New graduates - what's the most important factor in choosing a dental school?

[toastybread]

You're all out of dental school. You've got 4 years of experience and 4 years worth of debt. If you had to do it again, would you choose the same school that you attended?

Would you pick a cheaper school? Or for those of you who DID choose the cheapest option, would you pick a different school for more experience, reputation, better location, different curric, general happiness, etc?

At this point in your life, what do you think should be the most important factor when choosing a dental school to attend?

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[HupHolland]

cost. don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I went to the cheapest school I got into (a state school, I payed out of state tution for 2 years) and still managed to rack up $225,000 debt.

hup

 

[HopsyKP]

Cost, absolutely. Most dental schools will provide you with a very good education, regardless of reputation. If you are interested in specializing, you will be able to excel and stand out at any dental school. You should minimize your loans from dental school so you'll have leeway to specialize (which costs money now) or open up a practice (more loans) etc...

 

[Putitinabiscuit]

Cost, without question. Dentistry is different then other graduate degrees such as an MBA or a JD (law), where in the school you went to may very well dictate the quality of career options following graduation. Pick a place where you will be happy and keep your debt down.

 

[CMistry]

Cost. You won't realize what debt means until you have to pay it back.

 

[toastybread]

If you don't mind me asking, how long is it going to take you to pay off your loans?

Were you thinking of the money when you picked your school?

 

[Batmansvoice]

Go where you'll be happiest. I'm currently rocking it in a big city with my homies and yes I got 500K worth of loans. But seriously, cost. Anyone who tells you otherwise is going to end up like me, broke with dreams of running off to Costa Rica.

 

[Mackchops]

This will sound like a cop-out, but it isn't -- the school that's right for you is where you'll be the happiest. Now, if you'll be happier paying Hup's 250k for the same three letters that I paid 350k for, then go to the cheaper school. But if this means leaving your family, moving into a big city when you're more of a country mouse, breaking up with your fiance because she won't do the long-distance, etc... then how much money you save isn't going to matter when you have too many distractions. You need to focus 100% of your efforts towards a strenuous four years. Consider EVERYTHING in your choice - including cost. It's a LOT of money any way you cut it.

 

[GTFOOMICT]

Cost. But set thresholds. Total price of 250 vs 270 is 20k. Might be worth the difference due to location, tuition trends, perceived academic differences, etc.

My cutoff was $70k. I chose a big city school that cost me $210k in loans after some scholarships. I was willing to go elsewhere if it cost $140k due to my future wife's career. Otherwise, the savings wasn't worth her perceived decrease in career opportunities.

You can insert other things like proximity to family, proximity to future practice location, whatever you want to justify the difference. Just make sure it's not a stupid reason. These loans grow fast!!! Interest is what kills me. The principal is what it is.

 

[gryffindor]

Cost. Absolutely.

Student loans are handed out freely. Things get ugly when you need other loans to buy stuff for you dental career to make real dentist money.

I am trying to get a $400k loan for my office. I have 3 years of associate dentist income to show, no CC or personal debt, and my student loans are a fraction of what the posters above me wrote. I can't believe how reluctant banks are to loan to me. If I'm struggling to get a practice loan, I don't know what is going to happen when my younger colleagues get out and try to become practice owners with $400k student loans behind them.

 

[ziptree]

Cost. Absolutely.

Student loans are handed out freely. Things get ugly when you need other loans to buy stuff for you dental career to make real dentist money.

I am trying to get a $400k loan for my office. I have 3 years of associate dentist income to show, no CC or personal debt, and my student loans are a fraction of what the posters above me wrote. I can't believe how reluctant banks are to loan to me. If I'm struggling to get a practice loan, I don't know what is going to happen when my younger colleagues get out and try to become practice owners with $400k student loans behind them.

Where are you trying to get a loan from?? Send me a PM for some good dental lenders.

I got a loan my second year out of school, no student loans left, and no credit card debt. I was approved for $850,000 since it was largely based upon the performance of the practice I wanted to buy.

 

[Romas]

Cost matters for sure, but dont shortchange your education and alumni network for it. My state school is dirt cheap in a city I absolutely love, which were the only strong points I found about it. In the end, I'm finding the reputation of the school Ii graduated from combined w/my hard work is really paying off. So definitely worry about it, but dont let it rule your decisions. If you want to move out of state, for example, then by all means choose the institution with the better national rep. Also, if you want to specialize, go to a school with a strong rep for matching people - it definitely makes a difference!

