SIU Dental Medicine students....

[Dr.Jamie]

Is there anyone out there?
Just curious to talk to anyone that currently goes to this school, or has in the past. I'm interested in what you think of it, and where you live. I'm moving down there to the St. Louis area, and I may be going there in the future.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ramona_k]

I don't go to SIU but this is what I can say about it:

SIU is a good clinical school. It is in a small town in the middle of nowhere though. oh and if you are wanting to go to school there you should find a place to reside on the IL side because they take mostly instaters.. hope this helps.

 

[Superhuntress]

JUST MY IMPRESSION AND OBSERVATIONS! OF COURSE EVERYONE WILL HAVE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE AND OPINIONS, SO PLEASE DON'T ATTACK ME FOR MY ACCOUNT OF SIU-SDM AND WHY I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.

I know of a great apartment 100 yards from the admissions office and across the street from the clinic for around $500 per month. It has new paint, and is huge and historic. Currently a 3rd year and a 2nd year live there. They are both sweet and helpful young men. The apartment will be available in July or August.

In regards to the school: I don't recommend going to SIU-SDM. I worked as a research assistant in the micro and growth and development labs at SIU-SDM, and the research was interesting but that is where the good things about SIU-SDM end. One of their recently graduated dentists was in cocaine rehab for an extended period of time and it took him 5 years to get his DMD. There have been several cases of student's getting DUIs, but these offenses are usually paid for and covered up quickly. The alcoholism and drug use is rampent; more rampent than on most dental school campuses. Students have been involved in without being caught or have been caught and arrested in the past few years offenses such as: indecent exposure, illegal consumption, DUI, drug possession, domestic disputes, assult and battery.... SIU-SDM had been my first choice until I worked there. I was offered by several students tips on how to cheat if I were to matriculate at SIU-SDM. Because I worked for several of the SIU-SDM faculty, I was repeatedly pressured by several students to steal tests and answer keys for upcoming exams for them. When I refused they grew extremely angry and taunted me. A large percentage of the class is comprised of foreigners. Diversity is great and all, but at a state supported school it seems like spots should not be offered to people from foreign countries until all of the qualified Illinois residents have a spot, then all of the qualified US residents, and finally foreigners. I know of at least 5 students who were accepted with DAT scores of 15 or 16, so it isn't your academic achievement as much as your ability to play their game. There is not a sim-lab, so you have to learn using "teeth on a stick". The pre-clinic facilities are old and definitely not cutting edge. The new clinic is nice, but the luster only covers up the problems that contained within the walls of the school. I have personally spoken to students in all levels of their education there, and the ones I spoke with are unhappy and regret coming to SIU-SDM. They thrilled that they will be dentists but are not happy with their chosen school. These are the reasons I selected another school over SIU-SDM.

 

[Superhuntress]

Oh, and SIU-SDM is in Alton, which is a suburb of Saint Louis. It is about 10 minutes from the Saint Louis, and 30 minutes to downtown Saint Louis arch area. Alton isn't that great of a town unless you like biker bars. If you want to go out and have fun it is possible, but requires a drive into Saint Louis. It is a great area to live in, I loved Saint Louis!

 

[Dr.Jamie]

Thanks for the input! I'll have to think about things now.

Here is the situation: I'm actually living in Fairview Heights right now. My boyfriend and I just moved into our apt in nice part of the town. He accepted a job down there at a really great tech company. I decided to go with him because there is nothing left for me in Bloomington, Il, and we are both from the chicago area. I can't move home, and UIC has basically shown no interest in me (my uncle went to D school there, so he is really pressuring me).
So, i've been waitlisted at SIU, and i figured I might as well move down there. I've heard great things about St. Louis. I got a job down there in insurance, doing what I have been for a while now. I am also considering completing a masters at SIUE.
Anyway, I will keep trying for both UIC and SIU, but i'm broke and can not afford applying all over the country. UIC would be great, but i've had a bad experience with the admissions woman there. Plus, on other posts i've heard bad things about that school as well.
So right now, I have no idea what to do.

 

[purduephigam]

Thanks for the input! I'll have to think about things now.

Here is the situation: I'm actually living in Fairview Heights right now. My boyfriend and I just moved into our apt in nice part of the town. He accepted a job down there at a really great tech company. I decided to go with him because there is nothing left for me in Bloomington, Il, and we are both from the chicago area. I can't move home, and UIC has basically shown no interest in me (my uncle went to D school there, so he is really pressuring me).
So, i've been waitlisted at SIU, and i figured I might as well move down there. I've heard great things about St. Louis. I got a job down there in insurance, doing what I have been for a while now. I am also considering completing a masters at SIUE.
Anyway, I will keep trying for both UIC and SIU, but i'm broke and can not afford applying all over the country. UIC would be great, but i've had a bad experience with the admissions woman there. Plus, on other posts i've heard bad things about that school as well.
So right now, I have no idea what to do.

