MWU-AZ vs UTHSCSA

[DOL8873]

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Can current dental students (or those who know first hand) please give me some insight on either of these schools? I've been accepted to both. Trying to decide!

My main focus is general dentistry and one day owning my own practice. I want to find the right program that will best prepare me.

Please do NOT factor in the cost or that one is a Texas school (neither of these matter to me I just want to find the best program).

Thanks in advance!

 

[irishmom]

Apply braodly...that is my advice. No one really cares where you go to school (patients don't) so go wherever you like best. That is assuming you actually get ccepted to both.

Care to post your stats. That might help people help you.

 

[DOL8873]

I should have included that I was accepted to both. Now just trying to decide where to go.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[mrdocta]

You should definitely choose MWU-AZ..... (So I can potentially have your UTHSCSA seat).

Just kidding. Congrats on both acceptances. Sorry I can't offer much advice and good luck with whichever you choose!

 

[irishmom]

Well I know you said money wasn't an issue so then just choose the one you felt a better fit at. Like I said, most people do not care where you went to school (unless it's an Ivy) if you plan on living in Texas I would think just go the Houston route. When patients see the diploma on the wall it gives them something to talk about since most Texans do go to a Texas school.

 

[grivacobae]

Well I know you said money wasn't an issue so then just choose the one you felt a better fit at. Like I said, most people do not care where you went to school (unless it's an Ivy) if you plan on living in Texas I would think just go the Houston route. When patients see the diploma on the wall it gives them something to talk about since most Texans do go to a Texas school.

The dental school is in San Antonio, Houston is much cooler!

OP, I can only offer insight on UTHSCSA. It's a great school and great program, an ok city but you'll be busy enough with school. They are also building a new dental clinic for dental school. Plus, Austin is just a drive away!

 

[hongbinbaneben]

San Antonio.

 

[BabyShades]

I would pick San Antonio, they were ranked #1 few years back.

 

[Triflate]

Having a few friends (in addition to close ties to the school) that are currently DS1's and DS3's in SA, a lot of them have not enjoyed their SA experience, to say the least. Has to do with them changing course directors for anatomy, histology and biochem. The upside to SA is their new clinic opening up. But I know for a fact that your first two years there will NOT be pleasant. Also, a lot of students tend to repeat 1st or 3rd year, and SA is not shy about that.


TL;DR version: my buddies say that if they could do it again, they would have chosen UTSD or Baylor.

I know nothing about MWU-AZ. Hope this helps.

 

[DOL8873]

I've heard this about SA from a couple of other people. Wasn't sure it was all true or just one persons opinion. Hearing it again is making me think twice about going there. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Triflate]

looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck...well you know how the saying goes haha.

Congrats on both acceptances though! Well deserved 🙂

 

[cacajuate]

Which one are you leaning towards?

 

[DOL8873]

MWU. I've heard nothing but good things about that school. Can't say that for SA.

From researching and interviewing at MWU I feel that the school has designed a program that focuses on creating competent general dentists. And the dean has really tried to make the perfect program. In means of curriculum, exposure to the clinic and a general practice setting for 3rd and 4th years.

But I haven't heard much about MWU from a students point of view, hence this post. I don't want to be missing out on some vital information.

 

[asne0407]

Hi, I'm a current D1 at MWU AZ and I can honestly say nothing but good things about my experience so far. It's a great environment to be in. All of the students help each other and all of the Doctors have an open door policy so they are always there to help you. The amount of clinical exposure you get here is unlike anywhere else. Hope that helps.

 

[DOL8873]

Hi, I'm a current D1 at MWU AZ and I can honestly say nothing but good things about my experience so far. It's a great environment to be in. All of the students help each other and all of the Doctors have an open door policy so they are always there to help you. The amount of clinical exposure you get here is unlike anywhere else. Hope that helps.

It's great hearing this again! Thank you 🙂

 

[Faux]

Isn't it like 200k difference between the schools? Still a factor to take into account unless you received a scholarship or military. If Arizona is your top school, perhaps you should tell them you are very interested in the program but the money was a concern compared to your state school. They might show you some love, never know.