In hindsight, if I wanted to live near home I would've gone to my state school for sure. But I always knew i wanted to have more opportunity for specializing (though I'm not) and taking my dental degree beyond just private practice dentistry, so that definitely played a role.

 

[CaptainDan]

Cost is so very important. Do not underestimate the burden of dental school debt. The new for profit 100k per year dental schools opening are going to graduate a ton of dental slaves fighting with dental therapists for associateships. Big clinic dentistry will flourish and private practice will end. If you control your dental school debt you will have significantly more options. I wish you the best of luck in making your decision.

 

[DMDWTF]

Diversity is probably the most important aspect in selecting a dental school.

 

[bicuspiddude]

Cost!!!! follow by where you're gonna be happiest at!

Just like other posters have mention, only JD and MBA really matters. School dictate where you gonna work.

For us DDS/DMD and MD/DO school doesnt really matter. 5 years out of school, you're gonna say, "i should have gone to a cheaper school"

 

[kdawg]

This will sound like a cop-out, but it isn't -- the school that's right for you is where you'll be the happiest. Now, if you'll be happier paying Hup's 250k for the same three letters that I paid 350k for, then go to the cheaper school. But if this means leaving your family, moving into a big city when you're more of a country mouse, breaking up with your fiance because she won't do the long-distance, etc... then how much money you save isn't going to matter when you have too many distractions. You need to focus 100% of your efforts towards a strenuous four years. Consider EVERYTHING in your choice - including cost. It's a LOT of money any way you cut it.

+1

Yes, cost of dental school these days is a major issue. I'm not sure it should be a deciding factor in what school you choose however. If you can go to a state school and drastically reduce your burden then maybe that's a tipping point. But to pass up a school you like to save $25K, $50K, or even $100K could be a mistake. I know there are many that will disagree with me.

I should qualify my previous statement with: it depends on what you plan to do when you get out. There are scenarios where cost is not a factor (military). Other scenarios where it isn't the most important factor (considering family situations for example). To me the more important question is, do you have a strategy to pay off the debt you will accumulate? Have you put some thought into that question or do just assume it will pay itself off?

I went to an expensive school. For me it made sense because I have an aggressive plan for paying off my student loans. If I can execute my plan I will end up paying less overall than someone who has 1/2 my debt and takes 20 years to pay it off. Compounding interest and time are your worst enemies when you're looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars and 8.5% interest, NOT a couple grand difference in yearly tuition.

Think about these ideas NOW. The fact that you're interested and asking questions is good. Now take it to the next level and plan out your future beyond dental school, even though all you can think about right now is getting in! Good luck in this important time in your life.

 

[beannaithe]

Cost and safety were the deciding factors for me. In my case, the school with the safest neighborhood was $50k cheaper than my second choice! 🙄

Right now, I'm $245k-ish in debt. Started with $270k (with some from undergrad) when I graduated. I consolidated at 6.5% and my minimum payment is $1500 for 30 years. I'm shooting to get them done in 10 years.

 

[little Buddy]

Cost is so very important. Do not underestimate the burden of dental school debt. The new for profit 100k per year dental schools opening are going to graduate a ton of dental slaves fighting with dental therapists for associateships. Big clinic dentistry will flourish and private practice will end. If you control your dental school debt you will have significantly more options. I wish you the best of luck in making your decision.

Military HPSP is sounding better and better every time I start to think about 6k loan repayments for the next 10 years.

 

[GrillSkillz]

If I could go back in time, I would choose any other school than mine. Yes, the cost was outrageous, but even worse was the pathetic clinical experience (plenty of sdn posts on this).

Some of my GP classmates couldn't even get a job because the employers were shocked how little experience we got at BU, and ended up working for $50-70k/year.

If you're going into GP, I highly recommend going to a school that provides a lot of clinical experience, since it will determine your starting salary.

 

[Just Peachy]

Something I never thought about when I was applying: make sure the school you go to offers the licensure exam that the state you want to practice in accepts. I didn't think about that and it has made my life a little more difficult.

 

[docdok]

Cheapest school is best dental school

Best dental school is the school is located where i want to live/be happy