Thoroughly impressed with ASDOH

[Ruprick]

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Arizona gets a lot of flak on SDN due to its unique interview system, but I left my interview this week with it as my top choice. Top-notch facilities, students were genuinely happy to be there and most importantly for me it just felt right. I truly think that in a few years its reputation will be on par with the UOPs of the dental world.

Keeping my fingers crossed for that December 1st letter.

 

[AZ2thDOC]

Arizona gets a lot of flak on SDN due to its unique interview system, but I left my interview this week with it as my top choice. Top-notch facilities, students were genuinely happy to be there and most importantly for me it just felt right. I truly think that in a few years its reputation will be on par with the UOPs of the dental world.

Keeping my fingers crossed for that December 1st letter.

Sounds like you found a school which is a good fit for you. This brings up a further question which is this: Are you willing and financially able to go to an underserved area and help Dr. Dillenberg fulfill his stated mission for ASDOH? Please answer truthfully.

I certainly don't see the UOP grads in my local area doing this, so I'm not sure where you're coming from in comparing the two schools.

 

[Audio]

What's so great about UoP? I'm sure it's a good school but you guys are talking about it like it's the top school. Is it? Maybe I should have applied there 🙄

 

[Lostinbul]

Sounds like you found a school which is a good fit for you. This brings up a further question which is this: Are you willing and financially able to go to an underserved area and help Dr. Dillenberg fulfill his stated mission for ASDOH? Please answer truthfully.

I certainly don't see the UOP grads in my local area doing this, so I'm not sure where you're coming from in comparing the two schools.

Did you decide to go to dental school at the university that you chose with the idea that after graduation you were going to be following around the Dean trying to fulfill the schools mission statement? 😴 I'm pretty sure that most of us are just out for an excellent education at a good school. From other posts it is pretty obvious that you have some personal issues with ASODH and faculty there, but hey......if someone really wants to go there, why try to bring them down? 😡 Go give someone a free toothbrush or some toothpaste, it will make your cold heart melt.
P.S. to the OP, I really liked my visit to ASDOH as well.

 

[Dental Mom]

Arizona is my # 1 choice right now. I really want to finish my undergrad here in FL--IF THE HURRICANES LET ME- and moved the family to AZ...I'll keep my fingers crossed that this school takes me 🙂

I'm happy to hear you liked it. Good luck!

 

[Ruprick]

Sounds like you found a school which is a good fit for you. This brings up a further question which is this: Are you willing and financially able to go to an underserved area and help Dr. Dillenberg fulfill his stated mission for ASDOH? Please answer truthfully.

I certainly don't see the UOP grads in my local area doing this, so I'm not sure where you're coming from in comparing the two schools.

Funny, I don't remember reading anywhere on the ASDOH website or even hearing anything from Dr. Dillenberg himself about any requirement to practice in an underserved area upon graduation. Perhaps if you took the time to research it yourself you'd read this:

Goal 2 ASDOH graduates will be culturally-competent, community-responsive general dentists who are able and willing to serve as a resource in their community for dental public health issues.

This is ONE goal out of six stated on their website, and it happens to fall in line with the main reason I am leaving my current career and pursuing a new one in dentistry. I certainly hope to be "community-responsive" and serve my community, whether it be volunteering on a regular basis or in other ways.....if all I were worred about was my own pocketbook I'd stick with my current career, thanks.

As for my comparison to UofP, I guess I should've been more specific, but I didn't realize others would feel the need to thread crap to fulfill personal agendas. I was merely referring to the fact that UofP is known for being "student-centered" and having very favorable reviews from its students. I have yet to speak to a student at ASDOH that hasn't thoroughly enjoyed their dental school experience. This has not been the case at any other school I've been to.

 

[PDizzle]

I certainly don't see the UOP grads in my local area doing this, so I'm not sure where you're coming from in comparing the two schools.

When Arizona was created, UoP was used as a model. The two deans know each other quite well and the similarities between the two schools are no accident.

Some of the things the Arizona is trying to do:

1) Give clinical experience much sooner then other schools. They want you to have dental tools in your hand in the first few weeks. (as opposeed to not even seing a tool in the first year at some schools)

2) Organize the curriculum in order to make more sense and reduce stress. Arizona has a module approach with exams every Monday. They break up the content in logical sections like cardio vascular, and nervous systems. They then cover the anaotomy, histology and phsiologoy of those systems as a group. They also have PBL (Which I'm not a huge fan of) but it's only part of the teaching method, unlike USC which is 100% PBL ...yuk!

