Top pick schools and why?

[dmdluffy]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I agree that advertising certain schools will get patients through your door but ultimately business is generated through referrals and word of mouth. You could graduate from Harvard and I'm sure that will ensure you get patients every month, but if your skills/patient interaction sucks, you will drive them all away.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Hahahahaha. I agree with yohomeys last post. Superlike.

Actually, I move NYU up with UCLA; UoP and UCSF aren't really "internationally-renowned".

 

[uva09]

This thread is pretty comical.

Perception is reality, eh?

None of these commenters have ever personally selected a healthcare provider for anything... I can guarantee this. You go to whichever dentist or physician Mom or Dad takes you to or have been going to. Please.

Maybe in ten years when you are actually faced with selecting a healthcare professional you will choose one based upon a referral, location, or financial consideration like 99.9% of the real world does - not based upon someone's school.

All dental schools have stringent accreditation standards and any program will offer a sound education. This is not business or law school.

As others have said, many of the dental schools are completely unknown to the general population. The schools that average folks recognize are known because of their undergraduate programs, non-academic visibility, or rooted history. Harvard is not internationally known because of its dental school. The Ivy Schools are known because of undergraduate history and prowess - a sentiment that stems to graduate education, regardless of whether positive bias is founded in practice. The same can be said for many other dental schools. People recognize big name, top-rated undergraduate public universities like UNC, Michigan, or UCLA. If the undergraduate institution is well-respected and highly competitive, many people will assume the same conditions apply to the associated professional schools. Does this mean anything? No. It's a talking point. And that's about it. Mainstream relevance has no bearing on the quality of education, nor does it constitute claiming one program is superior to another. No one is going to drop a provider based on a school name.

Everyone is entitled to their own top-10 list. But virtually all these statements regarding prestige and international recognition with certain dental schools are all here-say and not founded in anything tangible.

 

[thesituationPhD]

My bosses display their degrees and certifications on the walls of narcissism in our consultation room, and also sometimes alumnae gear. I'd say 9/10 new patients always mention how impressed they are, or talk about their dental education. I personally think a school's reputation allows an additional sense of trust with your new patients (they're going to be more inclined to trust your skills, if they know you went to a great school. Of course, in addition to the positive reviews and personal referrals). I would certainly have my worries if I saw a low(er)-end school's degree on my dentist's wall.



seriously? So if you don't go to harvard, penn, columbia, you won't see the patient? ive been confused on this topic for a while... and where exactly do you live.. obviously not the ny area..so where i ask?

 

[Baker2010]

This thread is pretty comical.

Perception is reality, eh?

None of these commenters have ever personally selected a healthcare provider for anything... I can guarantee this. You go to whichever dentist or physician Mom or Dad takes you to or have been going to. Please.

Maybe in ten years when you are actually faced with selecting a healthcare professional you will choose one based upon a referral, location, or financial consideration like 99.9% of the real world does - not based upon someone's school.

All dental schools have stringent accreditation standards and any program will offer a sound education. This is not business or law school.

As others have said, many of the dental schools are completely unknown to the general population. The schools that average folks recognize are known because of their undergraduate programs, non-academic visibility, or rooted history. Harvard is not internationally known because of its dental school. The Ivy Schools are known because of undergraduate history and prowess - a sentiment that stems to graduate education, regardless of whether positive bias is founded in practice. The same can be said for many other dental schools. People recognize big name, top-rated undergraduate public universities like UNC, Michigan, or UCLA. If the undergraduate institution is well-respected and highly competitive, many people will assume the same conditions apply to the associated professional schools. Does this mean anything? No. It's a talking point. And that's about it. Mainstream relevance has no bearing on the quality of education, nor does it constitute claiming one program is superior to another. No one is going to drop a provider based on a school name.

Everyone is entitled to their own top-10 list. But virtually all these statements regarding prestige and international recognition with certain dental schools are all here-say and not founded in anything tangible.

I think your missing a KEY point here. The point yo homey, amalgamgrillz, and I are arguing is that, yes these schools prestige and such makes a difference even if it doesn't really correlate with your level of knowledge as a provider. Like you said just because you went to one of the IVY's or whatever (famous for undergrad history), that doesn't mean your the best provider and that patients should come to you or that you won't get patients if you don't go to these schools.
However, these ARE things patients look at. You have to keep in mind, how else are they going to assess whether your "good" or not? Yes word of mouth does contribute a lot but your institution matters too. Lets be honest, the majority of patients are very uniformed in terms of what is a "good dental school" and they will make assumptions based upon this ignorance to what is good. I mean you can't expect a patient in mississippi to know 100% without a doubt that a school like UoP is way more highly regarded than WVU.
Point made, i think this logic is something you can respect.

