Loma Linda

[Chemboy23]

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Hi to all.

I was just wondering if anyone knows some of the pros and cons of attending Loma Linda. I was accepted there, and the students seemed to be very happy. Are they a systems-based school? I was just wondering what the best/worst parts of their curriculum is. Thanks very much for all of your help in advance!!!

 

[wizi]

Hi to all.

I was just wondering if anyone knows some of the pros and cons of attending Loma Linda. I was accepted there, and the students seemed to be very happy. Are they a systems-based school? I was just wondering what the best/worst parts of their curriculum is. Thanks very much for all of your help in advance!!!

You can't have sex...

 

[Smilemaker12]

Hi Chemboy23,
I was wondering how the services are for your religion. According to your religion, you are not suppose to drink alcohol, do drugs, eat meat? Also, before every service do you wash your feet before you enter the church? Can you tell me a little about your religion. I have an interview there so I am curious. Thanks!

 

[imjonk]

You can't have sex...

You can if you're married.

And also i don't think anyone cares about that. Unless you're doing inappropriate things in the clinic or something.

 

[Chemboy23]

Hi Chemboy23,
I was wondering how the services are for your religion. According to your religion, you are not suppose to drink alcohol, do drugs, eat meat? Also, before every service do you wash your feet before you enter the church? Can you tell me a little about your religion. I have an interview there so I am curious. Thanks!

It's sort of hard to say because some SDA's are a lot more strict/uptight, where some are relaxed about things...I'm more of the later type. I've heard so many people say that you cannot drink sodas on campus or eat meat...etc...but the D4 I talked to when I was there for my interview said that wasn't true at all. Pertaining to the alcohol and drugs, I myself do not participate in any type of drug usage (but I would certainly venture to guess that the campus doesn't allow them)...but my wife and I do have an occasional drink. Again, some are very strictly against any sort of drinking...and that's their opinion/belief and they're entitled to it. I do have a link that you can go to and read to get some of the SDA fundamental belief information if you're interested.



http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html

Also, there's a section on "worship service" found here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church

 

[eringer]

Hi Chemboy23,
I was wondering how the services are for your religion. According to your religion, you are not suppose to drink alcohol, do drugs, eat meat? Also, before every service do you wash your feet before you enter the church? Can you tell me a little about your religion. I have an interview there so I am curious. Thanks!

I am not a SDA, so I might be wrong, but I did interview at Loma Linda. The D3 I toured with said that while the school does not serve meat on campus, it is alright to bring it to campus for lunch.

 

[Smilemaker12]

Thanks Chemboy23!

 

[Chemboy23]

I am not a SDA, so I might be wrong, but I did interview at Loma Linda. The D3 I toured with said that while the school does not serve meat on campus, it is alright to bring it to campus for lunch.

Very true, I'm pretty sure there's a cafeteria on campus that doesn't serve meat. But, I do not think they would have any problem with someone bringing it on campus.

 

[Chemboy23]

Thanks Chemboy23!

You're welcome!!! Anytime 😀

 

[mrdorky]

hey chemboy23,
Did you get an acceptance response by a phone call, email, or letter?
I'm supposed to hear back soon and I feel so antsy...

 

[Chemboy23]

hey chemboy23,
Did you get an acceptance response by a phone call, email, or letter?
I'm supposed to hear back soon and I feel so antsy...

Hi, I actually checked my AADSAS frantically...and I was very upset when it didn't update on midnight (Dec.1st). On December 3rd, I came home from have a very bad day and just sort of did a nonchalant check, and it was there as "offer made." I almost went crazy! I ran into the house and woke everyone up and we all were so excited. But...to get to your question (LOL)...

I was first informed via AADSAS. I didn't get a phone call until about 7-10 days after AADSAS updated. Ms. Marlise Perry called me and we talked for about 5 minutes, saying that my interviewer wanted to be my mentor during my time there. About December 20th, I received an email from the admissions office that had been forwarded to them from the dean...confirming that I had indeed been accepted and all. I hope this helps you a little. I've heard many different people say how they first found out and they're all sort of different. I think around the first couple weeks after Dec. 1st, you would hear first via AADSAS. Later on in the cycle, they probably aren't as busy and can call you first thing.

