Pitt vs. VCU

[rtbfyb]

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hey everyone. i've been lucky enough to be accepted to both vcu and pitt. the difficult part now is making a decision between these two schools. both have their perks and their drawbacks, but i wanted to ask sdners what your opinion about these schools are as you may have a different perspective or information about the school than i do.

any advice or information will be greatly appreciated. thanks.

 

[lemoncurry]

I hear Pitt is the shiznit. Go Pitt!

 

[rtbfyb]

is that a biased response? 🙂

 

[scottyhoop]

I hear Pitt is the way to go as well hands down. Choose Pitt.
Scott

 

[skyskier]

I love how all those saying, "choose Pitt," are the ones waiting on a spot from VCU.

 

[savagepike]

Being that I'm not attending either school, I have to vote for Pitt over VCU.

 

[btizzels]

I have never been to Pitt but I really liked what VCU has going on at its dental school.... I would choose VCU..... but really make a list of pros and cons for both schools...... and go with what you think is best for you..... both are probably great schools so pick which fits you best

 

[rtbfyb]

i've already made a list comparing the schools on the facets of their curricula that are important to me. it's a really tough decision and i was turning to sdn to get a little info about the schools that i may not have found elsewhere, like personal experiences with the school or aspects of their programs i didn't hear about at the interviews or read about on their websites.

i'm trying to get unbiased answers and be absolutely sure of the decision i'm making. i know i'd probably be happy at either school, but this has been a long time coming (it's my third time applying) and i really want to make sure i make the best choice for me.

 

[SugarNaCl]

Of course the VCU waiters wanna free up some more spots... VCU = The BEST! I wouldn't even give a glance to another dental school... from an insiders perspective. Curriculum now... you are working with indirect vision from the first week of school and see a patient volunteer in the first semester for perio probing.

We already see our first recall patient this April (D-1 yr)... That's next month!!! How cool is THAT?!

 

[Flyboy]

As I'm getting ready to attend VCU, here are the pros that I'm familiar with (if I'm wrong feel free to correct me):

1. Take your first board exams after 1st year
2. Brand new building (proposed completion Summer 09')
3. First patient in first year
4. Many humanitarian opportunities around the state
5. Brand new dent sim lab
6. Strong clinical experience
7. Your fourth year is set up like a group practice with assistants and someone else scheduling patients (30% of your grade is based on how much revenue your group brings in, 30% competency assesment, 20% sufficient comprehensive care, and 20% satisfactory evaluations)
8. All the students I talked to love it there and have great attitudes
9. Ginormous lockers

These are just a few of the pros. I could probably think of many others.

The tuition and overall expenses at both schools look similar for out of staters at least. I don't know much about Pitt, but I can tell you that VCU doesn't take a back seat to any school.

 

[SugarNaCl]

As I'm getting ready to attend VCU, here are the pros that I'm familiar with (if I'm wrong feel free to correct me):

1. Take your first board exams after 1st year
2. Brand new building (proposed completion Summer 09')
3. First patient in first year
4. Many humanitarian opportunities around the state
5. Brand new dent sim lab
6. Strong clinical experience
7. Your fourth year is set up like a group practice with assistants and someone else scheduling patients (30% of your grade is based on how much revenue your group brings in, 30% competency assesment, 20% sufficient comprehensive care, and 20% satisfactory evaluations)
8. All the students I talked to love it there and have great attitudes
9. Ginormous lockers

These are just a few of the pros. I could probably think of many others.

The tuition and overall expenses at both schools look similar for out of staters at least. I don't know much about Pitt, but I can tell you that VCU doesn't take a back seat to any school.

Flyboy, I agree on ALL of the above... but starting this year you CAN take the boards after year 1 and it is encouraged, but you don't HAVE to anymore as long as they are completed prior to year 3.

 

[denticus]

I love how all those saying, "choose Pitt," are the ones waiting on a spot from VCU.

