Out of State vs. In State Schools?

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I would strongly recommend staying in Texas, even taking a gap year in case you don't get accepted. The amount of debt you can prevent will leave enough money to travel a lot of places while being a dentist and having your family.
 
The general consensus is even if you do get accepted to any out-of-state school, even one of the Ivy League schools, strongly consider staying in-state to save on the debt. Unless you have parents who can afford it, or have no undergrad debt, try your best to stay in-state.

Another advantage to staying in-state is that if you intend to stay in that state and you specialize, you will have gone to school with a few of your future referrers, and you won't have to advertise to them as much.

That said, a couple state schools will consider you in-state after attending for one year. I know UNC and, I think, UF do this, for example. You may also get a scholarship to a private school or an Ivy if your stats are good enough.

Lastly, it doesn't hurt to apply to as many schools as you can afford. However, it is considered a general faux pas to apply to a school that you do not plan to attend if it is the only school that accepts you.
 
SXCoronado said:
I just feel like if I go to dental school in Texas, I'm going to make my practice in Texas, and I'm going to raise my family in Texas, and it's sort of like, I'm going to be born in one place, and die in one place. Haha. That sounds really melodramatic, but do you see my thought process? I kinda wanna change it up a little if the opportunity presents itself.
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That does sound pretty awful. I mean, Texas. My condolences.
 
GO TO A TEXAS SCHOOL.

You don't realize what you have. People would KILL for such low tuition... and let's not mention that the schools are also GREAT. The grass may seem greener, but really, it isn't. At least it isn't greener enough to warrant the major increase in price. If you browse these forums, you will see one piece of advice that almost everyone agrees on --"Go to the cheaper school!"

If money is no object or you plan on getting a military scholarship, then that's a different story and do as you please. However, I think you would have probably included that in your original post. 🙂
 
You're blessed with a Texas tuition. Stay there buddy.
 
dude r u freaking seriousssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss $5,400 per year for the residents?????????????? thats crazyyyyyyy
 
having 3 dentals school in one state is already a huge advantage. I just found out the baylor dental school tuition(which I literally screamed haha). If I were you, I would go to the state dental schools espeically with the free housing. just saying.
 
Money isn't everything man, go wherever makes you happy.
I'm a in state resident and I was accepted to UT- Houston (and I'm from Houston), but I've decided to go to UCLA. No families in cali or anything. I know tuition is a HUGE difference. But you know what? I don't care. I've been in Houston my whole life. and after my 4 years in cali, I will come BACK to Texas. And probably spent the rest of my life in Texas. When I stepped into ucla, I fell in love.

You will have the rest of your life to make money. And opening up a practice ANYWHERE in Texas is guarantee $$ maker.
But then again, I went to UH, not UT Austin. So you probably have student loans. I don't. I owe nothing from college. So every situation is different.

I actually know someone who was from Houston, went to Case Wester (Ohio) and owed about 500k in debt when she graduated, and she paid off all her school loans within 3 years. She opened up 2 practices in Houston (in really high demand/ good areas).

So please don't listen to most of these SND's post talking about you will be in loans for the rest of your life or something. Most schools (actually any private dental school) is pretty expensive and most people are JUST fine when they start working.

Point is, go to a school that makes YOU happy then think about the loans etc.
 
DentalMental123 said:
Money isn't everything man, go wherever makes you happy.
I'm a in state resident and I was accepted to UT- Houston (and I'm from Houston), but I've decided to go to UCLA. No families in cali or anything. I know tuition is a HUGE difference. But you know what? I don't care. I've been in Houston my whole life. and after my 4 years in cali, I will come BACK to Texas. And probably spent the rest of my life in Texas. When I stepped into ucla, I fell in love.

You will have the rest of your life to make money. And opening up a practice ANYWHERE in Texas is guarantee $$ maker.
But then again, I went to UH, not UT Austin. So you probably have student loans. I don't. I owe nothing from college. So every situation is different.

I actually know someone who was from Houston, went to Case Wester (Ohio) and owed about 500k in debt when she graduated, and she paid off all her school loans within 3 years. She opened up 2 practices in Houston (in really high demand/ good areas).

So please don't listen to most of these SND's post talking about you will be in loans for the rest of your life or something. Most schools (actually any private dental school) is pretty expensive and most people are JUST fine when they start working.

