hi, trying to decide between UOP (SF) and Columbia (NY) - want to specialize , costs are pretty similar, how is the UOP curriculum first year, what specifically should I know and do that 1st year to stay on top of material etc and which is the most difficult class?
Congratulations on your acceptances! Both of those programs are highly desirable and prestigious, you should be very proud.
With regard to specialization, you can specialize from any school. Some schools produce more specialists than others, but that is typically due to the culture of the school more than it is the quality of the students. That said, there will always be residency directors who have varying opinions about this and that dental school.
No doubt, it is easier certainly easier to specialize coming from a school with a strong culture of producing specialists. These schools typically offer more research opportunities, a stronger didactic education, and many like-minded students who are all planning to specialize.
Both schools are prestigious, established, and produce excellent dentists. Although some schools are associated more with specialization, that doesn't mean you can't specialize from either of them. The thing that most differentiates the two is the time to earn your doctoral degree.
No one can tell you with certainty how one program will affect your chances at getting into a specialty. What is certain however is the fact that one more year in dental school is a full year of lost income as a dentist. When you say that both schools cost about the same, you are correct with regard to tuition, but you must also factor in opportunity costs associated with lost income. This is especially pronounced for specialists who miss out on a year of salary that is higher than the average general dentist's salary.
A secondary factor would be location. UOP is in San Francisco. If that's your jam, then you may want to consider whether you will be happy in New York. The same is true the other way too. San Francisco and New York are two very different cities. Perhaps you have family in one location?
I wish I could help you with curriculum. I can tell you that we take the NBDE part I after our first year just like UOP. It is difficult, but completely doable. Dental schools are investing a lot of money into you, so they do a good job of making sure you don't fall behind or slip through the cracks.
As long as you stay caught up with the material, you can do anything other students have managed to do at UOP. You wouldn't have been accepted if the admissions committee didn't believe you could handle it!
🙂
Good luck in dental school! I'm sure you will be great no matter where you decide to attend!
