UoP vs. USC

[SayCheese123]

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Hey all! Thanks for taking the time out to add your opinions, and help me to sort out mine! I posted this in the school-specific discussions, and someone suggested that I also put the thread here.

I'm currently choosing between USC and UoP dental schools (and feeling super lucky to have a choice!).

Pros for USC (in my mind)
- Loved the PBL thing; the interview demo was fun and engaging. Plus, I figure I'll spend less time falling asleep in lecture, which is always good. Anyone who's been through it, or is currently in PBL, I'd love your opinions on it.
- A more loose schedule. USC's students expressed having lifestyles that were more balanced than UoP's students did. I have a soon-to-be spouse, so this is an important factor to me, and possibly worth the extra 8 months of school.
- The perks of being on an undergrad campus: gym access, sports, endless clubs, etc.

Cons for USC (again, my impressions)
- Less complex and extensive clinical experience, as the bigger cases get assigned to dentists in specialty programs.
- LA. It is really hard to figure out where to live due to the location of the school.
- Essentially the same cost as UoP, but UoP gets out an working 8 months earlier.

Pros for UoP
- 3 years
- I live in the Bay Area, and intend to practice here. Plus, the campus is in an awesome neighborhood.
- Fewer specialty programs (2: Oral Surgery and Perio) means more clinical experience for DDS students.
- InvisAlign certified at time of graduation. No additional CE courses required.
- Comes highly recommended by dentists that graduated from the program. (I'm sure this is also true of USC, I have just had fewer encounters with them as a Bay Area resident).

Cons for UoP
- Lack of enthusiasm I saw among students at my interview. I was so surprised. I was expecting all kinds of Tiger pride based on conversations I've had with alumni, but all anyone had to say when I asked how they liked the programs was, "eh?" with a shrug. Maybe this is due to the rigorous accelerated program, maybe because a lot of attention is being focused in on the new campus (which may or may not open in time for my last year there, if I choose to attend), or something else?
- 3 year program hard on spouses? Thoughts?
- During my campus tour, I was told by the third year student doing the tour (who only really got excited about the snack bar) that the 3rd year class is great, very cooperative, friendly, helps each other, etc; however, the first and second year classes are more competitive, cheat, are gunners in the worst kind of way.... shocking to hear during a tour, and I'm hoping that the perception of this individual is skewed.
- CURRENT STUDENTS: do you have any insight on how the construction of the new campus is altering your experience on the current one? A lot of students didn't seem to believe that the new campus would be finished in time for my last year, as the school is optimistically projecting.

Help correct any of my misguided opinions!!! Thank you!

 

[cmcner]

Feel free to PM me with questions about SC after you read some of my old posts.

 

[Sunspear]

Bump. Any opinions from current students?

 

[TeethRgreat]

Your cons on UoP is the exact opposite of what it is. Everyone helps eachother out. Everyone shares notes, and gets along really well. Take what that 3rd year said with a grain of salt because any one else who goes to UoP or has been there will say the exact opposite.

 

[Timpson]

I just wanted to add that with the new exposition train line opening close to USC, there are many options to live in the LA area for students who don't want to deal with the nightmare of LA traffic. Also, the area is not as bad as people make it seem, and I think it is a great area for young single types, not so much for families. However, what you have said about specialty programs taking the more difficult cases is true. Sometimes this is for the safety or comfort of the patient such as in certain OS and Endo cases, but the reality is that the specialty programs have the first pick for a lot of complex cases. The lack of specialty programs at UOP is, I believe, a significant advantage for the school. The reality is, both schools have great clinical programs but I feel like UOP has continually focused on providing a great clinical education whereas USC is only recently getting back to it's roots in providing a solid clinical education. Our old dean simply did not value the clinical experience, but from the changes I have seen, I am confident our new dean since 2009 is moving the school and clinic in the right direction.

 

[Tommy43087]

Hey all! Thanks for taking the time out to add your opinions, and help me to sort out mine! I posted this in the school-specific discussions, and someone suggested that I also put the thread here.

I'm currently choosing between USC and UoP dental schools (and feeling super lucky to have a choice!).

Pros for USC (in my mind)
- Loved the PBL thing; the interview demo was fun and engaging.Not engaging, pure BS....but it equates to free time, ohhh so much free time... Plus, I figure I'll spend less time falling asleep in lecture, which is always good. Anyone who's been through it, or is currently in PBL, I'd love your opinions on it.
- A more loose schedule. USC's students expressed having lifestyles that were more balanced than UoP's students did. I have a soon-to-be spouse, so this is an important factor to me, and possibly worth the extra 8 months of school.YES
- The perks of being on an undergrad campus: gym access, sports, endless clubs, etc.YES

Cons for USC (again, my impressions)
- Less complex and extensive clinical experience, as the bigger cases get assigned to dentists in specialty programs.Dont think thats true at all, depending on how complex you are talking about. Obviously at a certain level of complexity you shouldn't really be touching anyway
- LA. It is really hard to figure out where to live due to the location of the school.There are plenty of locations to live depending on your flexibility
- Essentially the same cost as UoP, but UoP gets out an working 8 months earlier.Probably a lot less stressful than UOP but I couldnt make a direct comparison since I dont go there and have no experience.

Good Luck on your decision!

 

[cmcner]

I would like to add that PBL is just of fraction of the education at USC since it's only scheduled for 8 hours a week for your first 2 years (it actually takes less time than that) and by the 3rd trimester you will have 40 hours of class a week making that 8 seem small.

 

[Timpson]

This is true. I am not a huge fan of how PBL is run at USC but I am a fan of the free time it gives me.