UCSF vs. Harvard!!!!! what should I pick???

[ahga80]

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Hi guys, first of all I have to thank all of you for posting messages and exchanging ideas. I can't get to this point without SDN.
Now my dream really comes true because I am accepted by two of my top choices. I am torn in choosing which to attend. I am an international applicant, so i will be paying the same amount of tuition for both schools. Living costs in SF and Boston are similar. I am not 100% sure if I really want to specialize, but I am open to this option. I've lived in SF for 5 years and would like to settle in CA eventually. However, Harvard is such a big name and it has 100% matching rate for specialties. But specialize means 7 years and huge sum of loan. There is no turning back to become a GP if i really go to Harvard. I also heard that it's quite hard to pass the West regional board if i attend schools on east coast. I wonder if it's true.
I am so torn!! please help!!!

 

[luder98]

Between the two, matching or not really depends on YOU. I would pick UCSF because it also opens the door to GP for you. Congrats!

 

[tinker bell]

UCSF

😍 😍 😍

 

[porsche7]

Hi guys, first of all I have to thank all of you for posting messages and exchanging ideas. I can't get to this point without SDN.
Now my dream really comes true because I am accepted by two of my top choices. I am torn in choosing which to attend. I am an international applicant, so i will be paying the same amount of tuition for both schools. Living costs in SF and Boston are similar. I am not 100% sure if I really want to specialize, but I am open to this option. I've lived in SF for 5 years and would like to settle in CA eventually. However, Harvard is such a big name and it has 100% matching rate for specialties. But specialize means 7 years and huge sum of loan. There is no turning back to become a GP if i really go to Harvard. I also heard that it's quite hard to pass the West regional board if i attend schools on east coast. I wonder if it's true.
I am so torn!! please help!!!

Congrat!!! your acceptance 🙂
If you don't mind telling me What is your GPA, and DAT score?

I just wonder about this, since I am an international student, too.

 

[S Files]

Hi guys, first of all I have to thank all of you for posting messages and exchanging ideas. I can't get to this point without SDN.
Now my dream really comes true because I am accepted by two of my top choices. I am torn in choosing which to attend. I am an international applicant, so i will be paying the same amount of tuition for both schools. Living costs in SF and Boston are similar. I am not 100% sure if I really want to specialize, but I am open to this option. I've lived in SF for 5 years and would like to settle in CA eventually. However, Harvard is such a big name and it has 100% matching rate for specialties. But specialize means 7 years and huge sum of loan. There is no turning back to become a GP if i really go to Harvard. I also heard that it's quite hard to pass the West regional board if i attend schools on east coast. I wonder if it's true.
I am so torn!! please help!!!

very tough decision indeed. well look at it this way, if you make the wrong decision, it's not that bad anyways! do you have family closer to either school?? that's an important consideration. about the WREB, no worries passing rate among east coast schools is not significantly different than west coast schools. harvard's specialty rate is high yes, but no, not 100%. plenty of highly competent gp's graduate from harvard as well. remember dental school is highly dependent on what you make of it. i personally would choose harvard though.

 

[eyeforstars]

If you are more inclined towards research and academics go for Harvard if not go for UCSF.
Cheers and best of luck 👍

 

[ahga80]

Wouldn't it seem silly if I choose to be a GP after attending Harvard?
I love the city of SF, but I also love the name of Harvard....
I want to start working asap after dental school, but I also love the benefit of being a specialist.
It's a really tough choice. Should I flip a coin?

 

[NileBDS]

By international applicant, do you mean "Foreign Trained Dentist" (BDS or equivalent) or just foreign education in general (BSc, PST ...) ?
I'm just curious to know, because I was under the impression that Harvard did not have an advanced standing program for FTD's (ie; you would be required to complete all 4 years of dental school).
UCSF in fact does have an advanced standing program, and is only 2 years.
All that aside, I am inclined to agree with most posters here.
If you're planning on specializing/academia go to Harvard, if you want to get an intense clinical training (and still keep your options open for post grad) go to UCSF. UCSF is an excellent school.
I personally think that Harvard dental is overrated.
Congrats on both acceptances.

