UCLA vs. Columbia

[EmanUT]

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Where would you go, UCLA or Columbia? I am currently deciding between the two and was wondering what your opinions were. I am not a resident of either NY or CA, but live closer to CA. Also, Columbia gave us definite specialty numbers whereas UCLA didn't. Also, Columbia gave us their Part I average, but UCLA did not. Anyone have that information? Thanks for your input!

 

[jackbauer!]

the cheaper of the two, which is UCLA.

jb!🙂

 

[icepinkish]

Where would you go, UCLA or Columbia? I am currently deciding between the two and was wondering what your opinions were. I am not a resident of either NY or CA, but live closer to CA. Also, Columbia gave us definite specialty numbers whereas UCLA didn't. Also, Columbia gave us their Part I average, but UCLA did not. Anyone have that information? Thanks for your input!

Both are great schools, but I chose UCLA over Columbia. I am a CA resident, though. UCLA has 50% of the class specializing (excluding GPR/AEGD, so the % is about the same as Columbia). Plus the weather and the neighborhood of Westwood is nicer than Washington Heights. I don't know the part I avg for UCLA, but I'd think it's pretty high since they send so many of their students into specialty programs, esp. ortho. Hope this helps! Gl with decision making. 🙂

 

[GRAD]

Both are great schools, but I chose UCLA over Columbia. I am a CA resident, though. UCLA has 50% of the class specializing (excluding GPR/AEGD, so the % is about the same as Columbia). Plus the weather and the neighborhood of Westwood is nicer than Washington Heights. I don't know the part I avg for UCLA, but I'd think it's pretty high since they send so many of their students into specialty programs, esp. ortho. Hope this helps! Gl with decision making. 🙂

UCLA!!

 

[DocPainless]

I did not apply to UCLA. However, my visit to Columbia dental school totally turned me off from the school. I think environment is an important consideration when attending a school and is certainly something Columbia is lacking-bad neighborhood and broken down building. Some would say that you are a subway ride away from the good part of NYC but you would be studying so much that the immediate environment counts way much more than that occasional one hour ride. Furthermore, you are subjected to a medical curriculum. The combination of the two (environment + medical curriculum) in addition to a very competitive student body could really be a brutal if not depressing four years.

Additionally, yes, they have a good Part I score. But rumor is that they are below average, if not way below average for Part II. This would probably hurt you a lot if you decide to apply to some specialties, especially since some require a GPR as a prereq.

 

[DocPainless]

Ucla.

 

[bruinpredent]

U-C-L-A 👍

 

[keibee82]

I would choose UCLA. I believe Part I avg for UCLA was near top.

 

[Envision]

Go where the cool kids go 😀

UCLA 😉

 

[dentstd]

Yep. UCLA's better than CU...

...Equal career opportunities.

...You don't have to eat at McDonald's everyday. Every meal.

...More attractive people.

...It's cheaper.

...You won't get killed.


...But be prepared to hit the weight room. It helps to be pretty at a locale like LA.

 

[DDSY]

...You don't have to eat at McDonald's everyday. Every meal.

Welcome back. Hehe. This quote gave me a laugh. Reminds me of the time I used to live in a sketchy place. I didn't trust the food (some restaurants had bullet-proof windows😱 ), so I always ate at McDonald's.

 

[indentition]

I personally chose UCLA over columbia.

Go where you will think you will be happy. If not, try sitting in for a day or two and determine the environment.

 

[INFNITE]

I did not apply to UCLA. However, my visit to Columbia dental school totally turned me off from the school. I think environment is an important consideration when attending a school and is certainly something Columbia is lacking-bad neighborhood and broken down building. Some would say that you are a subway ride away from the good part of NYC but you would be studying so much that the immediate environment counts way much more than that occasional one hour ride. Furthermore, you are subjected to a medical curriculum. The combination of the two (environment + medical curriculum) in addition to a very competitive student body could really be a brutal if not depressing four years.

Think of it this way, being away from a good area of town forces you to study. If the school was located at midtown, I would've gotten no work done.

