UCLA (IS) vs UoP

[dentalmicrobio]

Hello, I feel so lucky to have gotten many acceptances on Decision Day, however, I would love honest opinions about what dental school you think I should attend. I am choosing between UCLA and UoP as they both offered me a Deans Scholarship.

UCLA pros:
- In-state tuition
- 100k Deans Scholarship
- Weather and beaches
- I love some of the faculty already
- Undergrad campus
- Pass, no pass
- Smaller class size
- Good for specializing (if I decide to do so)
- SHPEP (would love to help out)
- I have upperclassmen who I'm close with already

UCLA cons:
- Honors
- Facilities need a bit of an upgrade
- I heard they're having some issues with getting patients

UoP pros:
- Facilities are so nice
- No doubt I'll get trained properly to be a GP
- Alumni Network
- 100k Deans Scholarship
- I also like some of the faculty I've met already
- I'm from the Bay Area, so moving and going home will be easier
- 3-year program
- I really like this but just a tiny bit more than UCLA

UoP cons:
- With scholarship, it will still cost me about 100k more
- SF is expensive (not sure how bad it is in Westwood)
- The Bay Area is so gloomy once September hits
- 3-year program (I feel like it would be too rushed)
- Graded

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[macsak]

Hello, I feel so lucky to have gotten many acceptances on Decision Day, however, I would love honest opinions about what dental school you think I should attend. I am choosing between UCLA and UoP as they both offered me a Deans Scholarship.

UCLA pros:
- In-state tuition
- 100k Deans Scholarship
- Weather and beaches
- I love some of the faculty already
- Undergrad campus
- Pass, no pass
- Smaller class size
- Good for specializing (if I decide to do so)
- SHPEP (would love to help out)
- I have upperclassmen who I'm close with already

UCLA cons:
- Honors
- Facilities need a bit of an upgrade
- I heard they're having some issues with getting patients

UoP pros:
- Facilities are so nice
- No doubt I'll get trained properly to be a GP
- Alumni Network
- 100k Deans Scholarship
- I also like some of the faculty I've met already
- I'm from the Bay Area, so moving and going home will be easier
- 3-year program
- I really like this but just a tiny bit more than UCLA

UoP cons:
- With scholarship, it will still cost me about 100k more
- SF is expensive (not sure how bad it is in Westwood)
- The Bay Area is so gloomy once September hits
- 3-year program (I feel like it would be too rushed)
- Graded

UCLA

 

[Ryxndek]

100k in additional loans is a lot more than you think. UCLA is still a strong name compared to UoP. Both with prepare you well, however, you really want to minimize loans borrowed as much as possible. With UoP as a three-year program, and being 100k more, you may want to see if you can factor in a dentist's salary for an additional year and see where that takes you in terms of cost. But truthfully, I think going to UCLA would be a better financial choice, and if you wanted to practice outside of CA, UCLA would carry a more familiar name.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Clearly you have the academic chops to get 100K scholarships from both of those schools, so I'm going to presume that you have the profile to handle the intensity of 3 years of non-stop immersion in dentistry. Check out the student support at both schools, but pay close attention to any successes at UoP. I will also presume you would be a great candidate for additional scholarships from the CDA or other awards meted out by the schools.

I'm a fan of SHPEP, but that signals to me you would like having a conventional curriculum that decompresses your summers so you could help out. I'm sure there is community outreach at UoP including mentoring local schoolchildren. But that was what struck me in your pros and cons.