Point is, go to a school that makes YOU happy then think about the loans etc.
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I don't think calling everyone who is conscious of spending large differences in money for dental school foolish. The scenario you just used as an example seems to be at best a little exaggerated and far fetched, even if it's true it's definitely not the norm. Anyone who tells the op to stay in Texas for cheap tuition is a realist. It's just a cold hard fact that graduating with 400k
debt you're going to be paying 25k in interest alone every year on loans. You can easily be consumed by a loan that large for many years. Op I would use a loan calculator to see what everyone is talking about when they say take advantage of Texas tuition vs oos.
 
SXCoronado... I would strongly urge you to heed what most people are saying here. You will be thanking us in 4 years. Go read the forums on dental town, which have real dentists who talk about the debt load. Sure, folks could think our opinions on SDN aren't as well-founded because we aren't in the working world, but the dentists on dentaltown are the real deal. They all mirror what we say. The debt load can be crippling. Go to as cheap of a school as you can.

There are quite a few loan calculators on here--I know that Bereno posted a fantastic one here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...tions-of-dental-school-excel-document.868931/ . Plug in some numbers and see what your loan payments will look like if you get Texas tuition or someplace private/OOS. I'd say CWRU is pretty standard for OOS/private school rates, so you can use these numbers: http://dental.case.edu/dmd/finaid

I think you might be shocked.

I'd much rather go to school in Texas and then set up shop elsewhere than do the opposite.

You gotta think--it's not just your dental school loans you'll have. You'll also need loans for a house, a practice, a new car at some point, etc. You want to minimize your dental loans so you can better handle these other loans you need. The overall consensus is that there is no difference in education quality between a school that costs 100k over four years or one that costs 400k over four years. However, there IS a difference between a house that costs 100k and a house that costs 400k. Spend your money wisely. 🙂

Plus, make sure you're aware of the interest rates that accrue on grad school loans--they AREN'T cheap! It makes the money very, very expensive.
 
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arlmay said:
I don't think calling everyone who is conscious of spending large differences in money for dental school foolish. The scenario you just used as an example seems to be at best a little exaggerated and far fetched, even if it's true it's definitely not the norm. Anyone who tells the op to stay in Texas for cheap tuition is a realist. It's just a cold hard fact that graduating with 400k
debt you're going to be paying 25k in interest alone every year on loans. You can easily be consumed by a loan that large for many years. Op I would use a loan calculator to see what everyone is talking about when they say take advantage of Texas tuition vs oos.
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Lol, I'm just telling this person to do whatever makes him happy. And my "exaggerated and far fetched" example, she women is my cousin. So I can tell you it's not. It's how you save, spent, manage your money in the end, even during dental school. Like I said, every situation is different. Whether you have loans from college, have to take care of your family etc. Just saying your life isn't over if you go to a private school.

The one thing texans can agree on, is if your from texas, you go to college in texas, do professional school in texas, and live the rest of your life in texas. So yes, some would take advantage of the texas tuition, but some people wouldn't mind traveling a bit. Jeez.
 
DentalMental123 said:
The one thing texans can agree on, is if your from texas, you go to college in texas, do professional school in texas, and live the rest of your life in texas. So yes, some would take advantage of the texas tuition, but some people wouldn't mind traveling a bit. Jeez.
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One of the best things about being a dentist is the fantastic opportunity for work-life balance. There is PLENTY of time for travel when the OP has graduated and is making fantastic money as a dentist. 🙂 It'll be much more feasible to travel and can be done much more frequently if the OP doesn't have a large debt load.

Plus, I think traveling would be a heck of a lot more fun once I'm established. I just know that if I was going to a more expensive dental school primarily for location, even if it was a good school, the whole time I'd be thinking, "Man... is this really work the 400k difference?" The answer, to me, would be a resounding no. Actually, I think that a monetary difference of over 40k is not worth it. Everyone draws their line at a different place, though.

