The Value of a BS/DDS Program

[gryffindor]

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Different people have different standards and if those are your standards then good for you. If you read my earlier posts, I did mention that the OP should decide based on how much he values the deciding factors. In the end, when he mentioned how cost was a big factor for him, I said he should go to the BA/DDS route. I'm sorry for coming on so strong but I had to take a stance so the other point of view could be seen. Everyone has their own standards, yes. But SDN Pre-Dental is a cult with a very established standard that everyone of its members should follow. And the non-brainwashed members should know, there are other standards.

You can come on here and make yourself feel better that you are trying to achieve some higher standard than the average predent on SDN. But I urge you once more to go on Dentaltown and ask their 90,000 practicing dentists how they feel about being ordinary and average small timers. There are some contributing superstar dentists on there who treat only the "elites" that you mentioned and I'm sure they have a thing or two to say about your bogus standards.

Don't think you're unique, I've met pre-dents like you before. All it takes is getting stomped on by the first Gross Anatomy exam or wax-up practical in dental school to bring you down a notch. That's when you realize that your pedigree and definitions of social status means nothing when it comes to making it through dental school at the top. You want to hobnob and be a dental politician, well the ADA will welcome you with open arms to further their GKAS missions and even send you to Congress. Except once you get there, you have to represent your small pond colleagues and that might be a conflict of interest for you.

 

[a1pha]

Admittedly I just skimmed the last 40 posts because I'd rather not read a dramatic novel, but despite the fact that most of McLovin's posts on sdn have been awful, I have to agree that it really frustrates me to see the universally stressed mindset of the cheapest route on sdn. I can't count the number of times people have replied to "where should I attend" threads with that mentality. It's disrespectful of personal values to assume that this should be the existing criteria for dental school selection. Many, many applicants to dental school have a hierarchy of values in which cost is not near the top. I gave up acceptance at one of the best regarded state schools in the country for the sole fact that I thought another program was superior and will offer me more opportunities. The decision will cost me an extra few hundred thousand, but it's a decision I don't think I'll ever regret. Simply put, the cheapest state-school route is NOT a route that should be blindly stressed. Without knowing a person's values, it's faulty advice.

 

[armorshell]

Admittedly I just skimmed the last 40 posts because I'd rather not read a dramatic novel, but despite the fact that most of McLovin's posts on sdn have been awful, I have to agree that it really frustrates me to see the universally stressed mindset of the cheapest route on sdn. I can't count the number of times people have replied to "where should I attend" threads with that mentality. It's disrespectful of personal values to assume that this should be the existing criteria for dental school selection. Many, many applicants to dental school have a hierarchy of values in which cost is not near the top. I gave up acceptance at one of the best regarded state schools in the country for the sole fact that I thought another program was superior and will offer me more opportunities. The decision will cost me an extra few hundred thousand, but it's a decision I don't think I'll ever regret. Simply put, the cheapest state-school route is NOT a route that should be blindly stressed. Without knowing a person's values, it's faulty advice.

If someone comes to SDN asking for opinions on where they should go, it's because their personal values haven't led them to a decision.

 

[ToldYouSo]

Armorshell is right and pre-dental ppl seem to be bi-polar b/c it's said ad-nauseum to go to the school that is the best fit for you, but even after hearing that they post questions on sdn asking "WHAT SCHOOL SHOULD I GO TO" and then when actual dental students with experience say go to the cheapest school, another pre-dental attacks them for giving advice.

 

[gryffindor]

Admittedly I just skimmed the last 40 posts because I'd rather not read a dramatic novel, but despite the fact that most of McLovin's posts on sdn have been awful, I have to agree that it really frustrates me to see the universally stressed mindset of the cheapest route on sdn. I can't count the number of times people have replied to "where should I attend" threads with that mentality. It's disrespectful of personal values to assume that this should be the existing criteria for dental school selection. Many, many applicants to dental school have a hierarchy of values in which cost is not near the top. I gave up acceptance at one of the best regarded state schools in the country for the sole fact that I thought another program was superior and will offer me more opportunities. The decision will cost me an extra few hundred thousand, but it's a decision I don't think I'll ever regret. Simply put, the cheapest state-school route is NOT a route that should be blindly stressed. Without knowing a person's values, it's faulty advice.

It's not a mentality, it's reality. You are just starting dental school with a perceived notion that your chosen school is going to offer you more opportunities. Thousands of dentists before you have proven that the school you come from makes a very small difference in the opportunities you have after graduation whether you pursue a clinical, research, academic or non-academic career. Come back and tell undecided students the benefits of picking a more expensive school when you are actually writing a check each month to the loan company. If someone else is paying for your education, then disregard the previous sentence and tout all the extra opportunities you had.

 

[Doctor McLovin]

It's not a mentality, it's reality. You are just starting dental school with a perceived notion that your chosen school is going to offer you more opportunities. Thousands of dentists before you have proven that the school you come from makes a very small difference in the opportunities you have after graduation whether you pursue a clinical, research, academic or non-academic career. Come back and tell undecided students the benefits of picking a more expensive school when you are actually writing a check each month to the loan company. If someone else is paying for your education, then disregard the previous sentence and tout all the extra opportunities you had.

