Midwestern-AZ vs. OHSU vs. Nova

[Osity]

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Ok, so I have narrowed down my choice to Midwestern-AZ, OHSU, and Nova. I'm having a hard time deciding between the three because they are all outstanding. Which would you choose and why? Thanks for the help!

 

[punchdrunk7]

All 3 are amazing schools, so I would base your choice on a few things:
1- Price
2- Location
3- Special aspects each school offers

You will be a great dentist at all of them, but the more debt you carry after graduation the harder it will be to get stable. This is coming from my dad, uncle, cousin, and all of the Dr.'s (3 orthos, 2 oral surgeons, 4 generals, 1 endo) that I have shadowed. All of them have told me that if you can get the same education from all the schools (obviously subtle differences) go where the tuition is the least (where you will have the least amount of loans). That is my two cents, many will say location outweighs cost and that is also valid. Hope this helps! Congrats on getting accepted

 

[Osity]

All 3 are amazing schools, so I would base your choice on a few things:
1- Price
2- Location
3- Special aspects each school offers

You will be a great dentist at all of them, but the more debt you carry after graduation the harder it will be to get stable. This is coming from my dad, uncle, cousin, and all of the Dr.'s (3 orthos, 2 oral surgeons, 4 generals, 1 endo) that I have shadowed. All of them have told me that if you can get the same education from all the schools (obviously subtle differences) go where the tuition is the least (where you will have the least amount of loans). That is my two cents, many will say location outweighs cost and that is also valid. Hope this helps! Congrats on getting accepted

Thanks for the input! That's the problem, they are all relatively the same price, and I really liked all three cities. Cost of living is reasonable in each place, so as of now I don't know if there is anything separating the schools (except Nova, since I'm from the West the MWU and OHSU will be closer).

 

[punchdrunk7]

Thanks for the input! That's the problem, they are all relatively the same price, and I really liked all three cities. Cost of living is reasonable in each place, so as of now I don't know if there is anything separating the schools (except Nova, since I'm from the West the MWU and OHSU will be closer).

Haha, well you have a huge choice. Talk to your family and friends, also contact students from each school on SDN to see what they all say. Good Luck!

 

[DrReo]

If you're instate of OHSU, you'd be crazy to decide to attend an expensive private school. Do you know how many times you could fly to each location by going to the cheaper school? Factor interest onto that (at least 1.5+ times sticker price)...

 

[DrReo]

Same price? I thought MWU was 30-40k more than NOVA?

 

[flontario]

Thanks for the input! That's the problem, they are all relatively the same price, and I really liked all three cities. Cost of living is reasonable in each place, so as of now I don't know if there is anything separating the schools (except Nova, since I'm from the West the MWU and OHSU will be closer).

If you are Ohio resident, then i think it is pretty easy to choose. If not, still Ohio because living expenses are a lot lower compared to Southern Florida. Of course given that you are only considering the $ and how much you will be in debt at the end.

 

[Osity]

If you're instate of OHSU, you'd be crazy to decide to attend an expensive private school. Do you know how many times you could fly to each location by going to the cheaper school? Factor interest onto that (at least 1.5+ times sticker price)...

If I was in-state at OHSU, I would already have sent my deposit. My problem is that I am out-of-state everywhere, my state doesn't have a school. So pricewise, I think that all three schools are going to be pretty similar by the time living costs are factored in. Midwestern is the most expensive of the three, but the cheapest to live in, so I think it will probably be even all around. I'm just trying to figure out what school will make me the most ready by the time I graduate.

 

[Osity]

Same price? I thought MWU was 30-40k more than NOVA?

MWU tuition is about 54k, Nova is 50K (I'm OOS everywhere, unfortunately no in-state school to choose from). But Glendale is much cheaper to live in than Fort Lauderdale, so I think the total cost will be about the same both places.

 

[Osity]

If you are Ohio resident, then i think it is pretty easy to choose. If not, still Ohio because living expenses are a lot lower compared to Southern Florida. Of course given that you are only considering the $ and how much you will be in debt at the end.

OHSU is Oregon Health Sciences University, not Ohio State.

 

[Oracle DMD]

Obviously you'd be crazy not to choose MWU! lol

 

[Destiny11]

Obviously you'd be crazy not to choose MWU! lol

What color scrubs will the next year's D1 wear?

 

[Osity]

What color scrubs will the next year's D1 wear?

This is a very good question! Don't want to be stuck with an awful color for four years!

 

[LaFleur]

This is a very good question! Don't want to be stuck with an awful color for four years!

I would totally choose a dschool based on what color scrubs I'd wear while attending (my first choice = pink). 😉 😛

 

[flontario]

OHSU is Oregon Health Sciences University, not Ohio State.

My bad

 

[Oracle DMD]

What color scrubs will the next year's D1 wear?

well so far the colors have been a shade of blue. we (3rd years)have the powder blues, 2nd year has the royal blues, 1st years have the more of a navy blue.

 

[LaFleur]

well so far the colors have been a shade of blue. we (3rd years)have the powder blues, 2nd year has the royal blues, 1st years have the more of a navy blue.

Maybe a teal is next? 😍

 

[Osity]

well so far the colors have been a shade of blue. we (3rd years)have the powder blues, 2nd year has the royal blues, 1st years have the more of a navy blue.