I will be graduating in 4 years with less than 100k in loans. My boyfriend (will be husband) will be a lawyer and graduate with no loans due to parental assistance. I couldn't be happier about our financial situation, and finances have been a MAJOR factor in my dental school decisions. I'll be able to buy other important things in life much faster, and I won't have DS loans at high interest rates hanging over my back for very long. My school loans should be gone in 3 years without too much effort and without crippling my lifestyle. My husband and I should have a combined salary that is a minimum of 150k right out of school. Paying it off will be easy. If that number was even just 100k higher, it wouldn't nearly as easy, especially considering interest rates.

What your cousin did is absolutely phenomenal. It is far, far from the norm, though. Really, though... imagine how much money she'd have now if she only had 100k to pay off instead of 500k. She could have invested that in something. 🙂 I'd rather spend the money on something where the increase of 400k actually has a tangible effect, such as in buying a house or something. As I said earlier, the education you get is the same, regardless of how much it costs--you get out of dental school what you're willing to put in. There is a massive difference between a house that is 100k or 500k, though. Now that is where I'd be willing to splurge. 😀

I'm just trying to be money-smart from the outset, like a lot of people on here are doing. Most young people don't have much of a concept of money, and I'll even freely admit that I don't have much of one. I've never had any debt before, and my parents have provided me up until this point with everything I've ever really needed or wanted. Even so, I know that I want to minimize debt as much as possible, especially in instances where the increase in debt would yield no tangible results. Smart spending is the goal, like I've said.

I guess I've spoken my peace here. OP, what your feel in your "heart" matters, but sometimes, the brain should win--good things come to those who are willing to tough it out and wait a few more years! 😀 You'll have plenty of resources and time to travel when you're older, and the huge amounts of money you save on the front in will yield great results on the back end.
 
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Glimmer1991 said:
One of the best things about being a dentist is the fantastic opportunity for work-life balance. There is PLENTY of time for travel when the OP has graduated and is making fantastic money as a dentist. 🙂 It'll be much more feasible to travel and can be done much more frequently if the OP doesn't have a large debt load.

Plus, I think traveling would be a heck of a lot more fun once I'm established. I just know that if I was going to a more expensive dental school primarily for location, even if it was a good school, the whole time I'd be thinking, "Man... is this really work the 300k difference?" The answer, to me, would be a resounding no. Actually, I think that a monetary difference of over 40k is not worth it. Everyone draws their line at a different place, though.

I will be graduating in 4 years with less than 100k in loans. My boyfriend (will be husband) will be a lawyer and graduate with no loans due to parental assistance. I couldn't be happier about our financial situation, and finances have been a MAJOR factor in my dental school decisions. I'll be able to buy other things much faster, and I won't have DS loans at high interest rates hanging over my back for very long. My school loans should be gone in 3 years without too much effort and without crippling my lifestyle. My husband and I should have a combined salary that is a minimum of 150k right out of school. Paying it off will be easy.

What your cousin did is absolutely phenomenal. It is far, far from the norm, though. Really, though... imagine how much money she'd have now if she only had 100k to pay off instead of 500k. She could have invested that in something. 🙂 I'd rather spend the money on something where the increase of 400k actually has a tangible effect, such as in buying a house or something. As I said earlier, the education you get is the same, regardless of how much it costs--you get out of dental school what you're willing to put in. There is a massive difference between a house that is 100k or 500k, though. Now that is where I'd be willing to splurge. 😀
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I understand what you're saying! I will never have the opportunity to live in a state or area where I want to be. Visiting and living is two different things. I want wanted to live in a new place. I guess I'm a little weird for that. What my cousin did is great, she also married after dental school another dentist from Case. So double the loans they had, haha. Everything has to be considered. Where you work, whats your salary, if you open a practice, the value of the practice, are you the only dentist in that practice. etc. But I can tell you, they were extremely stress. So the fact that you can be done with your loans soon without much effort is phenomenal.

At the end, we all become dentist at whatever school you go. Everyone should just to a school that makes them happy in the end.
 
