Over the last few months, I have trimmed down my decisions to my top two dental schools. I received acceptances to both early on in December and am struggling coming to a decision. I am in between my top private Ivy school choice and my top public school choice. I am afraid of not going to my Ivy choice and then later on not being able to specialize should something happen. But I also have people telling me that it is better to go to the cheaper school that is still ranked really well. Please note that my top public dental school choice is not my in-state but rather an out-of-state with scholarship. I do not know if I will receive a scholarship from my Ivy choice. But does money/cost really matter with loan forgiveness programs like PAYE and REPAYE out on the market that would charge the same percentage based on my salary? I'm very big into financials so I'm always trying to analyze the numbers. Below I am listing pros and cons. I am just hoping to hear out from other dental students and dentists in the field from their experience and for their advice. Does the big name actually make a difference for my future or will not attending an Ivy cause me to be looked down on? I really don't know much about the chances for specialization depending on different schools so please guys don't be harsh, this has been a pretty hard choice for me since it is 4 years of my life and I know I can't be getting ahead of myself either. I just wanted to know if going to the Ivy would still let me specialize should I end up deciding to specialize and not do as well because of any circumstance.
Public Out-of-State
Pros:
- Scholarship putting the cost difference between my two schools at almost 160-180k, and was offered for merit-based without asking (Possibly shows how much the program cares for me)
- Way smaller class size (55-70), allowing great professor interaction, class relations, and chance to stand out
- Weather-wise it is good and closer to home
- Cheaper city, so rentals would also be cheaper and can possibly take my car
- Still ranked as a good top program in the top 15-25 but just without Ivy in the name
- I hear it is more clinically hands-on and would prepare to be a great GP without hopefully doing a GPR or AEGD if I decided to stick with general dentistry
- Still a calm and nice city
- It is hard to get in out-of-state since only few are considered for spots, let alone with aid, especially since its various healthcare programs rank as one of the best even over some other prestigious big names
- I hear students still match into specialties, like around 30% of the class can not including GPR and AEGD to not inflate
Cons:
- Ranked class, so not sure how my chances at specialization in the future would be affected if I decided to continue on
- Does not have Ivy in the name
- Not as big of a city like the other school, but still has plenty to do
- Not as many dental school organizations
- All letter-graded (not sure if it is a con, since I hear this can also be good thing in not just having your board scores be a main factor for determining your future)
Private Ivy
Pros:
- Big city with great food and lots of things to do
- Being able to finally go to my dream Ivy (I told my self in high school that even if I was graduating with a perfect GPA at the time that I would attend undergrad with a full-ride scholarship to a normal school and then strive for Ivy for grad instead since it was more important)
- They only rank the first few students I believe and then the rest are the same, so does this possibly mean a higher chance at specialization? Not sure? Or is it because even when applying to specialty they will still see all our class GPAs so maybe it does not make a difference?
- I believe the clinic is P/F but the rest is all letter-graded
- Various dental organizations and fraternities for involvement
Cons:
- Cost could reach me around half a million in loans with interest, not including the added loans if I do specialization later
- Rent is expensive and finding a place to live is a lot harder, I will possibly not be able to take my car
- Way bigger class, over 100, where I may not stand out as much due to like-minded classmates and being in a larger pool
- Possibly not as many clinical requirements with a higher focus on specialty (not sure about this, but what I hear)
- Weather would be colder and farther from home
- No scholarship
Is it better to be a big fish in a little pond should everything go well academically or be a little fish in a big pond with a big name?
Thank you all so much for your time!
UPDATE: I received a scholarship from the Ivy but the difference is still around 50-80k.
Public Out-of-State
Pros:
- Scholarship putting the cost difference between my two schools at almost 160-180k, and was offered for merit-based without asking (Possibly shows how much the program cares for me)
- Way smaller class size (55-70), allowing great professor interaction, class relations, and chance to stand out
- Weather-wise it is good and closer to home
- Cheaper city, so rentals would also be cheaper and can possibly take my car
- Still ranked as a good top program in the top 15-25 but just without Ivy in the name
- I hear it is more clinically hands-on and would prepare to be a great GP without hopefully doing a GPR or AEGD if I decided to stick with general dentistry
- Still a calm and nice city
- It is hard to get in out-of-state since only few are considered for spots, let alone with aid, especially since its various healthcare programs rank as one of the best even over some other prestigious big names
- I hear students still match into specialties, like around 30% of the class can not including GPR and AEGD to not inflate
Cons:
- Ranked class, so not sure how my chances at specialization in the future would be affected if I decided to continue on
- Does not have Ivy in the name
- Not as big of a city like the other school, but still has plenty to do
- Not as many dental school organizations
- All letter-graded (not sure if it is a con, since I hear this can also be good thing in not just having your board scores be a main factor for determining your future)
Private Ivy
Pros:
- Big city with great food and lots of things to do
- Being able to finally go to my dream Ivy (I told my self in high school that even if I was graduating with a perfect GPA at the time that I would attend undergrad with a full-ride scholarship to a normal school and then strive for Ivy for grad instead since it was more important)
- They only rank the first few students I believe and then the rest are the same, so does this possibly mean a higher chance at specialization? Not sure? Or is it because even when applying to specialty they will still see all our class GPAs so maybe it does not make a difference?
- I believe the clinic is P/F but the rest is all letter-graded
- Various dental organizations and fraternities for involvement
Cons:
- Cost could reach me around half a million in loans with interest, not including the added loans if I do specialization later
- Rent is expensive and finding a place to live is a lot harder, I will possibly not be able to take my car
- Way bigger class, over 100, where I may not stand out as much due to like-minded classmates and being in a larger pool
- Possibly not as many clinical requirements with a higher focus on specialty (not sure about this, but what I hear)
- Weather would be colder and farther from home
- No scholarship
Is it better to be a big fish in a little pond should everything go well academically or be a little fish in a big pond with a big name?
Thank you all so much for your time!
UPDATE: I received a scholarship from the Ivy but the difference is still around 50-80k.
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