Pittsburgh or Harvard

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Hi guys,

I'm in-state for Pitt, and I can't decide between Pitt or Harvard. I have no emotional attachment to either school, and no real preference for location. Harvard's name does mean much to me, but there's no doubt it means a lot to other people. The class size is great too.
I'm not sure right now if I want to specialize (is it even financially worth it?) I didn't really think much about it before getting accepted, but with Harvard I'm guaranteed a spot in some specialty so I'm considering.
If I do decide to specialize, is it worth it to go to Harvard for the guaranteed residency? Or should I go for the in-state tuition? Would it be insane to go to Harvard if I just want to be a general dentist?

I know the majority opinion is to always go with the cheapest option, but to be honest, no school offers what Harvard offers with the guaranteed residency.

 

[Roy Williams]

Meh... I feel like Harvard may be the exception to the "go to the cheapest school" rule

 

[thenextcarnegie]

Harvard has my vote. The opportunity and name does matter, especially at a school with so much history. It will open a lot of doors later in life I am sure. Congratulations on getting in man!

 

[WolfsBane]

$$$$$$$ unless you know that you will be specializing go to Pitt. Do not go to Harvard on the chance you may specialize

 

[Likkriue]

Instate for Pitt isn't exactly that cheap last I heard.

 

[Medin2017]

this is funny to me how everyone is so oohed at ahhed about harvard but not of columbia or penn whose match rates are as high and whose prestige is about equal in the eyes of most educated people. For everyone who was in those penn or columbia vs state school threads, look how the people here react to harvard's name. In the real world, this is how many educated people react to penn or columbia. Also, this is why you should take the recommendations on this site with a grain of salt (including my own).

 

[Roy Williams]

this is funny to me how everyone is so oohed at ahhed about harvard but not of columbia or penn whose match rates are as high and whose prestige is about equal in the eyes of most educated people. For everyone who was in those penn or columbia vs state school threads, look how the people here react to harvard's name. In the real world, this is how many educated people react to penn or columbia. Also, this is why you should take the recommendations on this site with a grain of salt (including my own).

The difference in price between penn and Ecu is astronomical compared to Pitt and Harvard.

 

[Kouneko]

this is funny to me how everyone is so oohed at ahhed about harvard but not of columbia or penn whose match rates are as high and whose prestige is about equal in the eyes of most educated people. For everyone who was in those penn or columbia vs state school threads, look how the people here react to harvard's name. In the real world, this is how many educated people react to penn or columbia. Also, this is why you should take the recommendations on this site with a grain of salt (including my own).

Class size and average matriculants' stats separate Harvard from Penn and Columbia. Harvard is much, much harder to get into.

 

[WolfsBane]

There is a 75k difference compared to 250k between ECU and Penn. Still very steep difference in price. Go Pitt

 

[WolfsBane]

Instate for Pitt isn't exactly that cheap last I heard.

330k is not crazy expensive.

 

[Medin2017]

Class size and average matriculants' stats separate Harvard from Penn and Columbia. Harvard is much, much harder to get into.

Yet the matchrates are the same after getting into the schools themselves. and btw harvard and columbia's dat scores are like 1 point apart.

 

[Medin2017]

The difference in price between penn and Ecu is astronomical compared to Pitt and Harvard.

meant for the schools in general not just ecu penn. Just made me laugh since everyone is all "name doesn't matter" then make an exception from Harvard. Can't tell if it's because the people are from areas where the only big name ivy is harvard.

 

[Kouneko]

Yet the matchrates are the same after getting into the schools themselves. and btw harvard and columbia's dat scores are like 1 point apart.

1 point on AVG is a lot, plus there's a .3 avg sGPA difference. The small class size does matter to some people.

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

1 point on AVG is a lot, plus there's a .3 avg sGPA difference. The small class size does matter to some people.

Not sure where you guys are getting your numbers, but Columbia and Harvard both had a 23 avg DAT last year, with Columbia a 3.7 and Harvard a 3.85 cGPA average. That's according to their own websites.

