should i go to my interview at UPITT and TEMPLE

[vamosbears]

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I have an interview at UPITT and TEMPLE coming up but not sure whether to go or not. I am from California living in DC at the moment. I already have interviews at UOP, USC, UCONN, and COLUMBIA.

Does anyone have any input? I do not know much about UPITT and TEMPLE.

Thanks

 

[somethinpositiv]

personally, I would go to Pitt, and skip Temple.

 

[jaypea65]

You could always just skip Pitt and Temple and leave some more spots open for us in-state residents. I will gladly take your spot.

 

[dentalservant]

Personally, I would go to both of them. You never know how admissions is going to look at your application in comparison to others at the end of the day. I would rather have more choices on December first than fewer. I have 9 interviews and I am attending every single one (screwing over my grades but oh well). Good luck with whatever you choose..

 

[doc toothache]

It depends on how confident you will that one of the four will pan out.

 

[katy5787]

I would attend every interview you get until you have an acceptance in your hand. You never know what can happen unfortunately. Temple isn't in the best area but it's definitely one of the best clinical schools. Pitt is also really great. I go to Pitt for undergrad and I love living in Oakland. Pitt dental school also has a great reputation.

 

[that guy]

its only 3 hours from dc to temple + another 4-5 to pitt. go you fool

 

[DSpagnoli]

personally, I would go to Pitt, and skip Temple.

Awesome idea, I love telling people to skip interviews when they have not even been accepted yet

 

[somethinpositiv]

Awesome idea, I love telling people to skip interviews when they have not even been accepted yet

Well, when you already have 4 interviews, one of which being UoP which has a 97% interviewee acceptance rate, and is clearly a better school than Temple, you have to be pretty damn insecure and unconfident in yourself to need to go to that interview. The argument that Temple is an amazing clinical school (and it is) ends when you begin to compare it to UoP.

So yes, it is an awesome idea.

 

[DSpagnoli]

Well, when you already have 4 interviews, one of which being UoP which has a 97% interviewee acceptance rate, and is clearly a better school than Temple, you have to be pretty damn insecure and unconfident in yourself to need to go to that interview. The argument that Temple is an amazing clinical school (and it is) ends when you begin to compare it to UoP.

So yes, it is an awesome idea.

I'm not going to entertain any real response to a statement that says UoP is clearly better than Temple. Clearly?? Clearly?? Really??

 

[bluejellybelly]

So yes, it is an awesome idea.

The point is to take all interviews while not being accepted to any school as of yet. Unless you're on the UoP admissions board and you can assure this student that the "3%" chance of being rejected is impossible, then I'd say it helps to go to all interviews.

The OP has nothing to lost but a short car ride of a drive, really.

 

[somethinpositiv]

I'm not going to entertain any real response to a statement that says UoP is clearly better than Temple. Clearly?? Clearly?? Really??

😉

 

[PChemGrad]

Temple is a great place, and your only in DC, so its not like you have to buy a $800 plane tix. its only $40 in gas. so I would consider going to the interview, you have very little to lose, and a whole lot to gain.

If you didnt have any plans on going to the interview then why did you apply?
My suggestion is to go to every interview you can until you have that acceptance.
With Temple being in a bad neighborhood, what does that really have anything to do with it. none of the students live around there, we all commute in every day which isnt that bad.
besides that where all the pts are at.
The facilities may be a little old, but the skills you develop are excellent, you are confident in your procedures, and can handle just about anything afterwords.

 

[somethinpositiv]

I'm not going to entertain any real response to a statement that says UoP is clearly better than Temple. Clearly?? Clearly?? Really??

crystal.

DSpag, am I not allowed to have an opinion? because clearly you have your own opinions as well.

now I am not set in my ways. find me an out-of-state current Temple School of Dentistry student who turned down an acceptance at UoP and I will listen wholeheartedly to all of the reasons why they chose the school that they did, and I may change my mind and admit that I was wrong.

Temple certainly has it's merits. Like I said, it is an amazing clinical school. Also, my mother and brother live 40 minutes from downtown Philly, and and it's always nice to have family nearby. However, with a 97% chance of getting in UoP, I personally wouldn't deem the additional time and cost necessary. OP is asking for our opinions, is she not? She's not asking, "please, give me the same old spiel about how I need to go to all of my interviews, please!"

