Usc Pbl

[loosetooth]

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For those of you attending/considering USC, I was wondering what your thoughts are on PBL.

I've read almost all the threads on PBL and was hoping to get more information. I loved almost everything about USC, so the curriculum is pretty much my only concern (haha, which is quite important, I'd imagine).

I'm not sure how I'll do with an unstructured curriculum like this. I'm not so worried about the getting myself motivated to work aspect. I'm just concerned that I won't have as strong of a grasp on how to do well in a course as I would with a didactic curriculum. I do hope to consider specializing, so I'd like to be confident that I can do well.

I'm also generally good with people 1 on 1, but I get stressed out and am really terrible at giving presentations (which from what I gather from the triple jump component is partially how you're graded).

 

[already954]

I interviewd there and asked a lot of questions about PBL. What they told me was that only a small portion of the cirriculum is PBL. The majority of your dental education is done in the traditional manner. Also PBL is team based so this means that you will have a team to report to, so don't worry about the motivation aspect. Of all the aspects about USC I liked the PBL the most.

I suggest that you ask this question in the dental forum. Maybe a USC student will repsond better than I can. Also try to get in touch with a student at the school if you need an answer fast.

Good Luck!😀

 

[bbakersc]

I interviewd there and asked a lot of questions about PBL. What they told me was that only a small portion of the cirriculum is PBL. The majority of your dental education is done in the traditional manner. Also PBL is team based so this means that you will have a team to report to, so don't worry about the motivation aspect. Of all the aspects about USC I liked the PBL the most.

I suggest that you ask this question in the dental forum. Maybe a USC student will repsond better than I can. Also try to get in touch with a student at the school if you need an answer fast.

Good Luck!😀

Just for the record you spend WAY more time on your own or in the PBL than you do in class. Which... I love BTW.

 

[Columbia07]

Let me clarify some things...

1. 75-80% of your time at school will be spent doing PBL cases, PBL research and lab work your freshman year

2. ~25% of your time will be spent in the formal lecture setting. Fall and Spring of your freshman year you have a Dental Anatomy lecture and a lecture every other week on the case you just completed. This increases as you move on toward your sophmore year (i.e. gross anatomy at USC Med., local anesthesia, amalgam, composite, oral surgery and I believe post-fixed prosthodontics and endo).

3. The group setting is difficult for some individuals; however, you need to come out of your shell some time and be able to handle group situations and discuss complicated topics with fellow classmates without being worried that you might sound like a jacka**.

4. Yes, triple jumps are a pain in the ***, particularly because you have so little time to research an entire case (on your own) and make a presentation (total of about 20hrs or 1 night); however, triple jumps allow you to grow tremendously as a person. Additionally, a lot of post-doc residencies rely on residents to give weekly presentations on cases (Grand Rounds for OMFS), so the triple jump will some what prepare you for situations like these in the future.

5. Finally, the curriculum is not unstructured. There is structure to the curriculum, it just allows you a lot of free time during the Fall and Spring semester of your freshman year; however, for many of us this was advantageous, we were able to explore specialty departments, pursue research opportunities, assist in the clinic and so on.

 

[loosetooth]

Thanks, Columbia07. That was very helpful.

 

[the dentist]

if i was in your position, I would travel to boston for the interview (for whatever position it may be, alternate list, seat...) b/c:

1. You might always wonder if you made the right decision. Boston is an awesome school and their curriculum, test schedule, competencies, etc. etc. etc. are different from USC, and might be exactly what youre looking for, trust me.

2. Visit USC again. get all of your questions answered!

well, i guess thats it. There is nothing wrong with going to the interview. I interviewed at BU and thought is was a perfect school...for ME. Especailly, the test schedule (that was a big deal to me, compared with other schools), the city...so many things, you just have to go and check it out, why not. And if you want to end up in cali, i guess go to usc? good luck with the decision. 👍