UPitt vs. ECU

[Roy Williams]

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Another one of these threads... but I'm having a hard time coming up with a decision. I know what the smart decision is, but I'm not sure it's the one I want to make.

Overall, I would rather go to Pitt over ECU for a variety of reasons (including possibly specializing), but the cost is holding me back. I know $270k is definitely manageable compared to some of these other schools that are in the up 3-400 thousands, but it is still a ton of money compared to ECU. Although I think I would enjoy my time more being in Pittsburgh. I don't plan on living in NC or PA when I finally settle down.
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Pitt
Pros

• Has a residency department for all specialties (including anesthesia)
• Can get anesthesia sedation certified
• Offers selectives in basically any topic we want
• Takes boards after first year (love this)
• Lots to do in city of Pittsburgh (food, sports, etc)
• Students seem like they love it there
• Class size (80-90) seems good to me
• Variable cost - More scholarship money will be handed out in May, but by that time I will have made my decision. Not sure if I will receive any more (and if so how much) - risk factor

Cons

• Cost: $270k - this includes small scholarship and some savings
• Variable schedule - multiple tests per week

ECU
Pros

• Cost: $240k (Max amount of loans the school would let me take out. I think I could get it down to $180k - this also includes my savings)
• Brand new facilities - state of the art equipment
• Doesn’t seem like there would be many gunners
• Set schedule - 1 test per week every Wednesday (no finals)
• Average sGPA and DAT are 3.3 and 19AA - I’m just spitballing here, but I’m not sure if the fact that these averages are lower, it would mean it would be easier for me to be ranked higher?

Cons

• Mission: To send general dentists out to work in rural and underserved areas of NC (Disclaimer: I think this is a great mission. I’m just not sure it lines up with what I want to do. I’ve always been interested in specializing, and I don’t plan on living in NC once I finally settle down. I’ve lived here my whole life, but I think eventually I want to move out west to either Colorado or Oregon)
• When I ask students if they are happy there, I haven’t received the same passionate “Yes” as I have from students at Pittsburgh. I kind of get the feeling this is just a period of four years some students are trying to get through.
• No specialty residency departments (other than first year of peds which I believe they just opened)
• Take boards after 2nd year. Also they may require us to take the new integrated boards exam (don’t have confirmation yet). According to the ADA, we need approval by the school to continue taking the part I and II exams
• Nothing to do in Greenville, NC
• Class size (~50) seems a little small

Notes

• Difference in estimated total costs before interest: $90k

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Would love any advice/opinions you guys have. I think I have a general idea which side people are going to push me towards, but I think I would still like to hear it.

Thanks!

 

[timeonlygoes]

I'm also an NC resident accepted into an OOS school. The school is top notch, but if I get accepted into ECU (still waitlisted atm), I would go without hesitation. Greenville doesn't have much to do, but the difference in costs is just too great. Unless you have family support/military scholarship/something that will greatly reduce the COA, I'd say go to ECU (and this is coming from someone who really wants to go to ECU right now and would be more than happy to take your spot).

 

[Roy Williams]

I'm also an NC resident accepted into an OOS school. The school is top notch, but if I get accepted into ECU (still waitlisted atm), I would go without hesitation. Greenville doesn't have much to do, but the difference in costs is just too great. Unless you have family support/military scholarship/something that will greatly reduce the COA, I'd say go to ECU (and this is coming from someone who really wants to go to ECU right now and would be more than happy to take your spot).

I'll have to make a final decision by March 10th, but I am leaning towards ECU! I just seem to be being extremely indecisive at the moment. I think it's because I had already gotten into Pitt and paid a deposit and gone to their second look day. I had mentally prepared myself to go there and was happy with my decision. Now that I've gotten into ECU it's just thrown a wrench into the equation...

 

[PremedNoob]

Put the savings into a specialty program

 

[Torang]

Hey there 😉 Also, ECU will have better weather, be closer to family for 4 more years.

 

[timeonlygoes]

I'll have to make a final decision by March 10th, but I am leaning towards ECU! I just seem to be being extremely indecisive at the moment. I think it's because I had already gotten into Pitt and paid a deposit and gone to their second look day. I had mentally prepared myself to go there and was happy with my decision. Now that I've gotten into ECU it's just thrown a wrench into the equation...

Yeah, I'd probably feel the same way too. Just remind yourself that this will be the better decision for you in the long run.
Also, I recently talked with a UNC SoD graduate and he told me that ECU students get TONS of clinical experience due to the service centers (~5-6 patients/day). I think you'll come out a really capable dentist.

