UPenn vs. NOVA vs. Marquette

[Thinkthink]

Hello all,

Really a tough decision for me. Just wanted your opinions. Here are a list of things I like/dislike about each school.

UPenn (DECLINING)

NOVA, $366k principle, ~$425k w/ interest after 4 years

Pros

• Close to home. I'm a FL resident and used to live 5mi from NOVA
• Dr. Lippman is super chill, liked the environment
• Great weather

Cons

• Supposedly no clinic problems, but that's reported by some students and staff
• specialization rates?
• South FL isn't the nicest or safest place to live

Marquette, $330k principle, ~384k w/ interest after 4 years

Pros

• Early clinical experience
• CHEAP option
• Staff are AWESOME like UPenn
• Chill environment with down-to-earth students
• Modern and renovated pretty clinics
• Cheese

Cons

• It's cold and I'm a FL boy
• The only research they have is the 3D printing of bioactive materials for jaw implants. I found this very interesting but only about 10% of the class does this. This seems limiting if I want to specialize

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[DentistScientist]

depends on how much cheaper Marquette is compared to Penn

If less than 85k, Marquette. If greater than 85k, Penn.

 

[periopocket]

I think they are all around the same price unless your in-state for Marquette, or can live with your folks at nova, otherwise I would go penn - voted.

 

[htdt]

I am not sure if you have made a decision yet, but I think Marquette is not that cheap. OOS and IS pay almost the same price at that school.

 

[dentaldreams2021]

Penn.

 

[wengerout]

Go to Penn if no cost savings


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[Likkriue]

Marquette OOS is far cheaper than Upenn. 363kish after interest. Upenn is 500k after interest.

All the above posters who are saying All those options cost the same have not done their research.

Do your future self a favor and go to Marquette.

 

[blablabla1]

Marquette OOS is far cheaper than Upenn. 363kish after interest. Upenn is 500k after interest.

All the above posters who are saying All those options cost the same have not done their research.

Do your future self a favor and go to Marquette.

Yep voted Marquette for the same reason

 

[DSlotted]

UDecide2016

 

[deleted696582]

Nova because nobody else said so.

 

[Farvahar13]

I'd say upenn, go where you're going to be happy

 

[morning92]

Go wherever is cheapest. You're going to graduate with the same degree in the same amount of time and, once you get out of school, patients aren't going to care where you went. The ivy league experience is not worth the extra debt you'd get saddled with.

 

[RS2224]

I think you should sit down with yourself and reflect deeply on what you're trying to get out of the dental program you attend. If specialization and research are key to you, well then I'm sure your answer is Penn. If family/money is key to you, Nova/Marquette. Just try to find the place where both your needs are met, personally and professionally. And, how your gut felt at the interviews when you were there to get a feel for the environment, is also a good thing to consider.

Personally, cost is a secondary thing if you are happier, getting exactly what you want out of your professional agenda, and content. So make sure you're happy at whatever school you decide to attend and cost will be inevitable. Depression/no happiness/ no contentment would be harder to overcome at this stage, than financial burden when you're well off. Just saying

 

[Dawgsby90]

I was accepted at Marquette, and if I hadn't been accepted to my much cheaper state school, I'd be there in a heartbeat. Marquette has a very family oriented community in the dental school as well as a strong clinical exposure. Plus the school is ~10 years old so everything is updated. I'm a midwest boy myself, but you can't go wrong with Marquette.

 

[Incis0r]

Go wherever is cheapest. You're going to graduate with the same degree in the same amount of time and, once you get out of school, patients aren't going to care where you went. The ivy league experience is not worth the extra debt you'd get saddled with.

/thread

 

[Incis0r]

Marquette OOS is far cheaper than Upenn. 363kish after interest. Upenn is 500k after interest.

All the above posters who are saying All those options cost the same have not done their research.

Do your future self a favor and go to Marquette.

Just looked at the poll....it amazes me how many people are still voting for the most expensive option just for the Ivy League name. 27 Penn, 15 Marquette...yikes.

 

[Likkriue]

Just looked at the poll....it amazes me how many people are still voting for the most expensive option just for the Ivy League name. 27 Penn, 15 Marquette...yikes.

Most of them are uneducated Pre-dents. Every dental student/dentist I've spoken to says "CHEAPEST OPTION" if you don't have some kind of parental/relative support.

I'd say upenn, go where you're going to be happy

And 500k debt. Yes he will be very happy paying that off. 500k debt for an average 150k salary.

10/10 smart choice. He will only be shackled for the rest of his life. Hope he doesn't have any undergraduate loans left to pay.

 

[htdt]

People here keep referring to schools as family-friendly/family-oriented, what does that supposed to mean? Does it mean most students have spouses/kids? I'm in my early twenties and I'm just looking for all the fun I can have with my classmates. Should I avoid those so-called "family-oriented" schools?

