UDMercy vs. Pittsburgh

[cooldent1]

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Hey everyone!

So I was initially accepted at UDM and thus I had made all my plans to go there. Everything was going smooth and then, I got accepted at Pittsburgh today. My only problem is that I like them both and can't chose one over the other now that I have a choice. I wanted to know what others would do if they were in my situation. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much in advance!

 

[aznboi89x]

which is cheaper?

i was accepted to UDM but declined, however, I did receive the financial package and it comes out to be 85-90k per year at UDM.

i talked to a 4th year student saying that the patient population in Detroit is not a problem BUT their patients are not that well educated and all they want is their teeth pulled instead of doing crowns and etc. This doesn't fit as of what I will be doing in Houston, Tx since my uncle's practice does tons of crown procedures and etc.


this is n=1.... take this with a grain of salt.

 

[cooldent1]

pittsburgh...but that would be down by just 5-10k a year as I'm a canadian applicant.

 

[aznboi89x]

pittsburgh...but that would be down by just 5-10k a year as I'm a canadian applicant.

well I know that Pittsburgh lets you have an anesthesia certificate upon graduation. Pittsburgh is in downtown so its very convenient and not have to worry about safety.

 

[KittySquared]

UDM has a much better patient base, actually. I'd consider it if its a 20k difference, to go to Pitt. Pittsburgh's severe shortage of patients is going to be a huge headache when you're doing more clinical work. The 5k saved isn't worth it if you ask me. The only reason why you would go to Pittsburgh is if you are determined to do research. It has one of the highest research fundings out of most schools. But clinically, it is on the downslope whereas UDM has a fantastic clinical focus.

 

[emorypredent]

I didn't apply to Pitt partially cause I didn't think I had a strong chance OOS, but I know someone that volunteered at the dental school. I heard good things from him.

I'm currently on the alternate list at UDM. I really love Detroit as a city (I know most people view Detroit as the downside to UDM). I think UDM is an amazing school largely cause of Detroit.

What's nice about Pitt, as mentioned, is the research. Also, the patient base is likely more diverse than the one at UDM.

Really it depends on what you prefer. If you have no preference go with the cheaper one. Both schools are similar in many ways. Personally, I really like UDM, but Pitt has a more recognizable name with the general public, if that matters to you.

 

[shootingstar7]

A 4th year i spoke with at my Pitt interview said he had great clinical experience at Pitt, and had just matched into his #1 choice GPR residency. UPitt has a really great program and is big medical center. They have a lot to offer. I didn't get accepted there but if I had I would have been faced with a tough decision like you!

 

[cooldent1]

Thanks everyone for ur inputs. I still can't decide between the two schools! lol

Tuition-wise, they are ALMOST similar:
UDM --> 89k(yr1) + 89K(yr2) + 85k(yr3) + 84k(yr4) = 347K everything inclusive (even living)
Pitt --> 86K + 84K + 81K + 79K = 330K (everything inclusive, even living)

Clinical experience-wise:
From my experience during interview process, UDM students seemed more happy with their school than pitt students with their school (I am not saying anything bad about Pitt though! Its something I personally felt while talking to students!) I have even heard from many recent dental graduates that UDM is known to give excellent clinical experience due to its patient pool in detroit. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this. I'm sure its probably the same at Pitt, but I havent heard anyone actually saying it. If you are a current student at Pitt, and reading this, please make understand how the situation is like at Pitt in terms of clinical experience and patient pool. 🙂

Living-wise:
Pitt definitely wins the game because I loved its surrounding downtown environment. Simultaneously, I'm planning on living in Windsor, ON (Canada) as opposed to Detroit if I end up going to UDM. Windsor is a pretty safe city, and I will have an access to my free Canadian healthcare benefits (I think this is a huge plus). So living is really not an issue.

Can anyone tell me other pros/cons about these two schools not mentioned earlier?

 

[KittySquared]

PM me if you want to know more.

 

[emorypredent]

Commuting from Canada seems rough....but I know I'm an extreme case. To me anything over 10 miles is a lot. 15 miles and I'm moving closer. My ideal distance is under 1 mile.

 

[dentalWorks]

being a UDM person, I will say that they are still in the process of refining their didactic portion of DS1 and DS2 (since now, they nearly increased their class size by 50% to about 145 students).... I don't think they have mastered this yet so there will be some struggles during those years (ESPECIALLY DS1... I think DS2 became a little easier due to the heavy load of DS1)

However, where UDM shines is with its clinic experience. DS3 is (laughing as I say this) 70-90% paper work and running around getting things signed off. DS4 is where requirements get finished and you start doing real work. Half your time in DS4 will be spend in UDM clinic, the other half you will be in UHC detroit hospital, this makes Mercy unique school because not many schools are associated with a hospital dental clinic, here you will see more patients, and you are required to be fast and efficient (so you can finish)..... Its a good introduction to private practice life.

