NYU vs. Tufts

[dds2005]

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Hello eveyone. I've been accepted to NYU and Tufts but having a difficult time choosing. I'm favoring NYU because my family is in NY, NYU has really nice facilities, large patient pool, and I feel I'll get a lot more experience there. NYU would be a little more costly. I hear NYU doesn't have the kind of rep that Tufts does. Maybe because of the large class size? They accept about 300 students in every class. My Q: How much does the reputation matter? Does rep precede a great clinical experience?

 

[Reed1978]

Uhh...FYI, Tufts is THEE premier dental school in the world.

There really is nothing to consider - go to Tufts.

 

[Pi__Guy1]

Hello eveyone. I've been accepted to NYU and Tufts but having a difficult time choosing. I'm favoring NYU because my family is in NY, NYU has really nice facilities, large patient pool, and I feel I'll get a lot more experience there. NYU would be a little more costly. I hear NYU doesn't have the kind of rep that Tufts does. Maybe because of the large class size? They accept about 300 students in every class. My Q: How much does the reputation matter? Does rep precede a great clinical experience?

You really raise a good point. Even if reputation precedes a great clinical experience, it's only among dental students and recent graduates. And if you're worried about reputation and name, you should worry about what your patients in your private practice think. Chances are, your patients are more likely to recognize the NYU name (from NYU Law, business, Med School). Most patients (if they even care) view dental schools based on undergrad reputation and/or overall reputation (Law/business/med school) I doubt they're gonna come up to you and say "Geez, you went to NYU? I hear the dental school accepts 250 students".

My thoughts: Acclimate to the large class size, get the great clinical experience and be proud to hang up a diploma that has an NYU name on it....then pay off the loans...

 

[amartins02]

I agree, go to Tufts.

 

[drPheta]

Patients RARELY ever ask or care about where you went to school. They may see the frame on the wall encasing your DMD and where it came from, but that's about it. Go to where you'll feel clinically competent YOURSELF, and the rest will fall into place.

I've met numerous dentists from various schools, and they were all successful because they clinically took what they could get from what they were given. Make the choice based on where you'll be happiest and learn the most. Otherwise, you're sacrificing your future patients' oral care for a mere name. Prestige and reputation mean jack in the greater scheme of things.

I like Tufts A LOT. You may like NYU A LOT (like Brocinizer), but I don't think asking a bunch of biased guys on an anonymous internet forum for their take on "the best school for you" is going to do much good.

That said, a lot of people around the country know the name Tufts Dental. Does it mean anything to me? Only if it makes me treat my patients better.

 

[dds2005]

Would anyone agree with that rep of the school and board scores are very important when it comes to residency because I plan on specializing. That's how it stands now. My view is that if you want to specialize go to Tufts. If you want general dentistry then go to NYU. Anyone agree?

Also does anyone know about a mandatory 1yr residency program for those that want to practice in the northeast. I hear the NERB has a lot of flaws and that NY state is circumventing that with a 5th yr residency program. That's what 2 students at NYU dental said. Is there any truth to that?

Thanks everyone for your input. Much appreciated. 🙂

Patients RARELY ever ask or care about where you went to school. They may see the frame on the wall encasing your DMD and where it came from, but that's about it. Go to where you'll feel clinically competent YOURSELF, and the rest will fall into place.

I've met numerous dentists from various schools, and they were all successful because they clinically took what they could get from what they were given. Make the choice based on where you'll be happiest and learn the most. Otherwise, you're sacrificing your future patients' oral care for a mere name. Prestige and reputation mean jack in the greater scheme of things.

I like Tufts A LOT. You may like NYU A LOT (like Brocinizer), but I don't think asking a bunch of biased guys on an anonymous internet forum for their take on "the best school for you" is going to do much good.

That said, a lot of people around the country know the name Tufts Dental. Does it mean anything to me? Only if it makes me treat my patients better.

 

[drPheta]

Tis true. NY no longer accepts NERB scores for licensure. You now have to do a GPR or AEGD to become licensed in NY. All other "NERB" states still require the NERB.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Would anyone agree with that rep of the school and board scores are very important when it comes to residency because I plan on specializing. That's how it stands now. My view is that if you want to specialize go to Tufts. If you want general dentistry then go to NYU. Anyone agree?

I disagree. You can specialize no matter where you go to school. YOUR application will be based on your class rank and Part I scores--not on the name of your school.

Some schools have large %s of students that specialize, but that isn't so much about school name as it is about how they prep their students to do well on Part I and get involved with research, etc.

Ultimately you will decide whether or not you specialize, and this will be independent of the school you attend.

 

[Pi__Guy1]

Patients RARELY ever ask or care about where you went to school. They may see the frame on the wall encasing your DMD and where it came from, but that's about it. Go to where you'll feel clinically competent YOURSELF, and the rest will fall into place.

I've met numerous dentists from various schools, and they were all successful because they clinically took what they could get from what they were given. Make the choice based on where you'll be happiest and learn the most. Otherwise, you're sacrificing your future patients' oral care for a mere name. Prestige and reputation mean jack in the greater scheme of things.

I like Tufts A LOT. You may like NYU A LOT (like Brocinizer), but I don't think asking a bunch of biased guys on an anonymous internet forum for their take on "the best school for you" is going to do much good.

That said, a lot of people around the country know the name Tufts Dental. Does it mean anything to me? Only if it makes me treat my patients better.

Exactly my point, pheta. You just answered his question. Reputation does not precede clinical experience. Choose the school where you believe will get you the clinical experience you need and ultimately where you want to be for the next 4 years. It's a different story if you want to specialize. But it sounds like you are just looking at clinical exposure. Choose the school for yourself and not based on what dental reputation or overall reputation you may read/hear....

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

Don't go to NYUCD if this plays out.

I will transfer before my damn diploma says College of Dentistry and Nursing

I am so pissed about this $hit!

http://www.nyu.edu/provost/pdf/SOESACReportHealth.pdf

 

[SonOfBush]

Don't go to NYU unless you're in love with the Olsen twins. NYU places so much emphasis on psychology courses that you probably won't even have enough time to study for the board exam. Go to Tufts.

 

[BlueToothHunter]

Don't go to NYUCD if this plays out.

I will transfer before my damn diploma says College of Dentistry and Nursing

I am so pissed about this $hit!

http://www.nyu.edu/provost/pdf/SOESACReportHealth.pdf

My gosh, that's so scary! Now people may actually be allowed to think that the nursing and dentistry are almost from the same branch of medicine.
I guess the medical school turned down the dental school 'plea' to join... but hey, nursing is a highly respectful profession... I hope people won't get too confused between the dental and the nursing students!

 

[Jediwendell]

This is just my two cents worth. I didn't go to tufts, and my N is only 6, but all of the people that I know that went there hated it. It sounds like the lab work is pretty overwhelming. Ask some of the students that are there. The admissions office should be able to provide people for you to talk to that are there. Specific things to ask should be about interaction with faculty and lab work. Is it too much, just right, etc. I just don't think I really need to know how to stack porcelain or wax up bridges. then again, it may be great.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

This is just my two cents worth. I didn't go to tufts, and my N is only 6, but all of the people that I know that went there hated it. It sounds like the lab work is pretty overwhelming. Ask some of the students that are there. The admissions office should be able to provide people for you to talk to that are there. Specific things to ask should be about interaction with faculty and lab work. Is it too much, just right, etc. I just don't think I really need to know how to stack porcelain or wax up bridges. then again, it may be great.

One plus here is that lab work is minimal when you are in the clinic.

 

[drPheta]

Lab work isn't so overwhelming. It's there, but it isn't he bane of our education.