In defense of UIC, Ann Shorrock would be the woman you had the "bad experience" with, and personally I find that extremely hard to believe. She's an excellent resource and is extremely thoughtful and pleasant. Unless you have a problem with someone telling you what you don't want to hear, I'm not sure how someone could rightfully develop ill feelings toward someone like this. Regardless, there are pros and cons to each and every school. And every person is different, with different preferences.

That sum-up of SIU was pretty brutal, and may be true to some degree; however, someone with a different experience might disagree completely. I have spoken with a student at SIU, who like most people resents the "Alton life," but feels they were getting an excellent education (who goes to dental school to party anyway?). As for "bad things" about UIC, I'm not exactly sure what this meant. Maybe their clinic isn't among the greatest, but it's a pretty impressive facility overall. As for the students, each and every student I've spoken to is noticeably happy with their decision and they are happy to help or honestly answer any questions that pre-dents may have. I hate to sound harsh, as I usually am for some reason on this forum, but if one or two negative posts from probably bitter and immature pre-dents is going to give you a bad impression of that school than you have some growing up to do. Like I said, each school is different, each school has ups and downs, and each applicant is different with certain needs/preferences/goals. But you don't need me to tell you that, you're all grown up right?

 

[Superhuntress]

I am sure there are some happy people at SIU-SDM, and I know that their 4th year students ususally do really well on boards. The school's new clinic is a lot nicer than than the old clinic, and since they began requiring admissions interviews, the new D1 class should be really great. I learned a lot working at SIU-SDM, and I worked with some really amazing doctors on their research. However, since I lived on the SIU-SDM campus for 2 years, worked in their labs, dated SIU-SDM students, studied in their library everyday, and earned my Master's at SIUE, I also have a unique view of SIU-SDM. I did meet some very lovely people, but most of the students I met had serious complaints. That faculty I worked for also had serious complaints about the students, faculty, equipment, heirarchy, admissions program, etc. I learned a lot from this person, and it was this person who helped me decide to attend dental school elsewhere. A faculty member once said that: "If SIU-SDM required random drug tests of their students, we wouldn't have a dental school." This person also complained of the large number of foreign students and bizzare admissions standards. If you believe me to be an "immature pre-dent", that is fine. I am not a pre-dent, but if you feel I am immature in my attempts to help students learn about all parts of SIU-SDM, that's ok. I am trying to help people see the downsides to SIU-SDM because every school has downsides, they just are not usually put into the open. I could have attended SIU-SDM, but I chose to attend a school that was a better fit for me. I am certaintly not bitter because I got everything I wanted and needed from SIU-SDM, learned a tremendous amount, and helped several faculty members achieve their research goals. But I also dodged a bullet by learning about the more intimiate parts of SIU-SDM. It wasn't the school for me, but maybe it will be the school for you! I know that they are making big changes right now, and that just may be the push SIU-SDM needs to up the caliber of their school.

 

[Dr.Jamie]

everyone will have their own opinions, which is why i posted this.

My uncle went to UIC, so to him UIC is heaven on earth. In fact, he is the only person I know that has gone there. I would love to be in the city, but I'm just not sure how that is going to play out. I'm afraid the city may be a distraction to me. Then again, its possible it would be the best four years of my life. But, about Ann Shorrock and my admissions experience. I have met her in person, and she was nice. I called there once another time, but I don't think it was here I dealt with. Didn't sound like her at all. In fact, ther person I spoke with sounded like they had no idea what they were doing.

I've heard so little about SIU, and I only know one person that has gotten in there. I needed advice from those that have experienced life there. The numerous times I've called there, they've seemed so nice and very helpful, but this is all I have to go off of.
Thanks for the input

 

[dentaltom]

As a beginning fourth year at SIU-SDM, I'll say that the experiences I've had here have been positive in general. SIU-SDM is fairly lax regarding discipline of misbehaving students and should probably be a little tougher. The faculty and teachers are very nice. Pre-clinical courses were probably not too high tech but the competency exams were very difficult and stressful. I felt prepared to deal with patients. In many ways, the hardest comps in the clinic are still cake-walks compared to pre-clinical comps. It's insulting to state that most if not all of the students would fail a drug test if it was required.

Superhuntress, you did not learn about the inner workings of SIU-SDM by working in the science building. I think I know who you are and I think I know who you dated and by dating him you chose to associate with his type of personality. He is not a representation of most students in the school since a majority, including myself are married and live what we believe are upstanding lives. I am sorry you were not given the respect you were due from the dental students at my school. Maybe you should not have gotten involved with them personally. 90% of my class is caucasian and even then, who cares if they were foreigners---I'm sorry you have a problem with foreigners.

Only five schools in the nation scored higher than my 2008 SIU-SDM class on the first boards. The average score was an 89. The matriculating average is a 3.55 GPA and 19 DAT..... Our research is getting better but will probably always be a weak point of our school, but who cares....Alton is not the best town but it's cheap. The new clinic is nice and fully computerized but Axium sucks and slows down dental care to the point where our patient pool is fairly shallow. Still, every one graduates on time.

