uop

[dentalbuddy]

what are the benefits and consequences of going to uop?

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[armorshell]

Benefits - Finish in 3 years, get broad scope clinical experience.

Consequences - Pay lots of money.

That should about cover it.

 

[Jem27]

Benefits - Finish in 3 years, get broad scope clinical experience.

Consequences - Pay lots of money.

That should about cover it.

totally agree.

IMO, to be done in 3 years is huge.

oh right, plus, i'll be going and isn't that reason enough?
perks: all; sucky parts: none

yeah, and paying bundles of credit-moneys would be the downside ... living in SF is also tough on the wallet.

 

[tamkhan]

Is uop still interviewing? Armor, do you have any knowledge of this?

I'm thinking I should retake the DAT end of Jan, maybe that'll put me in a better position (??). Currently, my 22/21/16 don't seem like good scores. I suppose the 16 in PAT is hurting me.

Oh, sorry for using this thread for personal questions. I didn't want to open a new thread.

 

[armorshell]

I'm not sure if they're inviting anyone else at this point, but I can try and find out. Also, I wouldn't retake the DAT because of a 16 on the PAT section. The amount of emphasis people think UoP puts on that section is way blown out of proportion, it's not as much as you'd think. They care far more about AA and RC.

 

[Streetwolf]

Yeah uhh how much is it? Even if UOP is $300,000 for three years, you get paid for that 4th year when you find yourself a job (and everyone else is still at school). Let's assume you get 100k that year. So in 4 years you are paying $200,000 for school. Not bad.

 

[dWiz]

the sexy ladies

 

[armorshell]

Yeah uhh how much is it? Even if UOP is $300,000 for three years, you get paid for that 4th year when you find yourself a job (and everyone else is still at school). Let's assume you get 100k that year. So in 4 years you are paying $200,000 for school. Not bad.

That's the formula the administration likes to use, but when you throw taxes, cost of living and all that into the mix, that 4th year out isn't nearly as valuable in dollar signs. Technically though, you're not gaining an extra "first" year, you're gaining an extra "average" year over your lifetime as a practitioner. So the base salary you use would be more, but it still doesn't work out like Dr. Yarborough might like

However, there's still a lot of value in a free year of life. You could pursue a GPR or AEGD and still be done at the same time as your batchmates at other schools, with loads of experience to boot. Or you could buckle down on finances, live like a student and associate your year out while paying off a ton of your loans, then maybe purchase a practice a bit earlier.

It's also a great way to hedge your bets for an OS residency, because a 1 year OS internship makes up a lot of ground when reapplying for a residency.

 

[Streetwolf]

That's the formula the administration likes to use, but when you throw taxes, cost of living and all that into the mix, that 4th year out isn't nearly as valuable in dollar signs. Technically though, you're not gaining an extra "first" year, you're gaining an extra "average" year over your lifetime as a practitioner. So the base salary you use would be more, but it still doesn't work out like Dr. Yarborough might like

However, there's still a lot of value in a free year of life. You could pursue a GPR or AEGD and still be done at the same time as your batchmates at other schools, with loads of experience to boot. Or you could buckle down on finances, live like a student and associate your year out while paying off a ton of your loans, then maybe purchase a practice a bit earlier.

It's also a great way to hedge your bets for an OS residency, because a 1 year OS internship makes up a lot of ground when reapplying for a residency.

Good point. Okay then, an extra $200,000 =]

 

[ashaw]

oh right, plus, i'll be going and isn't that reason enough?

This is NOT the reason I'll be going.

IMO: I hear that Pacific also has excellent clinic work. Interview was conducted very well. Though I may just be comparing it to USC's interview... Also, the people at the interview seemed awesome, so wouldn't mind being surrounded by them for the next three years.

 

[jj2chemastray6]

Does anyone know if UOP dental grads have a good acceptance rate to specialty programs?

 

[armorshell]

Does anyone know if UOP dental grads have a good acceptance rate to specialty programs?

Yes, everyone who is competitive and applies, gets in, same as every other school in the nation.

 

[atlanta478]

Yes, everyone who is competitive and applies, gets in, same as every other school in the nation.

A couple of years ago UOP’s NB I class average score was not that great – obviously many students there are shooting for GP. Unless school's average improved since, specialty is not one of the UOP’s strengths.

