UOP vs. Temple

[columbia2009]

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Any opinions or recommendations? I realize that both school have amazing clinical labs and large patient pools.

UOP
Pros:
-3 years to finish
-SF (hour drive from Parents)
-Great reputation (however, some bash on the 3 year program not being sufficient)
-everyone is happy
-professors treat students respectfully as professionals

Cons:
-some current students and recent grads say that Pacific is not the best option for specialization...I am content with being a GP, but I would like to have options open when I do my specialty roungs.
-SF is expensive!
-year round courses with difficulty in doing externships


Temple
Pros:
-amazing clinical experience
-plenty of patients
-near girlfriend of 4 years
-Specialization is a possibilty

Cons:
-Philadelphia weather (I do not mind the location, I grew up in a similar one)
-similar cost to Pacific in tuition for out-of-state public school
-far from home and close-knit family
-Temple Football


That's all that I could come up with so far...I would appreciate any opinions or pro/con additions. Reputations throughout dental community? If there are any previous students who were deciding between these two schools, please let know how you came to a decision. I love both schools when I visited them, and I can see myself at both. I understand that I should have both acceptances in my hand before I can truly decide, but I've just been thinking about this potential dilemma I will have to face. Thanks for your input.

 

[1992Corolla]

-SF is expensive!

🙄 C'mon, this excuse is lame! Tuition is high, but it goes down every year you are there. Three years! When everyone else is forking out 50K for their fourth year you are getting PAID! What is the AVERAGE dental salary right out of school? 90K to 140K? What if you are above average? SWEET!

As far as where you want to go is up to you. I personally would pick Temple. I have my reasons, but I liked it alot out there.

 

[greenday]

Wondering to see who won't choose UOP.

 

[dat_student]

Wondering to see who won't choose UOP.

I won't choose UOP

 

[greenday]

I won't choose UOP

Heck did you even apply there granted you knew that you would be accepted by Harvard?

 

[dat_student]

Heck did you even apply there granted you knew that you would be accepted by Harvard?

I didn't apply to UOP but I applied to Temple [I am a California resident]

****************
"Striving to better, oft we mar what's well"
Shakespeare - King Lear

INTERVIEWS: UCLA, UCSF, UPENN, Columbia, UCONN (University of Connecticut), University of Maryland, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Indiana University, Case Western Reserve University, UMKC, UMDNJ, Nova, I don't recall the rest [I won't go to all interviews]

 

[greenday]

I didn't apply to UOP but I applied to Temple [I am a California resident]

****************
"Striving to better, oft we mar what's well"
Shakespeare - King Lear

INTERVIEWS: UCLA, UCSF, UPENN, Columbia, UCONN (University of Connecticut), University of Maryland, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Indiana University, Case Western Reserve University, UMKC, UMDNJ, Nova, I don't recall the rest [I won't go to all interviews]

I know, I was just playing with you. Good luck on UCSF and UCLA interviews.

 

[1992Corolla]

Wondering to see who won't choose UOP.

I won't. Dr. Yarborough (dean of admissions) just visited our school and told everyone that their interviews are booked till January. Plus my 18 can't handle their status 😀 . He has come to our school for the last three years for recruiting things...mostly because we are a block away from BYU who is the biggest dental school feeder in the world.

I visited the school last april and was very impressed. I loved the city, c;mon its San Fran! I have 6 good friends there right now from UVSC and they love it.
Temple is for me.

 

[dat_student]

I know, I was just playing with you. Good luck on UCSF and UCLA interviews.

Thanks so much. I wish you the best of luck as well.

****************
"Striving to better, oft we mar what's well"
Shakespeare - King Lear

INTERVIEWS: UCLA, UCSF, UPENN, Columbia, UCONN (University of Connecticut), University of Maryland, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Indiana University, Case Western Reserve University, UMKC, UMDNJ, Nova, I don't recall the rest [I won't go to all interviews]

 

[PDizzle]

-some current students and recent grads say that Pacific is not the best option for specialization...I am content with being a GP, but I would like to have options open when I do my specialty roungs.

