Midwestern Arizona vs Midwestern Illinois

[creamcheese15]

Was hoping current students from both schools could share kind of a compare/contrast of their respective programs. I've heard both are totally "different" but how different? does one school have more clinical experience than the other? How many crowns, fillings, etc. are you guys doing by the time you graduate? Does one school focus on dental curriculum instead of didactic systems seen in some schools? Thanks

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[aroz15]

I can slightly speak on behalf of Midwestern-Illinois because I am from another suburb 30 minutes away from Downers Grove. Downers Grove is an extremely affluent area and I absolutely love it. It is a wonderful town and I am there all the time. I cannot speak, however, specifically about the program. Since it is fairly new, I have not heard much about those who just graduated and are now out in the workforce.

 

[creamcheese15]

Does anyone know about the programs, curriculum, clinical, etc.?

 

[debussey]

I chose MWU AZ over MWU IL. Main reasons were: AZ tuition is a tiny bit cheaper (even though both are super expensive). Living in Phoenix is cheaper than Downers Grove / outside of Chicago. And most importantly, you take boards after your first year (and get the whole summer off to study for and take them) at AZ while at IL and a lot of other dental schools, you have to take them after your 2nd year and find a time while school is in session to do it. Also, AZ offers both NERB and WREB while IL only offers CRDTS. So if you want to practice in CA, AK, OK, or SD (WREB strict states) within 5 years after graduation, you had better be prepared to fly to the AZ campus (with all of your screened patients) and take WREB in Arizona. Best decision I've made picking AZ.

 

[darknightzzz]

I chose MWU AZ over MWU IL. Main reasons were: AZ tuition is a tiny bit cheaper (even though both are super expensive). Living in Phoenix is cheaper than Downers Grove / outside of Chicago. And most importantly, you take boards after your first year (and get the whole summer off to study for and take them) at AZ while at IL and a lot of other dental schools, you have to take them after your 2nd year and find a time while school is in session to do it. Also, AZ offers both NERB and WREB while IL only offers CRDTS. So if you want to practice in CA, AK, OK, or SD (WREB strict states) within 5 years after graduation, you had better be prepared to fly to the AZ campus (with all of your screened patients) and take WREB in Arizona. Best decision I've made picking AZ.

can you take both WREB and NERB at MWU-AZ? btw do the license u get from these clinical boards last forever? no need for retesting?

 

[debussey]

You can take both but only 0 - 2 people from each class do both. Both licensure exams cover a really wide range of states and it's a pain in the behind to have to even do the licensure process one time, let alone repeating it for another round and at $2,000 plus.

I'm pretty sure it depends on the state you are in. You don't have to retest for licensure unless you go to a place like Hawaii which only accepts NERB/ADEX. But there is also a 5 year reciprocity rule so I'm not sure how that fits in the picture with WREB only or NERB only states. Sorry I'm still learning about that part of licensure.

 

[creamcheese15]

thanks for the insight! but do any of you know about the clinical experience? is there lots? are people struggling to get patients at either school?

 

[creamcheese15]

I chose MWU AZ over MWU IL. Main reasons were: AZ tuition is a tiny bit cheaper (even though both are super expensive). Living in Phoenix is cheaper than Downers Grove / outside of Chicago. And most importantly, you take boards after your first year (and get the whole summer off to study for and take them) at AZ while at IL and a lot of other dental schools, you have to take them after your 2nd year and find a time while school is in session to do it. Also, AZ offers both NERB and WREB while IL only offers CRDTS. So if you want to practice in CA, AK, OK, or SD (WREB strict states) within 5 years after graduation, you had better be prepared to fly to the AZ campus (with all of your screened patients) and take WREB in Arizona. Best decision I've made picking AZ.

the CRDTS site says California is one of the states that is a member...so at MWU IL you wouldn't have to take the WREB? CRDTS is fine?

 

[customx]

thanks for the insight! but do any of you know about the clinical experience? is there lots? are people struggling to get patients at either school?

At AZ you will get all the experience you need, especially if you are proactive and don't procrastinate. You are in clinic 8 hours a day, 4 days a week and about 3-4 hours on the other day. Since there are no specialists, you can tackle some very difficult cases if you choose to do so

 

[debussey]

Licensure is a tricky and constantly changing thing and all dependent on the state's dental board. Your best source of what state currently offers which board is by googling said dental board website directly. Cali is only WREB, residency, or credential. CRDTS does hygiene too so that is what it may mean by California. If you also look at the Dental Schools Tab under Contacts on the CRDTS website, you will notice that there are no Cali dental schools that participate in CRDTS... for a reason. So yeah, at MWU IL you don't take WREB bc you can't AT the MWU IL campus itself. NERB (also not offered AT MWU IL) and WREB cover the most states each. Georgia is the only state in the country that only takes CRDTS at the moment.