TUFTS vs. COLUMBIA

[PIZZAM]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I really need to decide between these schools in the next week and need any input I can get. I am completely torn and after doing my research I am still undecided. So if you have any info/advice or any experience with these schools please post. What do you think?

 

[edkNARF]

I really need to decide between these schools in the next week and need any input I can get. I am completely torn and after doing my research I am still undecided. So if you have any info/advice or any experience with these schools please post. What do you think?

Tufts and Columbia were two amazing schools in two amazing cities. It will be a very hard decision to decided between the two. In a case like this, I would "go with my gut." Do you feel that either school just "seemed right" for you?

 

[onetoothleft]

which city do you want to live in? both are about the same price i think. If you want to go into primary care remember that Tufts will give you much more clinical exposure, but if you want to specialize, Columbia would have the stronger didactic training.

 

[PIZZAM]

which city do you want to live in? both are about the same price i think. If you want to go into primary care remember that Tufts will give you much more clinical exposure, but if you want to specialize, Columbia would have the stronger didactic training.

I really do think I want to specialize (OMS), but who really knows. It's hard to make that decision before dental school and that's why I am not sure if it would be a little overkill (if I become a GP) if I go to Columbia. I also know Tufts gives you exposure to all the specialties and I believe 5/5 got into Oral Surgery last year. With that said, Logically I believe it's Tufts, but my gut wants to live in NYC. Also the Columbia 2009 already class seems pretty Sick (fun, etc,). I did also really enjoy Boston. I do believe that the curriculum (education) at Tufts will fit me best, but I'll have more fun in my four years at Columbia. I guess that's the debate. I'm from the West (SD), I know either way it will be an awesome experience. Any input would be appreciated, this indeciseveness is Killing Me!

 

[onetoothleft]

I really do think I want to specialize (OMS), but who really knows. It's hard to make that decision before dental school and that's why I am not sure if it would be a little overkill (if I become a GP) if I go to Columbia. I also know Tufts gives you exposure to all the specialties and I believe 5/5 got into Oral Surgery last year. With that said, Logically I believe it's Tufts, but my gut wants to live in NYC. Also the Columbia 2009 already class seems pretty Sick (fun, etc,). I did also really enjoy Boston. I do believe that the curriculum (education) at Tufts will fit me best, but I'll have more fun in my four years at Columbia. I guess that's the debate. I'm from the West (SD), I know either way it will be an awesome experience. Any input would be appreciated, this indeciseveness is Killing Me!

I had the same concerns when I was making my decision. I am not sure which specialty I want to go into (GP or otherwise) and realistically, even though Columbia tells you it is better doesn't mean it is. Most students tend to do well in any program that they choose.

Since they cost about the same (boston is expensive too!) that is a wash.

I will be going to CU, so that is a plus 🙂

If you go to Columbia and go into Primary care you will almost have to do a residency. Even graduates say they do not consider themselves prepared to go into practice/associate after they graduate (unless you have some great connection) so plan on doing a AEGD or GPR for one year. At Tufts you will be ready to practice right away, but it will still be somewhat of a challenge getting someone to hire you without a residency nowadays--especially out east.

I decided that Columbia + residency would make me a better dentist overall (thinking of it as a 5 year program) than Tufts, etc. (being a 4 year program). This coupled with the fact that I have much more interest in NYC than Boston. I absolutely love it here and hope to live here my whole life.

 

[dds2005]

For me it came down to NYU vs. Tufts. I chose Tufts. Tufts I believe will give you a very strong didactic (very medical based) and very good clinical. You may get a stronger clinical at Columbia though don't hold me to it. Either way you'll have to bend over on the cost. Either city will be great to live in and I'm sure you'll enjoy your 4yrs no matter where you go but I wouldn't base any part of your decision on which one will give you the "sicker" party. You will need amazing grades and board scores in your first 2 years just to have a shot at specializing. Thus if you're serious about that, then your partying may be limited, especially if you decide to go to Columbia.

 

[gundam]

This is a no brainer.
My dentist chose Tufts over Columbia and even over UCSF and now he's earning over half a million a year. The first year he got out and came back to CA, he made over 200k easily and he's always the fastest and most efficient in the private office he associated at.
Tufts is a great school, and not only you get wonderful clinical training, you get very good possibility to specialize, equal or even better than Columbia.
I'm choosing Tufts over Columbia and UCLA.
I'm home sick, otherwise I may consider UCLA.
Best of luck!