Not so sure of this. UoP gives a lot of clinical experience (especially for only 3 years) and doesn't have all the specializations in their post-doc programs (they have ortho and I think one other). This could mean you will have more opportunity to do those procedures and give you more experience.

The endo office I shadowed had a guy from UoP as well.

I wouldn't let this factor into my descision between the 2 schools unless you heard directly from the ones that admit to specialty programs.

This isn't an option for me since I probably will not get into UoP. I heard their interviews are booked into 2006 and have not heard from them yet. 😡

 

[drhobie7]

Not so sure of this. UoP gives a lot of clinical experience (especially for only 3 years) and doesn't have all the specializations in their post-doc programs (they have ortho and I think one other). This could mean you will have more opportunity to do those procedures and give you more experience.

The endo office I shadowed had a guy from UoP as well.

I wouldn't let this factor into my descision between the 2 schools unless you heard directly from the ones that admit to specialty programs.

This isn't an option for me since I probably will not get into UoP. I heard their interviews are booked into 2006 and have not heard from them yet. 😡

Fewer people from UOP specialize compared to UCSF and other more academic schools. I have no idea what the cause of this is. Perhaps this is the type of student UOP attracts: eager to get out and start practicing. Perhaps it's indicative of something in the educational process. I'd guess it's more likely the former.

 

[columbia2009]

🙄 C'mon, this excuse is lame! Tuition is high, but it goes down every year you are there. Three years! When everyone else is forking out 50K for their fourth year you are getting PAID! What is the AVERAGE dental salary right out of school? 90K to 140K? What if you are above average? SWEET!

As far as where you want to go is up to you. I personally would pick Temple. I have my reasons, but I liked it alot out there.

very true that it would be cheaper going to Pacific since I will be out a year early...however, the standard of living in the Bay Area is significantly higher than Philadelphia and that can tack onto the bills

anyways, I understand that Pacific is a continuous all-year program completing in 3 years. Does anyone know the year to year schedule at Temple? I have heard that students have their summer off following the first year, however, school is continious (maybe 2 week summer) until graduation? Am I incorrect or this is just Temple Med?

Not so sure of this. UoP gives a lot of clinical experience (especially for only 3 years) and doesn't have all the specializations in their post-doc programs (they have ortho and I think one other). This could mean you will have more opportunity to do those procedures and give you more experience.

Excellent point! Since Pacific has only an orthodontic post-doc, students do pretty much everything that comes their way (i.e. endo #16). I know that I will come out clinical competent than most schools strait out of dental school. But like I said before, if I did have an interest in specializing during my rotations, I would not like to be at a "disadvantage" in applying to specialization programs. I only say this because specifically 2 recent grads and 1 dentist (10 years of experience) from Pacific keep on telling me to look at UCSF if I have any hint of interest in specialization. I know that many Pacific grads enter specialization programs, but it just seems less than UCSF, Penn, or Temple.

What do you think?

 

[columbia2009]

I visited the school last april and was very impressed. I loved the city, c;mon its San Fran! I have 6 good friends there right now from UVSC and they love it.
Temple is for me.

Is there a specific reason that Temple is for you...if you don't mind sharing. I'm just trying to get a healthy discussion between fellow pre-dents that might show other something missed during the tour

 

[Rezdawg]

Although UOP is 3 years, its actually broken up into 4 sections totalling roughly $45,000 per section for tuition, not including books, instruments, fees, etc... Therefore, the cost is about the same as other high priced 4 year institutions. However, you are out a year early, so you get to start repaying the loans sooner.

 

[JessicaSimpson]

Not sure if this is helpful since I didn't apply to either school and thus didn't research them extensively, but every dentist I talked to about Temple made fun of Temple dentists.

 

[Utes]

Jessica...

Why would they make fun of Temple dentists? Have you seen the number of patients that those students see? Also, they have a decent number of students that go on to specialize (I think they said 60%). I really enjoyed my interview there and felt like Temple was a very accepting place.

