and that externships are the best thing in the world because they really help you get a taste of life as real dentist with patient interaction and doing your thing instead of having to have every step in any procedure checked and signed off on by a faculty member while you're in clinic at school).

Also, every time I "decide" on Tufts, something even more interesting about Western comes up, like I JUST found out a few hours ago, that Western offers an anatomy course during the summer before dschool begins, and if you pass the harder anatomy course you take, you are exempt from it, and if you do really well you can tutor in it for money. So again, this seems amazing because it will help alleviate your stress somewhat by taking an entire course out of your first semester and "lightening" the courseload.

My questions are: Are these reasons reason/good enough to pass up a school like Tufts for? Is there such a thing as an "easier" dschool? Are these reasons pros, or will these things actually hurt me in the long run (like not learning how to do wax-ups), OR DOES IT NOT EVEN MATTER? Lol

And it's SOCAL people! Aka I won't want to shoot myself because on top of being super super stressed from dschool, I won't be as miserable because I'm not in subzero temperatures with wind/ice blowing into my face. One less thing to worry about?

[edit] And things are more personal with Western because it is such a smaller group of people. Even the post-acceptance phone call was awesome. Dr. Andrews was saying how they like to personally call the accepted students. Adds a really nice touch to show that they care.

 

[lekso]

Ok let me narrow this down.

I'm probably going to Tufts but I keep thinking about the different things that Western offers that in a sense might be "easier" (grain of salt) like no wax-ups (do people think they are necessary, waste of time, or doesn't matter), and the opportunity to do 3-4 externships your 4th year is very very appealing/tempting

(the girl at who interviewed me at Tufts even told me i should have applied to ASDOH because they do externships their 4th year and that externships are the best thing in the world because they really help you get a taste of life as real dentist with patient interaction and doing your thing instead of having to have every step in any procedure checked and signed off on by a faculty member while you're in clinic at school).

Also, every time I "decide" on Tufts, something even more interesting about Western comes up, like I JUST found out a few hours ago, that Western offers an anatomy course during the summer before dschool begins, and if you pass the harder anatomy course you take, you are exempt from it, and if you do really well you can tutor in it for money. So again, this seems amazing because it will help alleviate your stress somewhat by taking an entire course out of your first semester and "lightening" the courseload.

My questions are: Are these reasons reason/good enough to pass up a school like Tufts for? Is there such a thing as an "easier" dschool? Are these reasons pros, or will these things actually hurt me in the long run (like not learning how to do wax-ups), OR DOES IT NOT EVEN MATTER? Lol

And it's SOCAL people! Aka I won't want to shoot myself because on top of being super super stressed from dschool, I won't be as miserable because I'm not in subzero temperatures with wind/ice blowing into my face. One less thing to worry about?

[edit] And things are more personal with Western because it is such a smaller group of people. Even the post-acceptance phone call was awesome. Dr. Andrews was saying how they like to personally call the accepted students. Adds a really nice touch to show that they care.

LOL seems to me like you like more things about Western than Tufts. I was also accepted to Western and I'm really excited about it.

It's funny that a girl at Tufts told you to apply to ASDOH. ASDOH is definitely a great school and their rotations are definitely a part of their curriculum that I really like. Western will have something similar though!!

When did you get your acceptance?
Did you receive a package in the mail with all the info?

 

[iamsyc]

LOL seems to me like you like more things about Western than Tufts. I was also accepted to Western and I'm really excited about it.

It's funny that a girl at Tufts told you to apply to ASDOH. ASDOH is definitely a great school and their rotations are definitely a part of their curriculum that I really like. Western will have something similar though!!

When did you get your acceptance?
Did you receive a package in the mail with all the info?

