UOP or UCLA or UCSF????

[Karrina]

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If anyone has any input regarding their experiences or those of friends at UCLA, UOP or UCSF, I would love to hear it.

Some students from UCSF have told me their 4 years were horrible, but I've heard mixed feelings about UCLA. I know most UOP students are very satisfied, but the cost is high and it seems like the students don't go as in depth into the academic material. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I would love to get ANY advice because I need to make a decision soon. Thank you!

 

[tinker bell]

Just remember that staff, faculties and whoever work at UOP are paid by student's tuition fee, donation from alumni, service fee from the dental service that students provide for patients.
So, of course they are treated very nice, because the school wants their alumni to contribute back
On the other hand, ucsf and ucla provide an unbelievable cheap and quality education, their staffs, faculties are paid by state money, and state money is not that generous. They probably don't have lots of appreciation for alumni donation nor students generating income for them.
My experience at ucsf is extremely good so far. And for the price that I have to pay for uc schools, I don't care much about the rest, my business is to go to school, graduate and the rest is minimal.
If you want to be treated real nice, go to UPENN, the price tag is real nice too.
Every where you go, you'll have your up and down time, but it all depends on you, how you feel about it.
I have worked with many upper classmen at ucsf and they have really wonderful experiences about the school. When I visited ucla, students told me they like it too. Same with uop.

 

[Karrina]

Hi Tinkerbell,

Thank you for the input. Are you a student at UCSF right now? I think my decision will come down to UCLA or UCSF, mostly because of expense. I have heard that many students are very overwhelmed at UCSF and have not had a good experience. Is this true? I got a very positive impression from the students I talked to at UCLA but didnt' meet many at the UCSF interview.

Also, which schools are most of the students from at UCSF and does the grading (versus pass/no pass at UCLA) make the atmosphere more tense and competitive? Are the faculty equally responsive and approachable to students and are the exams fair, or is one school stronger than the other in that aspect?

I hope to hear from you soon!

take care.

 

[tinker bell]

Karrina,
I'm a post-bac student at ucsf right now, and I tell you, the dental program is one of the hardest in the country. Their curriculum is good, and it's guarantee good board scores.
If you study (like a good student does), you should not be worried about competitive in the class. It's a large class with 82 individuals, and doesn't matter where you go, there will always some people love to kick ass, some just relax and some don't care.
I don't like ucla because of the pass/nopass system. It's really hard to evaluate for specialty program. I plan to go on specialty, so I need good grades. The atmosphere at ucla seems to very relax when I visited. It makes me believe that dental school is easy. (May be that's the only day and class that I visited). Students at UCSF are very diverse. I find them all happy, myself never hear any complaints. Of course I like my school, it's always in my heart and in my minds that this is the best place for an incredible price. (I don't like the SF weather though, too cold in the summer)
I heard that ucsf has a better board scores average. However, two schools are both good schools, very competitive and very hard to get in
But UCLA did a really good job impressing me when I was there as well. It has good research and stuff. I just don't like the grading system.
Now you have to see whether you want to specialize or not.
Good luck wherever you go
Tinker Bell

 

[uop2001]

Originally posted by tinker bell
Just remember that staff, faculties and whoever work at UOP are paid by student's tuition fee, donation from alumni, service fee from the dental service that students provide for patients.
So, of course they are treated very nice, because the school wants their alumni to contribute back

Unfortunately the above is just not correct.

<b>Karrina-</b>

Please see my previous post about UOP for answers. UOP treats its students well <b>not</b> because they need the money, otherwise they'd be passing & graduating every person that pays tuition. Their endowment is huge- the school does not treat its students well because it seeks their money in the future. Alumni give back because they want to- dental school is hard wherever you go. UOP is <b>no</b> Club Med.

The school's dean was President of the CDA & ADA (among many other organizations) and everywhere I have interviewed for postgrads- instructors ask about Dean Dugoni (Harvard, Baylor, Tufts, etc...) Why is he popular? Well in addition to his many positions he instituted something called the <b>Humanistic Model</b>. It's not really as touchy, feely as it sounds- it's basically an environment where everyone (students, instructors, faculty, staff) all work hard together in a professional and nonthreatening environment. You're called "Doctor" from day one...and it's great. It's something deans from other schools visit UOP to learn about- and institute at their own schools.

Some may think it's nonsense- but when you feel confident and have high morale- it does <b>wonders</b> for your learning situation.

Karrina- tinkerbell does bring up a good point- his business is to goto school. What is it you want out of school? If it's just school- both would be a good choice. For me, the <b>whole</b> dental school experience was a huge factor. It was perhaps my last time in school...so I wanted the private school experience. (Yes, I am a UCB alumni) Board scores? Both do exceptionally well- UCSF has a higher board score %age- but passing rates in both are equal. California State Boards? UOP & UCSF- both perform equally well. See which school has a comprehensive esthetic emphasis. Ask about endos, ask about perio surguries, implants ..etc...if you want to just do research UCSF may be good for you. But that doesn't mean UCSF is bad at clinics...as my buddy does some mean endos!

I went to UOP, and my fraternity brother is @ UCSF now- we both agree that we got what we paid for. I (and my classmates) are all happy we paid the tuition we paid- every penny was well spent. A few of us got accepted to both UOP & UC- and we're happy with our decision to goto UOP. It was hard to decide because I thought the financial impact would be huge- but- you're not going into a bad profession!

And with regards to specializing- UC has a large amount of students who decide to go onto GPs...a school like Columbia (which has UCLAs pass/NP system) sends most of its students onto specialty schools- so I don't understand the grading issue.

In the end- you'll be happy with wherever you go except if you go to...... just kidding!

😉

Don't wanna start that up again!!!