Need help on deciding... Pitt vs. UIC

[xoxk311y]

Ive been accepted to both schools: University of Pittsburgh and University of Illinois at Chicago. I want to go into dental, and from what I've heard, both schools have pretty good dental schools. However, it's the undergraduate part that I am at at the moment. Yes, I'm still a senior in high school, but I plan on going to either one of these schools for both my undergraduate AND graduate school. It does depend on what it will be like in 4 years depending on my DAT score and such. But it would be great if anyone can tell me how their dental schools are in comparison, how the cities are, and which, in your opinion, you think is the best route to take. Thanks!

p.s. I am an Illinois resident. Idk if that would be a major factor because Pitt gave me a scholarship so the price is basically the same.

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[xoxk311y]

oh yeah that might help haha. I made this account long time ago but never used it til now. Yea that is a problem in IL. I totally did not think about that. Even my HIGH SCHOOL is cutting down classes and teachers. (yay state of illinois...and blagojevich). How are the dental dental schools in comparison? They both have awesome research groups and therefore an awesome university hospital. It's really hard to compare these two.

 

[joonkimdds]

Ive been accepted to both schools: University of Pittsburgh and University of Illinois at Chicago. I want to go into dental, and from what I've heard, both schools have pretty good dental schools. However, it's the undergraduate part that I am at at the moment. Yes, I'm still a senior in high school, but I plan on going to either one of these schools for both my undergraduate AND graduate school. It does depend on what it will be like in 4 years depending on my DAT score and such. But it would be great if anyone can tell me how their dental schools are in comparison, how the cities are, and which, in your opinion, you think is the best route to take. Thanks!

p.s. I am an Illinois resident. Idk if that would be a major factor because Pitt gave me a scholarship so the price is basically the same.

Although being familiar with your dream school is a plus, it doesn't guarantee your admission. Study hard~! 👍

 

[UndergradGuy7]

If you did really good in high school. Apply to UIC's guaranteed professional program admissions (GPPA) program. If you have a high enough ACT and GPA from high school, they might pick you. You can get guaranteed admissions to their dental school as long as you keep a certain GPA and get a certain DAT. It makes it easier. I am not sure about the GPA and DAT cutoff.

 

[Vicviper]

If you're confident about being able to do well, Pitt has a 3 year undergrad program that accepts you into the dental school if you keep high enough grades and get a good enough DAT score, you might want to look into that as well. I know a few people who did this, and they really loved it.

 

[xoxk311y]

I love how this site keeps throwing me out everytime I try to put up a reply post. Geez. Anyways, I have looked into GPPA before at UIC. Unfortunately, I didn't fit their ACT requirement which was really disappointing since I am a valedictorian taking AP classes and I work my butt off. I have heard about GPPA but I haven't heard anything about a 3 year undergrad program at Pitt. If you don't mind me asking, since youve mentioned that you know people who have done it, How do you go about that program?

 

[Gaussian]

I'd go to pitt because you can use that scholarship in your resume ( if it is academic based). Pitt has a better rep in medical world but both are good schools. Now, you may find this crazy but THINGS CHANGE. My friend went to BU for undergrad so he would go there for dental school too, but he ended up going to Harvard dental; You never know 😉

 

[Blue Panther]

Go the undergrad of your choice and have your options open for dental school. Select the school that has the better undergrad program in the major of my choice. This way you can receive the best education in your select major and attend dental school of your choice or which ever school accepts you.

 

[somethinpositiv]

OHHH, I misread your question, sorry. So you've been accepted into Pitt and UIC for undergrad, I see. I will rescind my previous statement about both schools being great schools, which is true when I'm talking about the dental schools.

When we're referring to undergrads, that is not the case. Pitt has a stellar reputation for it's undergrad, while UIC does not. You will have a better education, better student life, better research opportunities, better opportunities after graduation, ect... I can see how you could have the argument between Pitt and UIUC for undergrad, but not between Pitt and UIC. It's not even close... at least according to US News and World Report 😉

Though if you can get into the 8-year UIC guaranteed program or the 7-year Pitt guaranteed program, DO IT. I don't know anything about Pitt's program, but you won't have to worry about not getting into dental school if you can get into UIC's GPPA (Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions), that peace of mind is priceless. Personally, I wouldn't go to UIC for undergrad unless I got into the GPPA program.

http://www.uic.edu/depts/oaa/spec_prog/gppa/conditions/Dentcontract20081.pdf

Ive been accepted to both schools: University of Pittsburgh and University of Illinois at Chicago. I want to go into dental, and from what I've heard, both schools have pretty good dental schools. However, it's the undergraduate part that I am at at the moment. Yes, I'm still a senior in high school, but I plan on going to either one of these schools for both my undergraduate AND graduate school. It does depend on what it will be like in 4 years depending on my DAT score and such. But it would be great if anyone can tell me how their dental schools are in comparison, how the cities are, and which, in your opinion, you think is the best route to take. Thanks!

p.s. I am an Illinois resident. Idk if that would be a major factor because Pitt gave me a scholarship so the price is basically the same.

 

[xoxk311y]

well.. I did get accepted to UIUC also. The thing about UIUC is that it is majorly business, engineering, and education school. yes it is well rounded and is the best undergraduate school out of all the school ive applied to but after vising, the way they emphasize so much on their engineering programs makes me think that their med/healthcare field is not much cared for. So far, I've been accepted to U of I Urbana-Champaign, UIC, U Pitt, and STL University. SLU is out of the picture in my book (personal reasons), and I'm left with all these public schools!!

 

[somethinpositiv]

well.. I did get accepted to UIUC also. The thing about UIUC is that it is majorly business, engineering, and education school. yes it is well rounded and is the best undergraduate school out of all the school ive applied to but after vising, the way they emphasize so much on their engineering programs makes me think that their med/healthcare field is not much cared for. So far, I've been accepted to U of I Urbana-Champaign, UIC, U Pitt, and STL University. SLU is out of the picture in my book (personal reasons), and I'm left with all these public schools!!

While UIUC's engineering and business quads are "prettier", it is not true that the other departments are neglected. Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology/Neuroscience are highly ranked and well regarded. UIUC was a pioneer in organic chemistry, physics, as well as microbiology. Sure, the Biology department leaves much to be desired (I wouldn't be a Bio major at UIUC), but it's certainly not worse than the biology department at UIC and probably comparable to Pitt as well.

I really enjoyed my experience in Urbana-Champaign, and while I'll so glad to escape the cornfields and return to civilization in Boston, I really appreciated my time there. I was a Psychology Major with a focus on Neuroscience, did a Chemistry Minor, took a lot of advanced Bio classes relevant to dental school, and still had time to take a lot of interesting and fun random classes.

UIUC is the largest feeder school for UIC Dental by far, with UIUC student typically taking 20-25 seats per year out of 66 total seats at UIC Dental.

I'd say your best choices are Pitt or UIUC, or UIC only if you get into the GPPA.

 

[somethinpositiv]

http://www.studentsreview.com/IL/UIUC.html
http://www.studentsreview.com/PA/UPP.html
http://www.studentsreview.com/IL/UIC.html

 

[xoxk311y]

So far i am leaning towards Pitt. I have yet to visit but hopefully I will be sure after seeing how the campus is like compare to UIUC. And wouldn't mind escaping Illinois for awhile either... I think i had my fair share with cornfields haha. Thank you for the insight everyone, especially you somethinpositiv 🙂