UNLV vs. Pitt

[kode]

I'm new to SDN so please let me know if I posted in the wrong place or made some similarly silly mistake.

I need to decide between UNLV and Pitt very soon. And I don't know which I want to go to or which I'd be happier at or which would be better to go to.
UNLV
Location: I'm from SoCal, so the UNLV location is looking very attractive. Being closer to home greatly increases the comfort factor and could maybe help with networking since I'm most likely going to stay on the west coast. Plus it's Las Vegas. Not that I'm going to have time to party or see friends, but when else am I going to live in Vegas?
Age/faculty: The program and facilities are very new and the faculty seem flexible and personable. And the students seem to get to do more because there aren't as many specialty residents (could be advantageous when applying to specialties if the boards become P/F). Then again, newness can be a disadvantage.

Pitt
Location: The surrounding city is different from what I'm used to, but culture shock shouldn't be a huge factor, right? Cold weather isn't a big worry factor since I've lived in a more ridiculously cold climate before. It'd be new (I've never lived on the east coast... at least now while I was old enough to remember it) and I'd be able to gain a lot of independence. When else would I live on the east coast?
Age/Faculty: Pitt's facilities were rather new as well, and the faculty seem committed. It's a bit less expensive and the program is much older and more established. People don't seem to have problems specializing (at least from what I've been reading on SDN). They might not be as flexible for, say, a slower student.

I had really good interview experiences with both schools and felt comfortable with both schools. Class sizes are about the same and cost isn't terribly different. Is there something I forgot to weigh in or should I be looking at things like location and curriculum more closely? Any advice on who to talk to (other than Dr. Etzel, I've already left a message) or thoughts on what you guys considered when choosing? Is "reputation" worth consideration (I don't know much about the "reputation" of either school)? The few anteaters I know of at Pitt seem happy. For some reason that counts for me. I don't think I know any anteaters at UNLV.
Any helpful advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

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[Blue Panther]

I never interviewed nor visited UNLV. I was fortunate enough to receive few other acceptances and chose Pitt over them. I thought the city of Pittsburgh was very attractive heck it is always on Travel channel for food. To me it felt like a small big city. Location is a tossup and really comes down to personal preference.

Although reputation is not a factor among dental schools, the UPMC has a very good reputation in medicine and research. If you are interested, Pitt dental also has numerous research opportunities and every single dental specialty under its wing. They also have a dental anesthesiology residency program. Having residents around during your clinical years is both good and bad. The more complex cases do go to the residents; at the same time you can also learn them as well. Pittsburgh is the only dental school in western Pennsylvania and has a large patient pool for your third&fourth year. Although Pitt is a really old dental school, they are up to date with technology and constantly renovate their facilities. I don’t think the students tour the simulation clinic during the interview; it has 80 stations for the 80 students. Here is a link to their simulation clinic: http://www.dental.pitt.edu/students/swf/betaPD.php
At Pitt students take the boards after first year. From my understanding, you have the option to take it up until the end of your second year..but I maybe wrong on this one. With that said, boards go pass/fail in 2012 so if you go with Pitt you will have the opportunity to take the boards with score and avoid all the hassle that pass/fail boards might bring for specializing.

 

[Mr Hands]

ive been to both schools and i really liked both. funny enough, the atmosphere of both schools were very similar. here are some of the similarities and differences i noticed

Similarities
- smaller class size (75 UNLV vs. 80)
- about half of the class is in-state
- can get IV sedation "certification"
- university hospital close
- students i spoke with seemed happy
- cheap housing
- facilities are nice/new
- help the D3 and D4 in the clinic when youre a D1 and D2
- systems based learning, i think they called it "case based"

Differences
- climate
- type of city
- Pitts dental school is on the main campus whereas UNLV is on separate campus
- Pitt has more specialty programs
- pitt does lots of research. UNLV is more clinically focused
- ive heard UNLV students get a wider range of clinical experience because of the lack of specialty programs. (i cant confirm that)
- i think crime rate is higher is in Las Vegas
- Pitt is a sports city
- you have to learn spanish at UNLV
- im not sure about the patient situation at PITT but UNLV gets a lot of patients

Thats all I can think of right now. You can't really go wrong with either school IMO. Good luck with the decision.

 

[hellodentist]

I am in the same boat and cannot make up my mind between Pitt and UNLV. I left my heart at Pitt, but my only concert is that the competition might be very hard at Pitt. Is that so?

We are all good students. I know I can do well at Pitt, but if everyone is competing for specialty, I am afraid that would make my life just more stressful than it should be. I have hear at UNLV the competition is not bad at all, so students tend to collaborate with each other.

Could someone please tell me how is the culture at Pitt?

Thanks in advance,

 

[powerball10]

I know a couple people at Pitt. They say its an awesome school that really prepares them well. I wish I didn't get snowed out of my interview there, stupid blizzard straight killed my chances out there. As far as the city is concerned besides the weather its a pretty cool place to live, not to mention the awesome places they have to eat lol

 

[Primerdimer]

I personally think that Pitt is an easy choice. My cousin was accepted into Pitt three years ago as a re-applicant and loves it there. He told me that if you are even slightly thinking of the possibility of specializing then go there because it is a highly respected school. He said that he is ranked in the middle of his class but still has a high chance of specializing (endo) because of the faculty (not sure if he meant it networking wise or what)...oh and btw my cousin is not very smart, trust me.

 

[hellodentist]

Wonderful comments, thanks guys.

 

[Blue Panther]

Forgot to mention, Pitt also guarantees you will place at least 1 implant and they now have digital x-ray as well.

 

[kode]

Thanks so much, guys. Hopefully there'll be some UNLV perspective as well. Really appreciate the responses.

 

[flpredent]

Thanks so much, guys. Hopefully there'll be some UNLV perspective as well. Really appreciate the responses.

for a unlv perspective...2 of my closest friends from undergrad go to school there. i know they absolutely love it. unlv is a great school/great rep, but i don't know specifics about the program. i can tell you that having the ability to go to school close to home while paying much less in tuition is incredible. hope this helps!