Penn's operative program

[nightsleep]

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I recently interviewed at Columbia and I have been accepted to Penn and my home school, University of Florida. Of course, I am having the same problem as many others of you who are trying to decide between the cheaper state school and an Ivy league, so I am trying to gather some information.

I heard that the faculty in Penn's operative department was severely lacking. Since there are supposedly no teachers with a masters in operative there, sometimes students are taught by senior dental students. Also, they only have 1 semester for operative which some people say is not enough time to learn while other schools allow 3 semesters. I have also heard that in general, the faculty there is very unstable, there are a lot of part-time faculty because they can't get enough full time for some reason. Does anyone know if these things are true, or if they are as big of a deal as it is being made? Any insight would be very helpful.

 

[Toothinator]

You're crazy if you turn down UF 😱

 

[fightingspirit]

...

 

[12YearOldKid]

A master's in operative?? Do you think that's sufficient? I wouldn't consider attending a school unless at least half the attending operative faculty had PhDs in operative.

 

[rocknightmare]

one semster of operative?? that is kinda of crazy.. at vcu we get at least 3.. i can't imagine learning all the techniques we need in one semster unless its that course by itself..

 

[William Olympus]

...I have also heard that in general, the faculty there is very unstable, there are a lot of part-time faculty because they can't get enough full time for some reason. Does anyone know if these things are true, or if they are as big of a deal as it is being made? Any insight would be very helpful.

Well, I haven't gotten that far yet, but I do hear that the instructors are very unstable and spontaneously combust with no prior warning. As a result we bring vagrants off the street to teach.

I'm kidding, of course, but I live with two fourth years and I've never heard any complaints or "get out now!" Everyone has gripes about their own school, and it obviously varies from person to person. Go with the school you felt most comfortable with while visiting, and in the end you'll be happy with your decision.

 

[duh?]

Well, I haven't gotten that far yet, but I do hear that the instructors are very unstable and spontaneously combust with no prior warning. As a result we bring vagrants off the street to teach.

I'm kidding, of course, but I live with two fourth years and I've never heard any complaints or "get out now!" Everyone has gripes about their own school, and it obviously varies from person to person. Go with the school you felt most comfortable with while visiting, and in the end you'll be happy with your decision.

👍 I second that. If Penn doesn't have what you really want, go to the school that satisfies you. Good luck! 👍

 

[gryffindor]

I'm kidding, of course, but I live with two fourth years and I've never heard any complaints or "get out now!"

That's b/c the fourth years clearly realize you are in too deep to bail now.

 

[nightsleep]

That's b/c the fourth years clearly realize you are in too deep to bail now.

Actually, its funny you say that because the person I talked to did say that a lot of the students there felt "stuck".

These aren't things I saw or felt when I went to interview there, but after I heard these things, I'm just curious what other people think about them...especially those going to Penn right now (please help!)

 

[cowsgomoo]

Actually, its funny you say that because the person I talked to did say that a lot of the students there felt "stuck".

These aren't things I saw or felt when I went to interview there, but after I heard these things, I'm just curious what other people think about them...especially those going to Penn right now (please help!)

I think this can be said about most schools that there are some students or i even dare to say all the students have something or another they dont like. i too didnt get the feeling that students were so unhappy about their chooice of school when i was at the interview. i think it is more important to see if you think you have made a good decsion on the school you are going to attend. are you comfortable with the decsion?

 

[nightsleep]

I think this can be said about most schools that there are some students or i even dare to say all the students have something or another they dont like. i too didnt get the feeling that students were so unhappy about their chooice of school when i was at the interview. i think it is more important to see if you think you have made a good decsion on the school you are going to attend. are you comfortable with the decsion?

Haha, I'll let you know when I make the decision. The reason I'm putting a little bit more weight on the things that I've mentioned is because these are things I heard from someone who used to teach there...he might be just guessing on how the students feel, but the other issues, like the faculty and the operative situation is probably true (?)