School Advice

[Shiny Teeth 22]

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So I had asked a few questions regarding Penn not too long ago and I have really been thinking it over but would love to hear some more opinions from those not related to me/friends. I'm in state for RU but am pretty sure I will end up wanting to specialize -- is it worth it for the extra money to attend an Ivy and have a better chance at specializing? Also, based on curriculums, Rutgers looks pretty daunting and while dental school will be hard, it looks like Penn may be a bit more flexible with timing on a day-to-day basis?

I really liked my time at NYU and Kentucky as well, and while living conditions are close to being polar opposites (really love cities), should these be considered, too?

Any thoughts and opinions are appreciated! Thanks!

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Didn't apply to any of these schools, so I can't help much, but I will say definitely consider living conditions. If you love cities (I do, too), you might be unhappy somewhere less city-like. I would say rule out NYU due to cost and enormous class size, but you might have to go with gut feeling on the others. Someone who applied to these schools may be able to chime in and help more.
Good luck with your decision 🙂

 

[Shiny Teeth 22]

Thank you! I have definitely been considering the living conditions and I really do like the idea of living in Philadelphia. Personally, I feel as if Penn would provide me with great resources and abilities to further my career after general dentistry (if I so choose at the time), but Rutgers is significantly cheaper when all is said and done. I hate making everything about the money because I don't think that is the best way to live, but it definitely is a concern given the amount of money I'll be paying back over the course of the loan that can ultimately affect a lifestyle.

Really tough choice and been thinking about it a lot. Thanks for the input, @hellofuturedentists !

 

[Incis0r]

Personally, I feel as if Penn would provide me with great resources and abilities to further my career after general dentistry (if I so choose at the time), but Rutgers is significantly cheaper when all is said and done.

Sounds like your top two are Rutgers and Penn. What's the price difference between the two?

 

[nonociceptors]

Thank you! I have definitely been considering the living conditions and I really do like the idea of living in Philadelphia. Personally, I feel as if Penn would provide me with great resources and abilities to further my career after general dentistry (if I so choose at the time), but Rutgers is significantly cheaper when all is said and done. I hate making everything about the money because I don't think that is the best way to live, but it definitely is a concern given the amount of money I'll be paying back over the course of the loan that can ultimately affect a lifestyle.

Really tough choice and been thinking about it a lot. Thanks for the input, @hellofuturedentists !

If Rutgers will be significantly cheaper for you, then definitely Rutgers. It's a great school and you'll be able to specialize if that's really what you want.

 

[Shiny Teeth 22]

Sounds like your top two are Rutgers and Penn. What's the price difference between the two?

Yeah I guess subconciously those have been the two that I've been gravitating more towards. I really liked NYU but the class size is pretty big and the cost is more than Penn with everything added in. I believe final numbers, with tuition inflation sort of added in, is around 300k for Rutgers and 450k for Penn. Rutgers definitely is more cost-effective, but I was just so impressed by Penn and am not sure if it will help me in the long run.

Edit: Numbers include everything, with fees, instrument prices, and living expenses.

 

[Shiny Teeth 22]

If Rutgers will b significantly cheaper for you, then definitely Rutgers. It's a great school and you'll be able to specialize if that's really what you want.

See that's what I've been thinking, too. I just think it would be much harder and more stressful than it already is. Going to Penn may make it easier to reach that speciality, especially since only Top 10 are ranked. I was told that at Rutgers the entire class is ranked and only the top few reach specialities. It is cheaper, which is huge and may be significant enough for me to choose there, but if it weren't for cost, I'm not sure it would be too much of a discussion and that's why I'm as hesitant as I am.

 

[Incis0r]

Yeah I guess subconciously those have been the two that I've been gravitating more towards. I really liked NYU but the class size is pretty big and the cost is more than Penn with everything added in. I believe final numbers, with tuition inflation sort of added in, is around 300k for Rutgers and 450k for Penn. Rutgers definitely is more cost-effective, but I was just so impressed by Penn and am not sure if it will help me in the long run.

I think it's great that you took tuition inflation into account. A lot of people don't, and then are shocked when they see the difference.

A difference of 150K is huge. Is this before interest?

Do you plan to take this entire amount out in loans?

