Need some advice on making a school decision

[PaulieGualtieri]

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OK so I applied late in the cycle and only had one pre. dec. interview to NYU which I have been accepted to. I really liked NYU and would be living with my grandparents so living expenses as far as food and room and board would be taken care of. I now have interviews at Nova, Tufts, UNLV... schools that I would have to pay for living expenses. What should I do guys? I need some guidance 🙁

 

[kbkt902]

I think you should go where you want. In the whole scheme of things, living expenses aren't going to be THAT much when you are already going to be in debt (tuition is expensive anywhere you go). Bottom Line: Dental school is expensive no matter what so you should go to the school you like the most. PLUS.. you dont want to find yourself 2 years down the line thinking ..."what if I went to those other three interviews?"

 

[PaulieGualtieri]

Well I figured living w/ my grandparents would negate about 15k/year living expenses...plus it would take out some of the burdens of cooking, laundry, and having noisy roomates or a loud dorm/apartment hall.

 

[FutureDent020]

Well I figured living w/ my grandparents would negate about 15k/year living expenses...plus it would take out some of the burdens of cooking, laundry, and having noisy roomates or a loud dorm/apartment hall.

Are you debating whether you should even attend the interviews? Or are you presenting a hypothetical situation where you get accepted to Nova, Tufts, and UNLV?
I'm thinking it's the prior, so my advice is to at least attend a couple of the interviews. You worked hard to get where you are at, so take advantage of your opportunities. It's always easy to go where you are first accepted due various reasons. At this point, you can just relax, have fun and see where you would fit in the best.

 

[doc toothache]

OK so I applied late in the cycle and only had one pre. dec. interview to NYU which I have been accepted to. I really liked NYU and would be living with my grandparents so living expenses as far as food and room and board would be taken care of. I now have interviews at Nova, Tufts, UNLV... schools that I would have to pay for living expenses. What should I do guys? I need some guidance 🙁

It would appears that you may be a little presumptuous thinking that the other schools might be an option that you would need to worry about.

 

[PaulieGualtieri]

Going to the interviews. Like the chances since it's post dec. Since the cost is comparable w/ living w/ family, do you like NYU. ( I don't mind big classes)

 

[FutureDent020]

Going to the interviews. Like the chances since it's post dec. Since the cost is comparable w/ living w/ family, do you like NYU. ( I don't mind big classes)

I loved NYU. I don't think you can go wrong there, especially since you will be saving money living with your grandparents. Why don't you pick one of those schools you like the most and attend the interview? Even though it's post Deecember, you still have a great shot at Tufts. I'm not sure about the others. And the big class size didn't dissuade me at all. I was never one to go for extra help and see my professors though. That would be the only concern for some.

 

[MTD52]

Yeah I'd go on the interviews and see what you think. You earned them. Don't sell yourself short if you're not positive yet. Worst case scenario you end up at NYU anyway.

 

[s2agrado]

If you can afford it, definitely check out the other schools and keep an open mind.

I personally got accepted to both UNLV and NYU and I'm actually leaning UNLV. To be honest, prior to going to UNLV, I thought I wasn't going to like it there. I had a great interview and it seems there are unique clinical opportunities that aren't available at NYU.

 

[PaulieGualtieri]

It would appears that you may be a little presumptuous thinking that the other schools might be an option that you would need to worry about.

Mind reader? Ok, so when I filed my AADSAS initially I had a DAT of 18. Not being sure of which schools would be interested in me I applied to a smattering, just to increase my chances of interviewing. Later on I took the DAT in October and did better as you can see. Apparently some schools rely heavily on the DAT (considering my sub-par GPA).

Ok, aside from price I think NYU is amazing. What say you guys? Opinions?

 

[MTD52]

Ok, aside from price I think NYU is amazing. What say you guys? Opinions?

Unfortunately, that doesn't exist. That's my opinion 🙂.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

Go to the interviews for the sake of choosing from them if they accept you.

This allows you to consider more variables when it comes time to choose.

Don't let cost alone make it or break the deal for any school; being a dental student means more than that: you're a person first, then a student.