Haha, TOTALLY true!😆 I expect ^those^ guys to not be "that" excited once and IF they're accepted. Also interesting to note that notwithstanding Pitt being "the shiznit" or "the way to go as well hands down", neither Lemoncurry or Scottyhoop felt that Pitt was shiznitty or the way to go as well hands down-y enough to apply to it...yet they did VCU, hmmmm. This thread just reeks with cognitive dissonance!Give me a break!

 

[lemoncurry]

it's a joke... get it?

and weren't you one of *those* before you got accepted? i seem to recall that...

 

[biasab]

WTF!!! Some of you guys are either really slow or don't have a sense of humor at all.

 

[scottyhoop]

This thread just reeks with cognitive dissonance!Give me a break![/QUOTE]

Get a life denticus....I'm sure the OP understands why lemoncurry and I said Pitt. And to be honest, I know nothing about Pitt and haven't attended VCU YET, so I wouldn't be able to advise either way. I get my info just like every other pre-dent, but unless you're there like Sugar, you're relying on 2nd hand info.

Scott

 

[scottyhoop]

By the way...love the capital IF too denticus...real classy!
Scott

 

[savagepike]

This thread just reeks with cognitive dissonance!Give me a break!

Get a life denticus....I'm sure the OP understands why lemoncurry and I said Pitt. And to be honest, I know nothing about Pitt and haven't attended VCU YET, so I wouldn't be able to advise either way. I get my info just like every other pre-dent, but unless you're there like Sugar, you're relying on 2nd hand info.

Scott

I agree, the OP is trying to make a decision. Arbitrary posts which have nothing to do with the subject at hand are a waste of typing and space.

 

[CMistry]

Actually I interviewed at both schools and was equally impressed with both of them. If I was out-of-state to both, it is very possible that I would choose Pitt. I know this doesn't help your decision much, but if you want my perspective on a specific issue just post away or PM me. 🙂

Best of luck!

-Cyrus

 

[already954]

That is a hard decision. I am attending VCU in the fall so I am a little bias toward VCU. However I do think that your ability to become a good dentist depends more you than it does on which school, VCU or PITT, you go to. You will receive a great education at both schools.

So the question just comes down to where do you want to live?

 

[gatorgirl984]

I would have to choose VCU. I interviewed at VCU and Pitt, gotta say that VCU has an awesome program. That is my top school, unfortunately, I am still waiting on that school. Pitt's OK, but VCU has no comparison.

 

[rtbfyb]

thanks for all the great feedback. i've still got a big decision to make, but the outside perspective helps a lot.

 

[scottyhoop]

🙂

 

[scottyhoop]

That is a hard decision. I am attending VCU in the fall so I am a little bias toward VCU. However I do think that your ability to become a good dentist depends more you than it does on which school, VCU or PITT, you go to. You will receive a great education at both schools.

So the question just comes down to where do you want to live?

On top of this check out special programs like VCU has that will basically pay for dental school if you practice in certain areas of VA. Since I didn't apply to Pitt I don't know if they have such programs. If you're lucky enough to get into said program at VCU you can practice in a rural area for a few years and have no loans to pay off. Pretty sweet deal, but I'm not sure how likely it is to get in the program, other criteria, etc..... Good luck with your choice, you're in good shape at either school from what I hear, but I would still wouldn't mind your spot at VCU! 🙂
Scott

 

[CMistry]

On top of this check out special programs like VCU has that will basically pay for dental school if you practice in certain areas of VA. Since I didn't apply to Pitt I don't know if they have such programs. If you're lucky enough to get into said program at VCU you can practice in a rural area for a few years and have no loans to pay off. Pretty sweet deal, but I'm not sure how likely it is to get in the program, other criteria, etc..... Good luck with your choice, you're in good shape at either school from what I hear, but I would still wouldn't mind your spot at VCU! 🙂
Scott

I saw the list of "approved areas"... I had only heard of about one lol. And I lived in VA for 18 years! But nonetheless it is a good deal for somebody familiar with rural life. I believe it's a four year committment too.

