UOP vs. CASE vs. Michigan...sorry for another one of these threads, please help!

[Teeth12345]

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I was hoping I wouldn't have to create one of these threads because I always thought that choosing a dental school should be a personal choice and that it would be easy. But alas, I need my SDN community. I created a point system and assigned points to each school based on location, cost, facilities, etc and the scores were UOP (18), Michigan (18), and CASE (16). I'm having a really hard time deciding. If any of what I'm saying isn't true, please tell me! Also, current dental students pleeeease chime in! Thank you!

UOP Pros:
-3 - year program
-I loved my interview there because everyone was so friendly. It really did seem like a family
-Location is incredible…SF is the best. Plus my family lives outside of SF and I hear that it's nice to have close family support during stressful times. At the same time, I've been in SF my whole life and it might be nice to venture away.
- Excellent facilities and clinical exposure
- I felt that even though it's a 3-year program, students really do everything. They even get to travel abroad on mission trips, something I definitely want to do.

UOP Cons:
- 3year program - to me, this is both a pro and a con because although I will get out earlier, I know those 3 years are going to be packed. I'm really terrified of that 1st year where 2 years of science are packed into 1. Students also don't get any time to study for Boards.
- Specialization: I know people have said over and over that you can specialize anywhere. But what I'm worried about is that I will have 3 years to build a resume that is as impressive as a 4-year resume. I want to have a life outside of studying and a lot of students told us that if you want to specialize at UOP, you really have to just study all the time. Plus all those science classes in one year might not make for the best GPA.


Michigan Pros:
- I loved the college feel. Unlike UOP, Michigan's dental school is on the same campus as all of its other professional schools - and its undergrad. This will let me meet students outside of dentistry.
- Location: I loved Ann Arbor and the school spirit there.
- Excellent reputation for specializing, if I want to
- Although I'm not into research, it would be nice to attend a school that participates in a lot of the most recent research

Michigan Cons:
- Weather: I'm not used to cold weather. If it were for just one year, it wouldn't be that big of a deal but I'm afraid that the weather might make me miserable. All you non west coast people, please don't call me a wuss 🙂
- Everyone at the interview seemed to emphasize the research aspect of the school. While that's ok with me, I want to make sure that I get a good clinical education since I ultimately want to practice. I have heard from people that because Ann Arbor is a wealthy area, the patient pool is not that good.


CASE Pros:
- I liked how the professional schools are all in the same area. Seems like getting an interprofessional education will be easier.
- Interviewers were incredibly nice - and so were the Cleveland residents.
- Seems to have a strong clinical program - you get to place sealants your first semester!

CASE Cons:
- Location - everyone tells me that Cleveland is not fun
- Weather - yes, I'm a wuss
- It didn't seem that CASE had really updated their technology that much. The student tour guide told us that they still have paper charts. I'm not saying this factor is going to make or break the deal for me but it would be nice to know that the school was at the same technology level as other schools

Side note about CASE: I guess I'm being superstitious but for some reason, I felt like I belonged at CASE during my interview. And even though I know that the pros of Michigan and UOP outweigh those of CASE, there's this little voice telling me to go to CASE. I probably shouldn't base my decision off a voice, huh. Also, I don't know if PBL would be a pro and con since I've never experienced it.

Anyway, I apologize for this gigantic thread but I would really appreciate some input. I don't want to place multiple deposits - I just want to decide now. THANKS 😀

 

[dru180]

Go with where your gut tells you. There are going to be pro & cons at every school, so If your gut is telling you Case, then there is some intangible there that you like. Its that intangible that makes all the difference. It really doesnt have to be such a crazy complicated decision. Dont over think it!

 

[ll REVOFEV ll]

Go to Case I'll be there with you most likely 🙂

 

[mi2ni]

I actually had same gut feeling about Case. All students seem to be happy with the curriculum and it is one of the few schools that students have their own chairs. The only negatives of Case are bad weather and Cleveland. I am strongly considering Case because we go to school for 4 years, and we will be swamped for the first two years anyways. My only concern is that many top students wont choose Case because of the negatives I mentioned, and you may end up with not so bright classmates.

Having said all that, if you want the best clinical education, go to UoP. Period.

 

[Teeth12345]

I think I'm slowly starting to narrow it down to CASE and UOP. A friend of mine told me that it doesn't matter all that much which dental school I go to and that I should base a lot of my decision on location. And I have not heard from one person that Cleveland is a nice place to live. Although it didn't seem that bad when I was visiting...I can't believe this decision needs to be made so soon

 

[dru180]

The thing about location is that it is all in the eye of the beholder. For example, I'm from Florida. I've done a lot of traveling, but I've been here my whole life. I would LOVE to go someplace with snow. I don't want to stay here. Most people from up north (and people from here) look at me like Im crazy for saying that. Now, snow may not exactly excite you, but my point is that Cleveland doesn't have to excite everyone- just you. I'm not exactly trying to influence your decision, but if you want some change, and Case gave you that 'gut feeling', then go there. If weather is all that matters, then say at home in SF.

 

[Charmm]

A few factoids from a dental student who knows ppl from both schools:

1) Uop and the whole 3 yr thing is a huge point

2) Cleveland is a good place

3) Cleveland or UOP , specializing from both would be the same

4) starting at SF will bring you about 7 k/month, SF is very well supplied in terms of dentsits

5) Resume is not about quantity( how long) , but its about quality. So, 2 years is all you need to build ur resume, and quite opposite of the common perception, its the first two years that you build your resume.

Forget about michigan

 

[Bereno]

If this were a democracy, and I had a vote, it would be UoP. Great school, solid patient base, and its 3 years... However, this is an off the cuff decision. I would have to look more into it to make a more educated decision (location details, vibe from the interview, cost, etc). Best of luck! 👍

 

[duckdds]

UoP or Case

 

[JdogDMD]

UoP! Done in three years and it's Cali! Best of luck...

 

[Teeth12345]

Thanks for your input guys! I still haven't made up my mind. I think I'm just going to send the transcripts to both schools for now but hold off on the deposit until I decide. Just wanna make sure my transcripts arrive on time.

Thanks again!

 

[hifive]

uop or case