Serious dilemma - Iowa vs. Michigan

[cbeck4]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I need help big time. I realize it's an awesome problem to have, but I am completely torn between University of Iowa and University of Michigan.

Iowa: I'm in state here. I'm closer to my family (about 3.5 hours). They have a brand spanking new clinic that is beautiful. I'm assuming rent would be cheaper here.
Michigan: They offered a very generous scholarship that makes the cost about the same as Iowa (4k more but in the long run that really doesn't matter). Ann Arbor is an amazing city! The Michigan name would be great to carry with me if I plan on specializing (at this point I do).

Please help!

 

[DocVaquero]

I'll throw in my 2 cents.

I'm also from Iowa so Iowa will obviously be my number 1 choice due to cost reasons. If I had the choice to go to Michigan for practically the same price, I would probably do that. Don't get me wrong, Iowa is a great school but I've lived in Iowa my whole life (currently go to ISU) and would love to experience somewhere else (like Ann Arbor 😍).

Hope this helps!

 

[dp93]

I need help big time. I realize it's an awesome problem to have, but I am completely torn between University of Iowa and University of Michigan.

Iowa: I'm in state here. I'm closer to my family (about 3.5 hours). They have a brand spanking new clinic that is beautiful. I'm assuming rent would be cheaper here.
Michigan: They offered a very generous scholarship that makes the cost about the same as Iowa (4k more but in the long run that really doesn't matter). Ann Arbor is an amazing city! The Michigan name would be great to carry with me if I plan on specializing (at this point I do).

Please help!

not sure how much that would actually matter, but i would prob also go to Michigan. Not too often in life you get the opportunities to experience a new place to live.

 

[michiganhawkeye7]

Hey @cbeck4. Congrats on both acceptances! I think I could be of help here. I am instate in Iowa and received an acceptance, but I am in Ann Arbor after finishing my undergrad at Michigan and just interviewed here as well. If you have any questions about Michigan Id be happy to help, and I have also compared the two schools all cycle so let me know!

 

[Lock_Jaw]

I'd do Iowa, because I could really use that seat at Michigan haha. But honestly, I'm a big proponent of living near family. That's my take. I am in Ann Arbor every weekend because my girlfriend lives there. I wouldn't call it an amaizing place, but it is nice. Very diverse, actually, often i feel a minority there being a white male (even though this isn't the case). Lots of nice places to go visit there. Neat school. I've also heard great things about Iowa from a family friend who went to law school there. So choice is yours. If you haven't weight living costs make sure you do because Ann Arbor is one of the most expensive places outside of major cities like L.A. or NYC.

 

[LabCoatAndPearls]

I interviewed at both schools and will be attending UMich in June, so I'm a little biased. Having interviewed at both places, however, I believe I can still throw in my .02. Iowa was a very nice school and I have no doubt that they produce quality dentists, however I did not get a good vibe when I was there interviewing (this is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.) Maybe I was there on a bad day, but not one dental student stopped to talk to our tour group, or even smiled at us for that matter, and a professor literally shooed us out of the pre-clinic and slammed the door in our faces. Even though stuff like this may seem petty (because it is) things like that leave a big impression on me... UMich is pretty much incredible, and even though it was stressful, I still had an awesome interview day there. Either way you can't go wrong! GL!

 

[CleverThought]

I'm a current dental student at Iowa and I absolutely love it. Feel free to message me with any questions to have. It's a wonderful school and a great program. Plus, its the program with the earliest clinic entrance of all the dental schools.

 

[Avocado24]

If I was in your situation I think I would go to Iowa. Don't get me wrong, Michigan is an awesome school, but I've heard a lot of good things about Iowa too. The thing that would push me towards Iowa though is that it is much closer to home. That's a really big deal to me.

If that's not a big deal to you, or you are looking for a change in scenery, then Michigan is an awesome option! As someone else mentioned though, the cost of living is really high in Ann Arbor. Not sure if you accounted for that in your price comparison, but it's something else to think about.

 

[ajj70]

Probably not a lot of help but go where you think you want to practice some day. If you want to stay in Iowa, go to Iowa. Having that diploma from Iowa will make a difference in a small town, Iowa practice. If you don't plan to stay in Iowa, go to Michigan. I'm a firm believer that everyone should move away from home at least once in their life and have to start all over again--college or dental school is a great time to do that. By "away" I mean to a place where its not easy to get home and back in a day.