Hi guys, I just decided to join SDN because the deadline for deposits is due soon. I'm really having a hard time deciding which school to attend. I'm not a PA resident and I think cost is somewhat similar for both schools with Pitt might being a little cheaper. I really like Temple's clinical curriculum, but it seems like Pitt has a bigger focus on research. If anyone has any opinions please feel free to comment. Thank you.
Pitt/Temple
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Not really, but the thing is Pitt has not fully implemented research into their curriculum yet and I'm not sure if they have even finalized how exactly they plan to use it.
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I don't know of any school that forces you to do research. It's usually just there if you want to use it. Many people will go their 4 years and not even step foot into a research lab.
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+1!
I think I remember Dr. Etzel, at the Pitt interview, saying that the research is there if you want it, but you will not be forced to participate.
Hey buddy,
I am from the area and I would choose Temple.
They are one of the most clinically strong schools out there.
Also, I believe that Phili is much more exciting and has more to offer than Pittsburgh.
It also depends on other things that you specifically want too.
For example, if you want a city with good public trans (subways, buses, etc) Go Phili
If you are looking for diversity, I would go phili. Southwestern, Pa where Pitt is very homogenous.
In sum, these are just a couple things off the top of my head.
If you want more info, PM and we can talk further.
Good luck on your decision!
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I'll make you a pros and cons sheet for Pitt (in my opinion; I went to undergrad there and worked extensively in the dental school)
Pros:
1) Early clinical rotations first year - tissue charting, placing dental dam, getting introduced to specialties, assisting, etc.
2) Academically strong, research available to you.
3) Staff and students very cohesive and proud of their school. If you like college sports we have them and they are cheap to attend, and FUN!
4) Located on an undergrad campus, have a chance to meet pre-dental students and spread the word about dentistry and help people follow in your footsteps. Also have the libraries and restaurants there to use, younger girls to date, etc.
5) Beautiful sim labs and specialty clinics.
6) Comp care clinics are nice as well, not brand new, but digital charting and digital radiography. From my observation, everyone loved the clinical instructors watching you. They were even nice to me as a researcher. Also, the people in the equipment dispensary are very pleasant. I can't say a bad word about the clinics.
7) City is low crime, low noise, and pretty much low key. Rent is dirt cheap. You can get a beer for $2 and pizza for $5, no Manhattan prices here. Parking is $20 a year on the street with an apartment lease, can't beat that.
8) White coat ceremony is first year. Some schools do it later like before you enter clinic. Here, treated as a professional from day one.
9) Human cadaver lab - Not many schools have this, they use prosected cadavers or use embalmed cadavers (a la Bodies Exhibit). You actually get to dissect the facial anatomy yourself, pretty cool in my opinion.
10) Every clinic has a secretary to do the scheduling and financial counselors that you drop the patient off at after the appointment. You won't be doing too much of that yourself.
Cons:
1) Weather can be pretty harsh, lots of rain and snow. Cloud cover galore.
2) Block schedule - first year exams every week, sometimes twice a week (according to the D1s)
3) Some things like waxing and teeth carving still going on. I know some schools have cut this out for you and have the lab do it - maybe a consideration? Expect lab work at any school!
4) Patient disappointment rate - In private practice this should be like 20% max, Dr. Etzel would only tell me it's 30% + at Pitt. Whoever said "I am concerned about getting patients to stay" may have been telling the truth. Not sure on this one, the clinics did seem to have a little down time, but mostly were always crowded.
5) Lack of rotations, externships, international opportunities - I could be wrong here, but I didn't really perceive an emphasis on getting the dental students outside of the friendly confines of the dental school. Not sure, ask a D3/D4.
Compared to Temple, I feel like Philly is a little more expensive to live in, probably the same weather, and perhaps more clinically diverse with what you will see.
I don't know about anyone else, but I didn't consider their renovations to be too nice. And anyone stuck in the older clinics now....damn I feel bad for them.
Pros:
1) Early clinical rotations first year - tissue charting, placing dental dam, getting introduced to specialties, assisting, etc.
2) Academically strong, research available to you.
3) Staff and students very cohesive and proud of their school. If you like college sports we have them and they are cheap to attend, and FUN!
4) Located on an undergrad campus, have a chance to meet pre-dental students and spread the word about dentistry and help people follow in your footsteps. Also have the libraries and restaurants there to use, younger girls to date, etc.
5) Beautiful sim labs and specialty clinics.
6) Comp care clinics are nice as well, not brand new, but digital charting and digital radiography. From my observation, everyone loved the clinical instructors watching you. They were even nice to me as a researcher. Also, the people in the equipment dispensary are very pleasant. I can't say a bad word about the clinics.
7) City is low crime, low noise, and pretty much low key. Rent is dirt cheap. You can get a beer for $2 and pizza for $5, no Manhattan prices here. Parking is $20 a year on the street with an apartment lease, can't beat that.
8) White coat ceremony is first year. Some schools do it later like before you enter clinic. Here, treated as a professional from day one.
9) Human cadaver lab - Not many schools have this, they use prosected cadavers or use embalmed cadavers (a la Bodies Exhibit). You actually get to dissect the facial anatomy yourself, pretty cool in my opinion.
10) Every clinic has a secretary to do the scheduling and financial counselors that you drop the patient off at after the appointment. You won't be doing too much of that yourself.
Cons:
1) Weather can be pretty harsh, lots of rain and snow. Cloud cover galore.
2) Block schedule - first year exams every week, sometimes twice a week (according to the D1s)
3) Some things like waxing and teeth carving still going on. I know some schools have cut this out for you and have the lab do it - maybe a consideration? Expect lab work at any school!
