USC or UOP?

[LeisureLarry]

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I'm from Seattle and am debating whether to go to UOP or USC. Can you guys help me out by giving me your opinions? Cost, location, program? Scholarships? Thanks!

 

[DrPharm]

USC sounds like a better school from what I've read as an outsider. I don't attend those schools though so my opinions aren't rather valid.

 

[Minghoo]

USC sounds like a better school from what I've read as an outsider. I don't attend those schools though so my opinions aren't rather valid.

UOP is located in the norther bay area about 1.5 hours from San Francisco. The city is quiet, not much to do and UOP is an ok school from what I heard. I had two friends who graduated from there and they had mix feelings for it, but they both got jobs. USC is located in southern california in LA. It has a better reputation and they emphasize a lot on networking. I got into UOP thus far and still waiting for USC. It's a hard choice for me personally if I got into both schools but since that is not the case right now. I just hope I can get a job after I'm out of UOP. UOP costs $150,000 for 3 full years of school and USC costsa bout $200,000 for 4 years of school with summer break. The prices include living expenses.

 

[tanyas]

I am a student at USC, but I did not even apply to UOP. Yes, it is true that USC emphasizes networking, I think it is only an advantage. Yes, it is pricey, personally I chose to go to USC over UCSF and SF was cheaper. It is also about whether you like the area UOP is in, whether you would rather attend school all summers and graduate in 3 years or spend 4 years at SC. From my perspective, USC is a great school with knowledgeable teachers and welcoming students. We have a great reputation, I dont think anyone would argue with that. Just my $0.02- GO TROJANS 🙂

 

[Minghoo]

I am a student at USC, but I did not even apply to UOP. Yes, it is true that USC emphasizes networking, I think it is only an advantage. Yes, it is pricey, personally I chose to go to USC over UCSF and SF was cheaper. It is also about whether you like the area UOP is in, whether you would rather attend school all summers and graduate in 3 years or spend 4 years at SC. From my perspective, USC is a great school with knowledgeable teachers and welcoming students. We have a great reputation, I dont think anyone would argue with that. Just my $0.02- GO TROJANS 🙂

Ok Tanyas, I got a question for you. What is up with SC putting all the students onto a active waitiing list. I personally don't like the city of stockton especially coming from a great city like SF. I prefer to to go UCSF and USC of course, but I'm still waiting on SF and USC put me on a active waiting list. Honestly I personally think its bull cuz not everyone can be on that list...etiehr tell me i have a choice or don't lead me on...either way is fine with me...what is your take on that?

 

[maryh320]

UOP is located in the norther bay area about 1.5 hours from San Francisco. The city is quiet, not much to do and UOP is an ok school from what I heard. I had two friends who graduated from there and they had mix feelings for it, but they both got jobs. USC is located in southern california in LA. It has a better reputation and they emphasize a lot on networking. I got into UOP thus far and still waiting for USC. It's a hard choice for me personally if I got into both schools but since that is not the case right now. I just hope I can get a job after I'm out of UOP. UOP costs $150,000 for 3 full years of school and USC costsa bout $200,000 for 4 years of school with summer break. The prices include living expenses.

Sorry I am currently a 1st at UOP...Im just here to correct some misunderstandings. UOP main campus is in stockton, 1.5 hrs from SF. UOP DENTAL is in the heart of SF, a place that offers a very vibrant city life. I can't ask for a better location. USC tuition do not include text book or instrument KIT, yes, you have to buy your own equipment...which means everything from curing lights to articulators. My friend a 2nd yr USC student had to come up to CDA in Sept and dragged me to bargain hunt for a cheap curing light. UOP students on the other hand, are very well taken care of, we get everything we need and we never have to worry about getting instruments on our own.

We have a great faculty to student ratio, for every 10 students, we get 1 instructor ( a dentist, most of the time they are UOP grads). We usually have two course directors and 15 row instructors. WE get plenty of personal instructions, sometimes my instructor even sit down with us for hours to do demo and private coaching. If for any reason you have struggling with any didactic or lab course, our school have set up private tutoring sessions on weekends to help you to pass your classes. I came from UC Berkeley where I have never received that type of attention. I personally have to admit I am really getting what I am paid for. The faculty here is very supportive and they really try to help you to graduate.

My class is very supportive of one another. People always type up study guides and notes and email to the whole class. Again, I never had that type of peer help at Berkeley.

I never attended USC, and I am not here to critize USC...you'd definitely want to check out what your tuition includes before you committ to a private school.
Feel free to email me with any questions: [email protected]

 

[Lexian]

Sorry I am currently a 1st at UOP...Im just here to correct some misunderstandings. UOP main campus is in stockton, 1.5 hrs from SF. UOP DENTAL is in the heart of SF, a place that offers a very vibrant city life. I can't ask for a better location. USC tuition do not include text book or instrument KIT, yes, you have to buy your own equipment...which means everything from curing lights to articulators. My friend a 2nd yr USC student had to come up to CDA in Sept and dragged me to bargain hunt for a cheap curing light. UOP students on the other hand, are very well taken care of, we get everything we need and we never have to worry about getting instruments on our own.

