For a FTD which is a better option overall in terms of clinical exposure, academics, cost etc if you have to choose from UMich & UTHSCSA dental schools??
UMich vs UTHSCSA??
- Thread starter Kesha
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Both schools are pioneers in clinical exposure and academics, and i am sure u're not gonna regret ur choice whatever it was. Living in San Antonio is much cheaper than Ann Arbor if thats a factor u're considering. Besides, if u come from a country where cold weather dominates, Ann Arbor would match u better, while if u prefer hot climate, then San Antonio might be ur best shot. Good luck
I am a DS4 at UTHSCSA and my brother was a recent graduate from U. of Michigan dental school in 2008. He is currently an OMFS resident at UTHSCSA now, and talking to him the requirements and how prepared you will be forced to be due to the stringent requirements at UTHSCSA make my school more difficult to graduate from. But as a result you will be well prepared when you graduate. It is also a lot cheaper. Keep in mind though you will also be really stressed out, because a lot of times you can be a great student but still almost fail due to the very strict grading scale.
An example of this is our crown requirement. We have to prep and seat a minimum of 6 crowns by the end of our academic 3rd year or we fail. No exceptions, and no remediation over the summer. You'll be a 3rd year dental student again. We ended up having 6 students from the previous class join our third year class. With the economy the way it is, and the fact you have to find your own patients, prepping 6 crowns can be a lot harder to accomplish than you think. I ended up crowning 8 teeth, but only because a lot of seniors helped me by letting me work on their patients. I will be on track to cutting 17 this year. I thought ahead last year and worked up all my patients so they would be ready for crowns and bridge at the beginning of my fourth year. My brother prepped 1 crown in dental school due to his patient pool, but he did say he was an anomaly saying that some of his classmates prepped closer to 15. I'm not sure how helpful that is to an incoming dental student, considering that I had no idea what a crown was until I got into school.
All that being said, I was miserable and literally hated a majority of my experience at dental school. But now that I am graduating and have had an opportunity to talk to students from other schools (while interviewing for residency programs), I wouldn't go to any other school. This place prepares you. Just make sure you know what you are walking into.
I also believe in the philosophy that you are a product of what you want to be. You can go to any dental school and graduate and be a competent dentist, if you choose to learn the material and not just attempt to regurgitate it for an exam or to complete a practical. So talk to students from both schools, ask them what they like and don't like, and if you know enough about dental procedures ask them how much of each procedure they are able to get done.
An example of this is our crown requirement. We have to prep and seat a minimum of 6 crowns by the end of our academic 3rd year or we fail. No exceptions, and no remediation over the summer. You'll be a 3rd year dental student again. We ended up having 6 students from the previous class join our third year class. With the economy the way it is, and the fact you have to find your own patients, prepping 6 crowns can be a lot harder to accomplish than you think. I ended up crowning 8 teeth, but only because a lot of seniors helped me by letting me work on their patients. I will be on track to cutting 17 this year. I thought ahead last year and worked up all my patients so they would be ready for crowns and bridge at the beginning of my fourth year. My brother prepped 1 crown in dental school due to his patient pool, but he did say he was an anomaly saying that some of his classmates prepped closer to 15. I'm not sure how helpful that is to an incoming dental student, considering that I had no idea what a crown was until I got into school.
All that being said, I was miserable and literally hated a majority of my experience at dental school. But now that I am graduating and have had an opportunity to talk to students from other schools (while interviewing for residency programs), I wouldn't go to any other school. This place prepares you. Just make sure you know what you are walking into.
I also believe in the philosophy that you are a product of what you want to be. You can go to any dental school and graduate and be a competent dentist, if you choose to learn the material and not just attempt to regurgitate it for an exam or to complete a practical. So talk to students from both schools, ask them what they like and don't like, and if you know enough about dental procedures ask them how much of each procedure they are able to get done.
Thanks a lot Nuddar, it's a very important information. I really appreciate your time and concern.
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I'm a DS4 in UCLA now. Two years ago I have submitted application to UMich, UTHSCSA and UCLA. Among many shcools I have applied, UCLA and UTHSCSA were my top picks. If I were making choice b/w UMich and UT, the latter will surely be my pick due to its clinical exposure, expense and weather. UT has very high reputation for its clinical training. Damn, I didn't even get the interview invitation from it.
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