Are you SDA? I'm sure you'll hear soon! Best of luck and if I can help at all please let me know.

 

[eliwoohoo]

Chemboy,

I would recommend you PM Amanda for her opinion. She has had a lot of experience with the school over the past few years. If you want my opinions, you can PM me as well, but I have only been exposed to half a year here.

I would like to dispel some basic rumors about the school on here though. An overall theme to remember is that although LLU has some policies that involve your personal life, what it really means is your PUBLIC personal life. What you do in private is basically your own business.

True, meat is not served by campus run cafeterias, but they have some pretty good tasting vegetarian dishes. Also, there are places very nearby where you can buy normal lunches. If you bring food, of course you can eat whatever you want.

I am not SDA, and neither is a sizable proportion of my class but I never feel out of place. Church services appeal to a wide range of religions, and is more about taking out some time to meditate/worship or improve oneself than actually listening to a sermon specific to SDA beliefs.

In general, the school is only really concerned with your academic development. True, drinking alcohol/smoking/drugs/sex is all frowned upon like at most religious schools, but there is no active form of micromanagement unless it affects your academic performance or becomes public information. Many of my classmates have plenty of fun on the weekends ranging from clubbing in LA to snowboarding in the mountains right next to us.

Anyways, I hope that clears up some of the ridiculous rumors that are floating around out there about LLU. It is really a great school and although it has a quite demanding academic curriculum, it is also a really rewarding place with great people.

 

[lemoncurry]

if faculty/administration has good reason to suspect a student of drinking/smoking/drugs/etc, there is a good chance the incident will be investigated and possibly be brought before conduct committee. Be forewarned. Each student signs an agreement to abstain from these things and the administration takes it very seriously. Granted, there are no watchdogs patrolling local pubs (there used to be!), but if such behavior becomes public information or esp if you get into trouble with the law, you can expect disciplinary action. Many students engage in such activities, but the truth is that they are playing with fire and put their enrollment at risk.

I sit on conduct committee and know for a fact that administration is aware of drinking among the students and is not pleased with it. However, there has to be some evidence to support the suspicion before it is brought before conduct committee.

Personally I have no issue with drinking in moderation. I'm not SDA, either. I've openly expressed my personal objection to the policy to the administration, but there is only so much one student can do. I just want you all to understand that administration does not have the wool over their eyes and will not hesitate to punish those who break the rules.

 

[jschoi]

Hi to all.

I was just wondering if anyone knows some of the pros and cons of attending Loma Linda. I was accepted there, and the students seemed to be very happy. Are they a systems-based school? I was just wondering what the best/worst parts of their curriculum is. Thanks very much for all of your help in advance!!!

I had an interview scheduled with LLU
but declined it after I got accepted to other schools

 

[slm266]

The orthodontist I work for went to LLU and we were talking about it today. He mentioned that the school prides itself in saying they get you in patients mouths in your first year, but that it's just doing rubber cup polishing. I guess its better than nothing.

PS, alls I know is that the Amurican bible says that we can eat meat.

 

[Chemboy23]

Chemboy,

I would recommend you PM Amanda for her opinion. She has had a lot of experience with the school over the past few years. If you want my opinions, you can PM me as well, but I have only been exposed to half a year here.

I would like to dispel some basic rumors about the school on here though. An overall theme to remember is that although LLU has some policies that involve your personal life, what it really means is your PUBLIC personal life. What you do in private is basically your own business.

True, meat is not served by campus run cafeterias, but they have some pretty good tasting vegetarian dishes. Also, there are places very nearby where you can buy normal lunches. If you bring food, of course you can eat whatever you want.

I am not SDA, and neither is a sizable proportion of my class but I never feel out of place. Church services appeal to a wide range of religions, and is more about taking out some time to meditate/worship or improve oneself than actually listening to a sermon specific to SDA beliefs.