Ultimately its your decision to make, if cost isn't a factor, contact a pittsburg DS4 or new graduate and ask them. And ask more than 1 person because sometimes, you get people whom are very bitter about their school and they don't give you a "fair" picture of whats its really like.

Here is a fact: EVERY DENTAL SCHOOL will make you hate yourself and pull your own hair at various times.

 

[ATG20]

Thanks everyone for ur inputs. I still can't decide between the two schools! lol

Tuition-wise, they are ALMOST similar:
UDM --> 89k(yr1) + 89K(yr2) + 85k(yr3) + 84k(yr4) = 347K everything inclusive (even living)
Pitt --> 86K + 84K + 81K + 79K = 330K (everything inclusive, even living)

Clinical experience-wise:
From my experience during interview process, UDM students seemed more happy with their school than pitt students with their school (I am not saying anything bad about Pitt though! Its something I personally felt while talking to students!) I have even heard from many recent dental graduates that UDM is known to give excellent clinical experience due to its patient pool in detroit. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this. I'm sure its probably the same at Pitt, but I havent heard anyone actually saying it. If you are a current student at Pitt, and reading this, please make understand how the situation is like at Pitt in terms of clinical experience and patient pool. 🙂

Living-wise:
Pitt definitely wins the game because I loved its surrounding downtown environment. Simultaneously, I'm planning on living in Windsor, ON (Canada) as opposed to Detroit if I end up going to UDM. Windsor is a pretty safe city, and I will have an access to my free Canadian healthcare benefits (I think this is a huge plus). So living is really not an issue.

Can anyone tell me other pros/cons about these two schools not mentioned earlier?

I interviewed and was accepted at Pitt. I'm from sunny SoCal, and I was highly considering moving there for school if my state school didn't pull through. I thoroughly enjoyed the city, proximity to major metro areas (few short hours), downtown feeling of the campus, as well as the faculty and students. The students were very down to earth and the curriculum seemed established and like it offered a lot (Anest. cert and they have an MPH option at no extra cost/time). I didn't go to UDM, but given the city it's in, I'd prefer Pittsburgh (no offense to native Detroit folks).

Also, as for your budget, I feel you're overestimating Pitt's expenses. The living costs are absurdly high on the tuition sheet. I live on my own out here where it's pricey and I don't spend 21k a year, and Pitt's COL is dirt cheap compared to socal. You'd have to be hemorrhaging cash to hit 21k a year. Students and staff also told me you can obtain in-state status very easily after D1, so that's another 6k a year saved.

 

[KittySquared]

Pitt does NOT give in-state tuition after 1st year, and it makes no difference to international students whatsoever. And Pitt's instrument fees are VERY expensive. You want to finance your costs. A lot of oh-shet factors come into play, like having to retake boards, failing clinical boards. Flight for interview/going home. If you are in Canada, going to UDM and driving back home to Windsor is much more financially viable than flying back and forth.

The MPH is useless unless you plan on doing academics. And you won't have time to even take those MPH classes til 3rd and 4th year. You can do it first 2 years, as long as you somehow don't need to sleep.

Like I said before, the only reason why you should go to Pittsburgh as a Canadian who lives in Windsor is if you want to do research and publish from a big research school. OR if you want an edge up and do the dental anesthesiology pseudo residency 😉

 

[dantemac]

Pitt is a great school. Pittsburgh is America's most livable city. For the cheaper cost you would be getting a great education. That being said, UDM's great clinical experience has been well noted by alumni/current students on here

 

[Malva]

I am also a Canadian, I didn't apply to Pitt, so I don't have much information on that school- but I think UDM is an excellent choice for Canadians. There are quite a few of us who will be commuting from Windsor, and most students are able to opt out of health insurance becaus of existing Canadian coverage (so that reduces the cost a bit). When I went to the UDM interview there was a Canadian student giving the tour, she said they had Canadian dental clubs that would help prepare for the transition back to Canada (if you plan on practicing there).

I normally say go to the cheapest school, but it if it isnt a huge difference and if you're planning on returning to work in Canada UDM may help with the transition since you'll have a network of classmates who are in the process of doing it too.

Just my 5 cents (since we got rid of the penny) 😉

 

[emorypredent]

Depending on how much time they gave you to decide, you should consider taking a mini-vacation and visit both. Tour them again because it's different when you are in "interview mode."

 

[cooldent1]

Depending on how much time they gave you to decide, you should consider taking a mini-vacation and visit both. Tour them again because it's different when you are in "interview mode."

That's exactly what I'm planning on doing now! 😎


@everyone else: Thank you so much for all your much appreciated responses! 🙂