 

[dantemac]

Only a handful of patients will ever ask where you went to dental school. Also, those that do would probably have no knowledge of the dental school education there.

Case in point: Recently my dentist just died so I did research on a new one. Very few dentists put their dental school (or residency) on their own webpage. When I checked out a few of the offices, I had to hunt for the framed degrees. It is not important.

 

[armorshell]

Oh sweet banana of Havana, are we still talking about this kind of nonsense? Choose school based on their objective qualities, not their ephemeral "prestige."

How many practicing dentists does it take screaming it your face for you kids to realize it's not an important part of your practice. You realize how ridiculous you sound trying to pick the most prestigious DENTAL school right? If that's what you're looking for, sack up and go into law or medicine.

 

[uva09]

I think your missing a KEY point here. The point yo homey, amalgamgrillz, and I are arguing is that, yes these schools prestige and such makes a difference even if it doesn't really correlate with your level of knowledge as a provider. Like you said just because you went to one of the IVY's or whatever (famous for undergrad history), that doesn't mean your the best provider and that patients should come to you or that you won't get patients if you don't go to these schools.
However, these ARE things patients look at. You have to keep in mind, how else are they going to assess whether your "good" or not? Yes word of mouth does contribute a lot but your institution matters too. Lets be honest, the majority of patients are very uniformed in terms of what is a "good dental school" and they will make assumptions based upon this ignorance to what is good. I mean you can't expect a patient in mississippi to know 100% without a doubt that a school like UoP is way more highly regarded than WVU.
Point made, i think this logic is something you can respect.

You completely contradict yourself with this 'logic'.

In the top half of your message, you note that the name of a particular school has no correlation to the level of knowledge or skill of a provider. Yet, you later make the claim that there is no other way for a patient to assess whether a provider is 'good' or not.

You are right, there will be some patients out there who will make a decision based upon the schooling of a provider - just as there are patients who will make a decision based upon the type of shrubbery outside the practice or the color of paint on the inside. This type of behavior is not typical.

And the fact of the matter stands. There are no current rankings for dental school. Period. So even if you have patients that pick schools based upon 'prestige', without any published standards, everything is more or less speculation and opinion. And online posts about school "A" vs. school "B" on a forums website means absolutely nothing in the great scheme of things.

A trained dentist with solid people skills and regarded results will generate business, regardless of the name on his/her degree.

Patients may ask where you went to school or where you trained. But no one is going to get up and leave the chair based on the answer. And only an ignoramus would be preemptively biased into believing that the job quality will be superior based upon a school name alone.

 

[Baker2010]

You completely contradict yourself with this 'logic'.

In the top half of your message, you note that the name of a particular school has no correlation to the level of knowledge or skill of a provider. Yet, you later make the claim that there is no other way for a patient to assess whether a provider is 'good' or not.

You are right, there will be some patients out there who will make a decision based upon the schooling of a provider - just as there are patients who will make a decision based upon the type of shrubbery outside the practice or the color of paint on the inside. This type of behavior is not typical.

And the fact of the matter stands. There are no current rankings for dental school. Period. So even if you have patients that pick schools based upon 'prestige', without any published standards, everything is more or less speculation and opinion. And online posts about school "A" vs. school "B" on a forums website means absolutely nothing in the great scheme of things.

A trained dentist with solid people skills and regarded results will generate business, regardless of the name on his/her degree.

Patients may ask where you went to school or where you trained. But no one is going to get up and leave the chair based on the answer. And only an ignoramus would be preemptively biased into believing that the job quality will be superior based upon a school name alone.

Maybe I should add more clarification to what I said. I agree with you with everything. You misconstrued what I was saying.
The point I was conveying was that yes, the school does not indicate your level of knowledge but unfortunately this is what many patients will use in accessing you even though it doesn't mean you are that good based up where you went. Do you understand what I am saying?

Also, lets not exagerate about patients getting up out of the chair and leaving when they see your non prestigious school degree.
Of course they are not going to do that, but many may NOT come their in the first place if they have a " better" choice according to their unformed idea that "prestigious school" = better practitoner.