 

[doktorinprogres]

So make sure you're happy at whatever school you decide to attend and cost will be inevitable. Depression/no happiness/ no contentment would be harder to overcome at this stage, than financial burden when you're well off.

Cost is not inevitable when you have a decision where according to @Likkriue it's 140k difference. That's a very real avoidable cost that you have in your control.
Also if you browse dentaltown, practicing dentists will make it very clear the depression/no happiness/no contentment that comes when you're several
hundred thousand in debt.

I think everyone has a number that they're willing to take more debt for a certain school. I don't think anyone's number should be over 100k. Someone above said 85k. I'd consider a more expensive school if the additional debt was around/<50k, but the school had better be super amazing.

 

[SEW413]

I think you should sit down with yourself and reflect deeply on what you're trying to get out of the dental program you attend. If specialization and research are key to you, well then I'm sure your answer is Penn. If family/money is key to you, Nova/Marquette. Just try to find the place where both your needs are met, personally and professionally. And, how your gut felt at the interviews when you were there to get a feel for the environment, is also a good thing to consider.

Personally, cost is a secondary thing if you are happier, getting exactly what you want out of your professional agenda, and content. So make sure you're happy at whatever school you decide to attend and cost will be inevitable. Depression/no happiness/ no contentment would be harder to overcome at this stage, than financial burden when you're well off. Just saying

best advice out there!

 

[Dawgsby90]

People here keep referring to schools as family-friendly/family-oriented, what does that supposed to mean? Does it mean most students have spouses/kids? I'm in my early twenties and I'm just looking for all the fun I can have with my classmates. Should I avoid those so-called "family-oriented" schools?

I used the term family oriented to describe a more uplifting environment where everyone wants to see you succeed as opposed to a strict, cutthroat environment where everyone is only there to attempt to specialize and be top of class. It's friendly there.

 

[Thinkthink]

This thread gained much more traction than I initially thought so thank you all who have replied so far. Basically (not officially yet) I've thrown out UPenn. I cannot and will not justify the cost of going there and I will send my decline shortly.

What I found staggering was the price difference between NOVA and Marquette. The breakdown below, not taking in to account the increases in tuition annually:

NOVA

1. Tuition:62350
2. HPD Fee (annual):145
3. NSU Student Fee (annual): 900
4. Books: ranging from $1200-$1400 although I heard no one uses these since it's a lot of PPTs and PDFs
5. Instruments & Equipment: $40800
6. Living Annually (Food/Rent/Personal/Car): $16800, through affiliated dorms @ $8165/year

Total: $366k principle, $4915 monthly @10yr payment via AAMC Loan Repayment Calculator assuming General Dentist w/ 1yr AEGD

Marquette

1. Tuition: 58660
2. Books: $0-$1800, not quite sure if required, didn't hear much about circulating PDFs/PPTs
3. Instruments & Equipment: $20060 (why is this so much cheaper, wtf?)
4. Living Annually (Food/Rent/Personal etc.): $16800, holding constant since most common good rent price was ~ $700 monthly told via student

Total: $330k principle, $4420 monthly @10yr payment via AAMC Loan Repayment Calculator assuming General Dentist w/ 1yr AEGD

I still am unsure if I want to specialize but I know I at least want to become a general dentist. I am going to apply for the NHSC Scholarship with hopes to receive it with the reality being that it is obviously very competitive. I love both schools a LOT, probably Marquette more so. However, I can't discount the familiarity of South FL I have and my family all in FL. I'll have to continue to debate but I just found it very surprising how close these prices were.

Marquette was honestly BEAUTIFUL. Both were super laid back. Am I missing anything in calculating the costs of these schools?

 

[htdt]

This thread gained much more traction than I initially thought so thank you all who have replied so far. Basically (not officially yet) I've thrown out UPenn. I cannot and will not justify the cost of going there and I will send my decline shortly.

What I found staggering was the price difference between NOVA and Marquette. The breakdown below, not taking in to account the increases in tuition annually:

NOVA

1. Tuition:62350
2. HPD Fee (annual):145
3. NSU Student Fee (annual): 900
4. Books: ranging from $1200-$1400 although I heard no one uses these since it's a lot of PPTs and PDFs
5. Instruments & Equipment: $40800
6. Living Annually (Food/Rent/Personal/Car): $16800, through affiliated dorms @ $8165/year

Total: $366k principle, $4915 monthly @10yr payment via AAMC Loan Repayment Calculator assuming General Dentist w/ 1yr AEGD

Marquette

1. Tuition: 58660
2. Books: $0-$1800, not quite sure if required, didn't hear much about circulating PDFs/PPTs
3. Instruments & Equipment: $20060 (why is this so much cheaper, wtf?)
4. Living Annually (Food/Rent/Personal etc.): $16800, holding constant since most common good rent price was ~ $700 monthly told via student

Total: $330k principle, $4420 monthly @10yr payment via AAMC Loan Repayment Calculator assuming General Dentist w/ 1yr AEGD

I still am unsure if I want to specialize but I know I at least want to become a general dentist. I am going to apply for the NHSC Scholarship with hopes to receive it with the reality being that it is obviously very competitive. I love both schools a LOT, probably Marquette more so. However, I can't discount the familiarity of South FL I have and my family all in FL. I'll have to continue to debate but I just found it very surprising how close these prices were.

