Tough Decision. Need Help.

[ladentista007]

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I am choosing between UConn and UCSF and I have no idea how to choose especially since people tell me that I can't go wrong either way. I've always lived in the east coast and I really don't mind if I have to go to the west coast. That's not really an issue. The issue is that UConn out of state, after accumulated interest, comes out to 100K cheaper than UCSF out of state (but after the first year I would get instate) but I feel that I am missing the opportunity of being in a great city, amongst other things, by passing up UCSF. Again, both schools are out of state for me. I also haven't seen any threads b/t these two schools. I would really like some input on what you would do if u had to choose. Please and thank you!

 

[Incis0r]

Grats on both schools!

If I had to choose between those two, I would go UConn. DS seems to be the busiest/toughest four years of life, so I doubt I'd be able to enjoy the beaches and weather in SF as much.

I would, however, enjoy graduating with an extra $100K in the bank, and then taking a nice long vacation in California, doing cruises to Hawaii, etc.

But I hear you about wanting to experience the amazing city. Maybe this coming summer, before starting UConn, head on over to SF with some buds and get those experiences you want/make those memories? That way, you can look forward to going there again once you graduate, but you won't feel like you missed out on anything!

 

[rendal]

First off, congrats. Those are two amazing schools. The people that are telling you that you can't go wrong either way are right. You'll get a great education at either school.

I think in this situation you just need to look back at your interview notes and see what program you fit into the best. Look at class size, style of learning (I know UConn has classes with the med students but I'm not sure about UCSF), grading, how early you start seeing patients, and all of the other factors for each school.

Good luck on making this decision, and congrats again!

 

[Incis0r]

@rendal , every time I see your posts I always think "That guy is a BOSS." Never could figure out why until now- IT'S YOUR PROPIC!

 

[rendal]

@rendal , every time I see your posts I always think "That guy is a BOSS." Never could figure out why until now- IT'S YOUR PROPIC!

“For those of us climbing to the top of the food chain, there can be no mercy. There is but one rule: hunt or be hunted.”

-Underwood

 

[sgv]

I am choosing between UConn and UCSF and I have no idea how to choose especially since people tell me that I can't go wrong either way. I've always lived in the east coast and I really don't mind if I have to go to the west coast. That's not really an issue. The issue is that UConn out of state, after accumulated interest, comes out to 100K cheaper than UCSF out of state (but after the first year I would get instate) but I feel that I am missing the opportunity of being in a great city, amongst other things, by passing up UCSF. Again, both schools are out of state for me. I also haven't seen any threads b/t these two schools. I would really like some input on what you would do if u had to choose. Please and thank you!

UCONN. If you want to specialize in oral surgery, UCONN is especially the best choice with their medical school curriculum. The cost difference is significant.

 

[Incis0r]

“For those of us climbing to the top of the food chain, there can be no mercy. There is but one rule: hunt or be hunted.”

-Underwood

Can't wait for Season 3.

 

[ladentista007]

UCONN. If you want to specialize in oral surgery, UCONN is especially the best choice with their medical school curriculum. The cost difference is significant.

100K is significant if I choose the oral surgery route? Isn't there a lot of money in this field?

 

[ladentista007]

Thanks for the responses guys. They're very interesting from the others in a different thread I posted. I want more replies though.

 

[sgv]

100K i s significant if I choose the oral surgery route? Isn't there a lot of money in this field?

I'm saying UCONN is best for oral surgery because of you would have to take the CBSE which was originally created for medical students and their medical school education. UCSF, although it has a strong basic science curriculum, is not medical school like UCONN for the first two years. The only two, maybe three, specialties that people worry about being competitive for specializing are omfs, ortho, and maybe pedo. for omfs, if you were not intially competitive at your D4 year, you can retake the CBSE (do well), do an internship, and probably get into a program sooner or later, so long as your ranking is not horrendous. easier said than done but at least you're not hopeless. For ortho, there are too many easy to get into programs that charge a stupid amount of tuition. Pedo is supposedly getting more competitive but there are crappy programs out there that charge tuition, even though pedo training is a lot of time hospital based like gprs and omfs with pgy salaries. So there you go...It boils down to what you want and how much you're willing to pay for it.

