UDM or NYU??

[codeine]

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Hi guys,

I m wondering out of UDM & NYU, which one has a better program...

* both are clinically oriented. 🙂
* UDM is cheaper than NYU.
* both have latest equipment.
if sumbody can add more to it....
Thanks!! 👍

 

[urDDS]

The most important factor, FACULT AND STAFF AT MERCY CARE ABOUT STUDENTS!

 

[midiland]

The most important factor, FACULT AND STAFF AT NYUCD CARE ABOUT STUDENTS!

 

[Jake8]

I think it would boil do to where you would be happiest. Given that choice I would choose NYU every time, but I love New York and really don't like Detroit. I have only heard good things about Detroit Mercy, but declined my interview there because I knew I would be miserable in that city, so never been there. I went to NYU and it was top notch compared to most places I saw.

How much is the price difference and what place do you like better?

 

[codeine]

I think it would boil do to where you would be happiest. Given that choice I would choose NYU every time, but I love New York and really don't like Detroit. I have only heard good things about Detroit Mercy, but declined my interview there because I knew I would be miserable in that city, so never been there. I went to NYU and it was top notch compared to most places I saw.

How much is the price difference and what place do you like better?

No doubt NYC is a happening place but who's gonna have time in dental school to enjoy anything else?? 😛 besides, everyone has suggested me that I shud go for a lesser loan option...living expenses in NYU are pretty high. It'll make >50K difference for the whole course. but at the same time, I wanna make sure that I chose the better one out of the two! 😀😛

 

[MKD1960]

I would think that if you are going to base your decision on the most exciting place to live, NY would win hands down. I know that UDM has a great faculty and facility, I did not apply to NY. If you see both of them as equal, I would choose the cheapest. You will not regret choosing UDM if that is the case. I've lived in the Detroit area my whole life and it works for me. You don't have to live in the city. You can get to the dental school from suburbs such as Royal Oak, Dearborn, etc. in about 20-30 minutes.

 

[sdooner30]

Go to UDM because the final four will be in the D tomorrow 😉. Plus, you will get to witness the Detroit Lions, if you haven't already.

SPARTY ON!!

 

[theplge]

First off, congrats on having a choice 🙂

If it's me, I viewed an integral part of the process as where I'm going to spend the next four years of my life. By that measure, NYU wins hands down. You can live somewhere that you can walk to school and you can save some money but not having a car (no insurance, no gas, no maintenance). That's not going to make up a 50K difference but it's all a quality of life issue and what you value. Go back to both if you have the resources and get a feel for which one you like better.

 

[kss]

I may be biased, but I would choose NYU do doubt.

Both are awesome schools... in my case, I wouldn't mind spending ~50k more to live in NYC for 4 years. Trust me, you are gonna have a much better life at NYU than UDM.

 

[urDDS]

Its funny when people think about enjoyment in dental school, man no matter where you are you dont have time for enjoying NY dental school is a whole day thing from morn. till sleep, no time for funn

 

[DentalP87]

Its funny when people think about enjoyment in dental school, man no matter where you are you dont have time for enjoying NY dental school is a whole day thing from morn. till sleep, no time for funn

if you study all day and everyday of course you can't have fun. period.

OP, you will have fun in NYC. I have a friend at NYU who loves it.. but he's damn rich to begin with. Maybe that's why haha.

 

[je ne sais quoi]

Its funny when people think about enjoyment in dental school, man no matter where you are you dont have time for enjoying NY dental school is a whole day thing from morn. till sleep, no time for funn

exactly
besides, thats wat breaks are for =)
ny has higher tuition, higher cost of living ( detroit housing is prrtty cheap without evn comparing it to ny)

undergrad wuda been a dif story, but grad school will barely leave u time for anything else, so u might as well do it somewhere with less distractions, and less debt

they both seem like great schools tho i think any choice is a winner
congrats!

 

[Sephisabin]

Everyone is making school out to be a 120 hour a week commitment... it really is not. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy yourself in school. I honestly study 2 days a week and enjoy NY the other days. Don't get me wrong, I have some friends who study every day and go out once a month, I have one friend who studies one day a week and goes out the other 6 (and still has better than a 3.9). Everyone is different but it's certainly not impossible to go out and have fun while you're in dental school and still pulling off a very good GPA. I'm not going to say anything about UDM versus NYU but you shouldn't let the prospect of having no time cheat you out of a chance of living in NY for 4 years if that factors at all into your decision.

 

[dchung42]

I may be biased, but I would choose NYU do doubt.

Both are awesome schools... in my case, I wouldn't mind spending ~50k more to live in NYC for 4 years. Trust me, you are gonna have a much better life at NYU than UDM.