 

[PFM]

Where would you go, UCLA or Columbia? I am currently deciding between the two and was wondering what your opinions were. I am not a resident of either NY or CA, but live closer to CA. Also, Columbia gave us definite specialty numbers whereas UCLA didn't. Also, Columbia gave us their Part I average, but UCLA did not. Anyone have that information? Thanks for your input!

specialty rate is more like 60-70%
NBDE I scores avg around 92-93


you should pick UCLA

 

[icepinkish]

NBDE I scores avg around 92-93

😱 👍

you should pick UCLA

😀 👍

 

[cuneatus2]

specialty rate is more like 60-70%
NBDE I scores avg around 92-93


you should pick UCLA

I

 

[keibee82]

Whats the specialty rate and NBDE I avg. score for UCSF?

 

[BodybldgDoc]

go with the cheaper of the two 🙂

 

[greenday]

Reportedly, Columbia has the second highest DAT average in last year's cycle, and the number one spot is not UCLA.
Cali folks can stay in Cali and attend UCLA all they want without knowing what living on the east coast is like. I thought a big part of schooling is that it offers you a good opportunity to have a change of secenary for a period of time. While the turnout of specialty rate is almost the same, why not pay a lil more money to get an unique part of your life experience, instead of talking to the same old folks everyday and living the same old life while getting tortured by toughie professors. Nowhere else is like NYC, think about it!!

 

[greenday]

Yep. UCLA's better than CU...

...Equal career opportunities.

...You don't have to eat at McDonald's everyday. Every meal.

...More attractive people.

...It's cheaper.

...You won't get killed.


...But be prepared to hit the weight room. It helps to be pretty at a locale like LA.

Yep. CU's better than UCLA...

...CU is ivy league, UCLA is public school.

...Besides McDonald and plenty of other restaurants, you can also have local dominican food. What?! dont like dominican food or have a problem with being open minded? Then go to UCLA and eat McDonald all day!

...More attractive people. Plenty of model looking people around in NYC, plus Columbia med and undergrad hotties

...It's a lil more expensive, so what, u get what u paid for. u dont want people to call u cheap when it comes to quality stuff

...You won't get killed. In downtown LA you might get killed or suicide due to a stressful life.

...But be prepared to hit the weight room, being healthy and sexy is a big part of grad school experience. However at a school like UCLA, if you are not pretty people might spit on you cuz people are materialistic sometimes seeing those many Hollywood stars.

 

[bruinpredent]

Reportedly, Columbia has the second highest DAT average in last year's cycle, and the number one spot is not UCLA.

haha, i wasn't aware that being 0.16 points below columbia's average made UCLA unworthy 👎


my money still is and always be on the bruins

Hello all, my adviser received a copy of the 45th edition of the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.

There are major improvements most important is that the breakdown of total applicants to each dental school is more detailed.

It divides in-state and out of state for each school and the number that are interviewed and accepted!

Of course it has the stats of the entering class (DAT and GPAs).

Highest Academic average for the 2006 entering class : Harvard, 24.4
2nd-Highest " ": Columbia, 22.16
3rd-Highest " ": UCLA, 22


[I am not a vendor for ADEA!]

I bought it for my cycle, if you want to get it go to
https://access.adea.org/adeassa/ecs...st_id=&p_order_serno=&p_promo_cd=&p_price_cd=

_______________________________________

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
Class of 2011

 

[armorshell]

I'm not going to side with anyone, both are excellent schools. But I will say, if you're going to a top 5 school anyway, you might as well go to the cheaper one.

To most of the arguments made in this thread, I made this as big as I could:

 

[dentstd]

Yep. CU's better than UCLA...

...blah, blah, blah

I've already done the Ivy thing. It ain't all that. And the Ivy grad degree matter more for business and law. It's "nice" for med. Relatively meaningless for dental.

You get what you paid for?!?!?! That argument works for things like... paying extra to have a burger over a miserable hotdog, or upgrading to a bmw over a Ford. Not paying extra to be in the slums. Oh dear.

Personally, I prefer UCLA girls over CU girls anyday.... Med school girls? what?!?!? Have you SEEN them?!!?!?! Granted CU med girls are more attractive. There're a couple of knockouts, actually.

