Planes, Trains, & Automobiles

[austinsanity]

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Last week, I was down to choosing between Tufts and Midwestern and was all but set on Tufts when I decided that I'd travel to both schools again before making my final decision.

After a week full of long (as well as delayed and missed) flights, car rentals, and train rides, I resolved to go to Midwestern. It's a really long and complicated story and explanation, so I'll save it.

Has anyone else chosen a newer program over an older, more distinguished, or proven one? I was reminded of a post that was centered on whether choosing an ivy or state school would affect a person's chance at specializing. Personally, I don't think it matters much unless you go to Stony Brook or Harvard (big competition for admission, small class sizes). I was told that a dean's recommendation, grades, and what kind of person you are matters more than where you went to school.

I believe picking a school is in a lot of ways a lifestyle choice as well. Every dental institution is different, but I can't see any dental program, unless it's about to be closed down, providing a less than respectable dental education.

 

[Contach]

Last week, I was down to choosing between Tufts and Midwestern and was all but set on Tufts when I decided that I'd travel to both schools again before making my final decision.

After a week full of long (as well as delayed and missed) flights, car rentals, and train rides, I resolved to go to Midwestern. It's a really long and complicated story and explanation, so I'll save it.

Has anyone else chosen a newer program over an older, more distinguished, or proven one? I was reminded of a post that was centered on whether choosing an ivy or state school would affect a person's chance at specializing. Personally, I don't think it matters much unless you go to Stony Brook or Harvard (big competition for admission, small class sizes). I was told that a dean's recommendation, grades, and what kind of person you are matters more than where you went to school.

I believe picking a school is in a lot of ways a lifestyle choice as well. Every dental institution is different, but I can't see any dental program, unless it's about to be closed down, providing a less than respectable dental education.

your font is really ugly.

I think maybe the difference in values that you and I share, is that I believe the school is the factor that allows you to get good grades, educate your character and develop you as a person. I think a school with a solid educational foundation and well-endowed reputation allows you to do this, so not only does it give you an advantage, but it gives you those necessities too.

I think a lot of people feel that a dental school teaches you what enzyme produces so and so, and how to drill, do root canals etc. I feel that a dental education, must like an undergraduate education, is much more than that.

 

[supraman]

looks like we won't be seeing you in the fall Mr Boehm

 

[austinsanity]

looks like we won't be seeing you in the fall Mr Boehm

I'll update my facebook profile soon, Mr. Shehadeh. Good luck at Tufts.

 

[Mazmel]

Last week, I was down to choosing between Tufts and Midwestern and was all but set on Tufts when I decided that I'd travel to both schools again before making my final decision.

After a week full of long (as well as delayed and missed) flights, car rentals, and train rides, I resolved to go to Midwestern. It's a really long and complicated story and explanation, so I'll save it.

Has anyone else chosen a newer program over an older, more distinguished, or proven one? I was reminded of a post that was centered on whether choosing an ivy or state school would affect a person's chance at specializing. Personally, I don't think it matters much unless you go to Stony Brook or Harvard (big competition for admission, small class sizes). I was told that a dean's recommendation, grades, and what kind of person you are matters more than where you went to school.

I believe picking a school is in a lot of ways a lifestyle choice as well. Every dental institution is different, but I can't see any dental program, unless it's about to be closed down, providing a less than respectable dental education.

what kind of dean's recommendation?
I have two deans who have written LORs for me, but they are with the transfer/general education department. is this what you meant?

 

[austinsanity]

your font is really ugly.

I think maybe the difference in values that you and I share, is that I believe the school is the factor that allows you to get good grades, educate your character and develop you as a person. I think a school with a solid educational foundation and well-endowed reputation allows you to do this, so not only does it give you an advantage, but it gives you those necessities too.

I think a lot of people feel that a dental school teaches you what enzyme produces so and so, and how to drill, do root canals etc. I feel that a dental education, must like an undergraduate education, is much more than that.

Thanks for that enlightening and mature opinion, but the font stays. 😀

I've sat in on a lot of classes at a lot of schools, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd still go to my relatively unknown alma mater over any of them. The old schools with great repuations have huge endowments and big-name professors, and that's a great thing which I have nothing against. If you've got one person after a job coming out of the undergraduate program at Harvard versus another out of a SUNY school, I'd say the Harvard grad certainly has the edge. More doors may open to you, but I don't think the education itself is necessarily any better.

As far as dental schools are concerned, plenty depends on the faculty, a strong draw at both Tufts and MWU. A lot, though, has to do with the individual and what kind of learning environment they are most suited to excel in. Just because you get into the private school with the proven reputation or the state school with the low tuition over the new and developing program with no history, doesn't mean you shouldn't weigh your options and make the best choice for yourself.

Based on your logic and school choice, is the student who attends the state program because of the low tuition going to become a better dentist and person than if they had attended Harvard or Tufts or UPenn? Are you certain that an individual that graduates from Western's new program in four years is going to be a weaker clinician or a lesser person than someone who graduated from UCSF or Loma Linda? I believe the answer is no. To each his or her own.

I don't think the traditionalist or the maverick is wrong when they make their choice. The most important thing is for that person to be comfortable and happy with their decision, and if that's the case, they'll most likely be the better for it.

 

[austinsanity]

what kind of dean's recommendation?
I have two deans who have written LORs for me, but they are with the transfer/general education department. is this what you meant?

I was talking about the dean of the respective dental school for entrance into a postgraduate program.