In a dental school, I'm looking for a place that I feel will help me to increase my speed and confidence in a clinical setting. I really don't give a crap if the biochem professor is well published or what the average gpa and dat scores are of the incoming class of students. No matter how many lectures you have on something, confidence and speed comes from actually doing the procedures. Temple is an excellent option if you want to practice dentistry and be a good clinician. So what did the dentists that you talked to say to make fun of Temple?

By the way... sorry to divert from the topic of this thread. I didn't apply to UOP and I honestly don't know a whole lot about it. My post was obviously not comparing Temple to UOP in any way. I'm just curious as to why people put down Temple.

 

[SuperTrooper]

Jessica...

Why would they make fun of Temple dentists? Have you seen the number of patients that those students see? Also, they have a decent number of students that go on to specialize (I think they said 60%). I really enjoyed my interview there and felt like Temple was a very accepting place.

In a dental school, I'm looking for a place that I feel will help me to increase my speed and confidence in a clinical setting. I really don't give a crap if the biochem professor is well published or what the average gpa and dat scores are of the incoming class of students. No matter how many lectures you have on something, confidence and speed comes from actually doing the procedures. Temple is an excellent option if you want to practice dentistry and be a good clinician. So what did the dentists that you talked to say to make fun of Temple?

By the way... sorry to divert from the topic of this thread. I didn't apply to UOP and I honestly don't know a whole lot about it. My post was obviously not comparing Temple to UOP in any way. I'm just curious as to why people put down Temple.

There's no way that 60% of temple students go on to specialize.

 

[Utes]

There's no way that 60% of temple students go on to specialize.

I thought the number sounded high when I heard it at Temple. I may have remembered incorrectly as well (I didn't write it down as I have no intention of specializing). They may also be including AEGD, GPR, DMD/MBA. Who knows. It's beside the point though.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

There's no way that 60% of temple students go on to specialize.

Does that include GPR?

 

[SuperTrooper]

Any opinions or recommendations? I realize that both school have amazing clinical labs and large patient pools.

UOP
Pros:
-3 years to finish
-SF (hour drive from Parents)
-Great reputation (however, some bash on the 3 year program not being sufficient)
-everyone is happy
-professors treat students respectfully as professionals

Cons:
-some current students and recent grads say that Pacific is not the best option for specialization...I am content with being a GP, but I would like to have options open when I do my specialty roungs.
-SF is expensive!
-year round courses with difficulty in doing externships


Temple
Pros:
-amazing clinical experience
-plenty of patients
-near girlfriend of 4 years
-Specialization is a possibilty

Cons:
-Philadelphia weather (I do not mind the location, I grew up in a similar one)
-similar cost to Pacific in tuition for out-of-state public school
-far from home and close-knit family
-Temple Football


That's all that I could come up with so far...I would appreciate any opinions or pro/con additions. Reputations throughout dental community? If there are any previous students who were deciding between these two schools, please let know how you came to a decision. I love both schools when I visited them, and I can see myself at both. I understand that I should have both acceptances in my hand before I can truly decide, but I've just been thinking about this potential dilemma I will have to face. Thanks for your input.

I would definitely choose UOP if I were in your position. Your chances of specialization are just as good at either school. Also, in my experience: it's good to be close to home, and temple football sucks. And although temple gets a lot of talk about the amazing number of patients you see and all that, it's my personal opinion that you really don't get a quality level of instruction from professors because the class is so big (and because there are so many patients). I'd rather do a little less clinical work and get taught well, than have a whole bunch of stuff thrown at me with less instruction.

The only downside about UOP for me would be the 3 years. For some, that would be a positive - getting done school earlier. But I feel that the 3 year program leaves little room for error. If you have problems (school/personal), I think everything would be magnified. Good luck.

 

[JessicaSimpson]

Jessica...

Why would they make fun of Temple dentists? Have you seen the number of patients that those students see? Also, they have a decent number of students that go on to specialize (I think they said 60%). I really enjoyed my interview there and felt like Temple was a very accepting place.

