Question for USC PBL program

[balance]

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Dear Doctors:

Can you please let me know if you like the PBL program at USC? What are the benefits and disadvantages compare to the traditional dentistry program. If you would do it over, would you have gone to a traditional scool or you are happy with PBL program?
Also how would you compare USC with the across town school, UCLA. I know UCLA is cheaper than USC, but does UCLA provide a better dentistry program. I highly appreciate your time to answer to this question.

Thanks

 

[booshwa]

I love it.....my main advantage is that you are given soooooo much more free time. Disadavantage is that you are paying a lot of money to basically teach yourself. Additionally there are some topics where it is difficult to learn without a professor-histology for example.

As compared to UCLA-I was talking to a 4th yr. UCLA student this weekend-and we pretty much agree that as far as education, UCLA is probably better (although I believe that their board scores last year weren't significantly higher? we'll see about this yr. in a few weeks). However, when comparing clinical experience, USC is much better based principally on the "principal of real estate"....location, location, location. Because UCLA is in such a more affluent section of LA, they just don't get the number of patients that we will at USC. There just aren't as many people who are willing to get dental care at a university from learning students, when they can afford to go see a seasoned veteran.

 

[ecdoesit]

Just want to say that no matter where you go you will receive adequate training. Each school has its strengthes and weaknesses. PBL is quite unique. It definitely stimulates students to learn and retain their knowledge longer as shown from their board statistics. What matter most is that you find the one that fits you most.

At UCLA, they have off-campus clinics so they have more variety types of patients. So the situation should be improving.

 

[OzDDS]

Sydney University in Australia has recently renovated their dental program to a 4-year pbl curriculum very similar to USC's PBL option. And not only that.. but the ADA has made a site visit to Sydney and apparantly it might actually be accredited in the US/Canada within the next year or two!

 

[toothcaries]

isnt Australia still like a whole different country or something..

why would sydney university need to be accredited in the US?

 

[OzDDS]

Something else of note.. The American College of Vet Surg has now accredited two vet schools in the region. Murdoch in Perth, and Massey in New Zealand. Which allows them to be legally no diff than graduates of any other state in the US.

Canada and the US are diff countries as well... but they are both under the same accreditation board. Australia may be coming into the picture now.. not sure.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Australia may be coming into the picture now.. not sure.

Highly doubtful. Such an agreement would serve no benefit to the US/Canada that I could see. And, Australia is notoriously difficult to deal with in terms of US-trained physicians/dentists becoming licensed to practice there.

 

[*PearlyWhites*]

As compared to UCLA-I was talking to a 4th yr. UCLA student this weekend-and we pretty much agree that as far as education, UCLA is probably better (although I believe that their board scores last year weren't significantly higher? we'll see about this yr. in a few weeks

).

Anyone know how USC did this year??

 

[ItsGavinC]

).

Anyone know how USC did this year??

Nobody will know for a week or so until scores come out.