We as future dentist know the school one goes to does not mean much.

 

[YoHomey]

As others have said, many of the dental schools are completely unknown to the general population. The schools that average folks recognize are known because of their undergraduate programs, non-academic visibility, or rooted history. Harvard is not internationally known because of its dental school. The Ivy Schools are known because of undergraduate history and prowess - a sentiment that stems to graduate education, regardless of whether positive bias is founded in practice. The same can be said for many other dental schools. People recognize big name, top-rated undergraduate public universities like UNC, Michigan, or UCLA. If the undergraduate institution is well-respected and highly competitive, many people will assume the same conditions apply to the associated professional schools.

Exactly. You have supported my point of "Perception is reality".

 

[MuskieMan33]

UMKC (University of Missouri-Kansas City)

BECAUSE, they primarily cater to in state residents. In turn, tuition would be more affordable.

If no acceptance to UMKC, anywhere I get accepted!

 

[iralex801]

This thread is pretty comical.

You go to whichever dentist or physician Mom or Dad takes you to or have been going to. Please.

👍

The people who think the reputation of their school will impress their patients are probably the same ones who think their GPA will impress women and friends.

 

[kaDa]

Penn also only ranks their top 10 students; everyone else is #11. I would assume any Penn student 1-11, is going to be successful in getting specialty interviews. But, just my luck..even more competition for people wanting to go to Penn lol.

Not being in the top 10 doesn't hurt that much, ~30 people go directly into specialty programs each year. There's only a few who apply and don't get in somewhere. I hear those who don't get in can do a gpr for one year and then usually get in that way, too. So many can get in w/o a top 10 ranking because of the solid experiences Penn offers. Also, you have to start making connections early in school to help certain opportunities fall in your lap...

 

[DentalGunner]

Not being in the top 10 doesn't hurt that much, ~30 people go directly into specialty programs each year. There's only a few who apply and don't get in somewhere. I hear those who don't get in can do a gpr for one year and then usually get in that way, too. So many can get in w/o a top 10 ranking because of the solid experiences Penn offers. Also, you have to start making connections early in school to help certain opportunities fall in your lap...

I think that was his main point. If you're not 1 to 10, then you're #11..so you'd have a great chance at a specialty at Penn, regardless of your actual rank.

 

[dantemac]

I would just like to say that actually there should be no "top pick" dental schools. This isn't undergraduate admissions where things were easier, cheaper, and probably less pressure on your career.

*Can I get into this school?

*If you have a state school (which you may not!), obviously you have to consider the admissions advantage if any and the lower cost if that is possible.

*If you have a family by this point in your life, can you relocate? Can you live away from them?

*Is clinical skill important to you? If you plan on doing a GPR or AEGD, or one of the government scholarships, you will get all the training you ever need.

*Does my undergraduate school have a dental school that I can get into and would like to go to?

*Do I want to do research? Do I want official school-sanctioned dental missions trips (not the self-sought out ones).

*Does this school give me a good education? A good name? Both?

*Does this school residency match well? Does it have residency programs itself?

There is probably a very slim chance your "top pick" school was made for the above reasons and actually satisfies all your requirements. Unlike the thousands of undergrad places to pick from....

I know this is a forum/opinion board, but just think about the criteria we are all asking ourselves for in this post:
A) Does the school have a good SDN opinion?
B) Is this school worth defending on the internet?

Please, for the sake of your education, don't argue over "prestige". Research hard data on the school.

 

[DentalGunner]

I would just like to say that actually there should be no "top pick" dental schools. This isn't undergraduate admissions where things were easier, cheaper, and probably less pressure on your career.

*Can I get into this school?

*If you have a state school (which you may not!), obviously you have to consider the admissions advantage if any and the lower cost if that is possible.

*If you have a family by this point in your life, can you relocate? Can you live away from them?

*Is clinical skill important to you? If you plan on doing a GPR or AEGD, or one of the government scholarships, you will get all the training you ever need.

*Does my undergraduate school have a dental school that I can get into and would like to go to?

*Do I want to do research? Do I want official school-sanctioned dental missions trips (not the self-sought out ones).

*Does this school give me a good education? A good name? Both?

*Does this school residency match well? Does it have residency programs itself?

There is probably a very slim chance your "top pick" school was made for the above reasons and actually satisfies all your requirements. Unlike the thousands of undergrad places to pick from....

