NYU vs VCU

[Dent974]

I have been accepted to both NYU and VCU and am having trouble deciding. I am from Canada so not in-state for either. So far the main things I have considered are class size and cost. I understand that NYU is more expensive (especially cost of living), I also know that VCU has a much smaller class size. Fortunately my parents are helping me out a lot with the cost, so if cost isn't a major determinant what should I do? I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks!

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[lr2014]

Go to the cheapest school. VCU is a great school!

 

[DoublexJack]

I agree. VCU is such a far better option. I've heard nyu students a far miserable and want to get out as fast as possible. I also hear nyu students come out with half a million in debt. Best go with VCU since it has a smaller class size so your get a better education and better relationship with your professors.

 

[ramborhino]

Do your parents (and yourself) a huge favor...go with VCU, run and never look back.

 

[Dent974]

Everyone keeps saying how expensive NYU is but with all costs added up (including cost of living, tuition, health insurance, transportation etc.) NYU totals up to about 114k a year and Virginia to 102k a year (for non residents). This is the info I got from the information packets and online. So yes, NYU is more expensive, but probably not as much as you would think when you compare the two. I agree with you about the class size though. Do you know if the students are just 'miserable' because of debt or something else?

 

[ramborhino]

Everyone keeps saying how expensive NYU is but with all costs added up (including cost of living, tuition, health insurance, transportation etc.) NYU totals up to about 114k a year and Virginia to 102k a year (for non residents). This is the info I got from the information packets and online. So yes, NYU is more expensive, but probably not as much as you would think when you compare the two. I agree with you about the class size though. Do you know if the students are just 'miserable' because of debt or something else?

Just something I have noticed....the "total COA"' numbers the schools give are extremely misleading. Schools give housing/transportation costs that sometimes are grossly inaccurate (usually overestimated for a single person and sometimes underestimated, especially for those with a family) for what you will actually need to borrow. What I would do is compare the fixed costs (tuition/fees/equipment/health ins. if mandatory) and then also try do a genuine estimate for your living expenses with living, groceries, gas money, flights back home to Canada (try look online at apartments and call for rent pricing to get an idea). This will help give a more realistic financial comparison between the two.

 

[park1234]

Op said in his/her post that cost is not a determinant factor. I dont understand why people are talking about money here. Lolll
From my experience, nyu students didnt look that miserable. Just go whereever you feel more comfortable.

 

[wolfchild007]

If cost isn't a factor I would go where living would be most enjoyable. I would rather live in NY than Richmond. I am not a fan of the Richmond area at all but that's just my opinion. You may have really liked it.

That's what I would do if cost WASN'T an issue. Me being from VA, VCU is still my number 1 simply because cost is a large factor for me and the majority of other ppl commenting on this post persuading you to go where it's cheapest. $10k a year difference really isn't something I would consider a deal breaker large enough to chose one school over the other though.

 

[Qtn2x]

For me, costs aside, I visitted both facilities and I actually loved the facility at VCU better. Things (the clinic "cubicles" are roomier, cleaner looking). I couldn't stand living in NYC, there was no metro station that is closed by the school so i wasn't sure how the students really commute to school. Everything sounds like a factory there. But on the plus side, you will get exposed to the most diverse groups of ppl (patients, students, instructors...). Everything is podcast on itunes so u can miss class if you want. I wish VCU does the same. So if you are someone who loves smaller city, then pick VCU. If you love big city, then pick NYU. Dental school is dental school, you study, get your degree and get out. I dont' think there is a big difference among different dental school.

 

[IsaacYankem]

I couldn't stand living in NYC, there was no metro station that is closed by the school so i wasn't sure how the students really commute to school.

The 6 train is 3 blocks from the school

 

[Glimmer1991]

Op said in his/her post that cost is not a determinant factor. I dont understand why people are talking about money here. Lolll

Even if my parents were footing the bill, I'd still want to be conscientious and respectful of their finances. 🙂 Mine aren't paying for my dental school, but they did for my undergrad... and I definitely kept cost in mind! I love my parents greatly and wouldn't want to put extra strain on them.

Now, if the OPs parents are uber rich, do whatever the heck you want! My parents do well, but not so well that they wouldn't blink an eye at an extra 15k a year for tuition. It all adds up, ya know!

Looking at NYU vs. VCU costs online, the difference is $107,316 (NYU) vs. $91,000 (VCU). That is pretty significant to me. Also, VCU has listed a "preliminary program" for 20k a year. Is that just for D1, or every year?
http://www.nyu.edu/dental/financialservices/tuitionfeesexpensesdds.html
http://www.dentistry.vcu.edu/programs/internationaldentists/tuition/

 

[Member 139582]

You should definitely want to go with VCU, in addition to everything aforementioned in the above posts, the program at NYU is pretty bad in general...VCU is a better option IMO.

 

[Kate Upton]

VCU is where you should go. NYC is going to have huge cost of living and worse quality of life. VCU is pretty good clinical.

 

[Dent974]

You should definitely want to go with VCU, in addition to everything aforementioned in the above posts, the program at NYU is pretty bad in general...VCU is a better option IMO.

Could you please give me your reasoning behind why the program is bad ? I'm truly just interested in what you're specifically referring to by this, I want to be as informed as possible before making this decision!

