The Musketeer said:
UDM has a excellent clinical program, however, its location getto area near downtown Detroit, and the relocation of its dental school back to its main campus in 2 years time, which I suspect will be the primary focus of the faculty, you edcuation may suffer because of this. Current students are already paying for it caused by increase tuition to pay for the new (to-be-constructed) facilities, and soon, the administrators may not even care about you and just concentrate on the transition to the new school.
I did a bit of research regarding these scathing rumors. It is true that UDM School of Dentistry is planning the construction of a new school that should be completed in 2007. Having recently built a brand new state-of-the-art dental clinic in 1997, their experience of what works can only be enhanced! This will be a top-tier school housing state-of-the-art classrooms, clinics, labs, offices, etc.
The School of Dentistry did not increase their tuition and fees to pay for the last dental clinic they built and will not do so for the future. Any increases are on par with percentage-rate increases that all state and private college/universities have imposed due to state and federal budget cuts. A major campaign for funding of the new school is underway and the University has a solid credit rating for bond issue.
The School of Dentistry treats a very large underprivileged, underserved population who, if it were not for the school being located where it is (within the city) would not receive treatment. This is truly a service to the metropolitan-Detroit community and a strength of the clinical experience program.
Your claims of moving closer to downtown a bit true. The school is presently located on the northwest border of the city. The 2007 location will be closer to downtown, but still a 20 minute commute.
The main campus is not located in "the ghetto" and as a matter of fact, it is located very close to some of Detroit's finest communities (Palmer Woods, Rosedale Park, ...) Major investors are planning the building of condos in the immediate vacinity and Barnes and Noble has committed to a major bookstore/coffee shop on or next to the campus by 2009. If it were the ghetto, why the revitalization? That would be foolish business!
As for the School's faculty? Historically, the dental school has had its own on-sight basic science faculty. They are not shared by medical or undergraduate programs. This did not change with their relocation from downtown Detroit (not a ghetto either) and is not anticipated to change with relocation to the university's main campus. Access to faculty by students remains strong and is reflected in the administration's commitment to the student-centered, supportive environment they strive to retain (I have a few friends currently enrolled).
I am seeking a dental program that will teach me to be the best clinician I can be. That, and I wish to treat diverse population of patients (Detroit and its surrounding communities are wealthy in a culturally diverse populations). It may cost a bit more, but the more prepared I am when I walk out of dental school, the more efficiently I can CARE for my patients. The investment will pay off. I will be a caring professional and along with my strong clinical skills , a successful professional.
The choice is yours but don't bash what you don't know. It's not professional.
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Good luck at Case!
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