-Cyrus

 

[scottyhoop]

I saw the list of "approved areas"... I had only heard of about one lol. And I lived in VA for 18 years! But nonetheless it is a good deal for somebody familiar with rural life. I believe it's a four year committment too.

-Cyrus

Yeah...most are pretty remote, but luckily for me one of the most needed areas is where I currently live, so it's a perfect deal for me. Now if I can just get in!! haha...
Scott

 

[denticus]

it's a joke... get it?

and weren't you one of *those* before you got accepted? i seem to recall that...

Oh my gosh Lemoncurry, I was totally joking too...get it?🙄

If Skyskier didn't get your joke, how and why would you expect the OP, myself, or even Michael Healy for that matter, too as well? A risky move, if you ask me, given that you just recently received an email suggesting a guaranteed spot at VCU. Either way, I had to call you out on it just in case...call it school pride. I admit I felt a little nauseated and sad inside when you and scottyhoop seemed to write off VCU so quickly in the face of…Pitt.:cry:

 

[lemoncurry]

Oh my gosh Lemoncurry, I was totally joking too...get it?🙄

If Skyskier didn't get your joke, how and why would you expect the OP, myself, or even Michael Healy for that matter, to as well? A risky move, if you ask me, given that you just recently received an email suggesting a guaranteed spot at VCU. Either way, I had to call you out on it just in case...call it school pride. I admit I felt a little nauseated and sad inside when you and scottyhoop seemed to write off VCU so quickly in the face of…Pitt.:cry:

Does Dr. healy read these forums?

Anyway, I would think that you of all people would know where i stand when it comes to VCU.

 

[denticus]

Does Dr. healy read these forums?

Anyway, I would think that you of all people would know where i stand when it comes to VCU.

Regardless if he does or not, can you blame me for defending VCU? Just for the record, I DO think that Loma Linda is an excellent dental school (i.e. something to be proud of). No hard feelings...our hours of lament seal our friendship🙂.

 

[H0pe]

Can't speak about VCU, but loved PITT when I interviewed. Pitt definitely seemed to foster a great student-focused learning environment. Faculty, students, staff all were unusually happy and seemed to get along with one another. Pitt definitely would be my #1 if it were closer to home (California).

On a side note, if rtbfyb chose Pitt, that would open up a spot for lemoncurry at VCU, which would vacate a spot for me at LLU! How perfect would that be? It's a win-win-win situation I'd say =).

 

[scottyhoop]

Oh my gosh Lemoncurry, I was totally joking too...get it?🙄

If Skyskier didn't get your joke, how and why would you expect the OP, myself, or even Michael Healy for that matter, too as well? A risky move, if you ask me, given that you just recently received an email suggesting a guaranteed spot at VCU. Either way, I had to call you out on it just in case...call it school pride. I admit I felt a little nauseated and sad inside when you and scottyhoop seemed to write off VCU so quickly in the face of…Pitt.:cry:

You should feel the opposite of nausated as lemoncurry and I both were jokingly telling the OP to goto Pitt so we can get his spot at VCU. Luckily I'm applying a year early so if I don't get in it's not the end of the world, but I still would love to get in this year! VCU has been, and still will be my first choice. You obviously misunderstood our intentions with our original posts.
Scott

 

[Lurchdubious]

this is actually a decision i've already had to make. i was accepted to Pitt on nov 30th, deposited, and was good to go. in january i interviewed at VCU and just totally felt like it's the place for me. i was accepted a week later. i DO feel like both schools will give a heck of an education, but it came down to:

1. overall warm fuzzy feeling = VCU
2. Less tuition $$$$ = VCU
3. Sweet facilities (this was somewhat close...) = VCU
4. Convenience of parking/commute (from what i saw & the students i spoke to) = VCU
5. already have 3 friends that will be 3rd years at the school.....Pitt
6. Live in Richmond or Pittsburgh........VCU!!!!

good luck with your decision! ima go eat some waffles.