I would love to answers any questions about my school and my answers will be biased because I think SIU-SDM is a great school. But don't take my answers seriously because I'll probably be wasted or something....

 

[Superhuntress]

I am sorry if I offended you, I am sure there are plenty of honest, intelligent, hardworking people. am glad that you are a respectable dental student, because I have to admit, the first time I applied, I was very upset to lose a seat to people who seemed like the type you wouldn't want being dentists. I am VERY glad you had a good experience there. I am just used to my SIU SDM neighbors and their friends complaining about SIU-SDM, and regretting going there. And the 2 people I dated from SIU-SDM may have been bad apples rather than a valid representation of the school in general. I am definitely a better judge of the people I date now, and more careful. I have to say I have never been treated with less respect in my life than by those 2 people, and other SIU SDM students. And also, pehaps the Drs. I worked for at SIU SDM were bitter. I spent hours and hours just standing in their lab while they complained and complained about the students, the other faculty, the administration, the buldings.... It went on and on. I also consulted in Saint Louis area dentists and many of them recommended that I not attend SIU SDM due to a deteriorating reputation..... But again, there ARE people like you who make SIU SDM a respectable place. No, thankfully I will never be a student there so I didn't learn about the innerworkings from the student perspective. But I did learn a lot about the beaurocracy, people, attitude, and innerworkings as a staff member. I also didn't like being black-balled by the administration, but that is old news.... So perhaps I got all the worst of SIU SDM. Congratulations on your career at SIU SDM. I am glad I had other options, and I am also glad that there are people like you at SIU SDM to bring some respect to the campus.

As a beginning fourth year at SIU-SDM, I'll say that the experiences I've had here have been positive in general. SIU-SDM is fairly lax regarding discipline of misbehaving students and should probably be a little tougher. The faculty and teachers are very nice. Pre-clinical courses were probably not too high tech but the competency exams were very difficult and stressful. I felt prepared to deal with patients. In many ways, the hardest comps in the clinic are still cake-walks compared to pre-clinical comps. It's insulting to state that most if not all of the students would fail a drug test if it was required.

Superhuntress, you did not learn about the inner workings of SIU-SDM by working in the science building. I think I know who you are and I think I know who you dated and by dating him you chose to associate with his type of personality. He is not a representation of most students in the school since a majority, including myself are married and live what we believe are upstanding lives. I am sorry you were not given the respect you were due from the dental students at my school. Maybe you should not have gotten involved with them personally. 90% of my class is caucasian and even then, who cares if they were foreigners---I'm sorry you have a problem with foreigners.

Only five schools in the nation scored higher than my 2008 SIU-SDM class on the first boards. The average score was an 89. The matriculating average is a 3.55 GPA and 19 DAT..... Our research is getting better but will probably always be a weak point of our school, but who cares....Alton is not the best town but it's cheap. The new clinic is nice and fully computerized but Axium sucks and slows down dental care to the point where our patient pool is fairly shallow. Still, every one graduates on time.

I would love to answers any questions about my school and my answers will be biased because I think SIU-SDM is a great school. But don't take my answers seriously because I'll probably be wasted or something....

 

[billermo]

I don't go to SIU but this is what I can say about it:

oh and if you are wanting to go to school there you should find a place to reside on the IL side because they take mostly instaters.. hope this helps.

Moving to Illinois right before applying may not benefit you. I was under the impression SIU only accepts long time residents who plan to practice in southern IL. Not sure they like to accept chicago kids either who will simply return to chicago to practice. I thought I was a shoe in for SIU, received up to 10 interviews from other schools (this was before SIU started interviewing), long time central IL resident, met their avg. stats, even went for a scheduled tour and met with the admissions officer. Waitlisted the first year. Still no dice. Am I bitter? YES! I don't take rejection well.

I was a central Illinois resident for 7 years and could not get into either SIU or UIC 2 years in a row. Finally chose Louisville, which I absolutely love (the school and the city). Not sure I could have lived in Alton for 4 years anyway. Believe me, you will have a life outside of dental school so make sure you are happy with your environment. Dental school is stressful enough, I couldn't imagine living in a depressing small town. I'd probably start hitting the bottle...hard!

Final thought: go where it's cheap. Had I gotten accepted to SIU I would save over $100k. That's a huge amount of money. Regardless of where you go, you will receive a good education, so do it as cheaply as possible. It's also important to be happy in your surroundings. If living in a small town is not for you, I wouldn't suggest it.

 

[Deng13]

yea turns out uic will not accept me because i am in the process of getting a green card and i am not a permanent resident yet...this sucks cause i was really hoping to go to uic and save some money. but now siu is my only choice in which i wont have to pay ridiculous out of state tution fee...i was really worried about SIU because i had heard some bad stuff about it...but this definately helps a bit. it really doesnt seem too bad...thanks!