UCSF vs UMKC

Started by RicardoVargas14
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RicardoVargas14

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10+ Year Member
Ok I need all the help and experience possible I am a California resident and have been accepted to UCSF and UMKC. I am not sure which to attend? I have been to KC twice now and the amount of effort and time that all the staff has put into accepting me and making me feel like a part of a family is the only thing holding me from attending ucsf. I am not sure if I will be looked at as just another person at ucsf because that's the feeling I got at the interview. I work great in group environments so please if you have any info on ucsf that may help me decide I would really appreciate it. And I've heard that the clinical experience is not as important to the university due to their intrest in molding more professors rather than actual dentists? Any information on this will help so much. Lastly would be if anyone knows if the name alone of UCSF may help when it comes to trying to specialize? Thank you
 
I have scholarship towards UMKC so basically over the four years I would save around 50K if I choose UMKC. Not a huge difference but not small either...
 
I went to UCSF and enjoyed my time there. San Francisco is fun city to live in, but saving $50k is a bonus. Also, if you plan on practicing in California, going to a Cal school might help in the resources, connections you make for future employment
 
Yea its a rough estimate but does include cost of living and expenses. Do you know if UCSF prestigious name would help in trying to specialize? Because I don't plan on being top student in class I am a student that has to work hard to do well not one where things come easy so I know to be top of the class would be quite difficult....
 
RicardoVargas14 said:
Yea its a rough estimate but does include cost of living and expenses. Do you know if UCSF prestigious name would help in trying to specialize? Because I don't plan on being top student in class I am a student that has to work hard to do well not one where things come easy so I know to be top of the class would be quite difficult....
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Go to the school that saves you money in the long run. Forget about "Ivy league" status. I graduated from UMKC and many of my classmates went on specialty training in various fields. I am dual specialist myself and heck, I went to UMKC! 😉 UMKC is a good school. The bad thing is the climate as the summer can be too hot and the winter can be way too cold! DP
 
UCSF is known for putting people into specialty programs, definitely an advantage.
plus great weather and great city to live in San Francisco.
PLUS you are a California resident already!
 
After going through UCSF's program I would agree with you when you say the clinical experience is not the best the school has to offer compared to the amount of world class researchers working on campus.
They care enormously about being the top dental research center in the country, if not the world. Unfortunately, I cannot say they care as much about teaching students to be dentists.

Since you would save money at UMKC and I am assuming you are ok with the idea of living in KC for four years vs living in SF (one of the silver linings of UCSF for me ) I would offer the following advice:
Go to UCSF if only if you want to specialize, you will be better prepared clinically and it will save you money plus a lot of heartache.

-Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
UCSF hands down. I know enough about UMKC to not recommend it versus UCSF. The ultimate sell on UCSF has to be the pass/fail system, which makes it easier for you to learn.
 
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