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.