Loma Linda and USC

[jonnytight]

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Hey everyone, Im a pre-dent that has been accepted to Loma Linda and USC for 2005. Im trying to choose between the two, any help? I wanted to know how the matching rates are for LLU and USC for specialty...

I know that LLU and USC has all the specialties. How LLU and USC D students do in terms of getting accepted into specialties?

Does anyone have any info? I know LLu especially is clinically based but will they prepare me (in terms of didactics) for the boards, if I want to specialize in for example: ortho, endo, or omfs?

 

[jk5177]

The interesting thing is that you got into a school that is very very clinical based, and yet you are interested in specialty and concerned about matching rates. That is almost somewhat paradoxical. Did you get into any other school?

I have no idea what their matching rates are. I've heard bad things about the USC PBL experiment, in which they scored quite low on the NBDE I, but I could be wrong. I wouldn't want to go to USC myself. LLU is nice, and I'm sure the people there are probably nicer than USC simply because it is religious based.

 

[Fullosseousflap]

The interesting thing is that you got into a school that is very very clinical based, and yet you are interested in specialty and concerned about matching rates. That is almost somewhat paradoxical. Did you get into any other school?

I have no idea what their matching rates are. I've heard bad things about the USC PBL experiment, in which they scored quite low on the NBDE I, but I could be wrong. I wouldn't want to go to USC myself. LLU is nice, and I'm sure the people there are probably nicer than USC simply because it is religious based.

I graduated from USC many years ago and we had a very rigorous program of study.

Alot of the students went onto specialty study and are very fine specialists today.

Since Dean Slavkin changed the school to the PBL model the students have had a tough time passing the California State Board Exam.

I thought that the National Board Exams were improving or doing OK.

Have those scores gone down too?

 

[buzzapu]

johnnytight-

i am currently a 3rd year dental student at LLU so i might be able to shed some light on your questions.

unfortunately, i don't know the matching rates and/or how many get into residencies who apply.

i feel that i was adequately prepared for part I boards and i know i'll be more than prepared for part II. you may not receive as much didactic training due to our early entry into clinic but a lot of your success on boards relies on your ability to put in the time to study. my personal view on specializing is that if you want it bad enough, it will show in your grades, board scores, and overall persistence. you have to sell yourself to the schools that you will eventually apply to and to be honest, i really can't say how much the school you are coming from weighs in their decisions.

i am in the process of applying for residencies right now and i am more than happy with the clinical training that i am currently receiving. the nice thing about LLU is that if there is a certain specialty that you're interested in, you have ample opportunity to work in that clinic and truly discover firsthand if you desire that specialty or not.

the only thing i don't like about LLU is the location. but, the location has also been a blessing since there aren't very many distractions out here.

hope this helps. good luck with your decision.

 

[jk5177]

buzzapu:

Thanks for sharing. What you posted is very informative.

 

[PERFECT3435]

johnnytight-

i am currently a 3rd year dental student at LLU so i might be able to shed some light on your questions.

unfortunately, i don't know the matching rates and/or how many get into residencies who apply.

i feel that i was adequately prepared for part I boards and i know i'll be more than prepared for part II. you may not receive as much didactic training due to our early entry into clinic but a lot of your success on boards relies on your ability to put in the time to study. my personal view on specializing is that if you want it bad enough, it will show in your grades, board scores, and overall persistence. you have to sell yourself to the schools that you will eventually apply to and to be honest, i really can't say how much the school you are coming from weighs in their decisions.

i am in the process of applying for residencies right now and i am more than happy with the clinical training that i am currently receiving. the nice thing about LLU is that if there is a certain specialty that you're interested in, you have ample opportunity to work in that clinic and truly discover firsthand if you desire that specialty or not.

the only thing i don't like about LLU is the location. but, the location has also been a blessing since there aren't very many distractions out here.

hope this helps. good luck with your decision.

right on the money. one more thing. is LLU #1 in CA as far as the number of patient pool goes?

now to OP: i think that this should be an easy decision for you to make. those 2 schools are pretty different. $$, patient pool, curr, location, class size, and the list goes on.

i didnt get in at either of those schools, but if i were you, i would have picked LLU in a heart beat. the only reason why i personally would not have chosen LLU would have been because of their 7th day crap. sorry but religion and i dont mix.

 

[USCtrojan]

i disagree with most of these replys. I am junior at USC SD. Our class was 2nd full PBL group and did extremely well on the national board part I. I believe we jumped up to top 10 or above that. Out of 144 students, we had 40 something student over 90's. As far as getting into specialty, seniors(1st full PBL group) at USC had different stats depending on which specialty. From what i know Ortho: 5/9, OMS: 12/13, other specialty i m not familar with but most matched to pedo,perio,pros. We also had many GPR and AGED residents get in as well which are not included in the top stat.

as far as patient pool, USC is located in the poor neighborhood. most of these patient has denti-cal(insurance from government), so alot of things are free for them. there are also lot of patient who comes to usc because of reputation of usc, most people in southern california know that usc's been producing great clinician for decades. so we have no problem getting what we need.

i don't know much about loma linda because i haven't really heard about it much. But USC is the school for you if you want to specialize!
Just my opinion though~

 

[PERFECT3435]

any school is your school if you wanna specialize. just like someone else mentioned earlier, if you REALLY REALLY wanna specialze, it wont matter where you go to school.

do your work, bust your ass and you will get in. you could specialize even if you go to Meharry.

 

[ecrdoubles15]

if you put in the time and effort in studying, it doesn't matter where you go.