In general, the school is only really concerned with your academic development. True, drinking alcohol/smoking/drugs/sex is all frowned upon like at most religious schools, but there is no active form of micromanagement unless it affects your academic performance or becomes public information. Many of my classmates have plenty of fun on the weekends ranging from clubbing in LA to snowboarding in the mountains right next to us.

Anyways, I hope that clears up some of the ridiculous rumors that are floating around out there about LLU. It is really a great school and although it has a quite demanding academic curriculum, it is also a really rewarding place with great people.

Hey, thanks a lot for the info. Do you take NBDE I at the end of your D1 year or after your D2? I looked online at the sample curriculum, but I know of a lot of schools that are changing from D2 to doing it at the end of the D1 year. Seems like it would be a lot better to do it after the D1 since you've just came out of all the basic sciences...

 

[Chemboy23]

if faculty/administration has good reason to suspect a student of drinking/smoking/drugs/etc, there is a good chance the incident will be investigated and possibly be brought before conduct committee. Be forewarned. Each student signs an agreement to abstain from these things and the administration takes it very seriously. Granted, there are no watchdogs patrolling local pubs (there used to be!), but if such behavior becomes public information or esp if you get into trouble with the law, you can expect disciplinary action. Many students engage in such activities, but the truth is that they are playing with fire and put their enrollment at risk.

I sit on conduct committee and know for a fact that administration is aware of drinking among the students and is not pleased with it. However, there has to be some evidence to support the suspicion before it is brought before conduct committee.

Personally I have no issue with drinking in moderation. I'm not SDA, either. I've openly expressed my personal objection to the policy to the administration, but there is only so much one student can do. I just want you all to understand that administration does not have the wool over their eyes and will not hesitate to punish those who break the rules.

Wow...I figured LLU had some pretty strict rules. My wife and I have an occasional drink (probably once every month or so), but it's nothing like a binge drinking situation. Some people's intention it seems is to get completely wiped out...which is totally unnecessary to me. That's crazy that they used to go out to clubs looking for students though...sort of sad it comes down to that in the first place I guess.

 

[Chemboy23]

Hey lemoncurry (or eliwoohoo), could you possibly list some of your likes/dislikes (if any) about the curriculum, clinics, etc...whenever you have time. I would sure appreciate it! Your insight is invaluable to us who are waiting to start. Thanks so very much in advance!

 

[lemoncurry]

Part 1 boards is taken after D2 year. D1 students generally do NOT get any sort of clinic time or patient time, and that includes rubber cups. There has been plenty of talk about trying to change that and get D1s to assist D3s, D2s with D4s, etc., but that is only in the talking phase.

what I like:
-well over 90% of the faculty and staff I have encountered are generally nice and helpful, and really are interested in helping you.
-the sheer amount of service learning/community service/mission trips is incredible. Nobody from other schools that I have talked to have anything even close to what LLU has.
-Even though we have almost every specialty program out there, we still get fairly indepth instruction in those specialties and the opportunity to at least participate in treatment of more advanced cases or cases that would normally be for grad students.
-Gold foil restoration courses and the opportunity to perform them on patients.

don't like:
-meatless/caffeine-free campus
-chapel requirement
-the amount of busy work that seems to pervade 1-unit courses.
-campus closed on saturday, which reduces the amount of time you can work on projects (especially bad for non-sda who worship on sunday)
-rather strict rules overall for graduate students, many of whom are older, have families (i.e. can make their own decisions. this goes along with the chapel req.).
-the ban on alcohol has resulted in a tendency for classes to divide sharply along "drinking lines" and create a sense of paranoia and secrecy. For example, if you're having a party at your house and there *might* be alcohol there, you keep it hush hush so that the "wrong people" don't find out and risk being ratted out. Even if you're at a professional organizations meeting (like asda, adea, cda) and they have a sponsored event with alcohol, it just puts a damper on things (mainly if you don't come from a tea-totalling background).


all in all, I think LLU is a super school and I feel I will be well-prepared when I leave here to do a very wide variety of procedures.

