Rutgers or Stevens for pre-dental?

[deleted843491]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Both are the same price. I am a senior in high school right now, deciding between the two. I was going to major in Chemical Biology for either school. However, is it better to go to a school that has a dental school affiliated with it despite the fact that there are a lot of students or a much smaller school that doesn't really have anything besides engineering? At least at Stevens, there is a chance that I can become closer with professors to get good recommendation letters but I don't think there is much to do there to help wth dental school admissions.

 

[deleted696582]

If they are the same price, I would go to Rutgers. You could even try to get involved with dental school research in undergrad. A larger school will mean that you might get more opportunities for clubs and volunteering as well.

As far as letters of recommendation go, I'm at one of the top ten largest undergrads in the nation, and I still managed to form relationships with my professors. It's all about making the effort to both learn from and get to know them.

 

[WaveRace]

I second what @Fets said about letters of rec. I did undergrad at a massive institution (produces close to, if not the most premeds in the country). Professors are just people, too. It's easy to box them into this category of being way higher on the academic totem pole, and think "I don't want to waste their time" etc. Most professors love when students talk to them and get to know them. Just this week, I had an old professor email me out of the blue to ask what I was up to. It's like any other relationship - if you put in the effort, it'll happen. Even in classes with 2-300 students, if you want to know the professor, you can. Although, it is easier to wait for upper level courses (which are smaller) to get to know professors.

I'm biased, but I say go to the bigger school. You'll meet a greater number of people with lofty goals similar to yours, you will have access to better resources (more famous professors, research opportunities), and you will likely have a broader array of academic options in front of you.

 

[deleted843491]

I second what @Fets said about letters of rec. I did undergrad at a massive institution (produces close to, if not the most premeds in the country). Professors are just people, too. It's easy to box them into this category of being way higher on the academic totem pole, and think "I don't want to waste their time" etc. Most professors love when students talk to them and get to know them. Just this week, I had an old professor email me out of the blue to ask what I was up to. It's like any other relationship - if you put in the effort, it'll happen. Even in classes with 2-300 students, if you want to know the professor, you can. Although, it is easier to wait for upper level courses (which are smaller) to get to know professors.

I'm biased, but I say go to the bigger school. You'll meet a greater number of people with lofty goals similar to yours, you will have access to better resources (more famous professors, research opportunities), and you will likely have a broader array of academic options in front of you.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. The class size is about 300-400, as in that each class has about 300-400 students. Stevens would has as much as only 100 students. So there is much more competition at Rutgers...and I'm not much of a talker. Would going to a significantly larger school be better? It is true I will meet more people at Rutgers with similar goals to mine..they even have a "Rutgers Pre-dental Society." It's honestly the class size I'm not fond of.

 

[deleted843491]

If they are the same price, I would go to Rutgers. You could even try to get involved with dental school research in undergrad. A larger school will mean that you might get more opportunities for clubs and volunteering as well.

As far as letters of recommendation go, I'm at one of the top ten largest undergrads in the nation, and I still managed to form relationships with my professors. It's all about making the effort to both learn from and get to know them.

But Stevens is smaller than Rutgers. And it usually costs $70k to go to Stevens compared to Rutgers which is $35k. However, I got a scholarship from Stevens, making both the same price. Do you think class size matters? At Stevens, the class size is around 100, but at Rutgers, it is around 300-400. So it's probably easier to get closer with the professors at Stevens. Rutgers is a state school and Stevens is private. However, Stevens is more engineered-focused, so I dunno how they could help in any way to get me the extracurricular I need for dental school. Would you still say Rutgers over Stevens?

 

[perseus2270]

Which Rutgers do you plan on attending? I went to the New Brunswick Campus and will be attending Rutgers for dental school as well. While you can definitely obtain letters in larger classes, my LORs came from smaller classes within my major. I'm not familiar with Stevens but at Rutgers you get a lot of opportunities to do research and be involved in extracurriculars. They have a pretty solid prehealth committee as well. The school will prepare you very well to submit a competitive application but the dental school says it doesn't favor Rutgers students despite being affiliated. I'm definitely biased but I think Rutgers is a really good choice for being a well rounded pre-dental.

 

[deleted843491]

Which Rutgers do you plan on attending? I went to the New Brunswick Campus and will be attending Rutgers for dental school as well. While you can definitely obtain letters in larger classes, my LORs came from smaller classes within my major. I'm not familiar with Stevens but at Rutgers you get a lot of opportunities to do research and be involved in extracurriculars. They have a pretty solid prehealth committee as well. The school will prepare you very well to submit a competitive application but the dental school says it doesn't favor Rutgers students despite being affiliated.

Yeah New Brunswick. I went to their open house and the people there seem to be very friendly. My friend said they were being fake though, but I dunno what's the point of them being fake. I visited Stevens, and they just seemed depressed to me. Maybe just really serious when it comes to studying? The only thing that makes me wary of Rutgers NB is the bus/transportation and class size. What major did you do? I want to do chemical biology, but my dad is telling me to do engineering in case I don't get into dental school.

One other friend of mine says that Stevens would be better for pre-dental, because there are so many students at Rutgers. In other words, there are a lot of people competing for LORS and opportunities. Is there enough for everyone? Like say I try my best to find one, will I ever get any? Did you join the Pre-dental Society at Rutgers? Did they help?

 

[perseus2270]

Yeah New Brunswick. I went to their open house and the people there seem to be very friendly. My friend said they were being fake though, but I dunno what's the point of them being fake. I visited Stevens, and they just seemed depressed to me. Maybe just really serious when it comes to studying? The only thing that makes me wary of Rutgers NB is the bus/transportation and class size. What major did you do? I want to do chemical biology, but my dad is telling me to do engineering in case I don't get into dental school.

