Temple vs. SUNY@Buffalo

[AKAawesome]

Hey guys,

I've been accepted to both (thank goodness) and can't make up my mind which school to go to. Here's what I see so far:

Temple:
Good
Awesome hands on, tons of patients to practice on, and will be ready for the boards after 3rd year. They also have a joint DMD-MBA Program that I'm interested in.
Bad
Location

SUNY@Buffalo
Good
Awesome Board scores and better atmosphere. 12K less per year as well. Easier to establish in state residency after the first year.

Bad
Snow

Tell me what you guys think...any input would be appreciated from people who are going to or have knowledge of these schools.

-AKAawesome

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[lealf-ye]

BUFFALO.

I don't want to get hurt during my school years. I feel my personal safety is very important.
Temple gives you a lot of practices but those are simply repetition of the same stuffs. For a school, you learn how to do things. It doesn't matter how many fillings you do. It matters only if you know how to do it.

 

[Bickle]

I think you answered your own question. Go to Buffalo.

 

[politicallyRite]

Originally posted by lealf-ye
BUFFALO.

...
Temple gives you a lot of practices but those are simply repetition of the same stuffs. For a school, you learn how to do things. It doesn't matter how many fillings you do. It matters only if you know how to do it.

what kind of statement is it? you're not even in dental school, let alone Temple SoD. how in the world would you know they simply repeat the same stuffs? and you think doing one filling for one patient is the same as doing 10 fillings for 10 different patients? you have a lot to learn buddy.

 

[Nilez]

i say TEMPLE...so i can have ur spot at buffalo...hehehe...

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

I don't want to get hurt during my school years. I feel my personal safety is very important.
Temple gives you a lot of practices but those are simply repetition of the same stuffs. For a school, you learn how to do things. It doesn't matter how many fillings you do. It matters only if you know how to do it.

Yah seriously dude, what kinda statement is this? If that is the case, why do many people opt to do GPR/AEGD, because they feel that although they know the procedures, they still need a bit of practice before entering the real world...

I can spend 2 years learning all the theory of the guitar, so does that mean, Ill be able to pick up a guitar anytime and just play it? SOrry bud, but dentistry is a practical profession and as much as you can use your hands, it can only benefit you....cmon, this is obvious!!!

And Tom or Griffin can correct me if im wrong, but I was under the impression from their posts that although they get good clinical experiences at Buffalo, most Buf grads opt to do further study, because they feel they are not necessarily ready for private practice (unless you have hookups like Tom)

And about the snow, Im pretty sure that Philly gets its fair amount of snow as well...I hope so, otherwise, Im gonna miss it!

And yes, Temple's neighbourhood isnt the greatest, but its not that bad, and its not like you are gonna live there....but, Buffalo's area is much safer, thats for sure (cue Tom with his statistic) and its much cheaper...

And sorry for saying this Tom, but living in Philly would be much more exciting than living in Buffalo, in my honest opinion....Ive been to Buffalo too many times, and spending 4 years there would be strange....but you would save more money in Buffalo, so its up to your wants...both have its pros and cons....

 

[gryffindor]

Originally posted by avingupta
And Tom or Griffin can correct me if im wrong, but I was under the impression from their posts that although they get good clinical experiences at Buffalo, most Buf grads opt to do further study, because they feel they are not necessarily ready for private practice (unless you have hookups like Tom)

I disagree here. I think a good number of our (Buffalo) graduates pursue a GPR/AEGD after graduation because we are encouraged to do them here. Many of our faculty did them and feel they are a very good comprehensive experience for us to go through as well, because you just don't learn everything in dental school. Also, with NY state granting a license to any student who successfully completes a GPR or AEGD, we had a few students who were set on going to private practice convert and are now going to a GPR/AEGD to avoid taking the atrocious NERB exam. (Note: They are not taking the exam b/c the NERB is graded incredibly subjectively, not b/c they don't feel ready for it.)

I posted this in the NYU vs. Temple thread - the fact that Temple students have to do a lot of their own lab work is a serious turn off. We do a good amount of labwork as seniors here in Buffalo, Temple seniors have to do more and it is really unnecessary work. Doing extra labwork as a senior does not make you a better dentist, unless maybe if you want to pursue prostho as a specialty. Also, I read a thread over on DentalTown (Dental Town Link) which has some Temple graduates complaining about how they had to pay for some of their patient's procedures to graduate. I am not aware of any students doing this at Buffalo, I think we have a pretty good billing system and supply of patients that keeps our students from having to resort to this. Of course, Temple may have changed their policies since these people graduated, so do your own research.

I've done enough fillings (though definitely not as many as Tom) to feel confident in doing them in private practice, if I was going straight to private practice (which I'm not). Lack of clinical opportunity hasn't really been a problem, the problem is more my lack of motivation as a senior. If you want extra experience in operative b/c you are afraid you aren't getting enough, sign up to be a Pedo minor and you can fill all the cavities you can do for every kid in Buffalo every Saturday morning and everyday in July & August.