We have a great faculty to student ratio, for every 10 students, we get 1 instructor ( a dentist, most of the time they are UOP grads). We usually have two course directors and 15 row instructors. WE get plenty of personal instructions, sometimes my instructor even sit down with us for hours to do demo and private coaching. If for any reason you have struggling with any didactic or lab course, our school have set up private tutoring sessions on weekends to help you to pass your classes. I came from UC Berkeley where I have never received that type of attention. I personally have to admit I am really getting what I am paid for. The faculty here is very supportive and they really try to help you to graduate.

My class is very supportive of one another. People always type up study guides and notes and email to the whole class. Again, I never had that type of peer help at Berkeley.

I never attended USC, and I am not here to critize USC...you'd definitely want to check out what your tuition includes before you committ to a private school.
Feel free to email me with any questions: [email protected]

Forgive me if I completely misread into your post, but Minghoo and Tanyas are discussing UOP and USC School of Pharmacy, and I think you are describing what it's like at UOP Dent School. How are exactly are you relating the experience you are having at dental school to Minghoo's question about what it would be like at UOP Pharmacy? I'm a little confused by your post. You talk about how UOP Dent is in SF and is in a great location, which it is, but UOP Pharmacy is in the main campus in Stockton....and then you discuss how USC students have to by their own equipment, yet I have never heard of any pharmacy schools requiring their students to purchase "equipment." I assume you're talking about the dental equipment and chair that dental students are required to purchase, which makes me think that you thought this thread was comparing USC vs UOP Dental programs?

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'll probably chime in on my own opinions about UOP and USC pharm a little bit later, but hopefully some other people can let LeisureLarry in on some of their own insights.

 

[LeisureLarry]

Thanks for all of ur input so far, but how are the curriculums at these schools? I'm leaning towards UOP cuz of the clinical experience you get.

 

[Lexian]

Thanks for all of ur input so far, but how are the curriculums at these schools? I'm leaning towards UOP cuz of the clinical experience you get.

I went to UOP as an undergrad, but now I go to UCSF for Pharmacy school, but most of my friends there are currently pharm students and I was their roommate for the better part of 3 years so I can give you my impressions at least.

I think the major considerations are location and time, which tanyas pointed out. I know a lot of people are attracted to the 3 year program at UOP, but remember that you also have to fulfill your intern hour requirement by the time you graduate (in California the requirement is 1500 hours, including rotations) and at UOP you will not have summers to complete the bulk of it, unlike at USC. I have friends that work every week to get those hours in, and work hardcore during any breaks they have (winter, spring) to make up the difference. Location is also important. I lived in Stockton for 4 years, and the area really isn't that great. The one good thing about it is that you are fairly close to the Bay Area and Sacramento, so it's not like you're in the middle of nowhere. I interviewed at USC also, and while I didn't get to a see a lot of the area, a lot of my friends who attend USC as undergrads don't think it's all that great (location wise) down there either. I dunno, location is a really subjective call so it's probably a toss up between NorCal and SoCal. The curriculums for both schools are fairly similiar, I don't think there's anything that either school is very deficient in compared to the other. Since UOP is a 3 year program it can feel very rushed, especially with very few breaks in between, and I know my roommates echoed that sentiment many times.

I love UOP, but I hate Stockton, which is pretty much what I tell people know when they ask me where I went for undergrad. The professors are wonderful, the people and students are very nice and easy going, and I enjoyed my time there, but I grew up in Berkeley and I chose to go to UCSF for a myriad of reasons, one of them being to return to the Bay Area because I was getting tired of Stockton. USC is a great school, in my opinion, but I don't have a lot of experience with the school aside from my interview and visit there last year. Maybe Tanyas can fill you in more from the USC perspective.

Hope that helped.

 

[maryh320]

OOps..My bad, I posted in the wrong profession. Yes that post was intended for dental. I am sorry I didnt read it carefully. Sorry about the confusion guys.

 

[Lexian]

OOps..My bad, I posted in the wrong profession. Yes that post was intended for dental. I am sorry I didnt read it carefully. Sorry about the confusion guys.

No harm, no foul. Hope you're enjoying your time at UOP Dent, I have a few friends there that love it. 🙂

 

[zenguppy34]

Thanks for all of ur input so far, but how are the curriculums at these schools? I'm leaning towards UOP cuz of the clinical experience you get.

Hey Larry...

USC has an excellent curriculum. They just revised it last year. During your 1st semester, you will be licensed to administer immunization shots and be trained in different disease states such as hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, osteoporsis etc.. You will also be given either a hospital or community pharmacy externship site. All this just in your first semester!!!!

As with clinical experience... USC is the first pharmacy school to establish a clinical program... they basically pioneered it!!! As a second year, you will be assigned to an IV rotation. Also, the LA county hospital is right next to campus... if you want to do a residency program after pharmacy school or even just get a job there...its convinent and easy.

If you or anyone has more questions about USC.. just PM me