It won't be just ~50K more

More like 80~100K

20-25k per year x 4

80~100K more debt could slow you down for private practice or a car of your dream

with that much money in detroit could be a better life than that much less of money in ny

if you want to live in the city go ahead

I've heard 1&2 year a lot easier than 3&4th.

Basically if you do really get to enjoy anything outside of dental school.. it will be the first two years.
Have you not had enough good times through high school and undergrad?
I mean... You don't need "city" to be happy.
Everyone can be happy anywhere.
I would go to UDM and save money to travel or have a better car?
with 20K per year to travel. that's a sh~t load.
or 80-100k throughout 4 years could get you a rangerover

 

[iSmile5]

to the OP: I actually had to make the same exact decision as you. What it ultimately came down to for me was class size. NYU is VERY large (~200 first year, ~300 the last 3 years) and UDM is small in comparison (~90). I wanted the smaller class size and more individual attention from professors so I went with UDM.

 

[cpc728]

to the OP: I actually had to make the same exact decision as you. What it ultimately came down to for me was class size. NYU is VERY large (~200 first year, ~300 the last 3 years) and UDM is small in comparison (~90). I wanted the smaller class size and more individual attention from professors so I went with UDM.

People seem to misunderstand that bigger class size automatically means less attention and I know that this isn't the case at NYU. There are so many faculties available to help you through the 4 years of dental school (bottom line is we have a bigger class so we have more faculty members to compensate for the class size versus smaller schools have fewer faculty members). Also our large, diverse class size makes for better networking and plus we learn so much from each other. We're a tight bunch and have lots of fun together. I don't think you should let the large class size factor in negatively toward your decision making. Also it's a lot easier finding your niche in a large body of class. Also nyu is a huge institution and offers many opportunities (like research and outreaches) related to dentistry. I have also heard great things about UDM so either way you'll be happy I'm sure. But I'd like to add that NY is one heck of a place to live. There is no other place is like it.

 

[duckling]

UDM definitely. the nicest support from faculty and staff. honest city.

vs.

nyucd is just like NYC dishonest

 

[musl85]

just to add to that, after the first semester, only about 30 students show up to class. It is all recorded on podcast (audio and video), so almost everyone stays home. If you want individual attention, believe me, no one is going to be competing with you for it.

Also every year they hire more faculty, last year it was 400 new faculty (not replacements).

 

[DrReo]

It won't be just ~50K more

More like 80~100K

20-25k per year x 4

80~100K more debt could slow you down for private practice or a car of your dream

with that much money in detroit could be a better life than that much less of money in ny

if you want to live in the city go ahead

I've heard 1&2 year a lot easier than 3&4th.

Basically if you do really get to enjoy anything outside of dental school.. it will be the first two years.
Have you not had enough good times through high school and undergrad?
I mean... You don't need "city" to be happy.
Everyone can be happy anywhere.
I would go to UDM and save money to travel or have a better car?
with 20K per year to travel. that's a sh~t load.
or 80-100k throughout 4 years could get you a rangerover

Exactly! Also, factor in interest that can easily become 1.5 times the loan. With the money you could save can amount to many trips, cars, or maybe even more important, a down payment to a practice and or house.👍

 

[dchung42]

just to add to that, after the first semester, only about 30 students show up to class. It is all recorded on podcast (audio and video), so almost everyone stays home. If you want individual attention, believe me, no one is going to be competing with you for it.

Also every year they hire more faculty, last year it was 400 new faculty (not replacements).

Not a "pro" characteristic of that class lol

 

[dchung42]

People seem to misunderstand that bigger class size automatically means less attention and I know that this isn't the case at NYU. There are so many faculties available to help you through the 4 years of dental school (bottom line is we have a bigger class so we have more faculty members to compensate for the class size versus smaller schools have fewer faculty members). Also our large, diverse class size makes for better networking and plus we learn so much from each other. We're a tight bunch and have lots of fun together. I don't think you should let the large class size factor in negatively toward your decision making. Also it's a lot easier finding your niche in a large body of class. Also nyu is a huge institution and offers many opportunities (like research and outreaches) related to dentistry. I have also heard great things about UDM so either way you'll be happy I'm sure. But I'd like to add that NY is one heck of a place to live. There is no other place is like it.

"Connections made in dental school" is way overrated on SDN. It's entirely up to you to get out into the community where you practice, meet the other dentists, and build your reputation [/quote]

Don't forget. you could also make enemies. (unlikely but possible goes up when there is larger number of classmates) <-- don't critique on this because you guys all know this is true

 

[Sephisabin]

"Connections made in dental school" is way overrated on SDN. It's entirely up to you to get out into the community where you practice, meet the other dentists, and build your reputation

Don't forget. you could also make enemies. (unlikely but possible goes up when there is larger number of classmates) <-- don't critique on this because you guys all know this is true

Sorry DC, I have to comment on that last part... in a large class it's easier to avoid any enemies that you do manage to make.

