UAB or MUSC

[smiles323]

So I'm trying to decide between UAB and MUSC and I'm having the hardest time. If anyone has any insight, please let me know. Any information is helpful to me making my decision. Thanks =)

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[USCbiograd]

One great thing about MUSC is that they are currently building a new dental clinic building. This building will offer all of the newest technology and we be completed fall 2009. I can not say much about UAB as my knowledge of this school is very limited.


http://www.musc.edu/dentistry/new_facility/index.html

 

[smiles323]

Yeah, the new clinic building sounds really nice. Do you happen to know anything about patient base at MUSC? Is there are large number of patients, so it is easy to get a patient needing the treatment you need??

 

[novahopeful]

There are a few things to consider about the city of Birmingham.....

http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Birmingham&state=AL

http://www.statestats.com/cit05pop.htm

It is anually ranked in the Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in the United States. The homicide rate is through the roof. Even the mayor of the city was recently arrested.

I cannot comment too much on MUSC, but one big factor for me with UAB is safety! The city is rough.

 

[USCbiograd]

When I interviewed there, I asked about the patient base and how difficult it is to obtain patients. I was assured the patients/chairs are plentiful and this is not a concern. Another thing to consider is tuition costs, are you a state resident of either school?

 

[smiles323]

I'm in-state with South Carolina, and UAB gave me a scholarship that brings costs to only slightly above in-state for them. Overall, MUSC ends up being probably $45,000 more than UAB. If there wasn't that much of a difference, I think this decision would be a lot easier--I guess in the end $45,000 more in debt isn't that much considering??? And safety should outweigh those differences? It's just hard to turn down an option that saves you that much money and has a great clinical reputation.

 

[USCbiograd]

In the long run 45k is not that much. I would closely examine the schools and make a pro and con list about each school. See which one ends up with the most cons.

Good luck

 

[Andre3k]

Please dont be so paranoid. I've been attending UAB for the last 4 years and nobody even so much as looked at me wrong since I been here. There is crime everywhere..even in Charleston. The best advice is just to be careful where ever you are.

UAB is an excellent medical/dental school. Plus you get hands on contact with patients your first year, D1. Sounds like you got the STAR scholarship. I would recommend UAB, especially if you got a scholarship and its cheaper. It was my second choice.

 

[novahopeful]

Please dont be so paranoid. I've been attending UAB for the last 4 years and nobody even so much as looked at me wrong since I been here. There is crime everywhere..even in Charleston. The best advice is just to be careful where ever you are.

UAB is an excellent medical/dental school. Plus you get hands on contact with patients your first year, D1. Sounds like you got the STAR scholarship. I would recommend UAB, especially if you got a scholarship and its cheaper. It was my second choice.

Hhmm....you must not have been outside past 8 pm while on or near campus!!! JK. But seriously...I've been there the past 4 years and have experienced everything from a homeless guy asking me for money at a drive-thru window to actually witnissing an attempted murder while doing community service (one guy shot another). My lab TA las semester's fiance was mugged in 5 points at gunpoint. There were 3 homicides in one weekend this past fall. AE's First 28 and Intervention TV shows were being filmed in the city this past fall (homicide investigation show and drug/alcohol addiction show).

And Andre3k...remember kayla being gunned down on campus last year? That was kind of the last straw for me. I did not wander around after dark after that happened. And I felt wayyyy less comfortable, epescially in or around 5 points.

That being said, know the places not to be after dark and you will be just fine.

 

[bigstix808]

stay in charelston...the beach! really?!? - is this even a question??

 

[smiles323]

Alright, so thanks for all the feedback so far!

BigStix808: haha, I know. The beach is a definite pro.

Okay, so I made a pros and cons list and it looks like it comes down to this...

Pros
UAB- cheaper, LOTS of clinical experience, better reputation??

MUSC- better location and near family, nice simulation lab (you actually take the boards there in your normal setting with your own 'manikan' (sp?)), new clinic (which might attract more patients??

Cons
UAB- the location--it's not in the greatest area, and it's 8 hours away from family AND the beach

MUSC- about $45000 more. Also, I don't really know if this is a con, but there are no number requirements for clinicals, there are just competencies. They do this to make sure that a student isn't forced to postpone graduation just because there wasn't a patient available to fulfill a requirement. This makes sense to me; and I'm okay with this as long as there are enough patients to get enough experience that you feel comfortable completing the procedures after graduation.

I think I'm overthinking this...In the end, I don't think there's a bad choice and that's why it's driving me crazy!!

 

[JPDMD]

Smiles323 good luck with your decision. Like you said you are deciding between two good options. Let us know what your final decision is. I am writing this post to ask others what they think the pros and cons for MUSC are.

Pros: Tuition instate is cheaper than my other options. Location. Housing market. New clinical building. Smaller class and more contact with teachers. Good patient population.

Cons: Rising tuition each year. Outdated buildings until the school updates. Classes start this June instead of August like many schools.

What do you guys think?

 

[kyleene06]

Last year N. Charleston was ranked as #7 most dangerous city in the U.S., and Birmingham was #6. MUSC is in downtown Charleston, but crime there is high as well. I have been told by police officers that the crime in Charleston is kept quiet because it is such a big tourist city, and who wants to vacation somewhere with such high crime. I had my car broken into during pure daylight at a gym one day.

 

[drashleypaige]

I have been at UAB for the past 6 years (undergrad and grad school) and I have NEVER had a security issue. (Yes, I remember about Kayla but that was an isolated incident that occurred at about 3 in the morning and the details surrounding the case were very sketchy.) Yes, Birmingham has a bad reputation, however, there are really nice neighborhoods to live in that are near campus (I used to live in Homewood and now live in Hoover). UAB is an urban campus so there are some homeless people but what urban city doesn't? I lived on campus for two years and never felt unsafe. UAB is my first choice. I have toured the facility and I think the tuition is reasonable.
There are some great things about the city: great weather, historical sites, good shopping....etc
Ultimately, I say weigh out all your options but I personally wouldn't let a bad reputation deter me from considering UAB.