Hi guys, first of all I have to thank all of you for posting messages and exchanging ideas. I can't get to this point without SDN.
Now my dream really comes true because I am accepted by two of my top choices. I am torn in choosing which to attend. I am an international applicant, so i will be paying the same amount of tuition for both schools. Living costs in SF and Boston are similar. I am not 100% sure if I really want to specialize, but I am open to this option. I've lived in SF for 5 years and would like to settle in CA eventually. However, Harvard is such a big name and it has 100% matching rate for specialties. But specialize means 7 years and huge sum of loan. There is no turning back to become a GP if i really go to Harvard. I also heard that it's quite hard to pass the West regional board if i attend schools on east coast. I wonder if it's true.
I am so torn!! please help!!!

 

[ahga80]

By international applicant, do you mean "Foreign Trained Dentist" (BDS or equivalent) or just foreign education in general (BSc, PST ...) ?
I'm just curious to know, because I was under the impression that Harvard did not have an advanced standing program for FTD's (ie; you would be required to complete all 4 years of dental school).
UCSF in fact does have an advanced standing program, and is only 2 years.
All that aside, I am inclined to agree with most posters here.
If you're planning on specializing/academia go to Harvard, if you want to get an intense clinical training (and still keep your options open for post grad) go to UCSF. UCSF is an excellent school.
I personally think that Harvard dental is overrated.
Congrats on both acceptances.

No, I am not a foreign trained dentist. I got my undergrad degree here in US and I applied to the normal 4 year DDS/DMD program.
If i do plan on specializing, I will certainly go to Harvard. If I plan on doing GP, i will choose UCSF. If I go to UCSF, and decide to specialize, do I need to be the top 10%???? It seems very difficult.
If I go to Harvard, and decide not to specialize, will I leave the school with poor skill?? I always get the feeling that Harvard does not want students to be GP.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

If I go to UCSF, and decide to specialize, do I need to be the top 10%???? It seems very difficult.

I have a few questions for anyone out there. UCSF is on a pass/fail system and therefore has no ranking, right?. Technically, anyone who scores a 90 or above on the boards is considered "eligible" for most specialty programs in a system like UCSF?

If these factors are true, I think you're making a big mistake if you believe that UCSF won't train you to specialize.

However, I would vote for Harvard just cause it's harder to get into. 👍 The prestige of the big H is enough to make anyone's mouth water.

 

[Dukie]

I have a few questions for anyone out there. UCSF is on a pass/fail system and therefore has no ranking, right?. Technically, anyone who scores a 90 or above on the boards is considered "eligible" for most specialty programs in a system like UCSF?

If these factors are true, I think you're making a big mistake if you believe that UCSF won't train you to specialize.

However, I would vote for Harvard just cause it's harder to get into. 👍 The prestige of the big H is enough to make anyone's mouth water.

I would definitely not choose Harvard for the name. In practice, the overwhelming majority of your patients will not know or care where you went to school. They only care how skilled you are and how much it is going to cost.

That being said, you have two good schools to choose from. In my opinion, UCSF is a better school overall. As others have said, Harvard (like Columbia) is an excellent school for research and biomedical education. They do well with specialties, but so does UCSF. My advice would be to go with the school that is closest to family, in the city you want to be in, where you want to practice, etc. In the end, these will make you happier and make dental school a little bit easier. Good luck!

 

[ahga80]

I have a few questions for anyone out there. UCSF is on a pass/fail system and therefore has no ranking, right?. Technically, anyone who scores a 90 or above on the boards is considered "eligible" for most specialty programs in a system like UCSF?

I thought UCSF still keeps a class ranking based on score reports even though there is P/F system. Correct me if I am wrong.

If these factors are true, I think you're making a big mistake if you believe that UCSF won't train you to specialize.

However, I would vote for Harvard just cause it's harder to get into. 👍 The prestige of the big H is enough to make anyone's mouth water.

I screamed when I knew that I was accepted to Harvard... That reaction is a response to an achievement, it's hard for me to drop the big H. I have never thought that I would be accepted by Harvard because I did poorly on my interview. Since I am an international applicant, I have no idea if any school will accept me. Getting accepted to Harvard is an American dream.
However, I really want to stay in SF. My heart is telling me to choose UCSF.

 

[omfsres]

I thought UCSF still keeps a class ranking based on score reports even though there is P/F system. Correct me if I am wrong.


I screamed when I knew that I was accepted to Harvard... That reaction is a response to an achievement, it's hard for me to drop the big H. I have never thought that I would be accepted by Harvard because I did poorly on my interview. Since I am an international applicant, I have no idea if any school will accept me. Getting accepted to Harvard is an American dream.
However, I really want to stay in SF. My heart is telling me to choose UCSF.