And by "skip" I don't necessarily mean not go entirely. You could try to put off the interview until post-Dec. 1st, and if you don't get in anywhere you can go to additional interviews. Temple will certainly not like that, but if you are a superior candidate they might understand and put up with this. DSpag, maybe you're not doing anything, but personally I have to make a lot of sacrifices to go to interviews, missing class and homework that I can't make up, as well as missing work at my 2 jobs; the cost of the trip isn't even the worst part (even if the cost is only $40, like PChem said). OP is probably asking because they have a busy schedule..

and 97% is as good as 100% in my book. in my opinion, you'd need to be a complete glass-half-empty pessimist to think otherwise. I'm confident in my acheivements, social skills, ethics, and moral values, and I can bet the OP is as well; if that's the case, than the OP has absolutely nothing to worry about. And even if the OP, whoops, is that 3%, OP still has interviews at 3 other schools (USC, UConn, Columbia) which the OP regards more highly (right or wrong) than the two schools she is contemplated not going to interviews for, otherwise she'd be asking this same question about those 3 schools. If the OP does not get into any of those 4 schools, than you can tell me "I told you so" DSpag. That is about as likely as McCain winning the state of Illinois.

 

[vamosbears]

Thanks for all the replies!😀 I am actually the first person in my family (first generation from immigrant parents) to graduate from college and apply to a post undergraduate education. So, any advice is great, especially since I graduated a year ago and do not have a pre-dental advisor handy.

Why I applied to so many schools? I am not insecure, but I rather be safe than sorry. i am so glad to be able to pay for everything myself without help from my parents. Taking time to work after college was the best decision ever because I also realized that the dental field is much better than the medical field. Thank God I did not apply to med school.

 

[DSpagnoli]

crystal.

DSpag, am I not allowed to have an opinion? because clearly you have your own opinions as well.

now I am not set in my ways. find me an out-of-state current Temple School of Dentistry student who turned down an acceptance at UoP and I will listen wholeheartedly to all of the reasons why they chose the school that they did, and I may change my mind and admit that I was wrong.

Temple certainly has it's merits. Like I said, it is an amazing clinical school. Also, my mother and brother live 40 minutes from downtown Philly, and and it's always nice to have family nearby. However, with a 97% chance of getting in UoP, I personally wouldn't deem the additional time and cost necessary. OP is asking for our opinions, is she not? She's not asking, "please, give me the same old spiel about how I need to go to all of my interviews, please!"

And by "skip" I don't necessarily mean not go entirely. You could try to put off the interview until post-Dec. 1st, and if you don't get in anywhere you can go to additional interviews. Temple will certainly not like that, but if you are a superior candidate they might understand and put up with this. DSpag, maybe you're not doing anything, but personally I have to make a lot of sacrifices to go to interviews, missing class and homework that I can't make up, as well as missing work at my 2 jobs; the cost of the trip isn't even the worst part (even if the cost is only $40, like PChem said). OP is probably asking because they have a busy schedule..

and 97% is as good as 100% in my book. in my opinion, you'd need to be a complete glass-half-empty pessimist to think otherwise. I'm confident in my acheivements, social skills, ethics, and moral values, and I can bet the OP is as well; if that's the case, than the OP has absolutely nothing to worry about. And even if the OP, whoops, is that 3%, OP still has interviews at 3 other schools (USC, UConn, Columbia) which the OP regards more highly (right or wrong) than the two schools she is contemplated not going to interviews for, otherwise she'd be asking this same question about those 3 schools. If the OP does not get into any of those 4 schools, than you can tell me "I told you so" DSpag. That is about as likely as McCain winning the state of Illinois.

I guess the smiley face did not suffice.. I only read a few sentences until I read some garbage about having an opinion.

"UoP is better than Temple". That is your opinion, and you are entitled to have it....unfortunately that does not make it fact. Therefore it is only crystal in your mind. If you noticed, I never stated Temple was any better. I'm just saying there is no real way to say with certainty that X school is better than Y school unless it is your own personal opinion.

 

[somethinpositiv]

Nice waste of time on the lengthy response. I only read a few sentences until I read some garbage about having an opinion.

"UoP is better than Temple". That is your opinion, and you are entitled to have it....unfortunately that does not make it fact. Therefore it is only crystal in your mind. If you noticed, I never stated Temple was any better. I'm just saying there is no real way to say with certainty that X school is better than Y school unless it is your own personal opinion.

