Since Dental Schools aren't ranked...

[amichail]

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Since Dental schools aren't ranked... When you graduate dental school and are out looking for a job, does your potential employer look at where you received your dental education from? I only ask because I am a predent and am torn between choosing Temple or Howard. Howard is significantly less expensive than Temple, but is the stigma of Howard being a "black school" and having lower acceptance criteria than other schools going to haunt me after going there? This maybe a touchy issue, but since it is a life decision I'd like to make the best choice... any constructive oppinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[johntara04]

Honestly, in the long run it probably won't matter where you went to dental school. There may be a dentist or two out there that will overlook you because of where you went to school, but they probably aren't people you would want to work for anyways. Also, 4 years will fly by, but it is also a long time. Go where you will be the happiest (which is hard to know right now). Go where you feel the most comfortable. The more you love your school, the harder you will work, the more willing you will be to overlook the bad things about your school and enjoy your experience. Just think. These are the last 4 years of your life before you have to face reality and take responsibility for everything you have done up to this point.

This is what is great about dentistry, you can do whatever you want to do and be successful. Do what makes you happy. The sooner you realize this is what dentistry affords you the sooner you can fully grasp that happiness.

Well, I need to study so I will stop ranting. Do what you will be happy with.

p.s. With that being said, Temple is the best school in the country. It rocks! See ya next year. 😀

 

[amichail]

Thanks for the input... However that is the same type of advise I got from all of the predents,.. "do what makes you happy." I'm sure just being in Dental school will make me very happy, stressed but happy. However I would like to spend the least amount possible for school, but if it will compromise my future I guesse that wouldn't be the best bet... anyone else have some words of wisdom for me?

 

[MaxAnn]

Don't go to Howard. Ask them how many students don't graduate with their class or at all. The student attrition (drop out) rate there is high. Even dentists working in the surrounding areas know this. Can't speak on Temple, but think twice if not three times before you go to Howard.

 

[amichail]

They even told me that at the interview, but that is a problem with the students, not the school. Students who put in a solid effort and are determined do very well, this just makes it easier for me get a higher class ranking don't you think. (I'm only playing Howard advocate to get more imput, positive or negative).

 

[johntara04]

Don't go to Howard. Ask them how many students don't graduate with their class or at all. The student attrition (drop out) rate there is high. Even dentists working in the surrounding areas know this. Can't speak on Temple, but think twice if not three times before you go to Howard.

Temple graduates everyone that continues to show up and try.

I understand that "do what makes you happy" is a pretty broad and sweeping statement and may seem like a cop out on my part, BUT it is something that only you can figure out. What I like, you may hate. I do go to Temple and I can say that I love it. I feel that for a person that wants to practice clinical dentistry, Temple has its priorities in the right place. They emphasize the clinical aspect, which I love, and minimize the biochem and histology of the eye crap. Even though we spend a significant amount of time on things I will never, ever use once I pass my boards, I don't feel like they are trying to turn us into med students or anything. They concetrate on as much dentistry as possible.

Temple may be a little more expensive than Howard, but is one of the cheapest private schools and if you can get residency (not easy, but possible) then it becomes quite a bit cheaper (almost 15K a year). So far, as a Temple student, I absolutely love it and would reccommend it to everyone that wants to be a dentist when they graduate (not a researcher or a psuedo-physician).

Now, this is just me and not everyone will feel this way about this school or what they want from school. But, Temple had what I thought I wanted when I accepted to come here, and thus far has lived up to expectations.

My only complaint may be that there are rumors that somebody just dropped a butt-load of money on the school and that it is going to be renamed after them. The good part of this is that a lot of things will be revamped around here which would be awesome. The bad part is that I need to find another school that I can get named after me. I guess I can try and beat Gordon Christiansen out and get a school started in Utah with my name on it.

 

[Lesley]

Since Dental schools aren't ranked... When you graduate dental school and are out looking for a job, does your potential employer look at where you received your dental education from? I only ask because I am a predent and am torn between choosing Temple or Howard. Howard is significantly less expensive than Temple, but is the stigma of Howard being a "black school" and having lower acceptance criteria than other schools going to haunt me after going there? This maybe a touchy issue, but since it is a life decision I'd like to make the best choice... any constructive oppinions would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations on your acceptances.

I can't speak of Howard. I don't know anything about it, except that you state it's significantly less expensive, an important consideration.

I can speak of Temple. Both my husband attended, and I have spoken to Temple students over the years. I know one or two instructors over there as well. You will get a very good education in every aspect at Temple, not only academics, but clinical instruction and opportunities, too. It will not let you down.