Dominican food's fine. But is there anything else? ...or just that McDonald's, that Chinese shack, and Dominican? I like Dominican, but I can't have it evvvery single day.

CU's not a bad school. It has a good rep. Esp in dental. I'd go to that school if I wasn't accepted to UCLA. But I can identify more perks for UCLA. Lower cost being the most critical for most.

 

[EmanUT]

Lots of opinions, thanks. It does seem like the CA kids are saying UCLA while the others are saying Columbia. Cost isn't an issue, as they will be similar because I am out of state at UCLA. I don't think anyone can argue the locations, Westwood > Washington Heights. As for reputation, that seems to matter more on where you are (west coast = ucla, east coast = columbia). My concerns are this:

1) Columbia's Basic Science to the Practice of Dentistry vs. UCLA's traditional curriculum where each class is individual (histo, physio, biochem, etc.)

2) Columbia has definite literature on their match list, I have yet to see UCLA's. The same goes for NDBE Part I scores.

3) Columbia's Area of Concentration vs. UCLA Selectives

4) First summer off vs. Year round

Thanks for the responses!

 

[fancymylotus]

looks live youve made your choice, but ill throw in my opinion anyway.....uclaaaaaaaaaa!

 

[cuneatus2]

Lots of opinions, thanks. It does seem like the CA kids are saying UCLA while the others are saying Columbia. Cost isn't an issue, as they will be similar because I am out of state at UCLA. I don't think anyone can argue the locations, Westwood > Washington Heights. As for reputation, that seems to matter more on where you are (west coast = ucla, east coast = columbia). My concerns are this:

1) Columbia's Basic Science to the Practice of Dentistry vs. UCLA's traditional curriculum where each class is individual (histo, physio, biochem, etc.)

2) Columbia has definite literature on their match list, I have yet to see UCLA's. The same goes for NDBE Part I scores.

3) Columbia's Area of Concentration vs. UCLA Selectives

4) First summer off vs. Year round

Thanks for the responses!

Y

 

[bruinpredent]

looks live youve made your choice, but ill throw in my opinion anyway.....uclaaaaaaaaaa!

i have to admit i was pleasantly surprised by this


by the by people, i have nothing against CU, i just have a soft spot for ucla

 

[fancymylotus]

i have to admit i was pleasantly surprised by this


by the by people, i have nothing against CU, i just have a soft spot for ucla

i 😍 cu, but gorgeous weather, infinitely nicer people,clearly cheaper, and still a great school?! obvi. i guess it helps that the SO lives out here(there?) :]

 

[icepinkish]

Lots of opinions, thanks. It does seem like the CA kids are saying UCLA while the others are saying Columbia. Cost isn't an issue, as they will be similar because I am out of state at UCLA. I don't think anyone can argue the locations, Westwood > Washington Heights. As for reputation, that seems to matter more on where you are (west coast = ucla, east coast = columbia). My concerns are this:

2) Columbia has definite literature on their match list, I have yet to see UCLA's. The same goes for NDBE Part I scores.

When I said UCLA match rate ~> 50% I didn't say so based on another SDN post. According to UCLA SOD 2005-2006 annual report (a booklet that I grabbed when I interviewed there):
"Congratulations to the 98 graduates in the Class of 2006!... Of note, half of these talented new dentists plan to enter a specialty program and another quarter of the class will pursue advanced training in general dentistry."

4) First summer off vs. Year round

Thanks for the responses!

It seems like you want to specialize, so don't you think it's likely you are going to be studying/doing research with a summer off anyway? Plus the summer quarters @ UCLA are much less intense than the other quarters according to the current students.

I know this is a tough decision, because I was in the same shoe few months ago. Keep in mind that you can't go wrong with either, though 🙄 .