I think I'm going to vomit. Get over yourself dude. Congrats on getting into dental school period. It doesn't matter if its Harvard or Univerisity of Tenn, both will have the same training and be able to obtain the same liscensure at graduation. And here's a news flash, There are people who specialize in every specialty from every dental school. We had 4 go ortho, 6 go oms, 3 go perio, 2 go endo from my lowly state school. My advice, go to the cheapest school possible.

 

[fightingspirit]

bump

 

[fightingspirit]

Getting accepted to Harvard is an American dream.
However, I really want to stay in SF. My heart is telling me to choose UCSF.

i always thought that gettin into harvard college or harvard law or business or medicine is a dream come true. but is gettin into harvard dental a dream come true?...i doubt that. you are an international student and you are in america. good for you. i suggest that you do some research on the notion of the American Dream because your associating it with a harvard acceptance is an indication that you do't have a firm grip on it.

 

[fightingspirit]

However, I would vote for Harvard just cause it's harder to get into. The prestige of the big H is enough to make anyone's mouth water.

hmm..
favoring a dental school just because it's harder to get into is a bit shallow..... 👎

"make anyone's mouth water".... speak for yourself man cus my mouth ain't watering for harvard's d-school. maybe it waters for good food or good sex....if your mouth is watering for a school, then i strongly recommend going out more often. 😛

 

[fightingspirit]

Hi guys, first of all I have to thank all of you for posting messages and exchanging ideas. I can't get to this point without SDN.
Now my dream really comes true because I am accepted by two of my top choices. I am torn in choosing which to attend. I am an international applicant, so i will be paying the same amount of tuition for both schools. Living costs in SF and Boston are similar. I am not 100% sure if I really want to specialize, but I am open to this option. I've lived in SF for 5 years and would like to settle in CA eventually. However, Harvard is such a big name and it has 100% matching rate for specialties. But specialize means 7 years and huge sum of loan. There is no turning back to become a GP if i really go to Harvard. I also heard that it's quite hard to pass the West regional board if i attend schools on east coast. I wonder if it's true.
I am so torn!! please help!!!

no need to be torn...UCSF all the way, as it prepares you for both; in the meantime, you'll save some money for that practice or that condo 😉 .

 

[DDSSlave]

Getting accepted to Harvard is an American dream.

What the heck are you talking about? I don't know anyone who wanted to go to Harvard. And stop worrying about specializing. Worry about how to be a damn good dentist first.

 

[deejay]

I think I'm going to vomit. Get over yourself dude. Congrats on getting into dental school period. It doesn't matter if its Harvard or Univerisity of Tenn, both will have the same training and be able to obtain the same liscensure at graduation. And here's a news flash, There are people who specialize in every specialty from every dental school. We had 4 go ortho, 6 go oms, 3 go perio, 2 go endo from my lowly state school. My advice, go to the cheapest school possible.

I'm the JUGGERNAUT BITCH! LOL

 

[nothen2do]

I thought UCSF still keeps a class ranking based on score reports even though there is P/F system. Correct me if I am wrong.

/

No class rank here at SF

 

[S Files]

What the heck are you talking about? I don't know anyone who wanted to go to Harvard. And stop worrying about specializing. Worry about how to be a damn good dentist first.

ok we're getting a little too anti-Harvard. I never went there, but students and graduates from the program are quite competent, whether specialty / research, and yes gp as well. it is a solid dental school and will prepare you well.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

hmm..
favoring a dental school just because it's harder to get into is a bit shallow..... 👎

"make anyone's mouth water".... speak for yourself man cus my mouth ain't watering for harvard's d-school. maybe it waters for good food or good sex....if your mouth is watering for a school, then i strongly recommend going out more often. 😛

 

[DDSSlave]

ok we're getting a little too anti-Harvard. I never went there, but students and graduates from the program are quite competent, whether specialty / research, and yes gp as well. it is a solid dental school and will prepare you well.

Where did I say they aren't competent? I agree with you. I said I don't know of anyone (in my class or otherwise) who wanted to go to Harvard to correct the OP's misperception of an American dream. The people I know couldn't care less about the Harvard name, but clearly there are people out there that do.

 

[NileBDS]

ok we're getting a little too anti-Harvard. I never went there, but students and graduates from the program are quite competent, whether specialty / research, and yes gp as well. it is a solid dental school and will prepare you well.