 

[UCSFx2017]

Hi! I'm a D1 at VCU. Feel free to ask me anything. Our school is a very clinically oriented school. We pick up a hand piece at the first week of school and begin clinical rotations by the second semester. By your second semester of D1, you will have given injections and have done Class I-V amalgam and composite restorations. For preclinical labs, there're 1-2 instructors per 14 students. The school is very responsive to D4's exit survey regarding the curriculum. For example, just this year, in response to students saying that the basic science courses didn't teach to the board, they've redesigned the courses around the boards with clinical type questions on the exams. We have a very homely Southern atmosphere. Outside of the school, you can find a hipster and artsy culture. Housing is affordable and you can easily find a nice place for around $450 a month. Although an initial difference of $15k per year may appear as a loss of only >$60k by graduation, that is >$60k worth of missed investment opportunity. Most well-to-do dentists do not get to where they are by earning from wage alone. They've saved and invested their money early in their career.

 

[UCSFx2017]

Everything is podcast on itunes so u can miss class if you want. I wish VCU does the same.

VCU's classes can be recorded at the course director's discretion.

 

[Dent974]

Hi! I'm a D1 at VCU. Feel free to ask me anything. Our school is a very clinically oriented school. We pick up a hand piece at the first week of school and begin clinical rotations by the second semester. By your second semester of D1, you will have given injections and have done Class I-V amalgam and composite restorations. For preclinical labs, there're 1-2 instructors per 14 students. The school is very responsive to D4's exit survey regarding the curriculum. For example, just this year, in response to students saying that the basic science courses didn't teach to the board, they've redesigned the courses around the boards with clinical type questions on the exams. We have a very homely Southern atmosphere. Outside of the school, you can find a hipster and artsy culture. Housing is affordable and you can easily find a nice place for around $450 a month. Although an initial difference of $15k per year may appear as a loss of only >$60k by graduation, that is >$60k worth of missed investment opportunity. Most well-to-do dentists do not get to where they are by earning from wage alone. They've saved and invested their money early in their career.

Thanks for this information! It helps

 

[RedPill1785]

NYU is probably the most overrated private school in the world. If you are paying for an NYU degree(many masters and most PhDs are funded) you better be in the Stern school of business planning on going into investment banking OR an emotional cripple majoring in the humanities(pretty good art/dance/humanities school).

VCU.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

is NYU overrated...hmm, i don't know if you can really use that term so widely with regards to this school as a whole. for the dental school the clinical training is prob. some of the best you can receive. that's a fact. if you don't believe me, do your homework. there are also a whole lot of opportunities to do research as well----a lot of top research faculty.

what else...nyu allows you to be involved with any major dental specialty. you have the opportunity to learn aesthetic dentistry by many of the people who pioneered it. in terms of pre-clinic you'll learn a whole lot---some things just off the top of my head...class I-5 preps and fills by the end of the first semester, onlays, slot preps later in the year.

but at the end of the day, is the dental school worth 75k a year? absolutely not....any dentist will tell you that it isn't worth it. but, for that matter, is any dental school worth that much? most private schools are around the same price, tuition wise unfortunately. the thing that drives the price up in NYC is the cost of living.

at the end of the day, the OP should choose VCU. it is cheaper and still a great school.

edit: just re read the original post. if cost really isn't a factor, go with where you feel more comfortable.

but i will tell you this--as much as i say that nyu offers top notch clinical training--you have to be very proactive. nothing will be spoon-fed to you. the resources that this school has are vast. it's up to you whether or not you want to seize the opportunities. something to think about.

 

[park1234]

I agree with above post. I think nyu is one of the busiest dental school and you will get a lot of clinical experience there.
I think there is cost difference about 10k per year since you will be oos for vcu.
If you are not considering the cost as a priority factor, think about what you value the most ( research experience, life style on each school, specialty opportunity, etc) and decide which school can provide what you need

 

[Dent974]

is NYU overrated...hmm, i don't know if you can really use that term so widely with regards to this school as a whole. for the dental school the clinical training is prob. some of the best you can receive. that's a fact. if you don't believe me, do your homework. there are also a whole lot of opportunities to do research as well----a lot of top research faculty.

what else...nyu allows you to be involved with any major dental specialty. you have the opportunity to learn aesthetic dentistry by many of the people who pioneered it. in terms of pre-clinic you'll learn a whole lot---some things just off the top of my head...class I-5 preps and fills by the end of the first semester, onlays, slot preps later in the year.

but at the end of the day, is the dental school worth 75k a year? absolutely not....any dentist will tell you that it isn't worth it. but, for that matter, is any dental school worth that much? most private schools are around the same price, tuition wise unfortunately. the thing that drives the price up in NYC is the cost of living.

at the end of the day, the OP should choose VCU. it is cheaper and still a great school.

edit: just re read the original post. if cost really isn't a factor, go with where you feel more comfortable.

but i will tell you this--as much as i say that nyu offers top notch clinical training--you have to be very proactive. nothing will be spoon-fed to you. the resources that this school has are vast. it's up to you whether or not you want to seize the opportunities. something to think about.

Thank you for your feedback!

 

[str8ner]

I have been a dentist since 2001 and have met students from both programs. This is an easy decision. Go to VCU! It's a great school and much more affordable. NYU is just expensive. I have NEVER heard NYU grads speak favorably of their dental school.