Well Tuft is a GREAT school no matter what. I love the program and everything as well, I'm just wondering if those few things that Western offers is "better" in a sense. And Tufts is great clinically, high board pass rate, great reputation, etc. and it has the evidence to back all this up because it's been around for so long and they really cared too with the whole 6 hour long presentation after presentation after presentation and everyone was really really nice as well too. It's just a bigger school with more students. Western on the other hand, nobody has any idea about what will happen on the boards/in the future, no alumni, no specialty %s, no information, NOTHING, NADA. Lol

I got my acceptance phone call on Tuesday actually, and I haven't gotten the package in the mail yet! I am waiting on that as well to see if there are any extra goodies/surprises in there, which I doubt but one can hope! Lol

 

[lekso]

Well Tuft is a GREAT school no matter what. I love the program and everything as well, I'm just wondering if those few things that Western offers is "better" in a sense. And Tufts is great clinically, high board pass rate, great reputation, etc. and it has the evidence to back all this up because it's been around for so long and they really cared too with the whole 6 hour long presentation after presentation after presentation and everyone was really really nice as well too. It's just a bigger school with more students. Western on the other hand, nobody has any idea about what will happen on the boards/in the future, no alumni, no specialty %s, no information, NOTHING, NADA. Lol

I got my acceptance phone call on Tuesday actually, and I haven't gotten the package in the mail yet! I am waiting on that as well to see if there are any extra goodies/surprises in there, which I doubt but one can hope! Lol

Yeah no doubt Tufts is a great school. They definitely have more history than Western and have people who have actually graduated.

It was my impression that people at Western know what they are doing and although I am sure they will make a lot of changes, they will all be for the good.

I just got the official acceptance letter today. I saw it after I posted my last comment. It's pretty official. The deposit is due on the 28th..

 

[iamsyc]

Yeah no doubt Tufts is a great school. They definitely have more history than Western and have people who have actually graduated.

It was my impression that people at Western know what they are doing and although I am sure they will make a lot of changes, they will all be for the good.

I just got the official acceptance letter today. I saw it after I posted my last comment. It's pretty official. The deposit is due on the 28th..

Are you planning on attending Western in the fall? Congrats regardless!

Aaah mine still hasn't gotten in and what if I don't get it until next week? Then I will have only a week to get the money in! Lol

 

[lekso]

Are you planning on attending Western in the fall? Congrats regardless!

Aaah mine still hasn't gotten in and what if I don't get it until next week? Then I will have only a week to get the money in! Lol

As of now yes. I am planning on going to Western. 😀

 

[almon]

I think you, and everybody else, need to throw away these thoughts about "school reputation." They may ask where you went to school when you are getting your first job, but once you are licensed and have worked for a few years, nobody is going to give two ****s about where you graduated from. You seem to be more fond of Western and I think you will be happier there. I vote Western.

 

[peanutb123]

say stay close to roots 😉 north east china town.

 

[tobeornottobe]

well, in terms of clinical years, i read somewhere that you dont schedule your own appts at western while at tufts you do. Something else to consider, although there are pros to either. goodluck =]

 

[iamsyc]

say stay close to roots 😉 north east china town.

Uhhh what??? I'm not Chinese, so no it would not be close to my "roots". 😕

 

[alej1020]

I think you know all the information you need to make a wise decision, you have certainly looked into the matter extensively. In my opinion it would be great to have you family close by especially with the rigors of DS. Now just be confident in that your decision would be a great one.

I vote Tufts

 

[wantVCUdental]

say stay close to roots 😉 north east china town.

Cali clearly has more Asian than the north east (especially boston), i vote western.

 

[LaFleur]

I would personally go to Tufts, hands down, but I'm pretty biased towards Tufts in general. 😀 It's a great school that will definitely challenge you and give you lots of great opportunities.

The biggest thing about Western for me would be the uncertainty. I honestly don't think I could handle going to a new school like that.

Having said that, you seem to really like Western, and I definitely think you should go where you think you'll be the happiest after weighing all of the factors. So I don't know what to tell you.

 

[iamsyc]

I would personally go to Tufts, hands down, but I'm pretty biased towards Tufts in general. 😀 It's a great school that will definitely challenge you and give you lots of great opportunities.

The biggest thing about Western for me would be the uncertainty. I honestly don't think I could handle going to a new school like that.

Having said that, you seem to really like Western, and I definitely think you should go where you think you'll be the happiest after weighing all of the factors. So I don't know what to tell you.

Omgosh that's exactly why I'm so torn. Tufts is great. But so is Western. But the uncertainty is probably one of the biggest things stopping me from just going for it. As well as distance .. kind of.

You summed it up beautifully in like .. 4 sentences. Thanks lol