Most expensive education

[ruth11]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Everyone chime in here...I was reading the pre-med forums and some dooky wannabe says that 'MD' are the 2 most expensive letters in the english alphabet. I beg to differ, I think DDS and DMD educations cost more than MD programs. Now I'm talking the obvious private prog's that run about 280K for the 4 years. Anyone else know of anything more expensive than a dental education...anywhere in the world??

 

[DDSY]

I would agree that DDS/DMD education is expensive. However, I would tend to believe that an MD education is most likely more expensive not only in monetary terms but also for a variety of tangential factors.

I took an econometrics class before, and one thing I learned is that rate of return for a general dentist is greater than that for a primary care practitioner (specialists earn tons more, don't count them). Even lawyers and businessman would earn more than MDs in the long run if we were the consider the amount of money they earn minus the total amount of schooling plus the investment of that money. Remember, you should not only count the amount of money charged for schooling but also discount for the amount of money you could have earned if you did not attend school (So if you lost $60K in expenses from one year of med school but could have earned 50k, that's already $110k lost, without even considering the interest).

As for the other "tangential" factors: the stress of school (medical is definitely far more stressful than dental school--being extensively exposed to the cadaver, having to treat very ill patients, the excessive amount of memorization and length of education including residency), loss of youth (especially at the prime of life, the 20s), etc.

 

[DentalBoarder]

I would agree that DDS/DMD education is expensive. However, I would tend to believe that an MD education is most likely more expensive not only in monetary terms but also for a variety of tangential factors.

I took an econometrics class before, and one thing I learned is that rate of return for a general dentist is greater than that for a primary care practitioner (specialists earn tons more, don't count them). Even lawyers and businessman would earn more than MDs in the long run if we were the consider the amount of money they earn minus the total amount of schooling plus the investment of that money. Remember, you should not only count the amount of money charged for schooling but also discount for the amount of money you could have earned if you did not attend school (So if you lost $60K in expenses from one year of med school but could have earned 50k, that's already $110k lost, without even considering the interest).

As for the other "tangential" factors: the stress of school (medical is definitely far more stressful than dental school--being extensively exposed to the cadaver, having to treat very ill patients, the excessive amount of memorization and length of education including residency), loss of youth (especially at the prime of life, the 20s), etc.

interesting...

 

[djeffreyt]

MD is only two letters, and DMD and DDS are three...so MD is still the most expensive 2 letters...the argument is flawed before it began.

 

[DDSY]

MD is only two letters, and DMD and DDS are three...so MD is still the most expensive 2 letters...the argument is flawed before it began.

Good point, why didn't I think of that

 

[kehmon]

I would agree that DDS/DMD education is expensive. However, I would tend to believe that an MD education is most likely more expensive not only in monetary terms but also for a variety of tangential factors.

I took an econometrics class before, and one thing I learned is that rate of return for a general dentist is greater than that for a primary care practitioner (specialists earn tons more, don't count them). Even lawyers and businessman would earn more than MDs in the long run if we were the consider the amount of money they earn minus the total amount of schooling plus the investment of that money. Remember, you should not only count the amount of money charged for schooling but also discount for the amount of money you could have earned if you did not attend school (So if you lost $60K in expenses from one year of med school but could have earned 50k, that's already $110k lost, without even considering the interest).

As for the other "tangential" factors: the stress of school (medical is definitely far more stressful than dental school--being extensively exposed to the cadaver, having to treat very ill patients, the excessive amount of memorization and length of education including residency), loss of youth (especially at the prime of life, the 20s), etc.

You are correct! It's also known as "Opportunity Cost" 🙂

MD is only two letters, and DMD and DDS are three...so MD is still the most expensive 2 letters...the argument is flawed before it began.

good point

 

[johntara04]

As for the other "tangential" factors: the stress of school (medical is definitely far more stressful than dental school--being extensively exposed to the cadaver, having to treat very ill patients, the excessive amount of memorization and length of education including residency), loss of youth (especially at the prime of life, the 20s), etc.

Dental students are exposed to cadavers, treat ill patients, have excessive amounts of memorization, and are the medical specialty that has the greatest risk of blood-borne pathogens and sicknesses. Most dentists specialize or do a 1 year residency, so amount of time is not that different either.

I do, however, agree with everything else you said.

 

[54807]

I would agree that DDS/DMD education is expensive. However, I would tend to believe that an MD education is most likely more expensive not only in monetary terms but also for a variety of tangential factors.

I took an econometrics class before, and one thing I learned is that rate of return for a general dentist is greater than that for a primary care practitioner (specialists earn tons more, don't count them). Even lawyers and businessman would earn more than MDs in the long run if we were the consider the amount of money they earn minus the total amount of schooling plus the investment of that money. Remember, you should not only count the amount of money charged for schooling but also discount for the amount of money you could have earned if you did not attend school (So if you lost $60K in expenses from one year of med school but could have earned 50k, that's already $110k lost, without even considering the interest).

As for the other "tangential" factors: the stress of school (medical is definitely far more stressful than dental school--being extensively exposed to the cadaver, having to treat very ill patients, the excessive amount of memorization and length of education including residency), loss of youth (especially at the prime of life, the 20s), etc.

Yeah I did a little opportunity cost of doing OMFS after dental school. It's about $1 million. Not to mention your lost 6 years of your life.