UCLA or Harvard

[dent101]

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For a california kid who would like to one day specialize and practice in Cali, what are your thoughts on attending HSDM? With a small class, great board scores, highest percentage of acceptance into specialty programs (near 100%), and an integrated research component (which is necessary to specialize anyways), why not go to Harvard? But, in California, Harvard is viewed strictly as a research institution producing academicians, not clinicians. However, UCLA is viewed in CA as an exceptional school with incredible stats across the board but lacks the personal attention.Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[msdentist06]

For a california kid who would like to one day specialize and practice in Cali, what are your thoughts on attending HSDM? With a small class, great board scores, highest percentage of acceptance into specialty programs (near 100%), and an integrated research component (which is necessary to specialize anyways), why not go to Harvard? But, in California, Harvard is viewed strictly as a research institution producing academicians, not clinicians. However, UCLA is viewed in CA as an exceptional school with incredible stats across the board but lacks the personal attention.Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

In the dental field both are great schools (the top two in my opinion). The two schools have the highest match rates:

.....................................Harvard................vs........UCLA
Excluding GPR and AEGD.....88%[29 students].........50% [~50 students]).
Including GPR and AEGD.....94%[33 students].........75% [~75 students]


Harvard doesn't have a small class size (35 dental students + 165 medical students = ~200 students in one class). Personal attention is only given in kindergartens. We are adults....It's much more affordable to attend UCLA because it's a public school. UCLA grads won't need to pass additional tests to get a license to practice in California. Both schools' avg DAT is ~22 but it's harder to maintain a 22 avg when you have many more dental students in one class. Thus, it's much harder to be #35 @UCLA. Percentage-wise Harvard has the highest match rate but UCLA generates more specialists (~50 students specialize, excluding GPR and AEGD). Both UCLA and Harvard are research oriented schools. So, you'll have plenty research opportunities at both universities. You should also consider where you want to practice:
Beverly Hills, Bell Air, Hollywood, etc or Boston.

 

[nothen2do]

"UCLA grads won't need to pass additional tests to get a license to practice in California."

What do you mean? UCLA or H., grads of both need to pass the cali boards to practice here.

"Both schools' avg DAT is ~22 but it's harder to maintain a 22 avg when you have many more dental students in one class. "

Confused what you're trying to get at here?

"You should also consider where you want to practice:
Beverly Hills, Bell Air, Hollywood, etc or Boston."

Like above, it doesn't matter where you go to school, if you want to practice in Cali, you need to pass the Cali boards, which i'm sure a Harvardian can do.

 

[msdentist06]

"UCLA grads won't need to pass additional tests to get a license to practice in California."
What do you mean? UCLA or H., grads of both need to pass the cali boards to practice here.


My understanding is that one of the main goals of each dental school is to help students pass its regional/state test.


"Both schools' avg DAT is ~22 but it's harder to maintain a 22 avg when you have many more dental students in one class. "
Confused what you're trying to get at here?

Because you deleted the next sentence. UCLA has 88 freshmen; Harvard has 35. So, the top 35 students @UCLA have an avg DAT score that is higher than 22.


"You should also consider where you want to practice:
Beverly Hills, Bell Air, Hollywood, etc or Boston."
Like above, it doesn't matter where you go to school, if you want to practice in Cali, you need to pass the Cali boards, which i'm sure a Harvardian can do.

Usually, if you study in Beverly Hills you can build more connections. A UCLA professor practices in an area close to UCLA and knows more people in that area. Employers in Beverly Hills area don't go to many states to recruit dentists. They usually hire people from their own area.

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[KAP]

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siiiiiiick reply

 

[WestCoast]

For a california kid who would like to one day specialize and practice in Cali, what are your thoughts on attending HSDM? With a small class, great board scores, highest percentage of acceptance into specialty programs (near 100%), and an integrated research component (which is necessary to specialize anyways), why not go to Harvard? But, in California, Harvard is viewed strictly as a research institution producing academicians, not clinicians. However, UCLA is viewed in CA as an exceptional school with incredible stats across the board but lacks the personal attention.Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

i was accepted to both and i chose ucla. i have no complaints of my decision as 1. i am in much less debt and 2. in residency of my choice.