UNC, UPenn, or Creighton?

[Wolf Stansson]

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I am trying to decide between the three of these schools and am looking for advice because I am torn between them. Each has positives and negatives, so perhaps you can comment with your opinions without considering cost of attendance. Creighton appeals to me because of its Jesuit tradition (I attend a Jesuit undergad institution), great clinic, and no specialty programs. The drawbacks come into play when I compare it to the other two schools didactically, its farness from home, and cold weather (the last two factors I have experienced over the last four years so nothing major). UNC appeals to me because it has great facilities and faculty, is near my family, good weather, and I want to practice in NC, yet the school and area lack the culture and diversity I experienced in undergrad. Penn offers a great didactic education, culture, history, reputation, and overall professional feel, but the GD clinic was not up to par with its specialty facilities. What do you think?

 

[Oral]

go to the cheapest school

 

[sarah_bellum]

Note: this is stolen from my post on the Columbia vs. UNC thread.
I didn't interview at Penn or Creighton, so I can't comment on either one. I do know that we had several in our class choose UNC over Penn, including one student who was offered the Dean's Scholarship.

As for UNC, we literally wrote the book on orthodontics (Proffit) and operative dentistry (Sturdevant's Art and Science...). We've got the immediate past president of the American Board of Oral Path running our biopsy service, the editor of the Journal of Prosthodontics teaches crown and bridge, and one of the world's foremost researchers in the relationships between periodontal and systemic disease is in our perio department. Our surgery department has an active multidisciplinary craniofacial team. Our DDS program has more orthodontic training than the vast majority of dental schools in the USA. We have other things going for us, but that's what comes up off the top of my head.

At UNC, we have EVERY specialty program. If you're interested in learning about a specialty, chances are we not only have someone here who's engaging in high-level research in the subject, but who is also willing to let you assist them.

Picking a school isn't easy. As I said above, your ability to specialize has far more to do with you than the school you attend. Before you pay a lot of heed to folks referencing "rankings," however, take the time to really do your homework on programs beyond poking around on SDN. By spending the time now, you'll be less likely to regret your choice later.

As for me, I'd go with whichever school was cheapest, all other things being equal.

Best of luck with a hard decision.

 

[sarah_bellum]

I am trying to decide between the three of these schools and am looking for advice because I am torn between them. Each has positives and negatives, so perhaps you can comment with your opinions without considering cost of attendance. Creighton appeals to me because of its Jesuit tradition (I attend a Jesuit undergad institution), great clinic, and no specialty programs. The drawbacks come into play when I compare it to the other two schools didactically, its farness from home, and cold weather (the last two factors I have experienced over the last four years so nothing major). UNC appeals to me because it has great facilities and faculty, is near my family, good weather, and I want to practice in NC, yet the school and area lack the culture and diversity I experienced in undergrad. Penn offers a great didactic education, culture, history, reputation, and overall professional feel, but the GD clinic was not up to par with its specialty facilities. What do you think?

I'd be interested to know what you find lacking in terms of UNC's culture and diversity, for curiosity's sake (if you'd feel comfortable sharing, of course).

 

[Oracle DMD]

UNC. easy day. i dont think you can rank schools 1-52 or however many there are, but if i were forced to pick the best dental school in the country i'd probably say UNC. go learn from the best.

 

[Dentman1]

Go to Creighton. If you are comfortable with a Jesuit tradition, then go to a school with Jesuit tradition. Trust me, you will not be happy in a place that you do not feel comfortable in, I had that experience for undergard. Also, as you mentioned, Creighton has great clinical experience, which is the only thing that matters when you are a dentist. Since cost doesnt matter, Creighton should be your top choice since you will fit right in it and be more comfortable there. Good Luck.

 

[sarah_bellum]

Go to Creighton. If you are comfortable with a Jesuit tradition, then go to a school with Jesuit tradition. Trust me, you will not be happy in a place that you do not feel comfortable in, I had that experience for undergard. Also, as you mentioned, Creighton has great clinical experience, which is the only thing that matters when you are a dentist. Since cost doesnt matter, Creighton should be your top choice since you will fit right in it and be more comfortable there. Good Luck.

I applied to Creighton, but I didn't get an interview. It seems like an interesting school.

 

[Dentman1]

I applied to Creighton, but I didn't get an interview. It seems like an interesting school.

Yea, its a very good school. Produces good dentists and is great clinically.

 

[NCarolinaDent]

I too am interested as to what you think UNC may lack from a diversity standpoint. Look at the class profiles on the UNC website (http://www.dent.unc.edu/academic/programs/dds/profiles/2013.pdf). Ethnic diversity is abundant, but it is true that the majority of their students claim NC residency. That is because it's mission is to serve the state.

You probably should take a closer look at Chapel Hill. You won't find many small towns in America that have more "culture" than it. If these things did not stand out to you when you visited, then go somewhere else because I am sure a lot of people on that waitlist would love to go to a school that "has it all".

 

[TedyBearSuicide]

You probably should take a closer look at Chapel Hill. You won't find many small towns in America that have more "culture" than it. If these things did not stand out to you when you visited, then go somewhere else because I am sure a lot of people on that waitlist would love to go to a school that "has it all".

Awesome sales pitch.

 

[Wolf Stansson]

The program is without a doubt top notch! At the social and during the interview day, I met some great students, but the group of 60+ students was very homogenous and at times seemed cliquey. My goal has always been to attend UNC and practice in NC, but I was a bit turned off by some of the conversations with the students who mainly talked of family tradition there and they came off as pompous. I know that the pool of interviewees was one of five so it is not completely representative of the incoming class and I'm hoping that's the case. As far as culture goes, I spent four years of college in a large diverse city so comparatively Chapel Hill will be different, but the feeling I got from the local applicants was that the town revolves around the sports teams.
Current students have the true insight so I would greatly appreciate your help in clearing this up because perhaps the groups and circles I found myself in that day were way off from the true representation of those actually there. I'm thinking the interviewees may have just come off with the wrong persona given the competitive conditions of the interview weekend. Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[FutureDent020]

At the social and during the interview day, I met some great students, but the group of 60+ students was very homogenous and at times seemed cliquey.

I agree with this observation, although I am impartial to it. As for the actual class, the student group that was there seemed very diverse, ethnically that is. Yet, that was probably the administrations goal.

 

[Dentman1]

The program is without a doubt top notch! At the social and during the interview day, I met some great students, but the group of 60+ students was very homogenous and at times seemed cliquey. My goal has always been to attend UNC and practice in NC, but I was a bit turned off by some of the conversations with the students who mainly talked of family tradition there and they came off as pompous. I know that the pool of interviewees was one of five so it is not completely representative of the incoming class and I'm hoping that's the case. As far as culture goes, I spent four years of college in a large diverse city so comparatively Chapel Hill will be different, but the feeling I got from the local applicants was that the town revolves around the sports teams.
Current students have the true insight so I would greatly appreciate your help in clearing this up because perhaps the groups and circles I found myself in that day were way off from the true representation of those actually there. I'm thinking the interviewees may have just come off with the wrong persona given the competitive conditions of the interview weekend. Thanks in advance everyone!

Yea I could only imagine that the town revolves around the team. I was in a similar situation for undergrad. Went to a school that I just didnt feel was diverse and I didnt belong in. It was the worst 4 yrs of my life. Go where ever you feel is comfortable because if you dont, you will regret it. I had a friend who interviewed at UNC last year, he had the same feeling as you do. Yes, UNC is a great school, but Creighton or Upenn are good as well. Choose the school you feel that you will fit best in.