I know this is a forum/opinion board, but just think about the criteria we are all asking ourselves for in this post:
A) Does the school have a good SDN opinion?
B) Is this school worth defending on the internet?

Please, for the sake of your education, don't argue over "prestige". Research hard data on the school.

👍

 

[wylde923]

From what I've read/heard, saying a dental school is a top tier dental school is far too vague. I'd like to hear what people have to say about the best dental schools in regards to certain aspects, for example I have heard that temple, tufts, uop, and upenn have some of the best clinical curriculums.

I think that would lead to a far better discussion as one may be able to reference actual numbers/statistics, since an indicator of what dental schools have the best clincial curriculums would be the number of clinical hours a student experiences, patient base, and number of requirements (fillings, bridges, dentures etc.) to graduate.

Just a thought...

 

[Logs]

Out of all the schools i have interviewed so far I think my top choices are Roseman, Asdoh, and Louisville

 

[mc719]

I would just like to say that actually there should be no "top pick" dental schools. This isn't undergraduate admissions where things were easier, cheaper, and probably less pressure on your career.

*Can I get into this school?

*If you have a state school (which you may not!), obviously you have to consider the admissions advantage if any and the lower cost if that is possible.

*If you have a family by this point in your life, can you relocate? Can you live away from them?

*Is clinical skill important to you? If you plan on doing a GPR or AEGD, or one of the government scholarships, you will get all the training you ever need.

*Does my undergraduate school have a dental school that I can get into and would like to go to?

*Do I want to do research? Do I want official school-sanctioned dental missions trips (not the self-sought out ones).

*Does this school give me a good education? A good name? Both?

*Does this school residency match well? Does it have residency programs itself?

There is probably a very slim chance your "top pick" school was made for the above reasons and actually satisfies all your requirements. Unlike the thousands of undergrad places to pick from....

I know this is a forum/opinion board, but just think about the criteria we are all asking ourselves for in this post:
A) Does the school have a good SDN opinion?
B) Is this school worth defending on the internet?

Please, for the sake of your education, don't argue over "prestige". Research hard data on the school.

You're right that there are no official rankings. But the purpose of this thread was to see what everyone's individual "top picks" were and what criteria they were using to make those top picks. The fact that there are no official rankings puts that burden on all of us future dental students to decide that for ourselves.

 

[hockeykspiky]

👍

The people who think the reputation of their school will impress their patients are probably the same ones who think their GPA will impress women and friends.

 

[dantemac]

You're right that there are no official rankings. But the purpose of this thread was to see what everyone's individual "top picks" were and what criteria they were using to make those top picks. The fact that there are no official rankings puts that burden on all of us future dental students to decide that for ourselves.

Yeah, and I'm just saying that so far everyone's criteria for their top pick school is "prestige" or some other opinionated garbage. People should make more level-headed decisions.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Yeah, and I'm just saying that so far everyone's criteria for their top pick school is "prestige" or some other opinionated garbage. People should make more level-headed decisions.

I guess for a lot of us, going to the 'most reputable' school is a matter of personal pride. Some people bust their butt in undergrad to get into the school of their dreams. If they want to spend 400,000 at an Ivy for the same education that they would get Meharry, whatever. No shame in their game.

 

[mc719]

I guess for a lot of us, going to the 'most reputable' school is a matter of personal pride. Some people bust their butt in undergrad to get into the school of their dreams. If they want to spend 400,000 at an Ivy for the same education that they would get Meharry, whatever. No shame in their game.

.

 

[Bereno]

My "top pick school" is my cheapest school (my in state school). My second pick is UConn because they can let me get in state tuition from the second year on. This makes UConn the second cheapest on my list, so therefore they are my second "top pick school" 👍

 

[Baker2010]

I guess for a lot of us, going to the 'most reputable' school is a matter of personal pride. Some people bust their butt in undergrad to get into the school of their dreams. If they want to spend 400,000 at an Ivy for the same education that they would get Meharry, whatever. No shame in their game.

👍

 

[Vigilante]

Something y'all may want to think about when applying is language barriers in clinic. I'm at USC and 2/3 of my patients don't speak a lick of english and it is a pain! Then again, if you are comfortable with speaking spanish, you are at a huge advantage at schools with large hispanic populations because you tend to get first dibs on patients who don't speak english. I guess it's good that I'm learning how to deal with language barriers, but then again, I'll probably just refer out patients who don't speak english in the long run and wish I had thought about this when choosing my top school.