SUNY Buffalo.

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When i interviewed there I was impressed @ the quality of the clinics. Kind of like case western, except newer and with lots of bright windows. Each student supposedly get their own chair for 3rd and 4th year!!!! The only negative is that the students have to schedule their own patients and according to our guide they have a 50% no show rate.
 
did u hear anything about how many ppl specialize coming from Buffalo?
 
Buffalo is a bit higher than most schools in that around 20-25%max specialize. Schools like UCONN, Columbia, and Harvard (i think UPENN too)have closer to 40-50%max specialization rate (Haaavard is a bit higher). That doesn't include GPR's and AEGD. I don't know for sure what buffalo's rates are for those residencies, but I know UCONN, Columbia, and Harvard (combined GPR, AEGD, and all specialties) are between 90-100% depending on the class. Please understand that this is all really speculation as I am in no way an expert on this issue. I am just an applicant like just about everyone else on this thread who is repeating the info I have gleaned from my visits to these schools.
 
oldboy said:
Buffalo is a bit higher than most schools in that around 20-25%max specialize. Schools like UCONN, Columbia, and Harvard (i think UPENN too)have closer to 40-50%max specialization rate (Haaavard is a bit higher). That doesn't include GPR's and AEGD. I don't know for sure what buffalo's rates are for those residencies, but I know UCONN, Columbia, and Harvard (combined GPR, AEGD, and all specialties) are between 90-100% depending on the class. Please understand that this is all really speculation as I am in no way an expert on this issue. I am just an applicant like just about everyone else on this thread who is repeating the info I have gleaned from my visits to these schools.

I'm a first year at buffalo and all those things are pretty much true, however, i've never heard anything about a 50% patient no show rate. From what I've heard from upperclassmen, no-shows really screw up your schedule, so if you get a patient who doesn't show up twice you can get them out of your patient pool. Unfortunately, since i'm a first year I can't really tell you how clinics run.

another thing that i've heard from upperclassmen is that you do get a really good clinical education in all areas except for implants because the patient pool is relatively poor. i don't think that is the worst thing to happen because you can get that experience if you do a GPR/AEGD to prepare for private practice. any other questions feel free to PM me and i'll tell you what i know
 
Anybody know about this "essay" that you're supposed to write as part of your interview? Is it something we should worry about?

Any feedback on the interview would be appreciated! 🙂
 
I am also a first year and I have never heard anything about a 50% no show. I do know that there a lot of elderly people going in and out of the clinic and very few crack-****** like I have heard some other schools have.
 
As a Buffalo grad, I'd bet that whoever told you about a 50% no show rate is one of those students who complains about every little thing that isn't spoonfed to him/her. I would put my no-show rate at <10% when I was in school. Most of my classmates were probably similar. If you are motivated, and the majority of us were, you'll be fine. Yes, a good chunk of our patients were elderly. I would say most were "clean" patients (I didn't know anybody with a drug user or homeless patient, unlike what I've heard at other schools) and at a low to medium level of medical complexity. Having done a residency in NYC, the patients I saw at school in Buffalo were much nicer, politer, cleaner, hard-working, respectful, appreciative and overall healthier.
 
oldboy said:
....Schools like UCONN, Columbia, and Harvard (i think UPENN too)have closer to 40-50%max specialization rate (Haaavard is a bit higher). That doesn't include GPR's and AEGD...

Do they give different numbers to different groups of interviewees?

This is what I have for UPENN:
Source>> Title: Self-Reported Plans of SDM Graduates 2002-2005
2005:
Endo...........................5 people
Oral and Max. Surg........6
Ortho..........................10
Pedodontics..................5
Perio............................4
Prostho........................6
-----------------------------
Total............................36
Total # of students.........128*
*This number includes 9 undecided students.

36/128 = 28.125% specialize
28.125 < 40-50%

UPENN is a great school but 40-50% seems a bit too high

UCSF claims 32% of its students go beyond GP; 66% GP; 2% no response
80 students * 0.32 = 25.6 or 25-26 students

UPENN...............vs............UCSF
28%..................vs............32%
36/128 students..vs............25-26/80 students

Conclusion: Since numbers fluctuate I'd say both schools are equally good for specialization.

Anyhow, I don't see 40-50% specialization rate at any university unless your specialties also encompass internship, externship, general practice for 1 yr after the 4th yr under a prof's supervision, and the like
 
also, are any of you UB current students/grads from big cities like i am? im a little worried that i wont be able to adjust to a place like Buffalo..what is there to do? what do you think?
 
bbllplya said:
also, are any of you UB current students/grads from big cities like i am? im a little worried that i wont be able to adjust to a place like Buffalo..what is there to do? what do you think?

Study. That's what all my NYC friends used to say - that one of the good things about going to dental school in Buffalo is that there are less distractions to keep you from studying.
 
Buffalo is also the second largest city in New York state.
 
Audio said:
Buffalo is also the second largest city in New York state.

that means nothing, you can go downtown on a saturday and everything is closed. this is the only "large" city i've ever been to where the downtown area is a ghost-town. btw, my experience is extremely limited since i've only lived here for 4 months. but coming from los angeles (ucla area) buffalo really doesn't compare.

however . . . the saving grace in terms of buffalo not being the coolest city i guess is that there is a strip of bars on main street literally right next to campus that all the UB undergrads go to. so there is definately enough to do and enough tail to chase. also there is the elmwood area where kids from other local colleges and a slightly older crowd go to if you want to mix it up a little. there is definately enough to do though, and the city that the school you're looking at should never determine where you get your training

basically, buffalo isn't the coolest place to go in terms of the city, but you're going to be so busy with school that there are enough places to go out when you want to let off steam. my experience so far is that i'm either at school, the library, the bar, or the grocery store.

its almost kind of good that the city blows because that means cheap a$$ rent and less financial aid 👍

my two cents
 
superchris147 said:
this is the only "large" city i've ever been to where the downtown area is a ghost-town.
my two cents

Have you ever been downtown Dallas after dark?... :scared:
 
bbllplya said:
also, are any of you UB current students/grads from big cities like i am? im a little worried that i wont be able to adjust to a place like Buffalo..what is there to do? what do you think?