 

[CMistry]

3. Sweet facilities (this was somewhat close...) = VCU

Actually I'd have to say this one goes to Pitt. Their preclinic was brand new and the clinics are being revamped... they will be new by the time our cycle is in. Pitt is also trying to go to EMRs and Digital X-rays, VCU said nothing about this when I visited. Altough VCU is building the new wing, I kept my ears open and they didn't mention these things. Plus all the schools I visited said that the SimClinic at VCU was excess.

-Cyrus

 

[Lurchdubious]

Actually I'd have to say this one goes to Pitt. Their preclinic was brand new and the clinics are being revamped... they will be new by the time our cycle is in. Pitt is also trying to go to EMRs and Digital X-rays, VCU said nothing about this when I visited. Altough VCU is building the new wing, I kept my ears open and they didn't mention these things. Plus all the schools I visited said that the SimClinic at VCU was excess.

-Cyrus

to each his own.

 

[denticus]

You should feel the opposite of nausated as lemoncurry and I both were jokingly telling the OP to goto Pitt so we can get his spot at VCU. Luckily I'm applying a year early so if I don't get in it's not the end of the world, but I still would love to get in this year! VCU has been, and still will be my first choice. You obviously misunderstood our intentions with our original posts.
Scott

Without your and Lemoncurry's rebound posts, the original statements both of you made seem shady to me. The fact that both Skyskier and myself (not just me alone) felt the need to call you out on it shows that you didn't do a great job on keeping the jest in your statements even slightly apparent; you just wrote off VCU straight up and that was it. Lemoncurry is more believable simply because he's talked about VCU a lot in the past and he has a predents link but your intentions don't seem as honest...sorry. Again, can you really blame me for defending VCU?

 

[scottyhoop]

I don't blame you for defending VCU as I hope to be able to do so myself someday. I do however blame you for questioning me or my desire to goto VCU. It certainly is not your role to the be the "justifier of all applicants" at VCU. Not that you do, or should for that matter, keep track of my posts on here, but I'm pretty sure just about everyone else who participates in pre-dent VCU threads on here knows where I stand. And as you stated earlier in this thread, how can I even choose Pitt over VCU since I didn't apply there...unless you feel that I, for some reason, have ill will against VCU which is about as far from the truth as you can get. True, I haven't been accepted yet, but I haven't been rejected either. And since my app. wasn't complete until december, I'm not going to curse VCU for rejecting me even if it does happen. Dr. Healy and I have been talking about my plans for over 2 years now, so your suspicions are far from correct.
Scott

PS...check out the VCU 3rd rounders thread that i started for some of my past vcu related posts.

 

[denticus]

I don't blame you for defending VCU as I hope to be able to do so myself someday. I do however blame you for questioning me or my desire to goto VCU. It certainly is not your role to the be the "justifier of all applicants" at VCU. Not that you do, or should for that matter, keep track of my posts on here, but I'm pretty sure just about everyone else who participates in pre-dent VCU threads on here knows where I stand. And as you stated earlier in this thread, how can I even choose Pitt over VCU since I didn't apply there...unless you feel that I, for some reason, have ill will against VCU which is about as far from the truth as you can get. True, I haven't been accepted yet, but I haven't been rejected either. And since my app. wasn't complete until december, I'm not going to curse VCU for rejecting me even if it does happen. Dr. Healy and I have been talking about my plans for over 2 years now, so your suspicions are far from correct.
Scott

PS...check out the VCU 3rd rounders thread that i started for some of my past vcu related posts.

Well, if you make a write off statement about VCU then I kind of have to question your desire to go there right? Again, I don't think your joke was that obvious so I can't see why you wouldn't be more forgiving of my defense of VCU when nobody including myself recognized your statement as a joke besides you and, conveniently, Lemoncurry. Why are you getting so upset with me given the high possibility of you doing the same thing to me if we were to swap positions; you calling me out on dismissing VCU. It's your choice if you want to continue with the animosity. As far as I am concerned, I hold no ill-feelings and the exchange is over.

 

[Lurchdubious]

^^^you guys wanna FIGHT dontcha!!

can't we all just get along?

lol.

 

[denticus]

^^^you guys wanna FIGHT dontcha!!

can't we all just get along?

lol.

