I choose SUNY Buffalo because as a New York state resident, it would be pointless to attend a private school and accumulate astronomical amounts of debt. At the time of my application, the only other school I had considered attending was Penn and after seeing both schools, it wasn't even a choice. The clinic facilities are amazing at our school and the location is ok. I also spoke to recent grads of both schools and the UB grad was paying much less per month in loans than the Penn grad (900 vs 3000). Every UB grad I spoke to highly recommended the education they received. I was just so impressed by the building and the operation of things at Buffalo. Cost of living is also much cheaper here.
The DVD curriculum is a challenge. Read more on <a href="http://www.asdanet.org" target="_blank">www.asdanet.org</a> for some views on the DVD. From what I hear, the class of 2004 generally does not like the DVD although the class of 2005 doesn't mind it as much and some actually like it. That may be because that class received more training on how to use the computers and had some of their battles fought for them by the class of 2004. I cannot honestly say that I love it, but it is ok, depending on what I am studying. But don't let the DVD convince you to attend elsewhere because even with the hassles, my classmates and I agree that we would still have came to Buffalo for dental school because the education is really good.
The classes used to be with the med students until the medical school switched to organ based systems this year. Starting with the class of 2005, only Gross Anatomy lecture was with the meds. Everything else, including Gross Anatomy lab, is separate.
Preclinical is hard work! First year it is only one class a semester, but second year you pick up Operative, Removeable, and Fixed in the Fall. In the Spring you replace Operative with Endo. Operative actually begins during spring extension freshmen year. Each course is demanding and many hours are spent after hours completing projects.
We are introduced to clinic starting first year when we work on each other in the clinics once a week or so. First semester second year you get to assist upperclassmen Friday afternoons and continue practicing on each other. Second semester, you are in clinic one and a half days a week and are allowed to do operative and perio recall for assigned patients. You also get rotations to do radiology and oral surgery. Third year is clinic three days a week, fourth year is five days a week.
Hope this helps. I don't know the tuition specifics, e-mail/call the school about it. Good luck on the interview!