 

[Andre3k]

Hhmm....you must not have been outside past 8 pm while on or near campus!!! JK. But seriously...I've been there the past 4 years and have experienced everything from a homeless guy asking me for money at a drive-thru window to actually witnissing an attempted murder while doing community service (one guy shot another). My lab TA las semester's fiance was mugged in 5 points at gunpoint. There were 3 homicides in one weekend this past fall. AE's First 28 and Intervention TV shows were being filmed in the city this past fall (homicide investigation show and drug/alcohol addiction show).

And Andre3k...remember kayla being gunned down on campus last year? That was kind of the last straw for me. I did not wander around after dark after that happened. And I felt wayyyy less comfortable, epescially in or around 5 points.

That being said, know the places not to be after dark and you will be just fine.

Lol... What's wrong with a homeless person asking u for money?? That's what they do! If you pass by a homeless person in Charleston or any other city for that matter they are going to ask you for money. I'm sure the amount of homeless people that ask you for change is not included in the statistics for determining if a city is dangerous or not. If that bothers you you are truely paranoid.

Second of all. Why would you walk down the street in 5 points by yourself??( I'm assuming the person was by their self). You are asking to get mugged walking anywhere in a city after dark no matter the city. That just goes back to what I said about being careful.

Every city has been on First 48 (not 28 lol) at least once. There are several murders a week in many cities you just happened to witness one. And you probably was in the wrong place at the wrong time when you did.

Bottom line, as with any city, be careful where you go. And if you are paranoid stay out of all heavily populated cities including Birmingham.👍

 

[novahopeful]

Lol... What's wrong with a homeless person asking u for money?? That's what they do! If you pass by a homeless person in Charleston or any other city for that matter they are going to ask you for money. I'm sure the amount of homeless people that ask you for change is not included in the statistics for determining if a city is dangerous or not. If that bothers you you are truely paranoid.

Second of all. Why would you walk down the street in 5 points by yourself??( I'm assuming the person was by their self). You are asking to get mugged walking anywhere in a city after dark no matter the city. That just goes back to what I said about being careful.

Every city has been on First 48 (not 28 lol) at least once. There are several murders a week in many cities you just happened to witness one. And you probably was in the wrong place at the wrong time when you did.

Bottom line, as with any city, be careful where you go. And if you are paranoid stay out of all heavily populated cities including Birmingham.👍

First 28...LOL my fault. typo. First 48....it's actually one of my favorite shows. I like when they follow around the crew from memphis.

Disagree about wrong place at wrong time...It was mid day at a city recreational center doing a clinic with young children. And guy was with a group in 5 points when mugged.

But yes, you seem to agree with my original point...as with any big city, there is violence. Just need to know where NOT to be at what times. It is sad that one cannot walk down a street at night with a peace of mind.

 

[chund]

I have lived in Charleston since I was 12. Charleston is not north Charleston, lets get that straight right now. You have to get on the interstate or ride down east bay street through the industrial sector before you get there.

Charleston is awesome. The surrounding communities are great, the food is wonderful. Always mentioned in many national magazines and travel channel, etc. but is not so overrun by tourist that there can't be a local feel. That is part of the attraction.

Our class will be the first to use the new clinical facility and will not have to use the old clinics. I have seen the drawings for this facility and am touring it on Friday (my dad's firm designed it). It looks rediculously amazing. State of the art.

I am also a big family person so I am happy to stay in Charleston. all or one of my brothers has lived dt charleston since 2002 and have not had any troubles that they did not create crime wise, haha.

There are 4 beaches near, the high class Kiawah/seabrook for the old retired ppl, Folly for the younger generation, its like a jimmy buffett beach. You can legally drink on the beach, which the other beaches you cant legally, but we do. Solo cups. Then there is Sullivan's and Isle of Palms.

There is not much competition to my knowledge but many friendships and the clinics are perfect due to the smaller class size. I know alot of students now and they are all friends and no one competes (EDIT-that i know of).

Then there is always the history, I cant say how many national monuments we have, from the civil war forts and everything, to Edgar allen poe spending his war time there. There is something for everyone. Learning is just a plus!

PS. I don't know jack about UAB

 

[smiles323]

JPDMD- the tuition costs of every dental school are rising--which SUCKS! That being said, I too am worried that MUSC's tuition may be rising at a much steeper rate (I'm not sure how to confirm or negate this statement). But then again, in your case, wouldn't it still be cheaper to go there than NYU? So I'm not sure how much of a con that really is for you.

 

[JPDMD]

Smiles323- Yes, MUSC has a lot lower tuition rate than other schools that I have gotten into. You are also correct in saying that tuition is rising at every school across the nation. MUSC is rising at a higher rate than most. I am excited to go to MUSC, and feel that the pros greatly outweigh the cons. At the same time there are good and bad things about every choice. I just wanted to know if anyone knew of any cons that I haven't thought of before, as you did with the graduation requirements. Good luck with your decision, hopefully I will be studying with you in a few months. If anyone else has pros and cons about MUSC I would be interested in hearing your opinions.

 

[chund]

I spoke with a D3 the other day who said that the tuition went from like 10 grand a year to 30 a year or whatever it is now within the last 10 years. It is one of the pricier public schools in the nation but all prices are going up. I know that south carolina has been cutting back on MUSCs budget and thats why prices are going up. Hopefully, this will level of NOW, so that i dont have 200 grand in debt. (all numbers are speculative and in no way representative of the truth)