 

[gundam]

For me it came down to NYU vs. Tufts. I chose Tufts. Tufts I believe will give you a very strong didactic (very medical based) and very good clinical. You may get a stronger clinical at Columbia though don't hold me to it. Either way you'll have to bend over on the cost. Either city will be great to live in and I'm sure you'll enjoy your 4yrs no matter where you go but I wouldn't base any part of your decision on which one will give you the "sicker" party. You will need amazing grades and board scores in your first 2 years just to have a shot at specializing. Thus if you're serious about that, then your partying may be limited, especially if you decide to go to Columbia.

"You may get a stronger clinical at Columbia though don't hold me to it."
Are you kidding me bro? This is impossible. Ask your local dentists.

"Thus if you're serious about that, then your partying may be limited, especially if you decide to go to Columbia."
True. It's a poo poo hole dude.

 

[cool fillings]

I may be wrong, but isn't Columbia about 12,000 less per year than Tufts?

That's a bundle of money, especially if you're paying with loans.

Another factor...is one slightly closer to your family than the other? Traveling sucks and is expensive.

 

[gundam]

I may be wrong, but isn't Columbia about 12,000 less per year than Tufts?

That's a bundle of money, especially if you're paying with loans.

Another factor...is one slightly closer to your family than the other? Traveling sucks and is expensive.

Look at it this way would ya.
If you find out you are not gonna be able to specialize in Columbia after 4 years, which is 80% likely. You are gonna have to do GPR for a year then move on. While in Tufts, you get out a year earlier and you have the potential to make over 200k the first year. 200k is a bigger bundle of money than 10k right. Think about it. I thought it over man, I have 23 DAT and 3.8 GPA, I'm not a dumberererer.

 

[gundam]

I may be wrong, but isn't Columbia about 12,000 less per year than Tufts?

That's a bundle of money, especially if you're paying with loans.

Another factor...is one slightly closer to your family than the other? Traveling sucks and is expensive.

Cool fillings, aren't you attending Columbia. I thought you are with Columbia, and now you changed your mind for UCLA. You are such a traitor, but I'm glad you made the choice. I would vote for UCLA too, but I'm home sick now.

 

[mikhiel]

just peeking in to say hello to my Tufts classmates!

CU vs. Tufts...
I agree with the above. Go with your gut. I know it's hard, especially with it being so hard to tell if you're going to specialize or not. The consensus seems to be Tufts = strong clinical but more likely to be GP, Columbia = needs a post-grad residency.

Good luck on your decision. If you decide to head to Boston, I'll see you in the fall.

 

[delicious]

... and now he's earning over half a million a year.

Hey gundam. This dentist that you keep talking about in this thread and others. Half a million dollars a year sounds like a lot of money, but if he was really good, he'd be making a hell of a lot more than that. But, if you were a specialist, you could make a real killing. Money-minded specialists like periodontists in medium-sized cities can clear $1,000,000 with moderate work (after overhead of course).

I'm home sick, otherwise I may consider UCLA.

Also, I'm really confused by your use of the phrase "home sick." Where are you from exactly?! 😕

 

[Rezdawg]

Also, I'm really confused by your use of the phrase "home sick." Where are you from exactly?! 😕

Im with you on this. Not sure if he is home sick or sick of home.

 

[gundam]

Hey gundam. This dentist that you keep talking about in this thread and others. Half a million dollars a year sounds like a lot of money, but if he was really good, he'd be making a hell of a lot more than that. But, if you were a specialist, you could make a real killing. Money-minded specialists like periodontists in medium-sized cities can clear $1,000,000 with moderate work (after overhead of course).



Also, I'm really confused by your use of the phrase "home sick." Where are you from exactly?! 😕

I'm from the mars.
You?
Delicious, why are you picking on my dentist so much?! Do you hate him or what? He's a very good clinician that earns a lot of respect. He wants to retire in his 40s, and lets other people to run his office. With his investment he doesn't have to work at all and live a decent life afterwards. I think he has a very good business mind and very good personality, is there anything wrong with that?
Money-minded specialist like periodontist in medium sized cities can make 1 million with moderate work. But, how many of them are there? One out 100 perios, or one out of 5000 dentists. Dude, that's only one in a city. Do you have the guts and mind to be the king? You need to check out figures bro. Limited office to only implants? Sorry there are already too many outta there. There may be one dentist you know are making that much, but if you use that as an average you will get laughed at. Dentaltown.com is a great source to get dental information such as pay etc. You need to grow up Delicious. Everyone is saying perio is dying. Why do you think those perios are only doing implants, because only implants' are profitable for them. Take my word, by the time you graduate there's no space for you to be a implantlicious man.

 

[delicious]

I'm from the mars. You?

I'm from the maine.

Hey man, i don't mean to give you a hard time. I just feel that you talk about money a lot. But if that's how you measure success, so be it. I just though I remember you saying this dentist owned 3 offices. If I owned 3 offices and was only making a little over $500,000, I would be a little disappointed.