3) They want the faculty and students to be more of a family and have a tight community atmosphere.

I agree with the posters that were impressed with the school. Arizona was my safety school but now it's my #2 pick. (UoP is #1) I was one of the first to be invited for an interview (Sep invite) and haven't recieved the dreaded leader as of yet. /Knock's on wood......

And as far as fullfilling the dean's dream, that's just plain silly. When you get your D.D.S., you can do whatever you want! Staying in Arizona is an excellent option if I am to believe that there is an extreme shortage of dentists there. I am not just refering to the under privileged areas, either. I'm talking about making tons of money and living a great lifestyle.

My last comment: Dental school is what you make of it. My college buddy got into UCSF and is now a dentist. He knew he didn't want to specialize and just coasted through with B's and below. He didn't do anything special or over the top. Then you take someone who goes to an "inferior" school like AZ but they live dentistry for 4 years. You study your a$$ off and ace the NDBE's. Next thing you know you're in a specialty program. Who's the better dentist?

Az has a great facility and a great way of teaching. I saw it on the face of every student there. (not the one who toured us, but the ones actually doing stuff)

 

[ItsGavinC]

I'm glad many of you enjoyed your trip to AZ. I'm having an absolute blast here in the clinic. We're doing crown-lengthening surgery now (although I haven't done one yet, I do have one in the works) and a variety of other cool stuff. We have a biolase laser, so all students will be familiar with that prior to graduation (not just familiar, but they will spend time using it to complete tx.).

Many of my classmates have done veneers, and I'm starting a 6-unit anterior esthetic case (full coverage porcelain crowns) in a two weeks. I mention that because I know many are worried about experiences they may get at AZ.

All in all I'm absolutely thrilled with our education and the clinical experience that I'm getting.

 

[PDizzle]

That's great that you like AZ. I'm also glad you're getting lots of clinical experience. It's one of the things I really wanted in a school.

Hope to see you there next fall!!

 

[JustInTime]

I like your last comment " Dental school is what you make of it.......You study your a$$ off and ace the NDBE's. Next thing you know you're in a specialty program." It's very true. 👍

When Arizona was created, UoP was used as a model. The two deans know each other quite well and the similarities between the two schools are no accident.

Some of the things the Arizona is trying to do:

1) Give clinical experience much sooner then other schools. They want you to have dental tools in your hand in the first few weeks. (as opposeed to not even seing a tool in the first year at some schools)

2) Organize the curriculum in order to make more sense and reduce stress. Arizona has a module approach with exams every Monday. They break up the content in logical sections like cardio vascular, and nervous systems. They then cover the anaotomy, histology and phsiologoy of those systems as a group. They also have PBL (Which I'm not a huge fan of) but it's only part of the teaching method, unlike USC which is 100% PBL ...yuk!

3) They want the faculty and students to be more of a family and have a tight community atmosphere.

I agree with the posters that were impressed with the school. Arizona was my safety school but now it's my #2 pick. (UoP is #1) I was one of the first to be invited for an interview (Sep invite) and haven't recieved the dreaded leader as of yet. /Knock's on wood......

And as far as fullfilling the dean's dream, that's just plain silly. When you get your D.D.S., you can do whatever you want! Staying in Arizona is an excellent option if I am to believe that there is an extreme shortage of dentists there. I am not just refering to the under privileged areas, either. I'm talking about making tons of money and living a great lifestyle.

My last comment: Dental school is what you make of it. My college buddy got into UCSF and is now a dentist. He knew he didn't want to specialize and just coasted through with B's and below. He didn't do anything special or over the top. Then you take someone who goes to an "inferior" school like AZ but they live dentistry for 4 years. You study your a$$ off and ace the NDBE's. Next thing you know you're in a specialty program. Who's the better dentist?

Az has a great facility and a great way of teaching. I saw it on the face of every student there. (not the one who toured us, but the ones actually doing stuff)

 

[Dental Mom]

I like your last comment " Dental school is what you make of it.......You study your a$$ off and ace the NDBE's. Next thing you know you're in a specialty program." It's very true. 👍

I agree. I'll be one of those students that will always be happy to do all the work. I know it's a hard program for 4 yrs, but still it will be very rewarding 🙂