The "Why Our School?" Question

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2PacClone23

2PacClone23

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UCLA and UCSF both have the crappiest sites ever. I can't find any school-specific things I like about them. How do you guys get your information?
 
Well 1... why did you apply there? Did you pick at random?

2. There is this site called studentdoctor.net. In the forums there are lots of dental students that go to many schools and give you info on the schools. The website has this thing called a search function. I think it is pretty useful.

No but really, there are like 100 threads about UCLA vs UCSF etc.
 
LOL. Dude I know but the forums, and YES I SEARCHED, don't have anything about why UCLA is awesome or why UCSF is awesome. It's just stuff we all know about them. I want something specific you know. We're all gonna write the same crap "LA IS AWESOME" or "UCLA IS A REALLY GOOD SCHOOL" but that ain't gonna cut it.
 
Yea I know you write the typical its a good school thing. But you can try to set yourself apart maybe by using more details. Explain why is it a good school. Make it seem like you did some research on the school and are interested.
 
I would recommend by asking yourself the obvious why this school attracts you?

Search their website thoroughly to see what they offer in terms of curriculum or other programs.

Could it be the location? Certain opportunities that you would like to look forward to such as research, teaching, certain missions to other countries, or extensiveness of it's alumni network?
 
Look in the publications that they post about their school and faculty on the website, also look to see if they have a mission statement (read anything that was written by any of the administrators). See if anything there relates (or can relate) to you and write about it.

If your a cal resident, the price is good also...
 
this thread is funny. "please, someone tell me why i love instate cali schools! why oh why do i love these schools! you know, other than awesomeness." 😆
 
well yeah ^ but we cant say that lol
 
Im with 2PacClone23 on this...

I have the next 2 days this weekend to these secondaries... and this WHY OUR SCHOOL thing? is killing me. GEEZ LUIZ...

All I know is that I passionately want to be a dentist, and I know that all the schools that I am applying to have a great reputations, so yeah.
 
Then say that. "I hear your school has a great reputation." Not so hard right? If you want to use more room or something, then expand on it. How did you hear of their reputation? Who did you hear from? How many people did you hear from? Why do you trust their testimony? What exactly did you hear? I'm sure that'll fill up at least half of the quarter page or so they give you for it. If not, then "expand" your vocabulary.

If you don't even know why you applied, then I dunno if they'd accept you.
 
Don't apply to UCLA or UCSF if you don't even know why are you applying there.

I remember a thread with the OP saying that he would apply to UoSF and Penn State. I was like... wow.

This thread is giving me the similar feeling.

I am sure you put thought in picking your schools, and just put honest thought on the secondaries. That's what they are for.
 
Where on the UCSF secondary does it ask such question?? I am not finding it.
 
The way I read it is why they should choose you over other people. In other word what is special about you. Not what is special about the school...
 
2PacClone23 said:
UCLA and UCSF both have the crappiest sites ever. I can't find any school-specific things I like about them. How do you guys get your information?
Click to expand...

There are numerous qualities that set UCSF apart from all other schools in America. You'll just have to do your research and find out what they are.

FYI, knocking on our website...that's strike one for you buddy. If I end up interviewing you, I'm gonna make you cry. :meanie: There's plenty on our website. Right before my own interview, I researched the UCSF website and found gold. Don't tell me you don't recognize money when you see it.
 
UCSF2012 said:
There are numerous qualities that set UCSF apart from all other schools in America. You'll just have to do your research and find out what they are.

FYI, knocking on our website...that's strike one for you buddy. If I end up interviewing you, I'm gonna make you cry. :meanie: There's plenty on our website. Right before my own interview, I researched the UCSF website and found gold. Don't tell me you don't recognize money when you see it.
Click to expand...

Don't make me cry! I'd love to go to UCSF! Hook me up!
 
UCSF2012 said:
There are numerous qualities that set UCSF apart from all other schools in America. You'll just have to do your research and find out what they are.

FYI, knocking on our website...that's strike one for you buddy. If I end up interviewing you, I'm gonna make you cry. :meanie: There's plenty on our website. Right before my own interview, I researched the UCSF website and found gold. Don't tell me you don't recognize money when you see it.
Click to expand...

i'm listening... :yawn: outside of the price differential, i could argue that USC is just as good of a school if not (depending on if the individual prefers socal to norcal) a better school. and don't even start beating the research drum unless you can name ANYTHING that you're doing at UCSF that isn't going on in many other school around the country.
 
At the end of the day, no matter which school you end up going to, you'll get the proper training to become a dentist, and this is something almost all adcoms at almost any dental school will tell you. However, different school provide you with that training using slightly different methods. For example, some like UCLA and UCSF are research-based, while others are more clinical-based. Also, different schools have slightly different curriculums. For example, UNLV has its "Integrated Curriculum," which essentially means that they integrate all the information you learn in your different classes and try to relate them to one another. For me, this was great, because this is how I always studied; I tried to integrate all the information I had from various classes trying to see the bigger picture. Furthermore, I was always more interested in clinical training than research. So, UNLV seemed like an ideal choice. In addition, factors such as cost of living, tuition, distance from your hometown, etc shouldn't be ignored while you're picking a school, because you'll be living the next 4 years of your life in that city, and what good will dental school do for you if you can't afford to live there. I had to choose between USC and UNLV. I went with UNLV, because both the tuition and cost of living seemed cheaper in Las Vegas. Also, I didn't like USC's PBL approach. I'm not saying it's a bad one; it simply didn't match what I was looking for. Saying that you're applying to school just because of its reputation is perhaps the worst thing you could say. Just because a school has a prestigious status doesn't mean that it will suit your needs (professional/personal) for the next 4 years of your life.
 
nze82 said:
At the end of the day, no matter which school you end up going to, you'll get the proper training to become a dentist, and this is something almost all adcoms at almost any dental school will tell you. However, different school provide you with that training using slightly different methods. For example, some like UCLA and UCSF are research-based, while others are more clinical-based. Also, different schools have slightly different curriculums. For example, UNLV has its "Integrated Curriculum," which essentially means that they integrate all the information you learn in your different classes and try to relate them to one another. For me, this was great, because this is how I always studied; I tried to integrate all the information I had from various classes trying to see the bigger picture. Furthermore, I was always more interested in clinical training than research. So, UNLV seemed like an ideal choice. In addition, factors such as cost of living, tuition, distance from your hometown, etc shouldn't be ignored while you're picking a school, because you'll be living the next 4 years of your life in that city, and what good will dental school do for you if you can't afford to live there. I had to choose between USC and UNLV. I went with UNLV, because both the tuition and cost of living seemed cheaper in Las Vegas. Also, I didn't like USC's PBL approach. I'm not saying it's a bad one; it simply didn't match what I was looking for. Saying that you're applying to school just because of its reputation is perhaps the worst thing you could say. Just because a school has a prestigious status doesn't mean that it will suit your needs (professional/personal) for the next 4 years of your life.
Click to expand...

hey looking at your predents profile i realized you didn't get interviews to ucla/ucsf despite your stellar gpa and dat. why is that? you have me scared...
 
JBieber said:
hey looking at your predents profile i realized you didn't get interviews to ucla/ucsf despite your stellar gpa and dat. why is that? you have me scared...
Click to expand...

No Idea! If you ever found the answer to that question please do share it with me:laugh:
 
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