I never consider posting on these boards a waste of time, especially if it is responding to someone elses thread by offering advice or opinions to help them.

DSpag, if you consider responding to threads on SDN a "waste of time" than I suggest you don't post on these boards. Though you will be missed dearly, by me *tear.*

"I'm just saying there is no real way to say with certainty that X school is better than Y school unless it is your own personal opinion." True. That's exactly what I said in in my response to this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=570523

It is my opinion. And I feel strongly about my beliefs. I'm not one of those wishy-washy types who are afraid to express their real opinions yet are quick to attack others for taking a stance and believing in something. I never said you were a Temple advocate. However, I do admire your enthusiasm in being the Devil's Advocate. and I'm glad that you consider that my opinion is "garbage, and I respect your opinion.

Stay classy DSpag.

 

[bluejellybelly]

crystal.

DSpag, am I not allowed to have an opinion? because clearly you have your own opinions as well.

Okay, so your opinion is that you think its crystal clear UoP beats Temple. That's fine, however it may or may not be of good judgement for the OP; your opinion of whichever school may be better might actually hurt an applicant's potential choice. The way I see it, if the applicant didn't get accepted yet, an additional trip to a dental school 40 minutes away in the same state wouldn't hurt their process. If the applicant took the time for applications to other schools, why not follow through? I canceled all my interview offers once I was accepted, but before that, I took every chance. Regardless of what anyone says about a certain school, there's got to be a reason the OP applied to the one in question.

and 97% is as good as 100% in my book. in my opinion, you'd need to be a complete glass-half-empty pessimist to think otherwise. I'm confident in my acheivements, social skills, ethics, and moral values, and I can bet the OP is as well; if that's the case, than the OP has absolutely nothing to worry about.

🙄
Good for your confidence, but for others, it MAY be better safe than sorry. I don't like what-ifs. If you asked a group of students, none of which had offers of acceptence just yet, it's likely that a majority of your fellow peers wouldn't turn down interviews at a school they applied to (heck, I think judging by the number of people in this forum, aren't you outnumbered in opinion of whether or not to attend the interview without any acceptences?). That's just the nature of the cycle, unless they decide that a school they applied is most certainly not for them. Once I found out about USC's curriculum, I terminated my application there. But that's influence through solid research, not by hear-say.

 

[DSpagnoli]

I never consider posting on these boards a waste of time, especially if it is responding to someone elses thread by offering advice or opinions to help them.

DSpag, if you consider responding to threads on SDN a "waste of time" than I suggest you don't post on these boards. Though you will be missed dearly, by me *tear.*

"I'm just saying there is no real way to say with certainty that X school is better than Y school unless it is your own personal opinion." True. That's exactly what I said in in my response to this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=570523

It is my opinion. And I feel strongly about my beliefs. I'm not one of those wishy-washy types who are afraid to express their real opinions yet are quick to attack others for taking a stance and believing in something. I never said you were a Temple advocate. However, I do admire your enthusiasm in being the Devil's Advocate. and I'm glad that you consider that my opinion is "garbage, and I respect your opinion.

Stay classy DSpag.

Listen. My original post was clear if you or anyone else can't read sarcasm. It was my opinion that the OP should go to the interview. I lent my 2 cents.

Where it becomes a waste of time is when I engage in a discussion that turns into a pissing match (this type of thing tends to happen on sdn) - when I actually should be studying, you know...dental school stuff...

The only thing I really disagree with you on is that saying X dental school is better than Y dental school may be misleading to someone who is trying to make a very important decision personal to himself/herself. I'm glad we established finally that "UoP is better than Temple" is just your opinion.

 

[Northside]

Why apply from the beginning if you won't go to the interview? Some ppl just need to just sit back and ask themselves what they really want. If you don't want to go to a certain school, then don't apply there. 97% means nothing until you have that letter of acceptance in your hand.

 

[somethinpositiv]

Okay, so your opinion is that you think its crystal clear UoP beats Temple. That's fine, however it may or may not be of good judgement for the OP; your opinion of whichever school may be better might actually hurt an applicant's potential choice. The way I see it, if the applicant didn't get accepted yet, an additional trip to a dental school 40 minutes away in the same state wouldn't hurt their process. If the applicant took the time for applications to other schools, why not follow through? I canceled all my interview offers once I was accepted, but before that, I took every chance. Regardless of what anyone says about a certain school, there's got to be a reason the OP applied to the one in question.