Oh, and periodontists making over a mil - you'd be surprised how many make that much.

Good luck at tufts. 👍

 

[gundam]

I'm from the maine.

Hey man, i don't mean to give you a hard time. I just feel that you talk about money a lot. But if that's how you measure success, so be it. I just though I remember you saying this dentist owned 3 offices. If I owned 3 offices and was only making a little over $500,000, I would be a little disappointed.

Oh, and periodontists making over a mil - you'd be surprised how many make that much.

Good luck at tufts. 👍

You are talking about production bro.
Perios make 1 million production, but then over 70% is overhead.
I'm talking about pure profit.
The dentist I refer to makes well over 2 million production, and there's overhead as you know.
I don't like talking about money, they are just figures.
That's it.

 

[delicious]

You are talking about production bro.

no, i'm not. That's why I specifically said "after overhead of course." And 70% overhead for a periodontist?! Yeah, the cost of blades, suture string, and sponges really adds up doesn't it? 🙄

Ok, but back to the OP's question. Columbia vs. Tufts. I'll give my personal thoughts.

The learning environment of a school is very important to me. I understand that Tufts has a big class size (150+), and that there is traditional grading, and ranking. I've spoken to a lot of tufts students (one is a good friend), and they've said that it's a competetive environment. They say there's a lot of certain groups of people having tests/info from past years' courses, and they are kept within those groups. Me, I'm old and tired, and I had enough of that run-around bullsh*t in undergrad. I wasted way too much time stressing about grades, and competition. I just want to concentrate on learning. Columbia would be a more positive environment. Also, I personally like Columbia's medical focus in the first two years. I'd choose columbia. Boston rawks though 4 sure.

 

[gundam]

Delicious you need to talk to some dentists. Overhead of 70% is not uncommon. Leasin, emplyee, equipment... add up.
Speaking of competitiveness, are you out of your mind dude?
Columbia is a place FULL of gunners! It's common sense isn't it?
You want an easy life, don't go to dental school. You want an easier life, don't go to Columbia.
I thought you are smarter than this.
I based my choice on facts and talking to people.
And you just want to have some different comment than others to show off how special you are.
Maybe you should go to law school. You might fool some stupid dentists from Columbia, ha!

 

[delicious]

no, i didn't say that to get attention. I don't really have that much interest in stirring up trouble on SDN anymore. If you're familiar with my history of posts, you'd know that I almost went to columbia. And yeah, i can see how you might think columbia is full of gunners. But the ultimate fact remains that columbia's grading system is P/F for first 2 yrs, then H/P/F in the final 2. You'd be surprised how much that affects the environment, even amongst a group of super-gunners. 70% overhead maybe for a general dentist, but not for a periodontist. I'm out.

 

[gundam]

Here's a figure of average overhead %, the figure is in OH.
A dentist emailed me from dentaltown.

Endo 45% .
GPs 60%
OS 52%
Pedo 52%
Ortho 59%
Perio 57%
Protho numbers were not available.

Regards.
Outta here too.

 

[PIZZAM]

no, i didn't say that to get attention. I don't really have that much interest in stirring up trouble on SDN anymore. If you're familiar with my history of posts, you'd know that I almost went to columbia. And yeah, i can see how you might think columbia is full of gunners. But the ultimate fact remains that columbia's grading system is P/F for first 2 yrs, then H/P/F in the final 2. You'd be surprised how much that affects the environment, even amongst a group of super-gunners. 70% overhead maybe for a general dentist, but not for a periodontist. I'm out.

I thought you were going to Columbia Delicious? Where are you headed? Gundam your headed to Tufts, Correct? Thanks for all the responses. There isn't High Pass at Columbia in the first 2 years?? Do you know what kind of externships (practicing abroad) are available at each school?

SO Far the qualities that draw me to the schools are:

Tufts: Clinically, Prepare for the California/Western Boards, Paperless system, Facilities, clinic in the 2nd year, Good Board scores, Boston.

Columbia: Prepare you to specialize (I believe 10/12 were accepted to the OMS residencey last year, correct me if I'm wrong), Strong Biomedical emphasis with top professors, Implant center, NYC, great board scores, smaller class size.

What am I missing? 😕

 

[delicious]

I thought you were going to Columbia Delicious? Where are you headed?

I'm actually first-year dental school. I was going to head to columbia, but then got accepted somewhere else I liked better. I vote for columbia, but the reality is that they're both great schools and you can't go wrong with either.

gundam, thanks for those stats. But that's just ohio? I think if you have 70% overhead, you're doing something very wrong. Maybe that's why your dentist buddy isn't really raking it in. You should tell him to drop one of his three offices. 😛

Gotta Get Some Lunch!! Feed my Belly!! 😀