Marquette was honestly BEAUTIFUL. Both were super laid back. Am I missing anything in calculating the costs of these schools?

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...usly-expensive-dental-schools-thread.1223909/
I'm sure you've seen this thread, right? Your estimate of $330k for Marquette is in the ballpark for what people got (~$360k, including the annual increase in tuition). However, your calculation for Nova seems a bit off. People came up with $430k in the other thread.

 

[deleted696582]

$4915 monthly @10yr payment via AAMC Loan Repayment Calculator assuming General Dentist w/ 1yr AEGD

$4420 monthly @10yr payment via AAMC Loan Repayment Calculator assuming General Dentist w/ 1yr AEGD

Yikes no sports car or mansion for 10 years.

 

[Thinkthink]

Yikes no sports car or mansion for 10 years.

Smh should've gone into the financial sector

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...usly-expensive-dental-schools-thread.1223909/
I'm sure you've seen this thread, right? Your estimate of $330k for Marquette is in the ballpark for what people got (~$360k, including the annual increase in tuition). However, your calculation for Nova seems a bit off. People came up with $430k in the other thread.

No clue. I got $330k principal for Marquette and $360k for NOVA assuming $1400 living per month. He used $1500 @ NOVA and $1100 at Marquette. I understand living prices are different but those minimally account for ~$4000 per year with my calculations. I assumed living would cost the same since through certain housing areas near NOVA it does. That's how I got $1400 per month. I could probably live cheaper at either Marquette or NOVA but I'm not at either yet so I don't know my budget realistically yet.

NOVA under my calculations:
Y1: $96395 * (1.06^4) = 121.7k
Y2: $93395 * (1.06^3) = 111.2k
Y3: $88945 * (1.06^2) = 99.9k
Y4: $87895 * (1.06^1) = 93.1k
TOTAL: $425k, so correct w/ interest -- $366k principle

MARQUETTE (OOS) under my calculation:
Y1: $87410 * (1.06^4) = 110.3k
Y2: $86220 * (1.06^3) = 102.6k
Y3: $79110 * (1.06^2) = 88.8k
Y4: $77910 * (1.06^1) = 82.6k
TOTAL: $384.3k w/ interest -- $330k principle

 

[super frank]

Most of them are uneducated Pre-dents. Every dental student/dentist I've spoken to says "CHEAPEST OPTION" if you don't have some kind of parental/relative support.

If you want to just become a GP, sure.

And to OP, isn't Nova around the same price as Penn?

 

[Likkriue]

If you want to just become a GP, sure.

And to OP, isn't Nova around the same price as Penn?

You can specialize at just about any school provided you are good enough to. Not everyone can because they just can't cut it.

 

[super frank]

You can specialize at just about any school provided you are good enough to. Not everyone can because they just can't cut it.

At some schools you have to be top 10-15% in order to specialize. At some other schools, if you fall out of that range you can still specialize.

 

[blablabla1]

At some schools you have to be top 10-15% in order to specialize. At some other schools, if you fall out of that range you can still specialize.

Yeah. I'm all for hard work and going to the cheaper school and stuff (I myself would probably go to a state school over an Ivy), but the whole shaming people for going to an ivy on SDN is getting tiring.

 

[dentaldreams2021]

At some schools you have to be top 10-15% in order to specialize. At some other schools, if you fall out of that range you can still specialize.

What are some of the schools where you can specialize if you fall out of that range?

 

[Likkriue]

Yeah. I'm all for hard work and going to the cheaper school and stuff (I myself would probably go to a state school over an Ivy), but the whole shaming people for going to an ivy on SDN is getting tiring.

I wouldn't say shaming them. All the Ivys are amazing schools and only the best applicants can get into them. However they are super expensive, and unless someone is helping you pay, taking out 450k worth of student loans is financial suicide.

 

[Thinkthink]

I wouldn't say shaming them. All the Ivys are amazing schools and only the best applicants can get into them. However they are super expensive, and unless someone is helping you pay, taking out 450k worth of student loans is financial suicide.

Definitely true, hence my decline. I'm paying for everything myself, sadly I didn't win the genetic lottery of a well off wealthy family

 

[wengerout]

You can specialize at just about any school provided you are good enough to. Not everyone can because they just can't cut it.

I think the line for cutting it varies a bit depending on the school.


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[htdt]

What are some of the schools where you can specialize if you fall out of that range?

The 3 Ivies, for example. They send way more than 10-15% of their students to specialties each year.