🙄
Good for your confidence, but for others, it MAY be better safe than sorry. I don't like what-ifs. If you asked a group of students, none of which had offers of acceptence just yet, it's likely that a majority of your fellow peers wouldn't turn down interviews at a school they applied to (heck, I think judging by the number of people in this forum, aren't you outnumbered in opinion of whether or not to attend the interview without any acceptences?). That's just the nature of the cycle, unless they decide that a school they applied is most certainly not for them. Once I found out about USC's curriculum, I terminated my application there. But that's influence through solid research, not by hear-say.

OP, you should thank blueJB. This is the kind of constructive dialogue that should be going on here (Not the kind of "pissing match" that DSPag seems to enjoy). And true, the majority may think the contrary. The OP should take into account the majority opinion, as well as consider other "outnumbered" opinions, and make the best judgement that the OP can make based on all the information that is available.

Same as you, I did solid research and decided that UCSF, Columbia, Indiana, Case Western, and Southern Illinois were not right for me. But we're not here to do the research for the OP, we can tell her what we believe, and have the OP consider that advice, as well as do her own research to come to the decision that is right for her, not necessary what is right for someone else in a similar position.

To the OP, keep us updated on how your cycle goes! I'd love to hear back on which acceptances you get on December 1st. Don't listen to the pessimists and haters, you'll be fine this cycle 🙂

 

[somethinpositiv]

It was my opinion that the OP should go to the interview. I lent my 2 cents.

Your opinion, eh? Well your opinion is garbage! Just kidding, just doing my best impression. I really do value your opinion, as I do anyone else's. I simply lent my 2 cents as well.

I actually should be studying, you know...dental school stuff...

You probably should, you're definitely busier than us pre-dents.

The only thing I really disagree with you on is that saying X dental school is better than Y dental school may be misleading to someone who is trying to make a very important decision personal to himself/herself. I'm glad we established finally that "UoP is better than Temple" is just your opinion.

Fair enough. I never said otherwise. It is my opinion, and perhaps the opinion of some others. I'm glad we've established that you disagreeing with me is just your opinion, and perhaps the opinions of some others.

 

[DSpagnoli]

Your opinion, eh? Well your opinion is garbage! Just kidding, just doing my best impression. I really do value your opinion, as I do anyone else's. I simply lent my 2 cents as well.



You probably should, you're definitely busier than us pre-dents.



Fair enough. I never said otherwise. It is my opinion, and perhaps the opinion of some others. I'm glad we've established that you disagreeing with me is just your opinion, and perhaps the opinions of some others.

You realize there is no end to this. You are a damn keyboard warrior ! I'll concede to you my friend - you scholarly dude....you have amazed us all with your rhetoric! Friends?!

 

[bluejellybelly]

Somethinpositiv,

I agree that even the "outnumbered" advice should be taken into consideration. I do appreciate what other students have to say and I'm sure the OP does too.

I will say this though- The only reason I will speak up for Spagnoli is because I know his stats pretty well. He's a brilliant kid, by the far one of the smartest kids around Temple, he had a killer GPA from a Top 20 university, and from what I've heard about his application process (he had a crazy number of interviews), I can understand why he was quick to spout out that bit of sarcasm. I'm sure the OP now sees the difference in opinion for the interview, and about dental schools and such. I may not agree with everyone here but I'd defend their right to say their opinions (Voltaire would agree).


Best of luck to you in the application process! 👍

 

[somethinpositiv]

BlueJBand & DSpag, I am sorry to offend you Temple dental students. I'm a pre-dent, young and naive, what do I know? 😛

Well, it's good that the OP (and others) can read the dissenting opinions of both current dental students and pre-dent peers. Only on SDN, right? 🙂

And to be honest, if I was in DSpag's shoes I would have spit out the same sarcarm as well, and would probably have the same opinion on this. Both of us are very opinionated (which is irritating to some) hehe, and had I shared the same experiences I would have formed similar conclusions.

And who knows, I might end up hating and resenting UoP for not giving me an interview 😛 and who knows, I may end up regretting not applying to more schools, including Temple (which is right by my Mom's house).

Anyways.. I think this is my last post on this thread hehe.