As I said, I really don't know that much about Temple (other than its location - bad). One dentist mentioned something about poor clinical skills, another said he would never hire a Temple dentist, and I don't remember exactly what the others said. I don't know why it has such a bad rep, of if any of it is true or not. Two of the dentists I spoke with were Penn ones, and they can sometimes be a little snotty about other schools.

 

[VegasBabyVegas]

UoP or Temple? Take the trolley to school or take my 9mm so I don't die on the way to school? City of Brotherly Love or City of Brotherly Bumlove? Giants or the Phillies?

This one is a toughy..

 

[johnstylzes]

UoP or Temple? Take the trolley to school or take my 9mm so I don't die on the way to school? City of Brotherly Love or City of Brotherly Bumlove? Giants or the Phillies?

This one is a toughy..

As with any large city, there are areas that are unsafe and economically-challenged. I believe that anyone can survive in North Philly. You just have to be smart and watch your surroundings. Don't go around wearing your "bling" Rolex in that area or leave money in your dashboard...you will get robbed if you are the wrong place. I personally find the area a great asset to the clinical experience at Temple, and I am sure many will agree. I can guarantee that UCLA students (I did 80 hours of shadowing there) in Westwood/Bel-air are wishing they had more patients to work on and less emphasis on books/research.

 

[1992Corolla]

I liked Temple for the clinical experiance. Again lots of schools will give you great clinical experiances, but Philly will give you alot more, than say...Omaha? San Fran will too, I just don't think you can compare the two as far as experiance gained. UoP may have nicer equipment though 😀 The school witht the most cutting technology is Marquette though 😎
Quality level of instruction? 🙄 Class size? UoP has one of the biggest class sizes and it is an accelerated program...poor excuse.
9mm, PuhLeeeease! Like no one has ever been mugged in SanFran, stop fooling yourself! Philly is just as good/bad as SanFran. The director of admissions himself rides the 'dangerous' subway everyday to and from work at various hours and he is fine and has been doing it for years. Yeah, if you flaunt that you have a stack of bills in your enyce jeans then you'll get gunned down anywhere.
Dentists don't hire Temple dentists? When you graduate you are you're own boss and you can choose where you want to go. Lame stereotypes are bad arguments. If this is what you heard from your dental friend who went to Pitt or Penn, then there is obviously some school rivalry

I liked Temple for:
clinical experiance
tuition is cheaper there than the other schools i've interviewed at
there are many MR2 owners in philly area (one of my hobbies)
I love the history
I know a couple of guys there and they like it (word of mouth=credible)
Philly has a lot of history to it and lots to do for the kids
1/2 hour to 45 min north/northwest are some good places to live maybe buy a house
try to buy a closet in UoP to live in and you'll be paying 1500/month!
but you graduate a year ahead and pay it off quicker (but it is all relative in 5/10/15 years)
Scholarship availability is better at Temple
Clinical experiance at Temple (140 extractions...woot!)
Schedule your own patients...in other words if you want a week off, then dont schedule anyone!
Keep the same patients
plenty of hands on experiance as you make all your own stuff (crowns inlays onlays etc.)
Thats why I liked Temple.
(plus Brian if you read this)
Brian Hahn is the man, have you seen him jump a 8 foot wave?
Righteous YO! 😎 😀

 

[SuperTrooper]

I guess my overall impression of Temple was that it was a little student unfriendly. The professors I met didn't seem to care too much about the students. This is also reflected in clinic charges; the student gets charged if the patient doesn't pay up at temple. In defence, temple students have said that this "tough-love" prepares you for the real world. I think that's a bullsh*t answer; students don't need that kind of crap during dental school. School is hard enough as it is.

I felt they were student-friendly at Pacific.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

All the positives said about Temple are true, but dude. cmon! Its really a no brainer here....

UOP is in SanFran, also has great great clinical experience and its only 3 years long! You can use that extra year to start paying off loans, do a GPR, strengthen your resume for speciality programs, etc.

Although I have some beefs about the way this school is run, in the end I really think Temple is a great great school for DENTISTRY and nothing more. But coming from a Temple student and if I had that choice, UOP would win for me hands down. Goto UOP.