 

[lnsip9reg]

i 😍 cu, but gorgeous weather, infinitely nicer people,clearly cheaper, and still a great school?! obvi. i guess it helps that the SO lives out here(there?) :]

state tuition in california isn't what it used to be. after the budgetary crises of a few yrs back, our governator had to up the tuitions for undergrad and grad school. sucks, eh? 😱

 

[fancymylotus]

state tuition in california isn't what it used to be. after the budgetary crises of a few yrs back, our governator had to up the tuitions for undergrad and grad school. sucks, eh? 😱

there is still nothing better than caleeeforneeea😍

 

[pinguette]

I gotta love you. I hated Columbia as well...such a shabby place. I was so damn bad.

Great to know that someone concurs with me 👍

I did not apply to UCLA. However, my visit to Columbia dental school totally turned me off from the school. I think environment is an important consideration when attending a school and is certainly something Columbia is lacking-bad neighborhood and broken down building. Some would say that you are a subway ride away from the good part of NYC but you would be studying so much that the immediate environment counts way much more than that occasional one hour ride. Furthermore, you are subjected to a medical curriculum. The combination of the two (environment + medical curriculum) in addition to a very competitive student body could really be a brutal if not depressing four years.

Additionally, yes, they have a good Part I score. But rumor is that they are below average, if not way below average for Part II. This would probably hurt you a lot if you decide to apply to some specialties, especially since some require a GPR as a prereq.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

I liked Columbia when I interviewed there. McManus is another story. He gave me the stare down.

 

[dat_student]

Reportedly, Columbia has the second highest DAT average in last year's cycle, and the number one spot is not UCLA...

FYI:
.............AA......TS.....PAT....Overall GPA...SCI GPA...# of student
Columbia 22.16..???.....19.06..3.49.............3.44.......75
UCLA......22......22......20......3.65.............3.60.......88

http://www.dent.ucla.edu/NewsEvents/main.asp?id=514
"I am ending this message on a very high note. The July 2004 Performance Summary of the Part I, National Board Dental Examinations, ranks our School as number 2 in the nation. The difference between our average score and that of the first ranked school is an infinitesimal 0.8 while the difference between our average score and the third ranked school is now greater by 2.8. This is wonderful news and I am proud of our students who did so well."

 

[shamrock84]

The popular sentiment seems to be that UCLA is better because #1.) girls are cuter, #2.) tuition is cheaper, #3.) Westwood is a great area.

As for #1, I can't really comment (though I'm sure you can find cute girls in either city). For crying out loud, I managed to find good looking guys in SOUTH BEND, INDIANA!

If you think one school will be a better fit for you and in one place you are going to be happier for four years (which most likely will affect your study habits) then the price difference just doesn't seem to mean as much... If that is UCLA, choose UCLA; if it is Columbia, choose Columbia.

Westwood is a great area... all three blocks. I lived in LA for quite some time and it wasn't as impressive as NYC. But that is just me. I think I will have some free time (little, but some) in dental school and I just want to be able to utilize it for fun things and I think NYC offers more fun for me.

If we are going to speak about rumors (like someone mentioned the "Part II" scores above), the rumor I heard is that the students at UCLA are very, VERY cutthroat.

But choose where you feel the best. Personally I LOVE the east coast. Also I don't think Columbia's is horrible like people describe it here. It clearly gets very qualified candidates and it must be doing something right...since their students seem to get into the specialties they want.

good luck!

p.s. i chose columbia

 

[DocPainless]

If we are going to speak about rumors (like someone mentioned the "Part II" scores above), the rumor I heard is that the students at UCLA are very, VERY cutthroat.

I quoted it as a rumor because I am not 100% sure. However, the low part II score was mentioned by a Columbia student SDNer in the dental forum. I'm sure you'll find it if you look for it: it was posted quite recently.

As for the environment, I guess it's pretty subjective. Remember that Columbia is not the NYC that many people think of. Maybe I was a bit too brash in voicing my opinion, but overall, Columbia's not my school.

 

[cuneatus2]

The popular sentiment seems to be that UCLA is better because #1.) girls are cuter, #2.) tuition is cheaper, #3.) Westwood is a great area.

As for #1, I can't really comment (though I'm sure you can find cute girls in either city). For crying out loud, I managed to find good looking guys in SOUTH BEND, INDIANA!

