Schools to apply to if COST isn’t an issue (Need help with school list)

[Etudes]

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Greetings fellow SDNers,

So, I have been given advice on choosing the schools that are most cost efficient before but now since I’m in the military and will be doing military dentistry, cost isn’t a problem anymore as they pay for everything. Now, I am in search of schools that are “good” in terms of great learning environment, high board scores, OOS friendly, and have a reputation for their specialization rate (With the tuition out of the equation). I have been digging but I am sure some people know about some school more than I do. So I thought to ask around since other's might be in the same situation. So far the schools I have decided on are listed below, if I may ask for your advice on what to remove/add.

Resident: Illinois
GPA: 3.94o, 3.90s, 3.90bcp
DAT: 23AA/25TS/21PAT
Community service/Volunteer: 2000+ hrs Shadowing: 150hrs Research: 0 hrs

TOP choices
Columbia, UMichigan, UPenn, UConn, UCLA, NYU

Also great and less competitive (I think?):
Tuft, Marquette, UPittsburgh, UNC, Rutger, UMaryland, U Louisville, U of Pacific, UCSF, USC
(The Cali schools seem to be OOS unfriendly? The % on the guide is so low. Is it worth it?)

Optional
Touro (relatively new), Ohio state (OOS unfriendly), U Colorado, U Florida (OOS unfriendly?), U Iowa, U of Boston

Instate
All 3 Illinois schools (UIC, SIU, Midwestern-IL)

Not going to lie, the list started off as just a list I pulled from a website that ranked the schools and from what I saw thrown around on SDN. Thus, I am ignorant of what constitutes a great school and only made a list out of popularity. I don't know if they are popular because they are cheap or if they have great specialization rate. Therefore, I need some help:

What should I take off from the list above? I wish to apply to only 15 schools.
Is there any hidden gem schools that I am unaware of (again cost isn’t a factor)?
Also, is Stony Brook OOS friendly? (The guide said 9% but some people say yes and others no)

I know at the end of the day, we all come out with DDS/DMD. I just want to spend my money wisely by applying to schools that increases my chance for residency or at least have a competitive environment.

Thank you guys!

 

[I-hate-alginate]

Don't apply to any of the optional schools. If money isn't a problem, go to UoP.

 

[deleted841361]

So just to clarify, are you worried about the price of the schools you're applying to?

 

[Etudes]

Don't apply to any of the optional schools. If money isn't a problem, go to UoP.

I'd accept in a heartbeat if I get accepted. Thanks for the advice! Just curious any opinion on Maryland and Louisville?

So just to clarify, are you worried about the price of the schools you're applying to?

No, price is out of the equation (tuition, materials, housing, food, etc). Majority of my old recommendations were schools that had low tuition/expenses and many "not recommended" were due to the high tuition/expenses. But if tuition isn't a problem now, I wanted to know where should I apply to that will give me a more competitive education and better preparation for boards.

 

[I-hate-alginate]

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about them.

 

[mangler]

Since you want to specialize, the three Ivy Leagues, UCLA, and UCSF are the best schools in the nation for that. Board pass rate is almost 100% at any top school so you don't really have to worry about that when choosing a school.

 

[Etudes]

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about them.

Alright, thank you. I will do some research on them. They just popped up among the top 10 schools on some website's recommendation, which is why I added them.

Since you want to specialize, the three Ivy Leagues, UCLA, and UCSF are the best schools in the nation for that. Board pass rate is almost 100% at any top school so you don't really have to worry about that when choosing a school.

Yes, the Ivies are definitely going to be my top choices (With the exception of Harvard since I have 0 research). Problem with UCLA and UCSF is that they have an incredibly low OOS acceptance + high competition, but I'd still roll the dice for them. Hopefully I get some success with Upenn and Columbia. Aside from my top choices and the list after, are there any other schools with high specialization rate that I did not account for? Thank you!

 

[deleted696582]

Not going to lie, the list started off as just a list I pulled from a website that ranked the schools and from what I saw thrown around on SDN. Thus, I am ignorant of what constitutes a great school and only made a list out of popularity. I don't know if they are popular because they are cheap or if they have great specialization rate. Therefore, I need some help:

Are you doing the HPSP? Results for this year were in during the fall. Unless they changed the application?

With your stats I'd only apply to ten schools at the most. You could get away with less if the list is solid. Up to you, but I don't think it's worth the extra application costs and potential interview costs. I wouldn't apply to any of the schools on your "optional" list or MWU-IL.

All of those schools that you listed as "top choices" and "also great" will give you a good education and an opportunity to specialize. If money isn't a problem, I personally think that the best idea is to look at all the cities and campuses and think about where you would enjoy yourself for four years. That's how I chose Michigan from the schools that accepted me. I knew money wasn't an issue, so I wanted a school that would provide me with a great environment to live in and enjoy myself (e.g. sports, campus life, proximity to a big city, and more).

 

[BeaverLover]

Are you doing the HPSP? Results for this year were in during the fall.

Confused as well. OP, you received HPSP already?

