Everyone's probably like..."I knew he would reply to this thread!!" Well, since no one took the liberty to reply to this thread and this was my exact situation (stick with Temple or go to Nova), I feel the URGE (like those Herbal Essense commercials) to respond and share with my friend, Vikas!
Vikas,
Obviously you know where I'll be next year, but I think that you and I have talked positively about Temple over the phone between our phone calls many times. I want to share that, Temple has made my "dental school decision" fairly easy by placing my on the alternate list. I didn't want to risk waiting around until the end of July or even possibly into August 2002 to find out if I'm denied or accepted by Temple when I'm already accepted by another awesome school . If both Temple and Nova would've accepted me at the same time earlier this month, my decision would have been split like yours and a bit more difficult to make!
I guess the bottom line is if you feel like waiting around to find out if you're in Temple or not, then drop that $1000 to Nova (if you get accepted, which I know you will) to secure a seat as a back up plan, if Temple is your FIRST CHOICE! While with Nova, you will know NOW that you're in and you'll get an education just as good (again, more you put in, the more you'll get out of your education), if Nova is your FIRST CHOICE.
Here's my breakdown:
1) Facilities and Studying Environment: Nova WINS
2) Clinical Exposure and Diverse Patient Pool: Temple WINS
3) Patient Dental IQ: (the amount of dental awareness and oral hygiene from your patients) - Nova WINS
4) Basic Science Courses: (which will lead to better prepping for the NBDEs) - Nova WINS (because at Nova we'll be taking a lot of these courses with a medical school) -- [remember when Mark Lombard was going over the "five" aspects of Temple that can insure you "MASTERY" -- basic science instruction was not one of them!]
5) Tuition (all costs for non-residents living off campus FIRST YEAR): Temple = $49,851; Nova = $52,693 - Temple WINS
6) Social Activities: Nova WINS (Temple dental is kind of secluded by itself while at Nova, we get to interact with DOs, PAs, ODs, Phar. Ds, PTs, OTs, and Master students)
7) Location: Philly vs Fort Lauderdale (depends what you like about where you live; subway system vs beaches; historic settings vs superfacial people; cheese steaks vs Enchiladas
for me - Ft. Lauderdale (Nova) WINS
As you can see my friend, to me, Temple WILL prep and train the hell out of me to be a competent dental practitioner, I feel and sense that! But I strongly feel that Nova will do that just as well if I seek to do more procedures once I'm completed with my assigned patients. Addition to all that, I believe Nova will provide the "fun" that I so much need during my four years of dental education!
All this is my personal preference and opinion. Good luck on deciding, where ever you end up going, you will be successful!
Oh, one more factor:
8) Classmates: Nova WINS (because I'll be there! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> )