 

[buzzapu]

As far as patient pools is concerned, I would say that we (LLU) and USC have very good locations to draw the right kind of patients for a dental school setting (Denti-cal, disability, retired, etc.) so either school is going to be ideal in that regard.

 

[UCDavisdude]

Iknow USC has really high tuition and the new pbl may have problems,but me personally, there is no way i would pass up the chance of being a TROJAN. there isnt a day that i dont walk down the uc davis halls wishing i was at USC.

 

[PERFECT3435]

Iknow USC has really high tuition and the new pbl may have problems,but me personally, there is no way i would pass up the chance of being a TROJAN. there isnt a day that i dont walk down the uc davis halls wishing i was at USC.

yeah you should never pass the chance of being a Trojan. thats very important. its as important as going to UC Davis for undergard. you must be a very smart fella.

 

[ttboy]

Not sure where you got the info on SC's Part I scores.. but they are not correct. As a matter of fact, SC's now 4th year class did extremely well on Part 1. I'm not sure of the exact figures, but I think they may have even done better than UCLA which is not PBL based.

 

[USCtrojan]

USC's 3rd yr and 4th yr NDBE I score had a difference less than 1 point; both class did extremely well as i mentioned before

 

[Fullosseousflap]

USC's 3rd yr and 4th yr NDBE I score had a difference less than 1 point; both class did extremely well as i mentioned before

How did USC rank nationally? And in California?

Did the Part 2 Scores improve (I guess they had to since they were next to bottom the previous year)?

Does the school release the aggregate school score? Or is this all speculation and spin?

 

[ShawnOne]

How did USC rank nationally? And in California?

Did the Part 2 Scores improve (I guess they had to since they were next to bottom the previous year)?

Does the school release the aggregate school score? Or is this all speculation and spin?

here we go again.... 👎

 

[Fullosseousflap]

here we go again.... 👎

I don't know what the problem is with releasing the aggregate school scores? Why are the Deans so secretive?

This is far superior to the rumour mill and speculation.

Then educational researchers can evaluate PBL vs. traditional curricula instead of anecdotal reports from unnamed school administrators.

So, let's go! 👍

 

[jonnytight]

Thanks for the great input guys....

Are there ANY Loma Linda D Students that can help me out with specialty rates?

Or any other USC students that will comment on specialty rates?

 

[picklebaron]

*

 

[Dental2007]

I want to mention something, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, and it's that the DMD class of 2006, or the current DMD III at USC is the first FULL class PBL meaning every student out of 140 something has to be in the PBL, whereas the students before them were in a traditional curriculum, with about 15 PBL students in the trial program. This is what I remember from my interview at USC, and also my reason for turning it down, not knowing how well things would work for the whole class.

I have to admit, in a non PBL, most students do skip classes in order to have time to study, or bc sometimes lectures are just straight from powerpoints, so PBL works well for some science classes, but some of my friends at USC hate the format since they feel lost, etc.

So it really depends on your personal learning style.

But do look at the cost of going to USC, and living in the immediate area, compared to LLU and the cost of tuition. I think they are both great clinical schools.

Good luck

 

[jonnytight]

Perfect,

Why would you choose LLU in a heartbeat?

i didnt get in at either of those schools, but if i were you, i would have picked LLU in a heart beat.

 

[jonnytight]

Dental 2007,

Can you please elaborate on how your friends at USC feel "lost" and including an example would be great? Thanks

Also, if they are planning to specialize do they prepared to de well on the boards?

I want to mention something, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, and it's that the DMD class of 2006, or the current DMD III at USC is the first FULL class PBL meaning every student out of 140 something has to be in the PBL, whereas the students before them were in a traditional curriculum, with about 15 PBL students in the trial program. This is what I remember from my interview at USC, and also my reason for turning it down, not knowing how well things would work for the whole class.

I have to admit, in a non PBL, most students do skip classes in order to have time to study, or bc sometimes lectures are just straight from powerpoints, so PBL works well for some science classes, but some of my friends at USC hate the format since they feel lost, etc.

So it really depends on your personal learning style.

But do look at the cost of going to USC, and living in the immediate area, compared to LLU and the cost of tuition. I think they are both great clinical schools.

Good luck

 

[Dental2007]

Dental 2007,

Can you please elaborate on how your friends at USC feel "lost" and including an example would be great? Thanks

Also, if they are planning to specialize do they prepared to de well on the boards?

Well, I will try, but any current USC first or second year please correct me if I am wrong.

For an example, you dont have lectures on topics such as Biochem, Micro, Physio, etc. daily like other schools. You get a clinical case, which covers various science topics. You meet with a group of 10 something other students and an advisor, go over the case, and if the case requires biochem or Micro, etc. you look up those topics and learn them on your own. you meet about 6-10 hours per week with your group to discuss this case, no other required lectures or classes.

Something along those lines for science classes. My two friends were lost because they are lazy, they didn't have a list of items of to do things, so they had no idea what to do. But they managed and now they are in clinic so they survived.

As for the boards, I believe USC PBL students get one full month to study before the Part 1 in July. Now that you can take Part 1 on computer, I dont know what USC's policy is. One month is a very good amount of time to study for boards. Honestly, a student who devotes lots of time to studying will do well, if you dont study, you wont do well, simple as that. I don't think that the school you attend will greatly affect your score since the boards score is really is idependent to your school's science classes requirements, in my opinion.

My classes covered things not covered on the board, and a few other topics covered on the boards. Also those that did well on boards are those that do well in all classes, etc.

About specializing, I have no idea. Why even worry about that before you enter school. It's like worrying about getting into college before you even prepare to enter high school.