Right ... just like any other ... that's the whole point of our discussion.
Ahga80 ... If I were you, I would be damn proud that I made it to Harvards list, but would be even more proud of myself if I made the right choice.
Dental school isn't about dropping names or who went to school were. As one previous post referred, worry first about getting a solid dental education/training (which both schools would give you) and make the best of it. Since you seem so attahched to CA/SF, just go to UCSF ... why all the drama ? It's an excellent school, and many people would kill to be in your shoes ! If you do well at either school, you should have no problem at matching.
Cross continent moves aren't worth it in many cases, surely not this one.
Good Luck.

 

[drhobie7]

Harvard! No, UCSF! Oh hell, I don't know!

 

[tx oms]

Once again, the entering class of Harvard School of Dental Medicine (a stupid name, BTW):

 

[headsup]

Oh come on guys...
All you guys who say the name is not important... are you kidding me..
I'll give you a scenario:
2 dentists, exact same credentials, both great at what they do, one from UCSF, one from harvard...
I personally look at the Harvard one differently[in a better way] than the one from UCSF...
Don't jump on my case all you SF lovers... I am jst saying that a school has a bigger name because it does bigger things, not because bunch of rich folks loved it and made the name big...
About UCSF, I think it is a dream school, but given a chance between the two and considering the fact that tuition is not different between the two for "OP"
then why not get the same education in addition to the bigger name?!?!

cheers

 

[tx oms]

Get some self confidence. Everyone I've met from Harvard needed the name to give them confidence. BOO-YAH bitches!

 

[headsup]

Some get drunk to get self confidence, some go to a shrink and some go to a good school with a big name to boost their self confidence. I prefer to go to a big school with a big name to do so.

cheers

 

[NileBDS]

I'll give you a scenario:
2 dentists, exact same credentials, both great at what they do, one from UCSF, one from harvard...
I personally look at the Harvard one differently[in a better way] than the one from UCSF...
cheers

I think what you are referring to might be true in the case of academia.
I would never pick a Harvard SDM grad over a UCSF one for a clinical position. Please tell me when the last time you heard of someone trying to go to Harvard for dentistry was ... need a couple more minutes ... exactly !
Do not forget that our field is one of clinical emphasis and that is what counts. Unless you are doing a PhD, I don't care how many papers your school publishes per year, or what kind of research they pioneer ...
Going to Harvard for dentistry is like buying a car from Sony.
But that's just me.

 

[hj714]

They are both excellent schools. That being said, just go to a place where you think you would want to settle down after. If you wanna live in West Coast after your graduate, go to UCSF. If you wanan live in the East Coast, go to Harvard.

You'll be a dentist regarless of where you go. You'll be a good dentist regarless of where you go - you just have to work hard at any single dental school. And if you work hard for next 4 years, i'm sure you'll get into any specialty of your choice.

- H

 

[xxJuiceDxx]

I think I'm going to vomit. Get over yourself dude. Congrats on getting into dental school period. It doesn't matter if its Harvard or Univerisity of Tenn, both will have the same training and be able to obtain the same liscensure at graduation. And here's a news flash, There are people who specialize in every specialty from every dental school. We had 4 go ortho, 6 go oms, 3 go perio, 2 go endo from my lowly state school. My advice, go to the cheapest school possible.

That Juggernaut video is the most random **** I have ever seen.

 

[BritIndian]

Can you tell me how your GPA, MCAT, extra curriculars, volunteering, and research were when you applied?
THanks

 

[John Durian]

Can you tell me how your GPA, MCAT, extra curriculars, volunteering, and research were when you applied?
THanks

It's a 5 year old thread man

 

[Muggsy Bogues]

It would be interesting to hear how this turned out for the OP. Doubt the poster is still around though.

 

[thewobblytooth]

owned lol

 

[BombayBDS]

UCSF all the way!

 

[jay47]

UCSF all the way!

Holy crap people, you didn't catch the notice a few posts up? THIS POST IS 5 YEARS OLD. THIS PERSON HAS ALREADY GRADUATED FROM DENTAL SCHOOL. They obviously don't need to know which school you recommend they attend.

 

[BombayBDS]

Holy crap people, you didn't catch the notice a few posts up? THIS POST IS 5 YEARS OLD. THIS PERSON HAS ALREADY GRADUATED FROM DENTAL SCHOOL. They obviously don't need to know which school you recommend they attend.

O yeah. I dont care about the date... UCSF then and now!!

 

[TheOMSProject]

Compared to their reputation, UCSF has a strange way of handing out admissions.