Hello everyone! I am currently stuck deciding between two schools. From what I know, both schools give similar experiences but Rutgers has more clinical requirements (which I do not mind). Rutgers also gives in-state after one year, so overall cost of attendance isn’t that different. But the biggest reason for why I am considering Rutgers is explained at the end.
Furthermore, I also got an offer for USC, but their CoA is way too high for me. However, please feel free to advocate for USC if you think it's worth attending. This is also my first post btw, so please let me know if you need more information!
Maryland (IS)
Total CoA: $432,073
Pros:
Cons:
Total CoA: $463,185
Pros:
Ideally, I would also love to work in NYC as a dentist. I believe Rutgers allows me a better opportunity to explore and visit NYC more often for going out, studying, etc. However, this might be a petty reason to choose that over Maryland. I also still need to get a 1-year GPR in New York to work there, which I believe Rutgers will not provide me a better chance compared to Maryland.
Furthermore, Maryland is located within the heart of Baltimore, which can be better at emulating living within the city over the Newark area of Rutgers. If it were more expensive, I would have gone with Maryland, but with Rutgers only costing around $30K more, I feel like Rutgers might be worth it for my lifestyle preferences.
What do you guys think? My heart is telling me Rutgers, but my mind is telling me Maryland. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you ahead for taking the time to read this!
Furthermore, I also got an offer for USC, but their CoA is way too high for me. However, please feel free to advocate for USC if you think it's worth attending. This is also my first post btw, so please let me know if you need more information!
Maryland (IS)
Total CoA: $432,073
Pros:
- In-state tuition
- ~35 min from my home/family/hometown friends
- Connections with D2/D3 to help me
- Location is right in the middle of the city. I feel like there’s lots to do nearby.
- Good reputation, and also has the history of the first dental school.
- Next to other professional schools
- I was able to get a deeper tour within the school and it has easily accessible places such as gyms, recreational activities, libraries, etc. (I was not able to see it in Rutgers)
- Offers many specialty programs.
- Strong clinical reputation
- Recently renovated their sim labs
Cons:
- Dangerous area
- Still in Maryland
Total CoA: $463,185
Pros:
- In-state tuition after first year
- Rigorous clinical requirements (but I feel like that will help me more then not)
- Has the dedicated on-campus housing that makes traveling to campus easy
- Closed-off campus
- Offers various residency programs
- Plenty of research opportunities
- Has a program that offers fast-paced hospital experience during D3 and D4 (correct me if I am wrong though)
- Close to New York City, which I really like
- Also close to Hoboken and Fort Lee
- 3-4 hour drive from home
- Might have to look around for gyms and libraries (?) (not too sure)
- Unsafe area (but I feel like the on-campus housing helps with that)
- Was told by a student that the school likes to “throw you in the deep end.” Which I also don’t mind but I can see it being a negative.
- More expensive (CoA can be ~$20K - $40K more depending if I live on-campus or off-campus)
- Possibly unfriendly administration (?), any Rutgers students let me know what you think
Ideally, I would also love to work in NYC as a dentist. I believe Rutgers allows me a better opportunity to explore and visit NYC more often for going out, studying, etc. However, this might be a petty reason to choose that over Maryland. I also still need to get a 1-year GPR in New York to work there, which I believe Rutgers will not provide me a better chance compared to Maryland.
Furthermore, Maryland is located within the heart of Baltimore, which can be better at emulating living within the city over the Newark area of Rutgers. If it were more expensive, I would have gone with Maryland, but with Rutgers only costing around $30K more, I feel like Rutgers might be worth it for my lifestyle preferences.
What do you guys think? My heart is telling me Rutgers, but my mind is telling me Maryland. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you ahead for taking the time to read this!