UPenn Vs. State School

[jillbert]

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I recently got accepted to UPenn but before that I got accepted to Stony Brook and Buffalo and I had decided on Buffalo but now I am confused. Is it worth it to go to Penn and pay twice as much? Do you think it is easier to get into a specialty from one place over another? Thanks! 🙂

 

[DDSY]

Go to the school you feel most comfortable with.

I believe specialty placement is really up to the student. Let me put it this way: You can, say, go to Penn, but then it becomes more difficult to do as well relative to the class compared to Buffalo. Would you feel a lot happier being higher up in class ranking or being mediocre or less in one school--or would you fall apart in school knowing that you aren't anyone special? Or would you be happier in a school with supposedly better "reputation" or specialty placement rates--though that can be an illusion b/c the school can have more competitive or harder working students--or the education really is better?

Again, I am a believer that happiness (or psychology) is a predictor of how well you'll ultimately do in dental school and, if you desire to do so, specialize. Being in a school for four intense years can really get into you if you are not happy.

 

[Dental Dork 09]

go to where it is the cheapest.

You are lucky you got into a state school.

Is happiness for 4 years worth over $400,000???

Yes, thats how much more it will cost once you start to accrue interest.

And pre-dents think that Penn will get you into a speciality over UB, pffff. Think again. Just work hard in any school and you will get to where you need in life.

 

[BigRedDentist]

I choose Penn over Stony and Buffalo because I knew I would not be happy in Long Island or Siberia. I love Philadelphia, I love my classmates and I love the atmosphere of the Penn campus. Choose Happy.

 

[jillbert]

Thanks guys! It really is a tough decision. I guess basically what it comes down to is what will get me into a better specialty school. Do you think one more than another? Does Penn reputation really make a huge difference??

 

[dent2be4]

I choose Penn over Stony and Buffalo because I knew I would not be happy in Long Island or Siberia. I love Philadelphia, I love my classmates and I love the atmosphere of the Penn campus. Choose Happy.

Happy also means not being in debt for the rest of your life by getting a degree that either school lets u be a dentist. people who choose more expensive schools really have little grasp on basic finances or undstanding of the value of not being in debt.

 

[Dental Dork 09]

Happy also means not being in debt for the rest of your life by getting a degree that either school lets u be a dentist. people who choose more expensive schools really have little grasp on basic finances or undstanding of the value of not being in debt.

All pre-dents think is "ah, i'll just take a loan"

In the practice I'm going to join, one of the doc's graduated from NYU a few years ago with $235k in debt. He said he makes around $155k a year and that the student loan payments really put a damper on his lifestlye. Not meaning to go out and buy BMW's, but saving for retirement and having a nicer home for his family.

You would expect on a $155k salary to have a kick ass house, but nope. He has the avg home where he lives and still drives the same car he did in dental school and even admits sometimes money gets tight.

On a side note, he does have a family and the wife doesn't work.

 

[Zanderale6]

I choose Penn over Stony and Buffalo because I knew I would not be happy in Long Island or Siberia. I love Philadelphia, I love my classmates and I love the atmosphere of the Penn campus. Choose Happy.

I agree completely. One of the main reasons I chose Penn over all the other schools I applied to was for the positive learning environment it provides. 👍

 

[DDSY]

I choose Penn over Stony and Buffalo because I knew I would not be happy in Long Island or Siberia. . .

Hehe. Pretty funny. Buffalo can get very cold. But it's not exactly Siberia.

 

[bassman65]

i live in buffalo and it was actually pretty nice up until late december this year (not counting the freak snow storm in October). Its been cold lately but we haven't recieved much snow. And does the weather really matter since we'll be inside from dawn to dusk for atleast the first two years anyway? 😛

 

[Zanderale6]

i live in buffalo and it was actually pretty nice up until late december this year (not counting the freak snow storm in October). Its been cold lately but we haven't recieved much snow. And does the weather really matter since we'll be inside from dawn to dusk for atleast the first two years anyway? 😛

Still ... do you think that the arctic surroundings at Buffalo might have influenced your selection of avatar? ... It is, after all, from the movie "ICE AGE." 😀

 

[BigRedDentist]

Happy also means not being in debt for the rest of your life by getting a degree that either school lets u be a dentist. people who choose more expensive schools really have little grasp on basic finances or undstanding of the value of not being in debt.

I agree with you and that is why I choose to get an Air Force HPSP scholarship. Both state schools are excellent and you will make an excellent dentist. There are many ways to achieve your goals and all require sacrifice. Again, I personally decided that Penn was the best fit for me and where I would be happiest both in school and afterwards. On a side note, during my Buffalo interview last year it snowed 5 inches and it took 5 hours to get back to Ithaca. I needed to evacuate upstate for a bit.

 

[maloccluded]

I would definitely choose to go to Buffalo over Penn if I were you. Now I think that dental school is important, but I feel that the vast majority of them give you basically the same education. Since dental schools aren't ranked and most patients don't know one from another, I would go to the most affordable one. Now that I am in my fourth year and look back I am very glad that I chose my in state dental school over some more expensive private schools. Even though Penn may put more people into residency programs than other schools if you are focused and work hard you will make it happen from whatever school you attend. I have visited both Penn and Buffalo twice and despite the fact that Philly is more fun to live in. There is a lot of fun stuff to do in Buffalo since you are close to 2 great lakes, Niagara Falls and even Toronto. Not to mention that Buffalo is a lot more affordable than Philly.