As for the attendance issue, that is everyone's personal choice and should not be judged. I know people who rarely go to class but still manage a 4.0. It's about doing whatever is best for you. If you don't benefit from lecture, then why spend 8 hours in lecture for nothing? Though I do attend the majority of lectures, I can entirely understand if someone would rather watch the video and be able to pause or rewind as needed. The important thing is that everyone is learning the material and I have the utmost respect for the school for providing students different options if they do not benefit from sitting in lecture for 8 hours in a day.

I wasn't really going to get involved in the whole UDM vs. NYU thing, but I think I will finally interject. I'll never forget a conversation I had with one of the deans who was trying to convince me to go to NY. He told me that if I just want to go back home when I graduate and be a small town dentist (don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with that, we need small town dentists) I should go to the cheapest school I get into. If I want to be a dentist who knows how to do everything, who has seen everything, has worked with patients others can only read about, then there is no place better than NYC. Coming to NY for dental school is about realizing that you can leave school in 4 years with a DDS or you can leave school in 4 years as a more rounded person with unforgettable life experiences... and a DDS. He closed with "You should never consider the cost of a good education a burden."

 

[musl85]

Not a "pro" characteristic of that class lol

whats it got to do with pro or con? each person has their own learning styles. come to class and take notes or do it at home with the videos, the learning gets done. It implies nothing about class.

as they say, to each his own

 

[dchung42]

Sorry DC, I have to comment on that last part... in a large class it's easier to avoid any enemies that you do manage to make.

As for the attendance issue, that is everyone's personal choice and should not be judged. I know people who rarely go to class but still manage a 4.0. It's about doing whatever is best for you. If you don't benefit from lecture, then why spend 8 hours in lecture for nothing? Though I do attend the majority of lectures, I can entirely understand if someone would rather watch the video and be able to pause or rewind as needed. The important thing is that everyone is learning the material and I have the utmost respect for the school for providing students different options if they do not benefit from sitting in lecture for 8 hours in a day.

I wasn't really going to get involved in the whole UDM vs. NYU thing, but I think I will finally interject. I'll never forget a conversation I had with one of the deans who was trying to convince me to go to NY. He told me that if I just want to go back home when I graduate and be a small town dentist (don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with that, we need small town dentists) I should go to the cheapest school I get into. If I want to be a dentist who knows how to do everything, who has seen everything, has worked with patients others can only read about, then there is no place better than NYC. Coming to NY for dental school is about realizing that you can leave school in 4 years with a DDS or you can leave school in 4 years as a more rounded person with unforgettable life experiences... and a DDS. He closed with "You should never consider the cost of a good education a burden."

I'm with you on this and i was always

But it is not too easy for many students

 

[pyoo]

UDM. I went to Michigan and my doctors that I worked for at the school told me not to even apply to NYU.

 

[Dentgirl09]

UDM.

Why?
Cheaper
No complaints from students (this is from knowledge I've gained from SDN)

Same education for less $. Just because detroit is not NYU doesn't mean there isn't fun stuff to do. You will make friends and have fun wherever you go--live in NYcity after you become a dentist and actually have that $$ in your pocket to spend rather than take loans out to spend it there!

Unless someone is paying for school don't underestimate how long it could take to pay back loans.

http://www.bretwhissel.net/amortization/amortize.html

 

[katpaws]

I don't really think the cost is a huge difference. Yes, it sounds like a lot, but you're probably taking out loans anyway. It will only be a small amount more when you're repaying them.

SO,you should really be basing this decision on the programs themselves. I think both programs give a solid clinical education. You have to remember that NYU has a ton more money than UDM, so even though UDM has new facilities, NYU's resources are greater. Also, if you want to specialize, I'd lean towards NYU just because it would give you a leg up in that department.

Also, there is an enormous difference between living in NYC and Detroit. NYC = as urban as it gets, but in a cool, non-poverty stricken way. Detroit = you can live near the school and get a feel for the community which you are probably interested in devoting your life to helping or you can live in the suburbs. Just decide which you're really into!

 

[dudns86]

Hello everyone. I usually don't post here, but I had to give my personal experience on this matter. It seems that since most of you are pre-dents, this may be mind-boggling for you guys.

I am currently a D2 at Case Western, and had to make a similar decision 2 years back: Case vs NYU vs BU. I narrowed down to Case vs NYU, and for me, it was a no-brainer: I will go to the cheaper school which is Case.

Now as a D2, I hate to say it, but that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Free time? You have plenty of free time in dental school. But there is nothing to do in cleveland (as I am from out of state) period. It is a dead city.

