University of Iowa or UoP??? PLEASE HELP

[FavColorBlue]

Okay, I appreciate any response but of course would be more pleased with a response of someone who graduated from the school or knows what they are talking about is true. I want to go to the school that will give me a better overall clinical experience. By this I mean breadth and depth. I want to do lots of everything to become the best GP I can be in 3 or 4 years. Iowa is in state for me so after all is said and done about $300,000 (and near family) Vs UoP $400,000 (and live in a cool area). THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT !!!!!!!!!

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[y3nd0]

You are posting this question in the Pre-dental section. If you're looking for an answer from a current practicing dentist (or one currently studying in either school), it would be better to post this in the "Dental" or "Dental Residents and Practicing Residents" section.

Dental: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=18
Practicing dentists: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=138

 

[jmh018]

I can speak to Iowa but not UoP. Iowa we start working on real people earlier than most schools. We start working on other students early in second semester and have our first real patient by the end of the first year. A lot of schools don't do that. Second year you get a lot of patients and third and fourth year is pretty much just working on patients all day. I am only in my first year so I can't give too much detail on that but I have a relative in his fourth year and that is what his experience has been.

 

[goffdent]

This is true, but UoP has you beat in terms of getting your hands dirty earlier. This is largely due to the 3 year vs 4 year curriculum at UoP. UoP is probably the best clinical school in the country, but you have to pay the price. 400k is a pretty significant understatement of the cost you will end up paying to attend UoP (400k doesn't include living, or interest). If you are not concerned about money and have the stats (which have to be really high) to get in to UoP, I would go there without hesitation. You will be a better GP if you go to UoP.

You just started DS and you go to Temple, and you can say that UoP will make you a better GP? You make this reference from what experience or knowledge? First of all, the best GP will be someone who is already on top of things to begin with, naturally bright, a compassionate dentist, and stays current with procedures and technology. In reality, you could be the person with the best knowledge and hand skills in dentistry, but if you're a jerk, take advantage of your patients, cut corners etc.. you will not be be a better GP. Just saying. It's what you make of it.

Add the amount of stress already in dental school crammed into a 3 year program. Additionally, financially, it's not a good deal. you may get out a year earlier, but if it costs you $100,000 more ( and trust me, if you're in state at iowa, it's not quite $300,000), You're going to spend many extra years making that money up, not just that first "early year" out of school doing it.
If you really want to go live in San Francisco, then go for it, it just has to be worth it for you. Is life experience worth the added cost?

With that said, If you have questions about Iowa, I can answer those.

 

[FavColorBlue]

Thanks everyone for your input! ya i think that at uop ill end up somewhere around 450 in the hole and maybe 275 at iowa to be most accurate. Goffdent, did you go to iowa? One of the main reasons that im leaning towards uop is because at iowa they have every specialty. I just want to make sure that i would come out feeling confident with good endo cases, simple third molar extractions, and just have good well rounded skills, not just a drill and fill guy. I dont want to specialize therefore i want to keep as much in house as i can. If you did graduate from UI how did you feel coming out with those things that i mentioned? Thanks again i really appreciate this!

 

[CleverThought]

I also think it's important to consider the job market in the area. I can almost certainly say that if you move to an a area surround UIowa, as opposed to UoP, you will have a much higher income potential and less dentist saturation. Therefore, debt repayment will be easier and faster, increasing quality of life.

 

[molar24]

Graduated from Iowa. Dentist at UOP. I would chose Iowa without hesitation for the following reasons:

1) Iowa students are much more complete dentists when they graduate as there is a large focus on being an educated dentist rather than a tooth mechanic. Iowa has every specialty, but the students have more than enough patients to see. I hear everyone say UOP produces great clinicians -- I would take an Iowa grad over a UOP grad.
2) Cost will be much lower. The state of Iowa subsidizes each dental student to keep tuition down. Expect to take out 200-250k in loans vs 400+ at UOP. In-state students often can qualify for scholarships. With the increased cost of dental education, I would think long and hard about your long term debt. SF is one of the most expensive places in the US to live.
3) Chairs. Iowa has a chair for every student. No one else uses your chair.
4) Patients. There is a long waiting list to be seen in the student clinics at Iowa. There are more patients than the students need. The Iowa Medicaid program is amazing and pays for almost everything. California Medicaid pays for oral surgery only.

Facilities: Equal. UOP just built a new school. Iowa added on and is remodeling.
Weather: UOP > Iowa
Activities outside of dental school: UOP > Iowa


California and the bay area are nice and offer a lot for students to do in your free time. UOP is a good school, but I don't think it is as great as some may believe. As with anything in life, you will get out of it what you put into it.

 

[Screwtape]

Neither

 

[sgv]

Ds cant teach u procedures that the market expects u to know and are profitable. They teach u bread and butter dentistry. Use that hundred grand on CEs or buying a practice. It might offend some but choosing UoP over Iowa would be stupid....srys

You dont need to interview at either school to look at price and make a smart decision on that alone. Price is too different. All this talk about buildings, clinics, faculty, years of schooling is useless...

Comparing dental schools is pointless cuz ur education doesnt stop after ds, u learn much much more in private practice, almost every graduate is slow. Ds only gives u the license to learn what u need to know for private practice through CE and experience.

Only choose private school if u didnt get into ur state school or if u aint paying for it...

This isnt the 90s ...ds cost way too much