UOP vs UCSF

[anee1984]

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Since I became pre-dental, I always had my heart set on UCSF dental. Now I am not so sure. I know UCSF has pass/fail, good research opportunities, and is all-around very prestigious, but the UOP bug has recently got me. UOP's three year program is really enticing, and its clinical training is absolutely unparalleled. In terms of reputation, I believe UCSF wins simply because more people know about it, but that, I think, is precisely my problem. Sometimes I feel like I have focused too much on reputation, and trying to go to a "well known" school, and all the while neglecting what is really important--choosing the school that fits.

The problem is, I think I want to specialize in the future, and I heard that UCSF is better in that case. So if I attend UOP, will the door to specialties be shut for me?

People out there, did any of you have to choose between UOP and UCSF? If so, what did you choose and what was your reason?

(Of course, I have not even been accepted to either UOP or UCSF yet, so this whole thing may be a moot point. But I'm just wondering. Thanks in advance.)

 

[drhobie7]

The door to specialize will definitely not be shut no matter what school you go to. In fact, if you do great on NBDE part I and go to a school where not a lot of people specialize you'd probably have a better chance at matching. At my school (UCLA) over 40 (out of 100) students in class of 2006 are applying for ortho. Only about 10-15 will match for ortho (according to past statistics) even though each one probably has a great board score, etc. If half those students went to other (less well known) schools with their same board scores they'd stand out a lot more and have a better chance at matching. The reason so many people specialize at places like UCSF is because the students that decide to go there are already planning on specializing, rather than UCSF providing students with a leg up on getting into a specialty.

I bet when you become a 3rd year and realize you're only halfway done you'll look at the 3 year option in a different light. You'd probably kill to be able to finish in 3 years. Of course I will be calling you Dr. 3/4ths. 😀

 

[DREDAY]

I got into UCSF and UOP and LOMA LINDA and it was a tough decision between the 3. All 3 schools are great school. But in the end it came down to how much debt I would be in after dental school. After speaking to numerous dentists who graduate dental school with huge debt, they all told me that since they are all great schools to go to the one which would put me in less debt. So I chose UCSF which actually saved me about 80k when compared to UOP.

Now I know at UOP you will be graduating 1 year earlier, but taht 80K, spread in 30 years repayment comes out to be about 120k or more. I dont think I will be making 120k straight out of dental school, so either way of lookin at it, it was much cheaper for me to go to ucsf. I mean that may only save you 300-500 dolalrs a month in repayments, but thats alot when you consider you will prob have to pay a mortgage and your private practice if you ever decide to have one.

 

[drhobie7]

I got into UCSF and UOP and LOMA LINDA and it was a tough decision between the 3. All 3 schools are great school. But in the end it came down to how much debt I would be in after dental school. After speaking to numerous dentists who graduate dental school with huge debt, they all told me that since they are all great schools to go to the one which would put me in less debt. So I chose UCSF which actually saved me about 80k when compared to UOP.

Now I know at UOP you will be graduating 1 year earlier, but taht 80K, spread in 30 years repayment comes out to be about 120k or more. I dont think I will be making 120k straight out of dental school, so either way of lookin at it, it was much cheaper for me to go to ucsf. I mean that may only save you 300-500 dolalrs a month in repayments, but thats alot when you consider you will prob have to pay a mortgage and your private practice if you ever decide to have one.

This is a good point, but I think the conclusion is incorrect. You can come out of dental school making $150,000 or higher depending on where you work. I've known plenty of people who did it. What's also important to consider is that your income will grow exponentially the first 5 years out of dental school. You will reach your earning peak 1 year faster and thus have one more year of maximal earning. I don't want to make this all about money because that would be a poor basis for making this decision. My point is: money should not be the deciding factor between UCSF and UOP.

Talk to the students. I know UOP has this weird rep for having super happy students. It's almost bizarre. Like there's N2O in the air. 😀

Anyhow, you'll be stoked if you get into either one. Good luck.

 

[JavadiCavity]

Come to UOP, you'll love it here. The doors to specializing are not shut. Students who specialize do well on the boards and graduate high in the class. You can do anything you want to do after graduating here. The clinical training is fantastic, and the kicker is that it only takes 3 years.

 

[crazy_sherm]

A fair number of students from UOP do end up specializing, but most of the students tend to concentrate more on general practice. The only real advantages I see at UCSF for specializing is that they don't load you up with pre-clinical stuff early on and there is also more opportunity for research/community service. Specializing will require extremely hard work no matter which school you go to. If you're enough of a gunner, you'll get into whatever specialty you want.

I was accepted to both but ended up choosing UOP. After starting school, I don't regret my decision one bit. It's been crazy busy, and I'm always tired/stressed out, but it's also an awesome feeling being part of the school. I love the environment here, which is the biggest reason I chose UOP. I had attended Berkeley for undergrad and didn't want to go through 4 more years at a UC. I encourage you to come visit both if you get the chance and really see which would be the better fit for you.

UOP is pricier, but UCSF is not by any means cheap these days either. I did the same financial comparison as dreday, but somehow my math turned out a little more optimistic. I had figured about $65k difference in tuition/supplies and one less year of living expenses.