So I guess you're that Mich in-stater going to Penn over Mich? I totally understand your point that's why I have been so torn between those two schools since each offers a very different pros and cons.
Personally I am from San Francisco, born and raised, even went to college in the Bay Area. I guess I am more familiar with the big city setting. Yes I have never experienced a sub-zero temperature nor the foot-thick snows. Furthermore, I have a close family member working in NYC, and that puts Penn a huge advantage for me.
I have talked to several D2 at Mich and they are
VERY UNHAPPY with the current curriculum change. They just recently got rid of 2-3 months break between D1 & D2 year we probably all guess that it's because the school has spread the load thin over the longer time period. Well that's not the case, instead the school just added more load to stress the students out even more. They all seem to complain that the school isn't really geared toward to do well on the board exam, and there goes the answer to why the questionable board performance of Mich dental students. On top of that the excessive load isn't really helping them to be great dentists. Current students also believe that extra classes that they added seem to be a bunch of bull**** classes where they have to write a lot of essays and irrelevant presentations. I really don't know. The school's philosophy isn't exactly matching to the type of dentistry that I wanted to do.
Not to say that Michigan Dental students aren't as smart, but I can say the Penn students seems way more competitive from top undergraduate institution gunning for specialization in which I am not interested at the moment. However, it doesn't hurt to be friends with future Ortho, OS residents that will be practicing all across the nation, whereas 70% of Michigan DS graduate will most likely to practice IN MICHIGAN where I have NO absolute interest in living any longer than I need to. Yes, I will be practicing back in California, and it is my understanding that Penn name carries more weight when you're trying to find a job against with these UCLA, UCSF graduates especially in the most dentist saturated area in the nation.
Despite those Cons of Mich and Pros of Penn that I listed above, I am still leaning toward Michigan though. 35,000/year is a heck of money. Being a non-traditional students with the background in finances/accounting + 3 years corporate experience as a financial analyst, I do know some money perspectives need to be considered. And to add that the clinical experience at Penn isn't the best experience that I will enjoy. Yes, they are renovating the clinic and construction may well be under the way by the time I start my D3 in 2017. Who knows what they are going to do with the current clinic? Maybe they will all throw us into the temporary mobile RV set up? I don't know.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am still deciding.
For those who read this thread, please leave your comment even though it is just one line. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Being an undergrad from michigan and living here all my life, I can tell you if you've never experienced a michigan/midwest winter you're in for a rude awakening. This winter was one of the worst with the amount of snow we received not to mention the subzero temps. Weather aside, Ann Arbor is a nice little college town which I loved for undergrad, but it seems the town is overrun by undergraduates. Graduate students are definitely the minority on campus. Also, if you're looking for more of a big city feel, Ann Arbor is more of a suburban town. Michigans in-state feeder schools are smaller colleges and universities (Central, Western, Oakland) than the two Big Ten schools (Umich and MSU).
Michigan is changing their curriculum, however I'm not exactly sure what they are including/excluding or putting a heavier emphasis on.
Penn obviously has a prestigious reputation which isn't really rivaled outside of Harvard. Also if you are looking to specialize, Penn has some of the highest matching rates for their students with top notch specialty programs. I would assume there is more to do in Philly, however I've never been there other than the ballpark.
Good luck with your decision and keep us updated.