 

[Chemboy23]

Part 1 boards is taken after D2 year. D1 students generally do NOT get any sort of clinic time or patient time, and that includes rubber cups. There has been plenty of talk about trying to change that and get D1s to assist D3s, D2s with D4s, etc., but that is only in the talking phase.

what I like:
-well over 90% of the faculty and staff I have encountered are generally nice and helpful, and really are interested in helping you.
-the sheer amount of service learning/community service/mission trips is incredible. Nobody from other schools that I have talked to have anything even close to what LLU has.
-Even though we have almost every specialty program out there, we still get fairly indepth instruction in those specialties and the opportunity to at least participate in treatment of more advanced cases or cases that would normally be for grad students.
-Gold foil restoration courses and the opportunity to perform them on patients.

don't like:
-meatless/caffeine-free campus
-chapel requirement
-the amount of busy work that seems to pervade 1-unit courses.
-campus closed on saturday, which reduces the amount of time you can work on projects (especially bad for non-sda who worship on sunday)
-rather strict rules overall for graduate students, many of whom are older, have families (i.e. can make their own decisions. this goes along with the chapel req.).
-the ban on alcohol has resulted in a tendency for classes to divide sharply along "drinking lines" and create a sense of paranoia and secrecy. For example, if you're having a party at your house and there *might* be alcohol there, you keep it hush hush so that the "wrong people" don't find out and risk being ratted out. Even if you're at a professional organizations meeting (like asda, adea, cda) and they have a sponsored event with alcohol, it just puts a damper on things (mainly if you don't come from a tea-totalling background).


all in all, I think LLU is a super school and I feel I will be well-prepared when I leave here to do a very wide variety of procedures.

Hey, thanks so much for that explanation. I've heard many great things about LLU...and to be honest, if I do not get into my state school (MS), LLU will be my first choice. I've already been accepted to LLU...so I'm very thankful to have that. The tuition difference is so significant though...I think MS is about 16k per year (crazy cheap). I'm sure LLU would give me a better education, and I've thought long and hard about just going to LLU because I loved it so much when I was there. I have a family, so MS is not only cheaper tuition wise, but cost of living as well. I just wonder if it's worth an extra 150k+ to go to LLU? Do you feel like there's that much difference in education when compared to other schools? Thanks again for all of your help and best of luck to you!

 

[polotrav]

I have a similar question as the OP but I would like a more in depth response to how the boards have gone this time around and how people get placed out of dental school. I am not totally set on any particular specialty yet but I want the option. I was accepted to UPENN which is a great school to be placed out of and I am excited for that but I am from California and would love the opportunity to go to Loma Linda. I love the school from the site. My interview is next week and I just want a pretty even look on things. lemoncurry your comment was wonderful. If anyone has more like that I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[TeethRgreat]

-the ban on alcohol has resulted in a tendency for classes to divide sharply along "drinking lines" and create a sense of paranoia and secrecy. For example, if you're having a party at your house and there *might* be alcohol there, you keep it hush hush so that the "wrong people" don't find out and risk being ratted out. Even if you're at a professional organizations meeting (like asda, adea, cda) and they have a sponsored event with alcohol, it just puts a damper on things (mainly if you don't come from a tea-totalling background).


all in all, I think LLU is a super school and I feel I will be well-prepared when I leave here to do a very wide variety of procedures.

wow, that sounds horrible. If that is true, their students are treated like they are in some sort of pre-school summer camp. Dental school is about dentistry, not about invading ones personal life and treating them like they are 5 years old...

 

[Chemboy23]

I have a similar question as the OP but I would like a more in depth response to how the boards have gone this time around and how people get placed out of dental school. I am not totally set on any particular specialty yet but I want the option. I was accepted to UPENN which is a great school to be placed out of and I am excited for that but I am from California and would love the opportunity to go to Loma Linda. I love the school from the site. My interview is next week and I just want a pretty even look on things. lemoncurry your comment was wonderful. If anyone has more like that I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

The interview is VERY laid back. Just be honest and be yourself. My interviewer and I laughed the whole time about my country accent, with me being from MS and all. He actually drew a tree out of my life (family) and we talked about everyone. They just want to know what makes you who you are. Find something to relate to the interviewer with. For example, he saw on my file that I had been in the Navy and asked my what I did. I just so happened to do my service onboard a submarine and he was so interested in that.