 

[Kouneko]

Not sure where you guys are getting your numbers, but Columbia and Harvard both had a 23 avg DAT last year, with Columbia a 3.7 and Harvard a 3.85 cGPA average. That's according to their own websites.

Numbers are from "2017-2018 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools." Columbia only has 3.55 mean sGPA while Harvard has 3.85 sGPA average.

 

[2TH MVR]

OP: 1st off .... congrats on the acceptance. That in itself is quite an accomplishment. Both schools are very impressive. If you decide on being a GP, then the Harvard connection will mean very little. I'm sorry, but that is reality. In the real world .... extroverted personality, abilities, people skills, business skills, etc. etc trumps all. If you go into education, then it would help.

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

Numbers are from "2017-2018 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools." Columbia only has 3.55 mean sGPA while Harvard has 3.85 sGPA average.

Ah. My fault - I went to look again at the Columbia site, and their latest column is from the '19 class.

I wonder why Columbia has such wide swings from year to year.

 

[Kouneko]

Ah. My fault - I went to look again at the Columbia site, and their latest column is from the '19 class.

I wonder why Columbia has such wide swings from year to year.

It's because Columbia puts a lot more weight on DAT than GPA. They are more forgiving if you have a high DAT but a lower GPA. Harvard is very very strict on only accepting high GPA candidates. The 5% sGPA mark for Harvard is 3.62, which means 95% of their matriculants have sGPA over 3.62.

 

[Medin2017]

Numbers are from "2017-2018 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools." Columbia only has 3.55 mean sGPA while Harvard has 3.85 sGPA average.

Kind of disappointing in the standards of acceptances- really does seem to be who wants to front the cost when you compare them to an average medical school.

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

Kind of disappointing in the standards of acceptances- really does seem to be who wants to front the cost when you compare them to an average medical school.

It is interesting to explain to people outside of dentistry the bi-modal distribution of top candidates' choices - to the "name" schools and to any school where you can get IS tuition. I don't know any other field where that's the case.

For example, Stony Brook's class had a 3.7, UCLA had a 3.75 (in 2020, don't have the adea guide, so not sure about 2021).

 

[Medin2017]

It is interesting to explain to people outside of dentistry the bi-modal distribution of top candidates' choices - to the "name" schools and to any school where you can get IS tuition. I don't know any other field where that's the case.

For example, Stony Brook's class had a 3.7, UCLA had a 3.75 (in 2020, don't have the adea guide, so not sure about 2021).

Agreed. Plus since schools barely release info on specialization success and specialties themselves have such different criteria (other than rank), it's all so confusing for prospective dental students to decide where to go. Don't even get me started on how income data of both general dentistry, specialties, and midcareer is completely random and hard to pinpoint. Frustrating

 

[wengerout]

I would have said Harvard but you don't seem THAT keen on specializing or on going to Harvard in general. Paying full price at Harvard just to be a GP when you're not in LOVE with Harvard doesn't make sense. Go to Pitt and save yourself some $$$.

 

[stitcherator]

go to harvard.

 

[Guocamole]

Unless you really like research don't bother with Harvard, they really focus on academics not clinical

 

[setdoc7]

Thought I would chime in since I have interviewed students from all three Ivy's this cycle. The students from Penn and Columbia are quite intelligent, and have lots of EC's and research behind them. The main difference I see in the Harvard students is who they are when they are accepted. By and large they are truly unique individuals who not only bring a stellar academic record, but a host of life experiences which make them the exception, not the rule. To put it mildly, they would be successful at anything they put their mind to, and here it just happens to be dentistry. That is not to say that the Columbia and Penn grads were not as qualified, just a little less heavy on the intangibles. Given the choice between Pitt and Harvard, I would choose Harvard with no question. The opportunities will be greater. Not just for specialization.

 

[O Gaúcho]

How could you not go to Harvard!? Harvard is Harvard!