I always adovocate going to an advisor or doing your own spreadsheet. Many factors go into picking a school. But with that sizable difference, you should see what your monthly payment will be and the total difference at the end of 10/15/25 years. If you're still okay with the numbers then go with what you like.

 

[Realitydentalstudent]

Hi, I'm a current D1 at MWU AZ and I can honestly say nothing but good things about my experience so far. It's a great environment to be in. All of the students help each other and all of the Doctors have an open door policy so they are always there to help you. The amount of clinical exposure you get here is unlike anywhere else. Hope that helps.

So how much clinical exposure have you gotten as a D1?

 

[DOL8873]

Isn't it like 200k difference between the schools? Still a factor to take into account unless you received a scholarship or military. If Arizona is your top school, perhaps you should tell them you are very interested in the program but the money was a concern compared to your state school. They might show you some love, never know.

I always adovocate going to an advisor or doing your own spreadsheet. Many factors go into picking a school. But with that sizable difference, you should see what your monthly payment will be and the total difference at the end of 10/15/25 years. If you're still okay with the numbers then go with what you like.

As stated in my original post.. I have been accepted to both schools and money is not a factor (my parents will be helping me). Just trying to get info on each program.

 

[asne0407]

So how much clinical exposure have you gotten as a D1?

Well maybe I should have specified better. I said the clinical exposure here is unlike anywhere else. Meaning MWU dental school as a whole. Obviously they're not going to throw some D1s over at the clinic and have us doing Class I preps. BUT with that said, next quarter we will be doing some head and neck exams at the clinic.

Basically, first year we get all our basic sciences done so we take the boards part I during summer of our first year, along with sim clinic sessions every Monday. That leaves D2 year for intense sim clinic sessions all week long with some pharm classes thrown in there. Also as a D2 you have clinical exposure, for example, performing hygiene procedures on patients among other things. This leaves D3 and D4 year, which are strictly clinical years. One cool thing about MWU is the fact that D3 and D4 students pair up and switch off during procedures (one being the dentist and the other the assistant), this allows for much faster procedures which is not only more convenient for the patient but also means that you get MORE exposure to many different procedures.

Anyway, hope this helped. Ultimately you have to just go to the school that makes you happy and pushes you to be the best. For me this was MWU. Good luck!

 

[ratpack007]

Congrats on both acceptances! If you're still considered SA, I can give you some insights as a first year. The facility is rather old but our new clinic is opening this summer. Granted, the first two years will probably be rough as someone mentioned in this thread earlier. By the time you would actually have patients though, the wrinkles should be knocked out.

San Antonio has a great reputation among US dental schools and as many have already mentioned, it's very affordable. Even with financial help from parents, there are many unaccounted finances pre-dents forget to factor in to the budget- laptops, lab equipment, loupes, rent, groceries, gas, travel funds.. having adult finances sucks. That said, the more money saved in tuition means more money for other things.

All the Texas schools are pretty much considered more clinically focused. At UTHSCSA, you are given an intro to patient care class your DS1 year where you get into clinic and actually learn relevant details of procedures (oral surgery, dental assisting, radiology, periodontics). The first time I assisted in an extraction the student handed me the forceps and let me do it myself! We also get to place sealants in elementary school kids during second semester of first year as well as practice head/neck & periodontal exams on fellow classmates. It's a lot of work, but San Antonio turns out good dentists.

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

I would pick San Antonio, they were ranked #1 few years back.

Dental schools don't really have "rankings". Personally, I would never pick a dental school based on rank. I would def pick schools that are cost friendly (like Texas, if you are a resident). Unless cost really isn't an option, I would go with how YOU feel about the school, weighing both the positives and negatives.

 

[irishmom]

From talking with a dentist who has worked with many recent graduates from many different schools (he is the director of a GPR) every one, no matter what the clinical experience, will be just about equal after their first year of practicing. Whether you go to a school with a great clinical experience, or one known for being not so good. So the saved 200K by either you or your parents (have them put the 200K into a mutual fund so you have $$$ to buy a practice when you graduate) is a big factor. YMMV