Pros and Cons of Columbia

[baracuda]

I've been accepted to a few schools and am considering columbia university. I was wondering what ppl thing about their program, living enviroment, ect.. I wanna specialize in Endo and over 90% of students at columbia place into specialties. However I 'm not too crazy about taking classes with med students the first couple of years, and not too much into living in NYC for four years. Just wanted to get your 2cents about their program and if anyone has any inside info on them. If there are any current columbia students out there, your input would also be great. My other options so far would be Maryland, Nova, Bu, and tufts, Any ideas on these schools?

thanks and have a good holiday season everyone

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[pakgirl]

Baracuda,
I was accepted to Columbia also. I think the school has a great program ie nice facilities, friendly students and staff, etc. I actually like the idea of having classes with med students...the 3rd year I spoke to said that their passing rates on the boards (part I which is all sciences, no clinicals) is very high b/c they have classes with the med students. And I am sure that the profs are all highly specialized in their indiv. fields which helps. Plus, this student said there really isn't any animosity or competition between meds and dent students, which is something I was concerned about.

As far as the school, I think it is one of the best...the name of the school carries a lot of weight....as for the location, I personally am not a native of NYC and find the city too busy for my taste to live in for 4 years. I know that the cost of living is way high and the school itself isn't in the best parts of the city....then again schools like Temple aren't either.
Anyway, I think you should choose the school where you feel that you belong, how close the school is to family/friends, and of course the cost.

Good Luck to you!

pakgirl

 

[StarGirl]

i haven't been to columbia, but maryland's great.

 

[Buckyball]

I was also accepted to Columbia (I have to decide over these holidays). I thought the school was good in that its reputation is estabilished, the students place very well in the National Boards I and II, and they place about 90% of their students into specialties. On the other hand, I have heard the first two years are very difficult, and the classes are with the med students. The students I spoke with there said that after the first two years, there is basically no class, and it's all clinical, so you have more fun.

What does everyone else think about Columbia? Is its reputation justified? I ask, because I'm from Canada, and I don't really know about the schools in depth. I only know that it's an Ivy League school.

 

[Bruin2k]

baracuda,
if you are thinking about specializing i would go to columbia rather than the other schools you got accepted so far. you will have the best chance getting into a specialty program from columbia. i was impressed by their school but i have decided to stay within california and attend either ucla or ucsf. good luck to you.

 

[Drill+Fill]

When I visited Columbia my biggest concern was whether I would like the city. I spend a couple of days there and I loved it. I was also very impressed with the school. Classes with the med students doesn't bother me, it seems a lot of good schools (with great board scores) are doing that. One thing I did not like about the school however, was the fact that they do their own lab work. It is important to know how to do it, and what to appreciate. But I think doing all your own work is too much. It takes a lot of time, and I'm pretty sure we will all be pressed for time when we get to school. Another problem is that I want to be a general dentist (which seems to put me in a minority these days). I never thought there would be a school for the general dentist NOT to attend, but Columbia certainly seems close. I would love to attend Columbia, but I'm having a tough time getting over this. Can Columbia and the G.P. dream get along?

 

[pakgirl]

Drill + Fill,

The dentist that I interviewed with is a general dentist and she graduated from Columbia. She did to a one year GPR but I don't think everyone feels it is necessary to do a residency. I think that depends on the person. Besides I think for becoming a general dentist this school is great like every school just about. However, if you were wanting to be a specialist, then you have to choose your school very carefully. Think about it, being able to tell your patients that you graduated from Columbia cannot be a bad thing!
I also want to be a general dentist, and the only thing keeping me away from Columbia is NYC, since I am from Texas.

Good Luck!

 

[LAGIRL]

Pakgirl,

Did you interview with Dr. Renee Brown? She was pretty cool, huh?!

 

[pakgirl]

LAGIRL,

I did interview with Dr. Brown! She was awesome! I just wish Columbia was closer to Texas, my home state!

 

[LAGIRL]

Pakgirl,

Good luck to you where-ever you choose to go and happy new year!

LAGIRL