 

[ladentista007]

I'm saying UCONN is best for oral surgery because of you would have to take the CBSE which was originally created for medical students and their medical school education. UCSF, although it has a strong basic science curriculum, is not medical school like UCONN for the first two years. The only two, maybe three, specialties that people worry about being competitive for specializing are omfs, ortho, and maybe pedo. for omfs, if you were not intially competitive at your D4 year, you can retake the CBSE (do well), do an internship, and probably get into a program sooner or later, so long as your ranking is not horrendous. For ortho, there are too many easy to get into programs that charge a stupid amount of tuition. Pedo is supposedly getting more competitive but there are crappy programs out there that charge tuition, even though pedo training is a lot of time hospital based like gprs and omfs with pgy salaries. So there you go...

It boils down to what you want and how much you're willing to pay for it.

The thing is I may want oral surgery. I am just not sure yet. But what u said about the cost difference being signficant, I am a bit confused. OMFS through ucsf or uconn would lead me to a great paying salary-if I do omfs. Yes I would have a better shot through uconn but its doable through ucsf I would assume. So what would the 100k even matter if I do omfs from ucsf or uconn? If I dont do omfs, is that amount of money high enough to set me back?

 

[ladentista007]

Also, is a medical school curriculum significant if I want to specialize but not necessarily oral surgery? Im still leaving oral surgery on the table but in case I dont by next year....

 

[Incis0r]

What do you mean by "set me back?" 100K extra will be more in loan repayment. Will it make you unhappy? That depends on the standard of living you are used to.

 

[ladentista007]

of course it will be more in loan repayment but I guess what I wanted to know was how much extra time would it take to repay that 100k extra that I would be paying for UCSF? this is all assuming I specialize in something at least.

 

[Incis0r]

What's the total amount you would be taking out in loans for both schools?

 

[ladentista007]

240K probably for UConn after adjusting for some things on the tuition statement and most likely 320K for UCSF out of state adjusted for instate tuition after the first year. Realistically, UCSF would be like 340K.

 

[Incis0r]

Since A LOT of things can change for your future (if you indeed specialize, whether you go to a program that pays a stipend, or you pay tuition, length of program varies for diff. specialties, stipends change annually, etc.),

Also, @Bereno has an EXCELLENT financing spreadsheet that you should play with and get a better answer for yourself.

 

[Member 6236]

Incis0r made it quite clear that the obvious choice is UCONN. I believe UCONN's specialty rate this year was OMFS 5/5 and Ortho 11/12 which is utterly insane. You'll have a HUGE edge if you wanted to do OS by going there. Plus even if you decided on Ortho or really anything else for that matter, you'd have an excellent shot AND be 150K ahead of a lot of people.

So is 150K really worth the extra "city life" you'd get at UCSF? Maybe if you're high.

But really this decision should be a lot easier than you're making it.

 

[cacazor]

Are you seriously asking if 150k is significant?

 

[ladentista007]

I am putting 150K in the context of a specialists salary.

 

[Incis0r]

@Realitydentalstudent made an amazing post recently on the cost of dental education and what kind of lifestyle to expect. It's worth a look! Reality, I tried looking up your profile to link the post to this thread, but it won't let me- could you link it? I want to read it again too!

 

[ladentista007]

No my heart is not set on UCSF. And yea I want to see that post by realitydentalstudent!

 

[Member 6236]

I am putting 150K in the context of a specialists salary.

It's still VERY significant even in that context. Remember you'll be drowning in loans upon loans, ESPECIALLY if you decide to specialize. So adding 150K onto those additional loans you'll have to take out to specialize isn't going to help you live comfortably.

 

[Incis0r]

^