Do your work and you should have no trouble passing your boards. At Temple you will become a go getter. You will not be spoon fed. This will be of aid when you are in private practice. You will learn to be a good clinician and a practical, critical minded dentist.

I recently spoke to a Temple grad, 2002. He was discussing the clincial aspect and said "Boy, did we do a lot of work at Temple." Your education will not be finished when you're done dental school, it never is, but you will be as prepared as any dental school graduate to start the next phase of your dental career.

I really think it is a big investment and life choice you are making. Taking a second visit to each school may help you firm up your decision. Good luck.

 

[DrJeff]

Speaking as a dentist who forsees the need to add another dentist to my practice in 5 or so years in all likelyhood, the reality is that this is a "yes" and "no" answer.

In general, the reality of the current demographics of practicing dentists verses new grads as has been mentioned in this thread before is that there will be roughly 2 dentists reaching retirement age/retiring for every one graduating d-school for a number of years to come. Dentists thinking about retiring nowadays are aware of this, since many dentists out there haven't been as diligent with their retirement planning as they should have been and look towards the sale of their practice as a sizeable piece of their retirement savings. A dentist looking to hire an associate/potential partner/potential sole owner of their practice will in many cases feel some pressure to bring a new dentist on board that might not be completely what they had in mnd for their practice, but will allow them to sell their practice, so in that case it really doesn't matter where you graduated from d-school.

Speaking now as someone that is friends of an examiner from the NERB (northeast regional board of dental examiners), yes their are a certain schools that have a reputation of turning out a higher percentage of people who have difficulty passing the board exam (and no I will not post the names of them - because those schools also do turn out some outstanding clinicians).

The perception though amongst the masses of dentists out their is the reason why it doesn't matter outwiegh the reason why it does matter(whether that is the correct reasoning or not - thats open for debate). So go to a school where a) you think it will be the best fit for you, and b) hopefully you'll end up needing less loans to get your education.

 

[MaxAnn]

They even told me that at the interview, but that is a problem with the students, not the school. Students who put in a solid effort and are determined do very well, this just makes it easier for me get a higher class ranking don't you think. (I'm only playing Howard advocate to get more imput, positive or negative).

That is what they always say. The administration will always, always, always throw blame on the students no matter how incompetently run the school is. So many students who work hard there and get screwed around it is not even funny. Also, that should give you pause: They are already predicating the situation by admitting they lose a significant amount of students. READ between the lines. They are covering themselves before the eminant storm. Believe what I am telling you.

 

[ou_jay]

Go where you feel the most comfortable; don't let the cost affect your decision unless there is no way that you could finance the education at the more expensive school.

I guarantee that in the second and third years, when it gets really tough, the money won't make a flips worth of difference to you, if you go to the cheaper school even though that you liked the more expensive school better.

Also, I plan own my own practice and hire associates when I get out. The school a person attended would be at the bottom of a long list of criteria by which I would evaluate job candidates. The list would be topped by ethics, communication skills, clinical skills, and charisma in that order.

 

[Dental916]

price does matter to a certain extent. What do u think is the price difference after 4 years? If its 50 or less go to which ever one. If its 75 or more go to the cheaper one. The grey area in between is up in the air. Its much easier to start life 75 g less in debt, but if the school is total crap then I might think twice. Like the person stated earlier...the dentist's knowledge, people skills, likeablity are what will show through and get them the job.

 

[amichail]

I really appreciate all of these comments and advice, all of you guys are awesome! More comments and advice are still very welcome and needed.

 

[Dukie]

Go where you feel the most comfortable; don't let the cost affect your decision unless there is no way that you could finance the education at the more expensive school.

I guarantee that in the second and third years, when it gets really tough, the money won't make a flips worth of difference to you, if you go to the cheaper school even though that you liked the more expensive school better.

Also, I plan own my own practice and hire associates when I get out. The school a person attended would be at the bottom of a long list of criteria by which I would evaluate job candidates. The list would be topped by ethics, communication skills, clinical skills, and charisma in that order.

I have to disagree with you partially on the financial question. I would counter that in my second year, it has been really tough (at times, horrible) but I am thankful that I am paying in-state tuition. I got in to several private schools which i strongly considered (such as Columbia, e.g.) and while I may have gotten a good education there too, I likely would have been just as stressed and would be paying 3-4 times as much for it.

That being said, there is a difference between the schools in terms of training and preparation. If you want to go into a specialty resideny, the program directors certainly know which schools turn out better clinicians than others and will choose students accordingly. If you plan to go directly into practice, just be sure you are at a place that will prepare you well. All will do so at a satisfactory level, but some schools will graduate students who are faster and more competent than others.