If you think one school will be a better fit for you and in one place you are going to be happier for four years (which most likely will affect your study habits) then the price difference just doesn't seem to mean as much... If that is UCLA, choose UCLA; if it is Columbia, choose Columbia.

Westwood is a great area... all three blocks. I lived in LA for quite some time and it wasn't as impressive as NYC. But that is just me. I think I will have some free time (little, but some) in dental school and I just want to be able to utilize it for fun things and I think NYC offers more fun for me.

If we are going to speak about rumors (like someone mentioned the "Part II" scores above), the rumor I heard is that the students at UCLA are very, VERY cutthroat.

But choose where you feel the best. Personally I LOVE the east coast. Also I don't think Columbia's is horrible like people describe it here. It clearly gets very qualified candidates and it must be doing something right...since their students seem to get into the specialties they want.

good luck!

p.s. i chose columbia

A

 

[dat_student]

...
...the rumor I heard is that the students at UCLA are very, VERY cutthroat.
...

Class of 2010 isn't like that at all. We all help each other. We share notes, record lectures for each other, send mnemonics to each other, form study groups, quiz each other, etc So far so goooooooooooooooooood 🙂

 

[fightingspirit]

I did not apply to UCLA. However, my visit to Columbia dental school totally turned me off from the school. I think environment is an important consideration when attending a school and is certainly something Columbia is lacking-bad neighborhood and broken down building. Some would say that you are a subway ride away from the good part of NYC but you would be studying so much that the immediate environment counts way much more than that occasional one hour ride. Furthermore, you are subjected to a medical curriculum. The combination of the two (environment + medical curriculum) in addition to a very competitive student body could really be a brutal if not depressing four years.

Additionally, yes, they have a good Part I score. But rumor is that they are below average, if not way below average for Part II. This would probably hurt you a lot if you decide to apply to some specialties, especially since some require a GPR as a prereq.

I am not a columbia student but I was accepted off the wait list. I decided not to go for several reasons and one of them is the curriculum. However, Columbia is an excellent dental school and many people do not realize that. When it comes to neighborhood, I agree that it’s not the best but it is manhattan and yes, everything is a subway ride away. In a suburban school you’d have to drive your car to get to anywhere. And let’s face it! who has time for environment in dental school. I’d rather have small businesses close to where I live so that I can get everything I need anytime I need. As far as the medical curriculum, well, at most dental schools, it’s almost a full-blown medical curriculum so you might as well make it medical all the way. In terms of competition, well, you’re gonna have it at any well-reputed dental school. any dental school that gets students with high DATs is going to be competitive; at least Columbia has a pass/fail system, which I think puts students at ease. In terms of part 2, you said it: RUMOR!!! I wonder how are so many Columbia grads going to specialties if their part 2 was that much of a problem. What specialty cares about part 2 anyways? last but not least, Columbia may be a bit lacking in clinical experience but their students get extremely well-trained in the preclinicals. Their operative technique course is top-notch.

 

[shamrock84]

As for the environment, I guess it's pretty subjective. Remember that Columbia is not the NYC that many people think of. Maybe I was a bit too brash in voicing my opinion, but overall, Columbia's not my school.

Columbia is in Harlem, but it is only a hop-skip-and-jump away from manhattan. In 20-30 minutes by express train I can be in the village, central park, broadway, the met...pretty much anywhere in "the NYC that many people think of."

Think of going from UCLA to old town pasadena, to 3rd street, santa monica pier, the getty, sunset blvd., etc. Not only are these popular spots spread out, but you never know how long it is going to take if you hit bad traffic.

That's all I was trying to say. To each his own, otherwise everyone would be living in NYC.

 

[INFNITE]

while Columbia has a med curriculum, in general, I don't feel we are learning that much more unnecessary junk. For example, in neural science, we have a ton of lectures that are optional for us. Also, in anatomy, we are spared of the lower extremities while we get a double dose of head and neck anatomy. Also, unlike some other schools which has a full biochem course, our biochem course (integrated into the Science Basics course) is basically a month long crash course focusing on stuff that is necessary for the boards (primarily metabolism and stuff like molecular biochem). I do believe our anatomy course is longer than most other schools, and that annoys me a bit, but in general, it's stuff that we need to learn anyway and helps us to prepare for the boards. We get our share of histology, physiology, human development etc like other schools so don't make the "med school curriculum" thing throw you off. It's just that the material relevant for med and dental students during the first two years are so similar that the Columbia feels no need to separate us when we're learning the same things anyway.