I am definitely hoping for a color of blue, that might seal it for me at MWU!

 

[amiable623]

How about the patients pool and curriculum??? I'm also choosing between NOVA and MW-AZ.

 

[Destiny11]

How about the patients pool and curriculum??? I'm also choosing between NOVA and MW-AZ.

It would be TBD for MWU-AZ, since they don't have any 4th year students yet and their 3rd year students just began to see patients. I don't know if they have any plans for off-site clinics either.

 

[Osity]

How about the patients pool and curriculum??? I'm also choosing between NOVA and MW-AZ.

I loved the curriculum. It's entirely system-based, and from what I understand, you do one system a week, and then have a test on the following Monday or Tuesday. As far as the patient pool, and 3rd-year said that they opened in July and have already tripled their projected numbers. He said there is NO (he capitalized it) shortage of patients or chairs and that you are busy all day. That's from a 3rd-year, since I can't speak from experience.

 

[amiable623]

I loved the curriculum. It's entirely system-based, and from what I understand, you do one system a week, and then have a test on the following Monday or Tuesday. As far as the patient pool, and 3rd-year said that they opened in July and have already tripled their projected numbers. He said there is NO (he capitalized it) shortage of patients or chairs and that you are busy all day. That's from a 3rd-year, since I can't speak from experience.

Thanks!
Do you know anything about NOVA?

 

[Nat426]

Another thing to consider about Oregon is the significant amount of lab work you have to do on your own. Unless things have changed you will not send things out to a lab and will spend many hours preparing all your patients lab work. At least that's what I was told by a grad. from there.

 

[Osity]

Thanks!
Do you know anything about NOVA?

Yeah, I believe Nova has a system-based curriculum. The students all said that the teachers were really flexible with test scheduling and classes conflicting. They have an awesome sim lab and really nice clinic. I can't remember any of the other details about Nova, can anyone chip in?

 

[Osity]

Another thing to consider about Oregon is the significant amount of lab work you have to do on your own. Unless things have changed you will not send things out to a lab and will spend many hours preparing all your patients lab work. At least that's what I was told by a grad. from there.

Yeah, I heard that from multiple students. I also heard that the OHSU produces some of the most ready students to jump right into private practice, so I am wondering if there is a correlation between the extra work and how efficient they are coming out of school.

 

[prsndwg]

Yeah, I believe Nova has a system-based curriculum. The students all said that the teachers were really flexible with test scheduling and classes conflicting. They have an awesome sim lab and really nice clinic. I can't remember any of the other details about Nova, can anyone chip in?

I remember I asked the 1st year tour guys whether they have an integrative curriculum and they said no. Also, i personally think people have made NOVA's sim lab like its amazing. I think MWU-AZ's was much nicer.

 

[Osity]

I remember I asked the 1st year tour guys whether they have an integrative curriculum and they said no. Also, i personally think people have made NOVA's sim lab like its amazing. I think MWU-AZ's was much nicer.

You definitely could be right on Nova's curriculum, I can't remember. They do take their boards after year 1, same as MWU, which I think it why I may be confusing the two. I agree, MWU-AZ facilities are incredible, by far the nicest that I saw.

 

[eba07]

Hey everyone, I'm between Nova and USC but I think financially it would be a much smarter decision to go to Nova. I love the location for Nova--there is a beach 15 min away, I don't know if you remember on your interview but everyone is beyond friendly and the atmosphere feels so airy there! I think the patient pool in Ft. Lauderdale is pretty large too

 

[Osity]

Hey everyone, I'm between Nova and USC but I think financially it would be a much smarter decision to go to Nova. I love the location for Nova--there is a beach 15 min away, I don't know if you remember on your interview but everyone is beyond friendly and the atmosphere feels so airy there! I think the patient pool in Ft. Lauderdale is pretty large too

I would definitely go to Nova over USC. Nicer facilities, better area, MUCH cheaper tuition and cost of living. Plus, USC uses PBL, which I have heard not very many people like. Do you remember anything about if Nova had a system-based curriculum? Any other Nova info you remember that stuck out to you?

 

[amiable623]

what is a system-based curriculum exactly?

 

[Rutsy]

Courses aren't broken down separately. Systems of the body are addressed using integrative teaching techniques.

For example, the cardiovascular system will be taught as a whole by examining the histology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, pathology... This is in contrast to having separate courses in histo, micro, anatomy, phys, path, etc. that may not correlate with one another.

 

[Rutsy]

P.S. it works

 

[Osity]

P.S. it works

What school do you go to right now?

 

[joonkimdds]

Ok, so I have narrowed down my choice to Midwestern-AZ, OHSU, and Nova. I'm having a hard time deciding between the three because they are all outstanding. Which would you choose and why? Thanks for the help!

I don't know much about OHSU, but I have been to both NOVA and MWU.
I think MWU > NOVA because all the equipments in MWU were better than NOVA.

 

[coolslugs]

I don't know much about OHSU, but I have been to both NOVA and MWU.
I think MWU > NOVA because all the equipments in MWU were better than NOVA.

and bec you also go to MWU lol...

 

[joonkimdds]

and bec you also go to MWU lol...

that, too. LOL.

But it's true that MWU equipments looked better than the ones I saw at NOVA.