One other friend of mine says that Stevens would be better for pre-dental, because there are so many students at Rutgers. In other words, there are a lot of people competing for LORS and opportunities. Is there enough for everyone? Like say I try my best to find one, will I ever get any? Did you join the Pre-dental Society at Rutgers? Did they help?

I have friends at Stevens and they seem pretty stressed. I have to disagree with the fakeness because most people I know at Rutgers genuinely enjoy their undergraduate experience, myself included. I don't think it's too hard to get LORS because while I did well in the classes, I didn't really stand out as a student to the professors I asked. You just have to find the professors that want to help you. I didn't do the Predental Society so I can't comment. And if you're set on dentistry I would highly recommend not doing engineering. I was in Biomedical engineering and the school's curriculum is very tough and will hurt your GPA. Choose one and stick to it don't make engineering a back up. I graduated as an exercise science major and you'll learn to get used to the bus system it's really not that big a deal lol.

 

[Symphonies]

But Stevens is smaller than Rutgers. And it usually costs $70k to go to Stevens compared to Rutgers which is $35k. However, I got a scholarship from Stevens, making both the same price. Do you think class size matters? At Stevens, the class size is around 100, but at Rutgers, it is around 300-400. So it's probably easier to get closer with the professors at Stevens. Rutgers is a state school and Stevens is private. However, Stevens is more engineered-focused, so I dunno how they could help in any way to get me the extracurricular I need for dental school. Would you still say Rutgers over Stevens?

300-400 isn't terrible, my current chem class has roughly 500-600 people, same with pysch which I took last semester. My chem professor still knows me by name and recognizes me-- just make an extremely clear effort and show that you really care. Go to office hours, ask questions after class, answer questions during lecture, there's plenty that you can do to get recognized even in a big class size

Edit: Noticed you posted this in the premed forum too.. depending on what you're aiming for that might change some things

 

[LFA20]

Ru yo

 

[deleted843491]

300-400 isn't terrible, my current chem class has roughly 500-600 people, same with pysch which I took last semester. My chem professor still knows me by name and recognizes me-- just make an extremely clear effort and show that you really care. Go to office hours, ask questions after class, answer questions during lecture, there's plenty that you can do to get recognized even in a big class size

Edit: Noticed you posted this in the premed forum too.. depending on what you're aiming for that might change some things

Wow I thought 300-400 people was bad, and now the number has increased...how do you even get used to classes like that? How do you even talk to the professors? And how do the tests even work? And yeah, I asked about pre-med for a friend.

 

[SmileItsLife]

Wow I thought 300-400 people was bad, and now the number has increased...how do you even get used to classes like that? How do you even talk to the professors? And how do the tests even work? And yeah, I asked about pre-med for a friend.

My Gen Chem class has ~300 students. Don't worry about the class size number.
1. Not everyone goes to lecture. I'd guess only 30-50% showed on non-test days after the first week.

2. Sit in the first two rows of the lecture hall, and you'll forget about all of the students behind you. It will feel like the professor is only lecturing to ~50 students instead. Also if you sit in the front, you won't get distracted.

3. If you have a question raise your hand. You are sitting in the front. The professor will see you and recognize your face and see that you have a question. You will be like 5 feet away from them. Or if you are shy, walk up to them after class. 5-6 people will do that every class.

4. Tests will either be given in class: They'll have a bunch of grad students helping hand out the test, watch for cheaters, accept your exam after checking your student ID, and grade the exams if it is not 100% scantron.

Or tests's will be given in the testing center: There is a location at many universities where you can go into a computer lab between 4-5 day timeframe your professor gives and take the exam on the computer.

Humans are adaptive in nature. You'll adapt within the first 2 weeks. Class size should be the last thing on your mind. Yes, you have to make an effort to make yourself known or get help, but it is there if you ask. You are paying these professors to help you. You'll be fine as long as you stay actively involved.

 

[deleted843491]

My Gen Chem class has ~300 students. Don't worry about the class size number.
1. Not everyone goes to lecture. I'd guess only 30-50% showed on non-test days after the first week.

2. Sit in the first two rows of the lecture hall, and you'll forget about all of the students behind you. It will feel like the professor is only lecturing to ~50 students instead. Also if you sit in the front, you won't get distracted.

3. If you have a question raise your hand. You are sitting in the front. The professor will see you and recognize your face and see that you have a question. You will be like 5 feet away from them. Or if you are shy, walk up to them after class. 5-6 people will do that every class.

4. Tests will either be given in class: They'll have a bunch of grad students helping hand out the test, watch for cheaters, accept your exam after checking your student ID, and grade the exams if it is not 100% scantron.

Or tests's will be given in the testing center: There is a location at many universities where you can go into a computer lab between 4-5 day timeframe your professor gives and take the exam on the computer.

Humans are adaptive in nature. You'll adapt within the first 2 weeks. Class size should be the last thing on your mind. Yes, you have to make an effort to make yourself known or get help, but it is there if you ask. You are paying these professors to help you. You'll be fine as long as you stay actively involved.

I guess I should just commit to Rutgers today then. Rutgers would have more opportunities than Stevens, right? More to do and they are affiliated with a dental school which is a plus. And that's true, sitting in the front would help a whole lot.

 

[SmileItsLife]

I guess I should just commit to Rutgers today then. Rutgers would have more opportunities than Stevens, right? More to do and they are affiliated with a dental school which is a plus. And that's true, sitting in the front would help a whole lot.

I don't know much about Stevens, but I don't think class size should be your primary reason for holding you back. If that was the only reason, go to Rutgers. If it wasn't, there is no harm in going to Stevens if that is your favorite choice all aspects considered.