 

[Etudes]

Are you doing the HPSP? Results for this year were in during the fall. Unless they changed the application?

With your stats I'd only apply to ten schools at the most. You could get away with less if the list is solid. Up to you, but I don't think it's worth the extra application costs and potential interview costs. I wouldn't apply to any of the schools on your "optional" list or MWU-IL.

All of those schools that you listed as "top choices" and "also great" will give you a good education and an opportunity to specialize. If money isn't a problem, I personally think that the best idea is to look at all the cities and campuses and think about where you would enjoy yourself for four years. That's how I chose Michigan from the schools that accepted me. I knew money wasn't an issue, so I wanted a school that would provide me with a great environment to live in and enjoy myself (e.g. sports, campus life, proximity to a big city, and more).

Great advice, thank you! Yes, I'm going for the HPSP. The boards are during Fall. I'm just assuming I'll get in one of the branches based on experiences and raw stats. However, nothings is for certain but since Dental Admission comes before the HPSP, I have to make assumptions (hence why I am applying to my 3 states schools as well). Congratz on the Navy HPSP 🙂 It's my top choice! Hopefully I get in during Early Boarding. That's a great idea to look at the environment, I did visit majority of the NY, CT, and MA schools. I liked them a lot. However, I'm too broke to fly to the other states and Cali.

 

[Etudes]

Confused as well. OP, you received HPSP already?

Haha no, maybe I should've changed it to speaking hypothetically. Sorry about the confusion. I hope I get it though.

 

[Etudes]

Great stats OP. You will receive interviews at so many schools this cycle. I would heavily consider the Ivies since cost is not an issue. Also consider UIC since being around Chicago is important for a lot of IL residents. Chicago is really a great city. One word of advice though: do not fall into the trap of believing some schools are less competitive! At this level, schools are very choosey about who they accept. Stats will get you in the door via an interview, but personality and demeanor lands you the acceptance. Good luck!

Thank you for the feedback! I really appreciate it. And yes, I am applying to UIC since I live in Chicago and the two other in-states schools. Thank you for the advice, I will be sure to not underestimate any of dental schools. I know the consequences as I blundered back in undergrad. This is the reason why I am searching for more schools since I know nothing is for certain and don’t want to end up being nowhere. But at the same time I’m narrowing down my list to find the ones that truly fits what I want (environment, OOS %, interesting programs, etc). I will continue to do more research and hopefully end with a list of schools that I’d be happy with before I submit. To be honest, I’d be happy to be in any of the schools listed above.

 

[deleted696582]

Great advice, thank you! Yes, I'm going for the HPSP. The boards are during Fall. I'm just assuming I'll get in one of the branches based on experiences and raw stats. However, nothings is for certain but since Dental Admission comes before the HPSP, I have to make assumptions (hence why I am applying to my 3 states schools as well). Congratz on the Navy HPSP 🙂 It's my top choice! Hopefully I get in during Early Boarding. That's a great idea to look at the environment, I did visit majority of the NY, CT, and MA schools. I liked them a lot. However, I'm too broke to fly to the other states and Cali.

If you finish your application in time for the Navy's early board you'll probably have the scholarship results by December 1st. I did that and my stats were the same as yours but with a lower GPA and much less volunteering, so I'm sure you'll get it if you apply early.

Even if you can't visit schools now you could do some research on what the cities and environment are like. Obviously it's different once you visit, so when you visit for interviews you'll get a clearer picture. I don't think you can go wrong with the two top tiers of school preference you listed.

 

[Etudes]

If you finish your application in time for the Navy's early board you'll probably have the scholarship results by December 1st. I did that and my stats were the same as yours but with a lower GPA and much less volunteering, so I'm sure you'll get it if you apply early.

Even if you can't visit schools now you could do some research on what the cities and environment are like. Obviously it's different once you visit, so when you visit for interviews you'll get a clearer picture. I don't think you can go wrong with the two top tiers of school preference you listed.

Yes, I have the application ready and just going through a long wait until the board meets in October. Thanks for letting me know about that, I really appreciate it and do hope to get it by December. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the feedback! You gave me an idea. I should probably dig up some youtube videos the schools. I’m pretty sure some students do vlogs at their institutions. And yes, now thinking, the list seems solid. Since you’re in Michigan, mind if I ask if I should apply there even though I have 0 research hours? I don’t know how strict they are in terms of research hours for applicants. Thank you!

 

[deleted696582]

Yes, I have the application ready and just going through a long wait until the board meets in October. Thanks for letting me know about that, I really appreciate it and do hope to get it by December. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the feedback! You gave me an idea. I should probably dig up some youtube videos the schools. I’m pretty sure some students do vlogs at their institutions. And yes, now thinking, the list seems solid. Since you’re in Michigan, mind if I ask if I should apply there even though I have 0 research hours? I don’t know how strict they are in terms of research hours for applicants. Thank you!

Yeah there's a lot of information online. Maybe not always about the dental school specifically, but about the campus itself or city at least. Good luck with the HPSP.

I got into Michigan with zero hours of research. Not a problem if you have other meaningful experiences like work or volunteering.