When I lived near buffalo it was funny because the current joke was that you know you are from east amherst because the only reason you go south of thruway, is to go skiing or go to the walden galleria. But the dental school is in buffalo and its proximity to ub north campus ensures lots of stuff to do if you like to drink or do whatever college students do.

I've never actually lived in a 'big' city though. :laugh:
 
speaking of skiing....

what are the good slopes near buffalo? how far away are they?

i might go to dental school there next year, but at the very least, i'll be visiting my girl at med school this winter. it would be nice to hit the slopes while she is in class...

in other news, it will hit 80 degrees in charleston this week. for you postal service fans out there, now we can swim any day in november 🙄
 
syn_apse said:
speaking of skiing....

what are the good slopes near buffalo? how far away are they?

i might go to dental school there next year, but at the very least, i'll be visiting my girl at med school this winter. it would be nice to hit the slopes while she is in class...

in other news, it will hit 80 degrees in charleston this week. for you postal service fans out there, now we can swim any day in november 🙄

You can actually sign up with a UB club since you'll be a student. They charge something like $150 for the whole winter season. This includes transportation almost everyday to the slopes and you're taken to "kissing bridge".
 
I have heard that the area around where the dental school is in Buffalo is pretty ghetto.. does anyone know if its true? and if its dangerous around there? Thanks.
 
Bonkers29 said:
I have heard that the area around where the dental school is in Buffalo is pretty ghetto.. does anyone know if its true? and if its dangerous around there? Thanks.

^^^^ this is what i heard when i was applying

this is what i have learned:
it is a half truth i guess you could say

if you're comparing it on a scale of 1 to temple it is no where near temple

its kind of hard to explain but let me say this. if buffalo is a square then the school is in the exact middle of the square and downtown is in the southwestern corner of the square. main street runs from the southwest corner to the north east corner. if you start from the school and go a mile southwest on main street you are fine, if you go any more than that then you are in ghettovillageland. if you start at the school and you go anywhere northeast on main street you are in your normal suburbia nice areas. there is also amherst and williamsville which is only like a 10-15 minute drive that is very nice and away from anything ghetto.

if you end up going to buffalo just get in touch with someone who lives here or a student who goes here because the prices for apts are literally almost the same in costs in the nice areas vs. the rougher areas. so you can get a nice apt in a nice area for very cheap
 
Are there nice and new condo developments around Buffalo? Is there a building boom like here in Toronto? I might be interested in buying property there.
 
Audio said:
Are there nice and new condo developments around Buffalo? Is there a building boom like here in Toronto? I might be interested in buying property there.


Buffalo's housing market is not very good for anyone wanting to make a profit on their investment. Sure, prices have gone up a bit in the past few years, but it is still the case (as it was 10-15 years ago) that you can build new in (say clarence) for almost the same price as buying an older house. It is cheap to start, but you won't be making any return on your investment.

And the school (UB South Campus) is not that bad of an area, if you go a few blocks down it starts getting kind of ghetto and if you go up to amherst area it is the complete opposite. But its funny they send you directions for the interview they have you come down main street instead of the quicker route from kensington (and through cadillac and chrome country).
 
Audio said:
Are there nice and new condo developments around Buffalo? Is there a building boom like here in Toronto? I might be interested in buying property there.

there's some nice condo developments in the nicer areas . . . . . . . . . but buffalo isn't exactly what you would call a buying market. so you might want to hang on to the condo until they build a disneyland here or something to bring people here

hey audio did you get an interview yet, i'm pulling for you . . . even though your canadian 👎
 
superchris147 said:
there's some nice condo developments in the nicer areas . . . . . . . . . but buffalo isn't exactly what you would call a buying market. so you might want to hang on to the condo until they build a disneyland here or something to bring people here

hey audio did you get an interview yet, i'm pulling for you . . . even though your canadian 👎



Hahaha, nope, no interview yet. 🙁 Maybe they interview Canadians later? I dunno.
 
pmoney said:
Good luck. But the leafs still suck 😉

watch your mouth, domi might come after you!

Either way NEw york rangers and islanders suck and so do Leafs. The canucks are the team to beat this year. Just as long as Bertuzzi can keep his cool.
 
hockeydentist said:
watch your mouth, domi might come after you!

Either way NEw york rangers and islanders suck and so do Leafs. The canucks are the team to beat this year. Just as long as Bertuzzi can keep his cool.

Even though I hate them, the Sens are strong this year. Hopefully the Leafs will play them in the 1st round and beat them...again 😀

PS. Sabers suck 😀
 
Audio said:
Even though I hate them, the Sens are strong this year. Hopefully the Leafs will play them in the 1st round and beat them...again 😀

PS. Sabers suck 😀

Hey Canadian,

Learn to spell. And tell all your stupid fans to stop coming to our home games when we play you guys.

Now I am pretty sure this thread is getting a little off topic but sports are a critical part of choosing a dental school. :laugh:
 
pmoney said:
Hey Canadian,

Learn to spell. And tell all your stupid fans to stop coming to our home games when we play you guys.

Now I am pretty sure this thread is getting a little off topic but sports are a critical part of choosing a dental school. :laugh:

Hey Yankee Doodle 😀

The Sabers don't deserve respect 😀
 
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