I am a current student at UOP, I live in the city but am from out of state, and I did not get a scholarship.
I do not regret choosing UOP as my dental school, despite the price tag. Yes, its expensive, but the not the most expensive school and on par with or less than several four year schools out there.
Your opportunities to distinguish yourself at this school and make connections here are incredible. The Pacific community in the school and outside the school is well linked and Pacific graduates are extremely well respected. Several of my classmates in my graduating class have set up or expanded externship sites for Pacific students and some have established huge volunteer efforts that have gotten state-wide media attention. There is a lot of faculty support for what interests you, including transcript credit, for these projects, whether that includes leadership, community oral health, research, teaching, whatever.
Your fellow classmates will also inspire you - aside from the "stats" Pacific hand-picks classes that fit well together and encourage each other to be their best. This accountability and camaraderie lasts beyond graduation. You can tell, because Pacific consistently has an incredible percentage of their alums that give and give big, back to the school. That actually set my mind at ease - that despite people graduating with large loans, they are successful enough from their training at Pacific that they are able and willing to donate back to future classes. Its worth it.
Also, the school is moving and it DOES mean more affordable housing - the school will soon be a 20 min train ride from East Bay, Daly City and more affordable city nabes. There is also a bunch of construction for affordable income rentals going on right now in the SOMA/Mission Bay Area that will be completing in the next year - 2 years. While the current school is nice, the new school is going to have the newest technology, equipment, etc. I'll admit it, I'm jealous.
I know its hard to pick a school right now because you don't know how each school actually is. Price is one thing you can quantify, but there are other things to consider. Your dental school experience doesn't stop with dental school if you are in the right place. You can establish relationships and connections that will guide you through your career. Any where you go, dental school will be challenging, and probably more so at Pacific that at most other places. At Pacific, the challenges are used to grow you into an excellent clinician, and into a person that is capable of more than you ever imagined.
Ok, I just realized I sound like a fluffy admissions advisor or something, and maybe I drank the Pacific Kool-Aid, but it's a great school, and you'll pay off your loans where ever you go. It's not the school's fault that its in SF, but if you are creative and do a little homework and start early, you can find less expensive places to live.
Also, whether you want to do general or specialize, Pacific is a good choice. People that decide to specialize do well (I am planning to myself) as well as those that do general, obviously.