I really don't understand the "happiness" argument to be honest. I think happiness is a function of the individual more than that of the location. I also think people get caught up in the romance of going somewhere new and exciting that you think will make you happy because "you cannot put a price on happiness"... I think this is just plain foolish. You are going to a school that will give you a degree that is just as valuable as a degree from another school. If costs are similar, then yeah, go with the place you think (not know) will make you happier. Also, using anecdotal evidence is a poor decision metric to use, after-all, its only anecdotal lol. The fact is, a cheaper school will (not might) largely impact your financial future. The level of happiness at a school is a function of both you and the environment you will be in; you really don't know what it will be like when you are in school. Consequently, you really don't know if its going to make you more happy than another school either. It should be noted that class dynamics change from year to year so your chances of having an awesome cohort is just as high as having a terrible one. Also, the class you saw when you interviewed is likely to be nothing like the class you will be in. The way I see it, predents are often naive (I know I was) about which schools are "better", or which ones will "give them the most opportunities", or which school will provide them the most "happiness", etc, etc. Unfortunately, money is just a number to most predents, so they know its important, but they really dont understand how important it is... The fact is, if you are worried about being happy, find a hobby, worry less, make some friends, do something daring... live a little. The school does not determine this for you, you do. However, the school does determine how much you pay though... Just my 0.02$ 🙂
 
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Bereno said:
I really don't understand the "happiness" argument to be honest. I think happiness is a function of the individual more than that of the location. I also think people get caught up in the romance of going somewhere that you think will make you happy because "you cannot put a price on happiness"... I think this is just plain foolish. You are going to a school that will give you a degree that is just as valuable as a degree from another school. If costs are similar, then yeah, go with the place you think (not know) will make you happier. Also, using anecdotal evidence is a poor decision metric to use, after-all, its only anecdotal lol. The fact is, a cheaper school will (not might) largely impact your financial future. The level of happiness at a school is a function of both you and the environment you will be in; you really don't know what it will be like when you are in school. Consequently, you really don't know if its going to make you more happy than another school either. It schould be noted that class dynamics change from year to year so your chances of having an awesome cohort is just as high as having a terrible one. Also, the class you saw when you interviewed is likely to be nothing like the class you will be in. The way I see it, predents are often naive (I know I was) about which schools are "better", or which ones will "give them the most opportunities", or which school will provide them the most "happiness", etc, etc. Unfortunately, money is just a number to most predents, so they know its important, but they really dont understand how important it is... The fact is, if you are worried about being happy, find a hobby, worry less, make some friends, do something daring... live a little. The school does not determine this for you, you do. However, the school does determine how much you pay though... Just my 0.02$ 🙂
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That's your opinion 🙂 Thanks for the input!
 
Just take the boards for the state and you're free to practice but connections might not be your advantage in a new place
 
Free housing + Texas instate tuition. You actually can't be in a better position in dental education in the 21st century.
 
Mattthias said:
Why can't the rest of the state schools have tuition like Texas. Pisses me off
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On the other hand, why should any state be subsidizing future top 5% earners so much? It's worthwhile to maintain a little perspective here.

That said, I tried to look up how much my state, NC, pays for its dental school students, and I couldn't find anything. I assume its subsidized in some form or fashion. Both schools did get brand new buildings paid for, in a large part, by the state.
 
Apply everywhere you think you'd like, then see where you get in. Fate may decide for you.
 
SXCoronado said:
Noted.. I think I'm going to apply 3 vs. 3 in state/out. Any special or unique recommendations for out of state?
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There are big research institutions like Harvard, UPenn, UCSF, Columbia, etc. There are big class schools that are supposedly easier to get into, like NYU, Tufts, UoP, SoCal and a few others (which are still very, very good schools). There are public schools that will consider you in-state after a year, like UNC, UF, and probably quite a few others. Then there are schools like South Carolina, that will take about 2 out-of-staters. That's not a comprehensive list by any means, but that may help you categorize a few.
 
Also to throw a different perspective, be very wary of anyone that is trying to "advise" you to go to an OOS school versus a TX school. He or she might be doing that because they're on the wait-list and hoping to fill your spot! This might sound a little cynical, but people do crazy things when they're desperate, even at the detriment of their own morals =O <shocker
 
SXCoronado said:
Noted.. I think I'm going to apply 3 vs. 3 in state/out. Any special or unique recommendations for out of state?
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Hmm nothing special I guess. I only applied to schools that were located somewhere I wanted to live. And I think it's acceptable to choose which schools you want to apply to solely on their location if you aren't that worried about cost. You don't necessarily have to say that, but show your interviewers how interested you are in their location by asking them where to spend some free time after your interview. Some schools are aware that their location is one of their biggest assets.
 
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