Tufts vs. UPenn

[dental2519]

Tufts: (MA resident)

Pros:
- 100k cheaper because I will not have to pay for rent/transportation
- closer to family/friends/support system
- strong clinical curriculum
- Well known in MA (I want to practice here following graduation)
- I can work as a DA while in school (if I have time) at my current dental office

Cons:
- big class size
- less networking opportunities (?)

Penn:

Pros:
- smaller class size
- the "PENN" name
- great facilities
- no class ranking
- great networking opportunities

Cons:
- far from home and not the best city
- 100k more expensive


I am leaning more towards Tufts because of the money savings, but also because I will be more familiar with the area and will have my support system in close proximity to me. I can't seem to fathom spending an extra 100k just to go to Penn, but my family (who is not contributing to my dental school cost) can't understand how I could turn down Penn. My goal is to finish my DMD and be able to go straight into general practice, so the clinical curriculum is very important to me. I do not think that I want to specialize. Is there a vast difference between the clinical curriculum at Tufts vs. Penn? So basically I am asking, is Penn really that much better of a school, that I should pay the extra 100k for? Any comment/guidance would be much appreciated! Thank you!

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[Carmencitas]

If you didn’t receive any financial help from Penn and your parents aren’t helping then easily Tufts

 

[2thPirate🦷]

Tufts, no question, the price tag for Penn isn’t justifiable when you have such a cheaper option. Maybe tell your family that if they pay for half of Penn you’ll go lol (jk..unless👀)

 

[Ivy.ch]

“I didn’t know Penn State had a dental school” - every future patient. No one cares about the penn name. Consider the lifetime consequence this decision has on your bank account.

 

[macsak]

Tufts: (MA resident)

Pros:
- 100k cheaper because I will not have to pay for rent/transportation
- closer to family/friends/support system
- strong clinical curriculum
- Well known in MA (I want to practice here following graduation)
- I can work as a DA while in school (if I have time) at my current dental office

Cons:
- big class size
- less networking opportunities (?)

Penn:

Pros:
- smaller class size
- the "PENN" name
- great facilities
- no class ranking
- great networking opportunities

Cons:
- far from home and not the best city
- 100k more expensive


I am leaning more towards Tufts because of the money savings, but also because I will be more familiar with the area and will have my support system in close proximity to me. I can't seem to fathom spending an extra 100k just to go to Penn, but my family (who is not contributing to my dental school cost) can't understand how I could turn down Penn. My goal is to finish my DMD and be able to go straight into general practice, so the clinical curriculum is very important to me. I do not think that I want to specialize. Is there a vast difference between the clinical curriculum at Tufts vs. Penn? So basically I am asking, is Penn really that much better of a school, that I should pay the extra 100k for? Any comment/guidance would be much appreciated! Thank you!

think of the % difference rather than the 100k difference, and the gap gets even larger...

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

the "PENN" name

Big Hoss

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

“I didn’t know Penn State had a dental school” - every future patient. No one cares about the penn name. Consider the lifetime consequence this decision has on your bank account.

Penn State is a superior institution so I would look at this as an advantage 😉

 

[GreenAnna]

“I didn’t know Penn State had a dental school” - every future patient. No one cares about the penn name. Consider the lifetime consequence this decision has on your bank account.

The Ivy Penn, not the Penn State...

 

[Sunny Waffles]

The Ivy Penn, not the Penn State...

Their point still stands though. 100k+ is not worth the ego boost, you might as well use that money as down payment for your first house…

 

[Ivy.ch]

The Ivy Penn, not the Penn State...

This is my point. People don’t know the difference