 

[fightingspirit]

while Columbia has a med curriculum, in general, I don't feel we are learning that much more unnecessary junk. For example, in neural science, we have a ton of lectures that are optional for us. Also, in anatomy, we are spared of the lower extremities while we get a double dose of head and neck anatomy. Also, unlike some other schools which has a full biochem course, our biochem course (integrated into the Science Basics course) is basically a month long crash course focusing on stuff that is necessary for the boards (primarily metabolism and stuff like molecular biochem). I do believe our anatomy course is longer than most other schools, and that annoys me a bit, but in general, it's stuff that we need to learn anyway and helps us to prepare for the boards. We get our share of histology, physiology, human development etc like other schools so don't make the "med school curriculum" thing throw you off. It's just that the material relevant for med and dental students during the first two years are so similar that the Columbia feels no need to separate us when we're learning the same things anyway.

lol....according to what you're stating, stony brook is more medical than i thought it was. not only are our biochem, physiology, histology, and neuroscience/neuroanatomy classes unadjusted but they are also graded according to the letter grade system. no pass/fail and no optional lectures.

 

[EmanUT]

Thanks for everyone's input, especially the current UCLA and Columbia students.

 

[blackqueen02]

Thanks for everyone's input, especially the current UCLA and Columbia students.

Where are you going anyway??

 

[pocahantus]

Yep. CU's better than UCLA...

...CU is ivy league, UCLA is public school.

...Besides McDonald and plenty of other restaurants, you can also have local dominican food. What?! dont like dominican food or have a problem with being open minded? Then go to UCLA and eat McDonald all day!

...More attractive people. Plenty of model looking people around in NYC, plus Columbia med and undergrad hotties

...It's a lil more expensive, so what, u get what u paid for. u dont want people to call u cheap when it comes to quality stuff

...You won't get killed. In downtown LA you might get killed or suicide due to a stressful life.

...But be prepared to hit the weight room, being healthy and sexy is a big part of grad school experience. However at a school like UCLA, if you are not pretty people might spit on you cuz people are materialistic sometimes seeing those many Hollywood stars.

UMMMMM, if you are going to argue a point at least get your facts right first.UCLA is NOT in downtown LA. It is in westwood, next to Beverly hills.I think most people would rather go to UCLA coz the get the most "bang from the buck" here.Campus is gorgeous, gazillion restaurants in westwood village ( there is no Mickey D's within what appears to be 10 miles of it) and there are the oh -so- glorious beaches and beautiful weather...whats not to like.

 

[blooh]

having mucho friends in columbia and visiting some freinds in ucla, i would have to say UCLA is way better

UCLA = nicer weather, DEFINATELY BETTER LOOKIN girls no doubt about that..
it all comes down to studying in nice weather outdoors or living in new york taking the subway when its like 20 degrees outside, snowing, rainy, walking in gross weather..
NYC sucks honestly, i would give my pinky toe to live in cali
haha
- Danny

 

[lifeisgood]

As a recent grad from UCLA (2006) I felt I needed to chime in on this VERY cutthroat thing. I had the exact opposite experience at UCLA. Not only were people not cutthroat, but most people helped each other out with stuff. Interesting comment there.

Class of 2010 isn't like that at all. We all help each other. We share notes, record lectures for each other, send mnemonics to each other, form study groups, quiz each other, etc So far so goooooooooooooooooood 🙂

I will have to agree. I have been talking to a few current UCLA students and they all say the same thing..."The faculty and students all care a lot about everyone succeeding". From what I have heard everyone helps each other out. I mean, it's P/NP (well also MP, EPR, etc) so who cares if you score 5 points more than someone else on an exam, a pass is pass whether you have a 75% or a 90%.

Btw, UCLA!