See, you continue to show your small timing thinking. It's LIFE opportunities a he would get, NOT just dental opportunities. At Harvard, he'll have the opportunity to interact and make connections with people who will lead be in the to of their fields. University of Buffalo is a great dental school and I'm sure it provides great opportunities in dental education. But, the PEOPLE that make up Stony Brook can't even compare to the PEOPLE that make up Harvard.

But of course, having gone through years of University of Buffalo, you can't even fathom something like that. You've reached your dream or you're close to it, good for you. But don't impose your sub-part standards on others and call it a "reality" No, you just have lower expectations of yourself, just like the majority of other dentists.

 

[Doctor McLovin]

You can come on here and make yourself feel better that you are trying to achieve some higher standard than the average predent on SDN. But I urge you once more to go on Dentaltown and ask their 90,000 practicing dentists how they feel about being ordinary and average small timers. There are some contributing superstar dentists on there who treat only the "elites" that you mentioned and I'm sure they have a thing or two to say about your bogus standards.

"Superstar dentists" LOL, so since they treat the nation's elites, they are considered to be one of the elites? Politicians, CEOs, lawyers, and surgeons might go to this "superstar dentist" would never consider him as one of them. Just because you cater to the elites, doesn't mean you are one of them. I guess you think the "superstar veterainian" and "superstar babysitter" and "superstar Bergdorf Goodman sales associate" are all part of the elites.

It's not even about the money. You can net 1 mil as a dentist and the elites that make 1/5 of what you make would still not respect you. This is what has to change and I think the first step to fixing this image and reputation problem is having more elite students in dentistry.

 

[preOMFS]

And I suppose you think that you are one of those elite students? Ha, you crack me up dude. Never seen somebody quite so full of themselves.

 

[gryffindor]

See, you continue to show your small timing thinking. It's LIFE opportunities a he would get, NOT just dental opportunities. At Harvard, he'll have the opportunity to interact and make connections with people who will lead be in the to of their fields. University of Buffalo is a great dental school and I'm sure it provides great opportunities in dental education. But, the PEOPLE that make up Stony Brook can't even compare to the PEOPLE that make up Harvard.

At the end of the day, no matter what connections you make with the leaders at Harvard and whatever elites come out of there, YOU ARE STILL A DENTIST if you graduate from Harvard dental. Your LIFE revolves mostly around fixing, removing and replacing teeth/head & neck structure no matter who your elite friends and contacts are.

If Harvard Dental is your definition of the elite in dentistry 🙂laugh🙂, please list some of these people because we should be able to easily recognize them.

If your definition of the nation's elite includes politicians, lawyers, and CEOs, then please keep those people far away from dentistry because we certainly don't desire their help to elevate dentistry to the same spectacle they've made out of medicine.

Connections are way overrated by pre-dents.

 

[preOMFS]

Who are the nation's elites? Politicians, business executives, lawyers, physicians/surgeons, and etc. Not dentists.

*Go ahead and cite some FELONIOUS examples about 3rd tier law schools or osteopathic doctors.*

Your sense of reality is severely distorted. I almost feel bad for you. And by the way, can you stop using the word felonious out of context. Thanks.

 

[a1pha]

I'm not arguing any elitism or higher calling or anything like that. I'm simply stating that there ARE more opportunities at some schools and that's a fact. Whether it's specialty programs or non-clinical administration, the numbers don't lie. For someone who strives to be a general dentist, obviously I agree there's no difference. I'm simply talking about greater sheer opportunities out of dental school.

 

[Mister Incisor]

As much as you obviously despise the layman with every ounce of your being, you should also take note that they have an uncanny sense of being able to pick up on egotism. And in return they'll despise you for it. But why should you care about them? Granted, they are your patients, but shoot, they aren't even semi-elite as it is! 😉

 

[Istr8nthem]

"Superstar dentists" LOL, so since they treat the nation's elites, they are considered to be one of the elites? Politicians, CEOs, lawyers, and surgeons might go to this "superstar dentist" would never consider him as one of them. Just because you cater to the elites, doesn't mean you are one of them. I guess you think the "superstar veterainian" and "superstar babysitter" and "superstar Bergdorf Goodman sales associate" are all part of the elites.

It's not even about the money. You can net 1 mil as a dentist and the elites that make 1/5 of what you make would still not respect you. This is what has to change and I think the first step to fixing this image and reputation problem is having more elite students in dentistry.

I'm just curious, what makes one an "elite" anyway?? And better question, why would I want to be one? Sounds like fairly superficial to me....
Just because someone hasn't attended an Ivy league university and surrounded themselves with the ultra-rich doesn't mean they aren't considered "elite" to someone whom actually matters to them. Believe it or not Doctor McLovin, most people choose dentistry because they don't wish to be in the spotlight and do not need others attention and approval to feel good about themselves.

As someone who has interviewed incoming dental students and orthodontic residents, you begin to notice some trends about those who interview from said top tier schools. Very good academically, often good "schmoozers", but more often than not, they lack in the ability to relate with the "common folk." They are so worried about their prestige and facade, that they fail to remember that ultimately the "common folk" are their patients, their lively hood, their bill-payers. I have encountered the same thing while interviewing orthodontic applicants from Ivy league dental schools. You mention all the worldly experiences gained from this educational track, but all too often people get lost in their surroundings and forget they are people as well. Now, I am only saying that this has been my experience with some students, not all.