please help..

[shopgirl]

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Hi everyone--I am new to this forum and I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice to help me make a huge decision. I have been very fortunate and honored to be accepted to UCLA, and Harvard. I am a CA resident, and eventually I want to practice in California. I am not interested in going into academic dentisry, but I would like to explore the possibility of becoming a specialist. I like both UCLA and Harvard. I simply love the westwood area where UCLA is locared. I like Boston as well but I would like to come back to sunny California to practice. At Harvard, dental students take classes with medical students in the first two years. Also, they have problem based learing curriculum. My biggest concern with Harvard would be I don't know how I will handle such rigorous curriculum and problem based learning ( b/c my college courses were all traditional style) I know Harvard has an amazing record of sending students to specialty. How about UCLA? Which school should I attend assuming money is not a huge issue? And where should I go if money is a issue? Thank you very much for your help.

 

[tinker bell]

I heard that UCLA sends an amazing numbers of students to specialty as well. UCLA also has one year of research you have to do (a girl who goes there told me this).

The only problem I have with UCLA is that their patient pool is not great. I don't know about Harvard patient pool. Someone else on this forum will probably be able to chip in.

If you want to practice in CA. I would say go to UCLA. I don't know how well the big H prepares their students for the CA board though. This you need to ask the current Harvard students, and if possible, find their alumni who are currently practicing in CA.

It is a tough choice. Congrats on your acceptance to both great schools. They are all good after all. Regardless where you are going. UCLA and Harvard take turn to rank number one in
NDBE I. So, nothing can go wrong with either choice.

 

[dentisttobe]

tinker bell,

I am entering UCLA this fall and for your information, there is no required one year research project. Whether you are doing the combined DDS/MS program is another story. I really wish people would get their info from more than one reliable person before posting on this forum.

shopgirl,

GO TO UCLA!!!! I look forward to meeting you! I think that UCLA is the best in every aspect. State tuition (good if money is an issue), pass/no pass grading, laid back westwood, friendly people, it will be easier to pass the CA boards, they rank in the top 2 of NBDE part I, classes taught by med professors without the med students in the same room, and an amazing reputation for placing graduates in specialty programs.

In regards to patient pool, I don't think this should be a factor in deciding which dental school to attend. Though the patient pool may be low at UCLA, EVERYONE GRADUATES ON TIME with no problem. As long as everyone learns what they should, that is all that matters. So you may have to work a little harder in this department, but you still get a damn good cheap education!

dentisttobe

 

[s.mutans]

If you already know you want to practice in CA, then here is one thing you should think about. NETWORKING! Some dentists actually have better experiences setting up their own practice when they know colleagues that they can do business with. Especially in some areas of CA, there are a lot of dentists that compete. Residencies for specialties also are hard to find. One pedodontist I spoke with had a similar problem. Go to UCLA! It sounds like you are already hesistant about attending Harvard.