4) Patient disappointment rate - In private practice this should be like 20% max, Dr. Etzel would only tell me it's 30% + at Pitt. Whoever said "I am concerned about getting patients to stay" may have been telling the truth. Not sure on this one, the clinics did seem to have a little down time, but mostly were always crowded.
5) Lack of rotations, externships, international opportunities - I could be wrong here, but I didn't really perceive an emphasis on getting the dental students outside of the friendly confines of the dental school. Not sure, ask a D3/D4.
Compared to Temple, I feel like Philly is a little more expensive to live in, probably the same weather, and perhaps more clinically diverse with what you will see.
I don't know about anyone else, but I didn't consider their renovations to be too nice. And anyone stuck in the older clinics now....damn I feel bad for them.
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This is quite true. Beside for some mostly invisible beggars, in Oakland and basically all of the Pittsburgh neighborhoods you are completely safe. In north philly....
Thanks dantemac for the information, Besides safety, what in your mind is so much better about Pitt than Temple?
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A lot safer, cheaper, and I'm just going to guess the class is more cohesive. As everyone said at Temple, it clears out by 5pm (for the safety reason). Pitt has the whole campus right there...the D1s say the class is so close and helpful.
I'm going to say the Temple clinical experience is maybe a little better, but it's probably close. Philly probably has better hospital rotations, especially if you're interested in the specialties. This is purely conjecture, however. Maybe the weather is a little better in Philly, too.
Really, I feel like Pitt is the better school academically, and probably with better research. I didn't think Temple was a bad or worse school than Pitt. They are just different.
I'm going to say the Temple clinical experience is maybe a little better, but it's probably close. Philly probably has better hospital rotations, especially if you're interested in the specialties. This is purely conjecture, however. Maybe the weather is a little better in Philly, too.
Really, I feel like Pitt is the better school academically, and probably with better research. I didn't think Temple was a bad or worse school than Pitt. They are just different.
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One important factor many disregard is the curriculum. ( I added the numbers, so please correct me if I made a mathematical error).
Temple:
1st year:
- Fall Semester: 18 credits.
-Spring Semester: 18 credit
-Summer: 5 credits ( we have off for about 6 weeks I believe after the 1st year in the summer).
Total 1st year credits: 41
2nd year:
-Fall Semester: 21
-Spring Semester: 22
-Summer: 21
http://www.temple.edu/dentistry/Admissions/academic_year.html
Total 2nd year Credits: 64
Pitt:
1st year:
-Fall Semester: 22.5 credits
-Spring Semester: 27 credits
-Summer : 22 credits (
"Yes, there are Summer classes - in the first year you get all of August off, but you realistically study for and take boards during that time "- Vicviper
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-788225.html
Total 1st year Credits: 71.5
2nd year:
-Fall semester: 22.5
- Semester: 22
- Summer: 15.5
Total 2nd year credits: 60
http://www.bulletins.pitt.edu/graduate/prodental.htm
Total Hours of Instruction for 4 years ( 1: most hours, 57 least hours):
Temple: 4,589 hours ( ranked 50)
Pitt: 5,031 ( ranked 17)
-(2008-2009 survey of dental education, volume 4, page 11).
http://www.ada.org/1621.aspx
- This is based upon preferences, I prefer to have less hours in class, more time spent studying on my own.
Main point is. 1st year at temple is not bad relative to other dental schools. I had time to enjoy myself and do well. 2nd year is tough, just like most dental schools. You will get a DMD/DDS at any school, how you get it will be different. 71.5 credits versus 41 credits during the 1st year is a significant difference. You will be taking boards after your 1st year, so if that is something you are interested in, then Pitt may be a better fit. I personally did not want to have most the basic science courses crammed in 1 year, I prefer to take it after 2 years.
Temple:
1st year:
- Fall Semester: 18 credits.
-Spring Semester: 18 credit
-Summer: 5 credits ( we have off for about 6 weeks I believe after the 1st year in the summer).
Total 1st year credits: 41
2nd year:
-Fall Semester: 21
-Spring Semester: 22
-Summer: 21
http://www.temple.edu/dentistry/Admissions/academic_year.html
Total 2nd year Credits: 64
Pitt:
1st year:
-Fall Semester: 22.5 credits
-Spring Semester: 27 credits
-Summer : 22 credits (
"Yes, there are Summer classes - in the first year you get all of August off, but you realistically study for and take boards during that time "- Vicviper
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-788225.html
Total 1st year Credits: 71.5
2nd year:
-Fall semester: 22.5
- Semester: 22
- Summer: 15.5
Total 2nd year credits: 60
http://www.bulletins.pitt.edu/graduate/prodental.htm
Total Hours of Instruction for 4 years ( 1: most hours, 57 least hours):
Temple: 4,589 hours ( ranked 50)
Pitt: 5,031 ( ranked 17)
-(2008-2009 survey of dental education, volume 4, page 11).
http://www.ada.org/1621.aspx
- This is based upon preferences, I prefer to have less hours in class, more time spent studying on my own.
Main point is. 1st year at temple is not bad relative to other dental schools. I had time to enjoy myself and do well. 2nd year is tough, just like most dental schools. You will get a DMD/DDS at any school, how you get it will be different. 71.5 credits versus 41 credits during the 1st year is a significant difference. You will be taking boards after your 1st year, so if that is something you are interested in, then Pitt may be a better fit. I personally did not want to have most the basic science courses crammed in 1 year, I prefer to take it after 2 years.
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