 

[djeffreyt]

A couple of years ago UOP’s NB I class average score was not that great – obviously many students there are shooting for GP. Unless school's average improved since, specialty is not one of the UOP’s strengths.

Pacific doesn't give any specific time that you must take the National Boards Part 1 by (other than by graduation), but the usual time that students here take it doesn't really allow for a lot of extra time to study. Most students take it after their 6th quarter (which only gives one 2 weeks of winter break to study without other school courses). You can take it 7th quarter, during which 2nd years tend to have more free time integrated into the curriculum. Or you can wait until 12th quarter if you really want.

The majority of the UOP students are not looking to specialize and not looking to score exceptional on the National Boards. Passing the boards, in the opinion of most of us who are going to be GPs, it perfectly fine with us. If you look at the DAT scores of the majority of students who are at Pacific, we do pretty well, if not at the higher end among dental schools. That doesn't mean we're the smartest people or the best people or any other meaningless thing like that, but it does mean we know how to study for a standardized test. And, since we needed high DAT scores to get into the schools of our choice, we studied hard and got those scores...now most of us don't need those scores, so we study to pass. Higher national Board scores don't mean jack to us cause higher boards don't equate to better dentist, any more than higher DAT equates to better dentist. There are people here, as there are everywhere, who do exceptional. I've only heard of a dozen or so of the board scores for our 2nd years this time around, but 2 of those I recall being 92 or higher. It isn't impossible to get good scores with the materials and teaching they give you here...it just takes a dedication.

I guess you're probably right that UOP doesn't count "specializing" as one of it's strengths, but among those here who want to specialize, if they are dedicated to it, most seem to get it. Those who sort of want to specialize, don't seem to get into the specialties they want cause they lack that drive.

 

[armorshell]

A couple of years ago UOP's NB I class average score was not that great – obviously many students there are shooting for GP. Unless school's average improved since, specialty is not one of the UOP's strengths.

I always wonder how this thought process goes. Like, it's impossible for me to take a practice NBDE, realize that our anatomy class didn't cover the brachial plexus well enough, pick up my anatomy book and then learn it down to the nittiest and grittiest of details. Oh wait, I just did that.

The only "problem" Pacific or any other school has with sending students to specialties, is having a lot of students who want to practice general dentistry. When you're comparing schools like Pacific against schools like Ivies, UCLA, UCSF, UConn, remember that you were smart enough to get into those schools, and last time I checked they're not taking mediocre students, and this pervasive meme that they have a monopoly on specializing drives students looking to specialize into their class roster.

I've said it before, but I find it completely unsurprising that Penn cranks out a lot of specialists when they only accept the top 5% of dental students.

There's not been a moment since I decided I wanted to specialize that I've been worried Pacific would hold me back.

 

[pharoh]

totally agree.

IMO, to be done in 3 years is huge.

oh right, plus, i'll be going and isn't that reason enough?
perks: all; sucky parts: none

yeah, and paying bundles of credit-moneys would be the downside ... living in SF is also tough on the wallet.

"oh right, plus, i'll be going and isn't that reason enough?"

that's why i'm going...forget the 3 years...

 

[cdmOMR]

There's not been a moment since I decided I wanted to specialize that I've been worried Pacific would hold me back.

Just curious... have decided to pursue OS? I saw you posting in the Dental residency forum, particularly in OS threads, and thought you might have decided to specialize. /thread rape

 

[armorshell]

Just curious... have decided to pursue OS? I saw you posting in the Dental residency forum, particularly in OS threads, and thought you might have decided to specialize. /thread rape

You hit it on the nose.

 

[cdmOMR]

You hit it on the nose.

Haha nice... good luck!

 

[lemoncurry]

interview call today for an alternate spot.

armorshell, any info on how many waitlisters were accepted last year?

 

[armorshell]

interview call today for an alternate spot.

armorshell, any info on how many waitlisters were accepted last year?

I don't have any specific data, but I can think of at least ten classmates off the top of my head who got in off the waitlist. Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.

 

[dr bojangles]

hey armor, can you estimate how many classmates you have from east coast, namely NY/NJ and new england area? or perhaps an average of students from that area per class year?

 

[armorshell]

In my class there are 3 with permanent residences on the east cost, and 8 who went to school back east. Note that the school doesn't preferentially favor west coasters, it's just that not many east coasters apply, or end up matriculating.