I remember back when I was applying that my parents wanted me to go where I would feel safe and happy: here, I yeah I feel safe if I stay home all day, but I'm not happy at all. Plus, everyone keeps mentionning that 80k-100k is a HUGE factor to base a school on: that is NOT the way to go. If your mindset is based on money already, throughout your lives, you will be chasing money til you die.

I hope you make the right decision OP. But I just want to let you know that don't let $ choose where you want to go, because in the end, you will pay it back. Guaranteed. And as for me? If I could go back in time, I would choose NYU.. I can't wait to get outta here after I graduate.

Cheers.

 

[dudns86]

Oh and in addition, you guys are overestimating the "price factor" of living in a big city like NYC. There are plenty of ways to save money there. I have friends in NYU who are only spending 2k/month including housing by having roommates. I would have done the same.

good luck

 

[Dentgirl09]

Hello everyone. I usually don't post here, but I had to give my personal experience on this matter. It seems that since most of you are pre-dents, this may be mind-boggling for you guys.

I am currently a D2 at Case Western, and had to make a similar decision 2 years back: Case vs NYU vs BU. I narrowed down to Case vs NYU, and for me, it was a no-brainer: I will go to the cheaper school which is Case.

Now as a D2, I hate to say it, but that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Free time? You have plenty of free time in dental school. But there is nothing to do in cleveland (as I am from out of state) period. It is a dead city.

I remember back when I was applying that my parents wanted me to go where I would feel safe and happy: here, I yeah I feel safe if I stay home all day, but I'm not happy at all. Plus, everyone keeps mentionning that 80k-100k is a HUGE factor to base a school on: that is NOT the way to go. If your mindset is based on money already, throughout your lives, you will be chasing money til you die.

I hope you make the right decision OP. But I just want to let you know that don't let $ choose where you want to go, because in the end, you will pay it back. Guaranteed. And as for me? If I could go back in time, I would choose NYU.. I can't wait to get outta here after I graduate.

Cheers.

I'm sad you don't like Cleveland-- I love it!
Either way I think everyone has made valid points. I guess all in all-- go with your gut. Good luck to you!

 

[dchung42]

Hello everyone. I usually don't post here, but I had to give my personal experience on this matter. It seems that since most of you are pre-dents, this may be mind-boggling for you guys.

I am currently a D2 at Case Western, and had to make a similar decision 2 years back: Case vs NYU vs BU. I narrowed down to Case vs NYU, and for me, it was a no-brainer: I will go to the cheaper school which is Case.

Now as a D2, I hate to say it, but that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Free time? You have plenty of free time in dental school. But there is nothing to do in cleveland (as I am from out of state) period. It is a dead city.

I remember back when I was applying that my parents wanted me to go where I would feel safe and happy: here, I yeah I feel safe if I stay home all day, but I'm not happy at all. Plus, everyone keeps mentionning that 80k-100k is a HUGE factor to base a school on: that is NOT the way to go. If your mindset is based on money already, throughout your lives, you will be chasing money til you die.

I hope you make the right decision OP. But I just want to let you know that don't let $ choose where you want to go, because in the end, you will pay it back. Guaranteed. And as for me? If I could go back in time, I would choose NYU.. I can't wait to get outta here after I graduate.

Cheers.

hahahaha i'll be seeing you at case
and i'm guessing you're korean?

 

[codeine]

Hello everyone, Thanks a lot for all the input & suggestions. What I deduced from all the replies is that NYC definitely scores above detroit in lifestyle but as far as school goes, both NYU & UDM are top notch with a lot of clinical experience & that's what I am looking for..get as much clinical exposure as I can & start practicing right away. I am not at all interested in research stuff, so I wont lose anything not opting for NYU!! besides, I'll have >50k less to pay for the loans which I can use later to enjoy NYC..😉 & so I've made my decision; I am going to UDM!!!
Thank you all in helping me make my decision & clearing my doubts.

Gud luc to all....👍😀

 

[TeamGuo]

Hello everyone, Thanks a lot for all the input & suggestions. What I deduced from all the replies is that NYC definitely scores above detroit in lifestyle but as far as school goes, both NYU & UDM are top notch with a lot of clinical experience & that's what I am looking for..get as much clinical exposure as I can & start practicing right away. I am not at all interested in research stuff, so I wont lose anything not opting for NYU!! besides, I'll have >50k less to pay for the loans which I can use later to enjoy NYC..😉 & so I've made my decision; I am going to UDM!!!
Thank you all in helping me make my decision & clearing my doubts.

Gud luc to all....👍😀

good choice buddy. You'll love it.

 

[phremius]

...get as much clinical exposure as I can & start practicing right away.....

Don't delude yourself, no school will prepare you to go out to practice at a high level right away. I really shudder for the future patients of those students that are setting up shop right after getting their diplomas...