Make sure you figure the "Why Loma Linda?" question out as well. I said I loved Loma Linda because of how friendly everyone is to begin with, their great clinical exposure, and I wanted to do mission trips (which they do a lot of).

EDIT: About the boards and such, I'm not completely sure. I'm wanting to do GP so it really doesn't concern me as much as it would someone else. I'm sure lemoncurry will specialize though, since he's the class president. I think (assuming the boards go pass/fail) that it will matter so much more WHERE you came from (got your DDS/DMD) if this happens. Because if you think about it, the only other thing they can possibly evaluate you on is class rank. Maybe lemoncurry can add to this, his response will be much more on point than mine LOL. Good luck to you.

 

[Montserrat]

wow, that sounds horrible. If that is true, their students are treated like they are in some sort of pre-school summer camp. Dental school is about dentistry, not about invading ones personal life and treating them like they are 5 years old...

When I interviewed at the school a few years back, it seemed like a rock solid clinical program and I respected that.The school's stance on alcohol doesn't surprise me because I remember filling out their secondary which included a question about alcohol. By extension, not drinking at events the school is affiliated makes sense. However, I find it odd that classmates would rat each other out for drinking outside of school boundaries.

 

[polotrav]

Thanks Chemboy. You definitely have alot of enthusiasm for Loma Linda which I love. Right now I'm trying to get psyched for the interview since I know that it would mean the world to my fiancee. She's got a job at Disneyland and I don't want her to get too lonely with the amount of time I will be spending in dental school. If we do not get into Loma Linda, I would be thrilled to go to UPENN so I'm trying to get as enthused as I possibly can. I can't lose whatever that outcome but my enthusiasm about the school could affect the outcome.

I want legitimate cons to the school besides the fact that people are bugged by the culture that exists there. I love the culture of SDA's and so that is not a con to me. I respect them for it. The sex, the alcohol, the partying stuff does not really influence my decisions as to which schools will be best for me. I'll be married so that takes care of the first problem most people come up with as cons. I don't drink, never have, never will, and I like to think that I bring the party wherever I am haha...yup. If I wanted to really party I wouldn't be going into dentistry. I'd follow my other dream of becoming a rock star. One that doesn't drink or smoke. That would probably make a pretty bland rockstar so I'll pursue something more fulfilling and become a dental professional 🙂

Other things people have complained of have included the area. I pretty much grew up here so I know the pros and cons to that. The pros outway the cons for me regarding the area so I'll just have to wait and see what happens after my interview but I really would like to get in. What I am looking for are more specific cons regarding the school and its program, its reputation as a professional institution, and maybe any kind of hint as to what kind of research they do or if there are any possibilities of pursuing research there. That was a big part of my undergrad experience and I would like the option to continue it later. Any input aside from the previously mentioned givens would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nhakhanh]

Does anyone know the email address of Ms. Marlise Perry? I lost it, and can't email her to check my status.

Thanks

 

[lemoncurry]

If the cons mentioned above are not cons for you, then it would seem to me that there are really no cons specific to LLU that you would not find anywhere else. Every school has its own share of bad teachers, bad clinic primaries, poor administration; no school is perfect. LLU has some professors who are less than ideal, some clinic primaries who seem incompetent, some administration who seem apethetic, etc. Other than that, the single biggest con is the price.

 

[lemoncurry]

While it is grounded in truth, it is uncommon for another student to rat out another for this reason. However, my point was more that the fear of that possibility exists and tends to make some classmates not trust each other as much. This is my personal opinion and analysis of what I have seen, so you can take it or leave it.

wow, that sounds horrible. If that is true, their students are treated like they are in some sort of pre-school summer camp. Dental school is about dentistry, not about invading ones personal life and treating them like they are 5 years old...

 

[Mr Tooth Fairy]

What is the "chapel requirement"?

 

[lemoncurry]

every wednesday at 11 AM, most of the school gathers in the university chapel for 50 minutes of prayer, hymns and reflection. It is generally non-sectarian and you only have to attend; you don't have to participate. 1st and 2nd years are required to attend.