 

[DOC YANKEM]

E.C.U BABY CAKES. 😉

 

[Trigeminal08]

$90k... imagine how many cheeseburgers you can buy with that

 

[C_BryantDDS]

I may be wrong but from what I understand you'd have to go live in student housing in a rural community somewhere in NC for your last two years at ECU to do clinicals in their community service learning centers. This was a huge turn off for me as I've got 2 dogs, which would complicate things, my boyfriend is following me to dental school and I'd hate to ask him to move again 2 years in, and I just didn't have much interest in spending 2 years in student housing in a rural area. I also felt like ECU could potentially limit my specialization options as they are so focused heavily on public health dentistry and providing basic care to underserved areas.

 

[DC206R]

My gut is telling me Pitt, but can't ignore the potential 90k in savings before interest. Your life after graduation would be awesome as 180k ish is easily managed.

 

[kholley25]

I may be wrong but from what I understand you'd have to go live in student housing in a rural community somewhere in NC for your last two years at ECU to do clinicals in their community service learning centers. This was a huge turn off for me as I've got 2 dogs, which would complicate things, my boyfriend is following me to dental school and I'd hate to ask him to move again 2 years in, and I just didn't have much interest in spending 2 years in student housing in a rural area.

This is not entirely correct. You do not enter the CSLCs until your D4 year (beginning the summer preceding the May graduation date the following year). In the D4 year, you have a total of five 9-week rotations: 2 are at the main clinic within the dental school in Greenville and the other 3 are at the different CSLCs, meaning you would spend 27 weeks (~6 months) out of town.

Just thought I'd clarify in case other ECU applicants are looking at this thread.

 

[Roy Williams]

My gut is telling me Pitt, but can't ignore the potential 90k in savings before interest. Your life after graduation would be awesome as 180k ish is easily managed.

This is identical to how I am feeling at the moment.

 

[DC206R]

This is identical to how I am feeling at the moment.

Have you looked at the numbers after you graduate? I think it was you that provided that financial projection thing. 90k is huge and would significantly reduce your monthly if you plan to be aggressive with the repayment. I think 4 years is manageable if it means the rest of my life will be easier. In terms of specializing, I'm sure if you try hard no matter school you go to, you'll be able to get into the specialty you want.

 

[C_BryantDDS]

This is not entirely correct. You do not enter the CSLCs until your D4 year (beginning the summer preceding the May graduation date the following year). In the D4 year, you have a total of five 8-week rotations: 2 are at the main clinic within the dental school in Greenville and the other 3 are at the different CSLCs, meaning you would spend 24 weeks (6 months) out of town.

Just thought I'd clarify in case other ECU applicants are looking at this thread.

Thanks for clarifying!! I knew there were some out of town clinicals for a length of time so I opted out of applying there because with pets and such I wouldn't have the flexibility to move around but didn't know all the details.

 

[super frank]

How are you getting 270 for Pitt? Tuition alone is closer to 290, then you have to factor in living expenses.

And honestly, the advantage Pitt gives you in specializing is probably insignificant. It's not like you're comparing ECU to an Ivy. Pitt is still a state affiliated school that pushes out a good number of GP's. I'd say you would have to work just as hard at Pitt as you would at ECU in order to specialize.

 

[drcrentistdds]

I don't think any amount of money could convince me to live in Greenville, LOL. My current dentist is actually an ECU grad and he enjoyed his time there and felt like he got a really good education (but he also plans to stay in NC forever and likes greenville). If it was me I would choose Pitt.

 

[Roy Williams]

How are you getting 270 for Pitt? Tuition alone is closer to 290, then you have to factor in living expenses.

And honestly, the advantage Pitt gives you in specializing is probably insignificant. It's not like you're comparing ECU to an Ivy. Pitt is still a state affiliated school that pushes out a good number of GP's. I'd say you would have to work just as hard at Pitt as you would at ECU in order to specialize.

Yeah I was factoring in a small scholarship, about 20k in savings, and another 20k that I won't have to spend on health insurance. So if I live frugally that'll bring it down to around 270k based on my calculations. Not counting tuition increases or interest.

 

[Roy Williams]

I don't think any amount of money could convince me to live in Greenville, LOL. My current dentist is actually an ECU grad and he enjoyed his time there and felt like he got a really good education (but he also plans to stay in NC forever and likes greenville). If it was me I would choose Pitt.

Yeah I don't plan on staying in NC. I think my plan is to put my deposit down at ECU, go to their second look day and then based on the gut feeling I get there, make my decision before my second deposit is due at Pitt.

 

[ateamparent]

Congratulations on the acceptances! I do hope you will consider not accepting the ECU offer and leave it for an applicant who will actually stay in North Carolina to serve in a rural or underserved area. There are so many people who desperately need better access to dental care in the mountains of western North Carolina. Good luck to you with whatever decision you make.