I'm not sure which boards Temple says you'll be ready for after third year, but if you are talking about the NERB, then I'd say we are probably equally as ready for those as well. We don't have a joint DDS/MBA option, and there isn't time to pursue it independently either.

Seriously, the snow is more of a contstant annoyance than it is an acutal negative. If "snow" is the only negative you can think of for Buffalo, then I think your decision should be a really easy one.

 

[grettlin2]

I would definitely choose Temple.
1. I have difficulty during the whole application process. Temple's faculty and staff are so nice to help me and consider my situation carefully. I believe they would transer this enthusiasm into teaching. You would expect that for sure.
2. They really have a lot of patients for you to watch and most importantly, you will treat the patients under professors' watch. This can't be beated by the school having 10 students with only one professor.
3. If you are interested in oral surgery, Temple is the school to go!

 

[UBTom]

Originally posted by avingupta
And sorry for saying this Tom, but living in Philly would be much more exciting than living in Buffalo, in my honest opinion....Ive been to Buffalo too many times, and spending 4 years there would be strange....but you would save more money in Buffalo, so its up to your wants...both have its pros and cons....

No need to be sorry to say that! I think Amherst prides itself on being the most BORING city in the U.S.. How else can a city be the safest in the United States?

I think Amherst should have a new slogan: BORING and proud of it!

Very conducive atmosphere for studying though that's fer sure!

Seriously though, I do like the change in atmosphere/scenary when I moved up here from NYC. It's been a good four years, but once I'm done, I'm going back to NYC for some good old fashioned American street violence.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

I'm not sure which boards Temple says you'll be ready for after third year, but if you are talking about the NERB, then I'd say we are probably equally as ready for those as well. We don't have a joint DDS/MBA option, and there isn't time to pursue it independently either.

At my interview, Brian told us that after the 3rd year, all students have done more than enough procedures to confidently pass the NERB exams, so they can write it during 4th year...since they write the exam at the actual school, the school plans it so you write the exam before you graduate so that you can practice, "the day right after graduation"...

But about the labwork...YUCK....not looking forward to it...I guess its good for me, cause it will give me more confidence with my hand skills....HOWEVER, its a big turnoff, and Im pretty sure that in a couple of years, Ill be on this forum bitching about the labwork.....

and about paying for patients...yah that totally sucks, but Im sure it applies to people who were not organized with their patient payments, so Im glad I got the heads up from this forum about this problem so I can do my best to avoid it!

No need to be sorry to say that! I think Amherst prides itself on being the most BORING city in the U.S

Although, Im still highly considering Buffalo (if they give me a chance), this is the biggest turnoff about Buffalo. As a young guy, Im hoping to goto a place where its lively and social, but Im still considering Buffalo, cause its a BIT cheaper than Temple cause Ill get instate tuition after 1st year, and Ill be really close to my friends in Toronto to make up for the lack of partying in Buffalo. ANd I can catch all the Sabres-LEafs games...even though for some strange reason, the Leafs can never beat the Sabres!!!

 

[sxr71]

^^^ After reading this thread I wish I had applied to Buffalo, I applied to so many schools that I wonder why I didn't apply to Buffalo.

Anyhow, I think that while Buffalo may be dead compared to Philly, I have always heard that a quick crossing of the border spices things up a lot. I know this is true Detroit to Windsor, but I wonder if it holds true for a trip to the Canadian side of the Niagara falls. Do you know if they have lots of bars and nice casinos over there? This may be a moot point as an American, but I would seriously consider going to school in Toronto if that was even an option for us.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

The Canadian side of Niagra Falls is damn tacky to say the least...I hate it SOOO Much....Bunch of young American kids getting drunk cause they dont have to wait until 21...trust me, Niagra is horrible...tourism really killed such a beautiful natural wonder!

 

[sxr71]

^^^ I'm sorry to hear. It sounds really bad.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Yah...on the main street there is just restaurants, tacky museums, souvenir shops, haunted houses, and a casino.

Casino is cool, but please tell me, what the hell does a haunted house have to do with a beautiful waterfall??

 

[xkurkox]

Go to Buffalo save some money!

 

[Jack Worthing]

At my Buffalo interview/tour, the student body really struck me as being high on life and a very engaging group that could have a lot of fun - even despite the boring town. I hold student body satisfaction very high in my criteria.

This is because, I hear that during the first year you might do well to expect not to go much further than beyond your house and the preclinic labs when you're not in class (if you're going to pass). "griffin04" says he goes to Toronto a total of 4 to 5 times per year! So in my opinion the students you're studying with and living with (and occasinally *partying* with) all those hours and days - how supportive they are and how motivating they are is very important and it's the thing that'll keep you going when the going gets tough.

disclaimer - different people have different priorities/preferences.

btw- at least Buffalo has an international airport... it's not that small of a town... It's a city! And yes, Amherst may be isolating, but it can also be liberating at the same time- from distractions, noises, pressures..