UoP vs Maryland (in state) ?!

[DDS17]

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I got accepted at UoP and Maryland (in state). I was attracted to both during my interview. I put the deposit on both schools and am having a hard time making a decision. So I was wondering what you guys thought.

 

[abate21]

If you are Maryland instate, go there! Save the money!!

 

[paymaant]

i dunno why you wouldn't go to maryland. it has the newest dental facilities in the country! great opportunities in the city to see patients in need of dental care as well!

 

[Toofly01]

bump i would like more answers to op's questions

all i can say is they are both great schools with presumably great clinical training. uop = 3 years but $$$, maryland is 4 but less expensive. also you'd have to consider the cost of living and moving out to san fran. however, again, pacific is a fantastic d-school by all accounts, and from what i saw when i interviewed there. maybe i will pm you because i may find myself in a similar situation...

congrats op on both acceptances 🙂

 

[Toofly01]

Bump!

 

[marylanddental]

Remember, even though UoP is more expensive, graduating one year earlier enables you to start making income sooner. UoP seems to be regarded as a so called "better" school, in which, better opportunities may be available. If you do not have a strong attachment to the city of Baltimore, and a love for Maryland, I would go to UoP. Even though Maryland would be less expensive than UoP, your opportunity cost may not be. Do you want to spend four years in Baltimore vs. three in San Fran??

That's just my two cents. You can't really make a wrong decision, both are elite schools.

 

[UCSFx2017]

The whole "go to UoP and graduate one year earlier so you can make money earlier" argument isn't going to financially fan out in your favor if you can't open your own practice as early as the Maryland graduate. The more debt you have, the harder it is for you to qualify for a loan and afford a practice as soon as possible. Graduating a year early isn't going to be worth (>$100K difference with almost twice in total costs after interest) + (the delayed timing of owning your practice) + (delayed peak salary from opening a practice by going to UoP and not Maryland). Both are great schools.

Even if the UoP graduate manages to open a practice as early as the Maryland graduate, the UoP graduate would probably not be on the <10-year repayment schedule, meaning longer duration in interest repayment and higher total repayment.

 

[UCSFx2017]

People should elaborate on "better opportunities". It means different things to different people with very different goals.

 

[denticle]

People should elaborate on "better opportunities". It means different things to different people with very different goals.

👍

 

[muffin21]

If you want to practice in Maryland in the end, makes sense to go to a school where your network will be. On the other hand, dental school is a good opportunity to have an adventure, and try out a new city if you plan on doing a GPR or specializing anyway. SF is awesssommeeeee

sad to say, but if you're going to dental school, you're going to be in debt no matter what.. unless you have some generous parents or rich grandparents that want to help you out.. lol.

 

[Toofly01]

Bump- any other input?

 

[UCSFx2017]

Bump- any other input?

Well that "marylanddental" user has conflicting interests when he/she gives the OP advice because he/she is apparently on the Maryland waitlist.

See attached for financial projections of a four-year out-of-state school and a four-year in-state school. You should fiddle around with UoP's and Maryland's conditions.

Courtesy of the awesome "Bereno".
See attached.
This is strictly my hypothetical schedule if I wanted to pay only approx. $5,000 per month which was my threshold. It would take me 3-years to pay off my in-state school at this rate and 5-years for my out-of-state school. This considers only tuition, fees, and instrument costs.

In-state
1st year: $37,084
2nd year: $36,659
3rd year: $36,475
4th year: $36,659
Payback duration = 3 years
$5,346 per month
Total paid = $192,465

Out-of-state
1st year: $67,376
2nd year: $52,323
3rd year: $53,804
4th year: $53,042
Payback duration = 5 years
$5,396 per month
Total paid = $323,760

This is an incredibly difficult decision to base off of intangible objects, such as reputation and personal well-being, and tangible objects, such as cost-of-attendance. Money is a great form of measurement but it is difficult to convert things like reputation and well-being into dollar value. The conversion rate from intangible values to dollar value differs with different people. How much money and time are you willing to spend on a particular school?