OMG am i really doing this? NYU vs. USC

[JBHawaii]

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Hi everyone,

so this is my first post to SDN and I am a bit nervous doing so because of how rowdy and off topic some of these discussions can get. However, I am willing to suspend my disbelief and ask my fellow pre-dent (and even dent) students a question that has come up for me. So here it is:

NYU or USC?​

Firstly, money is not an issue. I have a military scholarship and will be getting everything paid for. Also, I have two other schools still deciding on me and there may be new decisions in the near future.

Secondly, i have identified some key differences between the two (if you were not already aware) for you to consider along with your current opinion;

NYU- great location (in terms of student ease of travel), fantastic opportunity to travel abroad, a small focus on the business of dentistry as a D4.

USC- PBL, INCREDIBLE alumni network, a real campus, a real football team, warm weather.

OK, so there it is, your challenge, if you wish to accept it, is to try and help sway me one way or the other. Thanks in advance and good luck with your own decisions,

JB in Hawaii

 

[bing12]

Well if money does not matter, i would say what location would you like to be in? there both in major cities, obviously NY does not have the best weather, but its an amazing city. I would say the biggest risk of USC is the PBL , you hear some people either hate it or love it, so you will be running a big risk on that. People complain about NYU and their very large class of 235, and how a 100+ international students come in after your first year. It really is upto you, especially if money does not matter, its completely up to what you would prefer in teaching style, class size, and location.

 

[Kahr]

I'm amused you chose the dental forum over the pre-dental forum for this.

NYU, amazing facilities supposedly, and great restaurants (I don't know what you mean by fantastic opportunity to travel abroad honestly, you can get amazing deals on non-stops from LAX to London if you look out; I guess it's all subjective though, as I tend to think of Oceania and Asia as more fantastic, clearly you think of Europe as more fantastic? Though I wonder how much travel you'll even be able to do during dental school, especially with the military commitment). Also, from having lived in NYC for 5 years, the cost of living is easily going to wipe out that stipend, unless you're pretty conservative, and possibly live outside of lower Manhattan. Oh, and you're certainly right about public transit, it is good comparatively.

Unfortunately, I feel as if I've read a few too many negative posts regarding USC's PBL system, though CA and its weather would be more attractive to me overall (again, being from Hawaii as well, I can tell you the weather in NYC is awful and not something I ever really got used to).

Man, that's a tough choice. If you'd said UoP vs NYU, it'd be such an easy decision. 😉 Which branch did you take the HPSP with by the way?

 

[JBHawaii]

When I said 'chance to travel abroad' I meant it in terms of NYU's curriculum. They offer D2-D4 students the ability to travel all over the world to practice dentistry.

With that said, I really do want to live and practice in Cali not NY. My only issue is that USC has such a horrible reputation.

If any current USC students are out there listening let me ask this: is the reputation still reflective of the current state of affairs at USC?

 

[cmcner]

When I said 'chance to travel abroad' I meant it in terms of NYU's curriculum. They offer D2-D4 students the ability to travel all over the world to practice dentistry.

With that said, I really do want to live and practice in Cali not NY. My only issue is that USC has such a horrible reputation.

If any current USC students are out there listening let me ask this: is the reputation still reflective of the current state of affairs at USC?

That horrible reputation is the ghost of old threads in this forum, and only extends as far the walls of this forum. Massive changes have been made over the last few years and USC is quite enjoyable to be at in my opinion. I'd rather be here at a school on an upward trend that has been shaken from its stoic unchanging roots in the name of the adversity that came from a few bad years in order to revitalize the long lasting reputation that it built over a century rather than at a school that is happy with the status quo and unwilling to make improvements. The deans actually have town hall meetings with the whole class, and ask us what we like what we don't like and make changes according to our suggestions, I doubt you'll find that every where, or even the chance to have your voice heard.

 

[Kahr]

When I said 'chance to travel abroad' I meant it in terms of NYU's curriculum. They offer D2-D4 students the ability to travel all over the world to practice dentistry.

With that said, I really do want to live and practice in Cali not NY. My only issue is that USC has such a horrible reputation.

If any current USC students are out there listening let me ask this: is the reputation still reflective of the current state of affairs at USC?

Ahah, I did not know they provided such opportunities, that's pretty cool.

Perhaps USC would be better considering your desire to practice in CA, assuming you actually benefit in some greater way by also going to dental school there (connections like you mentioned?); though I imagine it's not crazy or anything to go to school in NY then practice in CA.

 

[JBHawaii]

One of my biggest reasons for wanting to go to USC is the Trojan alumni network which, from what i hear, is unbelievable and something that is rivaled by no other school. That being said, NYU also has a strong alumni base and the ability to travel the world in the name of restorative dentistry is pretty darn cool too. This decision is a toughie...... furthermore, my fiancée is a marine biologist and SoCal makes sense in that respect.

Cant life just be easier than this?!?! LOL

 

[mr24]

One of my biggest reasons for wanting to go to USC is the Trojan alumni network which, from what i hear, is unbelievable and something that is rivaled by no other school. That being said, NYU also has a strong alumni base and the ability to travel the world in the name of restorative dentistry is pretty darn cool too. This decision is a toughie...... furthermore, my fiancée is a marine biologist and SoCal makes sense in that respect.

Cant life just be easier than this?!?! LOL

Yes it can.. just choose usc already, cause you know you are going to anyway! no point delaying the inevitable!

 

[dalvman]

With every factor you have listed, I would definitely choose USC. The weather, alumni network, and your fiancee's better possibilities in marine biology makes USC a much better choice than going to NYU just because you've heard a lot of posts/possible rumors on this board about USC. Ya pbl might suck or you might love it, but i still think the factors you've listed all point to USC, especially if you're interested in practicing in cali in the future.

 

[Daurang]

You're going to USC. No 'if', 'or', 'but'. Your choice is so easy; don't make it more complicated than necessary.

 

[UBDent19]

I would rank each school (1st or 2nd) on location, weather, cost, program design, etc. and pick whichever school has the most #1s. Good luck!

 

[Hysteria24]

If any current USC students are out there listening let me ask this: is the reputation still reflective of the current state of affairs at USC?

In short, USC has gotten better with each passing year I've been here. The new dean (~2 years) definitely has the school headed in the right direction. I am envious of what the freshman and future incoming classes will have in store.

 

[JBHawaii]

Thanks everyone! I have made my decision and will be opting for warmer weather and PBL. Best of luck to you all and good luck to the guy (a few posts above) who will be getting off the waiting list at NYU 😉