FYI: About the class size, you really dont notice it at all.....is there really a difference between a class size of 75 or 125? I dont think so. But when you get into the 250-350s like at NYu, then you notice the class size.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

I guess my overall impression of Temple was that it was a little student unfriendly. The professors I met didn't seem to care too much about the students. This is also reflected in clinic charges; the student gets charged if the patient doesn't show up at temple. In defence, temple students have said that this "tough-love" prepares you for the real world. I think that's a bullsh*t answer; students don't need that kind of crap during dental school. School is hard enough as it is.

I felt they were student-friendly at Pacific.

I get this question asked to me during interviews all the time and Ill tell you what I tell them:

I dont care what anyone says, but every dental school is going to be the same. You are gonna have some profs that really enjoy teaching and will go to lengths for the student....and you have other profs that are crappy, pathetic and are just there for their own pathetic reasons. But every dental school, no matter what part of the country your in will have this problem. We should all be aware and be able to accept that.

Regarding the clinic charges....the root of this is that Temple is being cheap.....no question about it.

but in regard to the student, its a positive. You may think its a bull$hit answer but its still reality. You wanna learn habits from the beginning....if you slack off with payment and let patients walk all over you, then you will just form bad habits that will kill you when you own your own practice and you dont have the school funding you anymore. Its better to develop good habits early on.

The good thing I like about Temple is that its very independent...you call the patients, do tx plans, make appointments, devise payment schedules, etc. The students are basically running their own practice for two years....and when you graduate you develop great skills and habits you carry on to your own practice. However, this sort of independence might seem like a negative to some people who like their hand held all the time.

Also, when did Temple become the only school to adopt this policy? Many other schools make their students pay for unpaid procedures. ANyways, this shouldnt be a factor for bashing a school cause if you are organized and smart about things, you wont have to deal with it.

 

[DoctorV09]

I believe Temple Dental is 125 students, while Pacific is 140.

 

[1992Corolla]

To go with the class size thing. They are relatively the same size so you can't compare the class sizes and say UoP is better than Temple for that reason.

All good points about UoP, it is a great school. I think here it comes down to personal choice preference...same with any other school.

 

[columbia2009]

I think I just need to visit each school again when I receive the acceptance letters---that is, if I receive any. Wouldn't it be easier if I just got into one so the decision is made already?

Anyways, just had another thought that's been bugging. Would you say that UOP has a better reputation throughout the dental community nationwide? It seems like many people apply there. Also, when I checked out the "top choice" thread, UOP is a top three choice in terms of pre-dent preference?

This definately does not say anything about which school is better, but it might say something about its reputation.

Any thoughts?

 

[EyeAmCommi]

I think I just need to visit each school again when I receive the acceptance letters---that is, if I receive any. Wouldn't it be easier if I just got into one so the decision is made already?

Anyways, just had another thought that's been bugging. Would you say that UOP has a better reputation throughout the dental community nationwide? It seems like many people apply there. Also, when I checked out the "top choice" thread, UOP is a top three choice in terms of pre-dent preference?

This definately does not say anything about which school is better, but it might say something about its reputation.

Any thoughts?

This is only my opinion but if I were in your shoes and had a choice between the two, I would choose UoP. It is also given that I didn't apply to Temple.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

I think I just need to visit each school again when I receive the acceptance letters---that is, if I receive any. Wouldn't it be easier if I just got into one so the decision is made already?

Anyways, just had another thought that's been bugging. Would you say that UOP has a better reputation throughout the dental community nationwide? It seems like many people apply there. Also, when I checked out the "top choice" thread, UOP is a top three choice in terms of pre-dent preference?

This definately does not say anything about which school is better, but it might say something about its reputation.

Any thoughts?

I think both UOP and Temple have stellar reputations amongst the dental community....i dont think you'd find a dentist that would not recommend either school.

As far as UOP being people's top choice, well can you blame them? Its the only 3 year program, its in BEAUTIFUL SanFran, California, has good clinical exposure.....all and all, its a great school and its no suprise that its a lot of people's first choice!

 

[columbia2009]

bump....any opinions?