If I had to make a call between 300K in loans at Rutgers and 450K in loans at Penn, I'd go Rutgers without hesitation. You never know if you might have to take out loans for your specialty program, and that could add even more to your debt burden.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I was in a similar spot as you when making my decision, minus the desire to specialize. What really helped me was thinking of it this way:
"Is (living in city) worth an extra $100k+interest to me than (living in city)?"
For one school, the answer was yes. For another school, the answer was no. I could then narrow it down. Replace (living in city) with anything, and replace $100k+interest to $150k+interest. Additionally, you may not want to specialize later on. Then you'll be in extra debt for no apparent reason. If you end up wanting to specialize, you'll make it happen with hard work.

 

[Shiny Teeth 22]

I think it's great that you took tuition inflation into account. A lot of people don't, and then are shocked when they see the difference.

A difference of 150K is huge. Is this before interest?

Do you plan to take this entire amount out in loans?

If I had to make a call between 300K in loans at Rutgers and 450K in loans at Penn, I'd go Rutgers without hesitation. You never know if you might have to take out loans for your specialty program, and that could add even more to your debt burden.

Yes, this would all be in loans and specialty would likely be from loans as well. Financially, it is pretty clear but just in terms of happiness in my early twenties, options for furthering the career, and location make Penn more appealing. I guess it would be right to say that it comes down to if those three things are worth the extra money. I see 100% why you would choose Rutgers though, really tough to pass that price up given my other scenarios.

 

[Shiny Teeth 22]

I was in a similar spot as you when making my decision, minus the desire to specialize. What really helped me was thinking of it this way:
"Is (living in city) worth an extra $100k+interest to me than (living in city)?"
For one school, the answer was yes. For another school, the answer was no. I could then narrow it down. Replace (living in city) with anything, and replace $100k+interest to $150k+interest. Additionally, you may not want to specialize later on. Then you'll be in extra debt for no apparent reason. If you end up wanting to specialize, you'll make it happen with hard work.

Absolutely, and that's the huge question. I want to say yes, but it's hard for me to justify that $150k when I could use that toward a house or a car or something useful down the road. However, in regards to specializing, it's tough to say because we haven't done much yet, but just from what I've seen I think I'm going to like some specialties better than general procedures -- not sure by any means, but just a gut call there, and the numbers of students getting into the residencies is significantly different between the two schools. Really tough to decide!

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Absolutely, and that's the huge question. I want to say yes, but it's hard for me to justify that $150k when I could use that toward a house or a car or something useful down the road. However, in regards to specializing, it's tough to say because we haven't done much yet, but just from what I've seen I think I'm going to like some specialties better than general procedures -- not sure by any means, but just a gut call there, and the numbers of students getting into the residencies is significantly different between the two schools. Really tough to decide!

As a general dentist, you can still do many of the things specialists do. For example, you can treat children even if you're not a "pediatric dentist". I believe you also don't have to apply immediately after school and that you can work a few years first (someone correct me if this is wrong). Also, do not as many Rutgers students place because they weren't competitive enough, or because they didn't want to apply to a residency? If many want to go straight to practice, that is likely a reason for low placement numbers. Low percentages would be a different story though.
Just stuff to keep in mind.

 

[Shiny Teeth 22]

As a general dentist, you can still do many of the things specialists do. For example, you can treat children even if you're not a "pediatric dentist". I believe you also don't have to apply immediately after school and that you can work a few years first (someone correct me if this is wrong). Also, do not as many Rutgers students place because they weren't competitive enough, or because they didn't want to apply to a residency? If many want to go straight to practice, that is likely a reason for low placement numbers. Low percentages would be a different story though.
Just stuff to keep in mind.

Definitely very good points. I believe that, from what I've heard, Rutgers has a good percentage for each speciality (i.e. 5/5 for one, or 7/8 for another, just making up numbers here, but same point). However, there just aren't as many and I think part of it is due to class size at Rutgers (80-85) versus Penn (120-125) but I'm not quite sure. I appreciate your comments though, definitely opening up different perspectives!

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Definitely very good points. I believe that, from what I've heard, Rutgers has a good percentage for each speciality (i.e. 5/5 for one, or 7/8 for another, just making up numbers here, but same point). However, there just aren't as many and I think part of it is due to class size at Rutgers (80-85) versus Penn (120-125) but I'm not quite sure. I appreciate your comments though, definitely opening up different perspectives!

Good luck choosing! Again, I haven't looking into either of these schools, so take everything I say with a few grains of salt haha

 

[SXCoronado]

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[Shiny Teeth 22]

Rutgers

I'm assuming because of cost or for other reasons?

 

[SXCoronado]

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[Syntav]

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