Nah, I'm a lover not a fighter.🙄

 

[Lurchdubious]

Nah, I'm a lover not a fighter.🙄

ahahahahaha.

word.

 

[scottyhoop]

I have no ill will either..simple misunderstanding on both our parts I believe. If i get into VCU someday you can buy me lunch and we'll call it even! 🙂
Scott

 

[SugarNaCl]

I'd say one of the biggest assets at VCU is the DentSim lab. Many schools can't keep them functioning... VCU has many stations and they brought in someone specifically to keep them going because they are hard to maintain. I think this was REALLY GOOD for learning. We were out of it by the end of first semester and into a newer preclinic lab that is quite amazing as well 😉

Pitt may be really nice, never been to the dental school there... but I can confirm VCU is.

 

[rtbfyb]

hey guys, i had a question. one aspect of the curriculum at pitt that i liked was the fact that you could get a masters (or at least take courses) at the university during your third and fourth years. does vcu have a similar program? i didn't hear about anything like that when i interviewed, but didn't know if they had something similar set up as an added opportunity for their dental students.

thanks again for all the feedback. i appreciate it.

 

[SugarNaCl]

hey guys, i had a question. one aspect of the curriculum at pitt that i liked was the fact that you could get a masters (or at least take courses) at the university during your third and fourth years. does vcu have a similar program? i didn't hear about anything like that when i interviewed, but didn't know if they had something similar set up as an added opportunity for their dental students.

thanks again for all the feedback. i appreciate it.

I'm not certain either way. I know VCU keeps their students generally busy with clinic in both the morning and the afternoon, but this is also a time they encourage people to get involved with research... so I guess I can't clear anything up. I'll bet most schools may be open to the suggestion at least... for discussion. Likely not an M.S. in ortho or perio or endo etc... things you actually have to graduate with a DDS first for. What are you looking to get an MS in? Won't dental school be hectic enough? I'm going crazy over here with all this work!!! 😉 I admire ambition.

 

[denticus]

I have no ill will either..simple misunderstanding on both our parts I believe. If i get into VCU someday you can buy me lunch and we'll call it even! 🙂
Scott

Yeah, I suppose a future lunch may lie in the horizon...however, only under the provision that you foot the tip and pay for dessert.

 

[SugarNaCl]

One potential negative aspect for VCU is that starting this year (C/o 2011), they merged most of the D-2 first semester with the D-1 year. Last semester was fine. This semester there is no time for ANYTHING!!! We are CONSTANTLY studying and have 30 million things due at the same time, 3-4 exams in the same week at times... and they are histo, physio and micro. It never lets up.

Just this week, we had a perio clinical exam today, learning how to inject with local anesthetic tomorrow before our histology exam and then we have a physio exam on Friday. It has been like this for about 3 weeks straight and before that wasn't much better. We are FOREVER BUSY!

 

[already954]

Is it that way because this is the transition year for the new cirriculum or will it always be like that??

 

[doubledizzle13]

Yeah I really hope they tone it down a bit this year for us...

 

[scottyhoop]

Yeah, I suppose a future lunch may lie in the horizon...however, only under the provision that you foot the tip and pay for dessert.

haha...ok fair enough. I think I can handle that!
Scott

 

[rtbfyb]

I'm not certain either way. I know VCU keeps their students generally busy with clinic in both the morning and the afternoon, but this is also a time they encourage people to get involved with research... so I guess I can't clear anything up. I'll bet most schools may be open to the suggestion at least... for discussion. Likely not an M.S. in ortho or perio or endo etc... things you actually have to graduate with a DDS first for. What are you looking to get an MS in? Won't dental school be hectic enough? I'm going crazy over here with all this work!!! 😉 I admire ambition.

oh, i'm not interested in an m.s., especially not before i get my dds! i'm more curious about a program that would allow students to take courses toward an m.p.h., m.b.a., m.ed., etc. i like to have my options open, even though i realize i'll be crazy busy.

 

[already954]

So... have you made your decision??