USC Students

[Skyhak172]

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I am just curious about USC. I have heard a lot of good and bad, but of course it is from people who don't know what they're talking about, so I thought I would get it from the horses mouth.

I know that USC recently adopted PBL in their program. What exactly is PBL mean (at USC)? How has it worked with you?

What is unique about USC that you like, which you wouldn't find on their website?

Any complaints?

Basically anything that would help me get educated on USC would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[cmcner]

USC adopted PBL quite a while ago and it has morphed and changed through out the years. Today PBL is used primarially to educate students in the biomedical sciences by researching a specific subject that is relevant to a case presented to you and then sharing that with the seven other members of your group. A case usually lasts 3-4 parts so as a group you usually cover 24-32 major topics per case presented. These parts range from anatomy to biochem to histology and everything else you can think of.

Beyond that is the lecture based clinical side of USC, which is the side of USC that demands the most time and effort. Even before your first official day they have you using your hand pieces and drilling. By the end of your first year you will have spent countless hours in lab learning how to do direct and indirect restorations with amalgam and composite, take impressions, trim casts, scale teeth, wax up, carve down, take x-rays, and that's just your light introduction into USC pre-clinical. The lectures for these courses involve clinical applications and the essentials needed for becoming a dentist. Basically this is a very strong clinical school, and that's what they take pride in.

Hope this gave you a good idea.

 

[omaralt]

wanna know whats bad about USC?

http://dentistry.usc.edu/doctoral.aspx?id=912

 

[Skyhak172]

Thank you so much for clarifying all that for me. The only way to get the true story is from someone that is actually going there and familiar with the program, so again, thanks.

I'm glad to know that you get some good hands on experience your first year. I'm also happy to know that there is more of a mix in teaching technique from what is being said on the street about USC. I'm fine with PBL, but I like lectures too.

I have an interview Oct 5th and I'm excited for it. I know USC is expensive, but USC has consistently pumped out great dental professionals for the past decades.

 

[youngmc27]

This topic has been covered numerous times and things are constantly changing for the better at USC. I saw that even in the time I was there. Graduation rates have improved, classes and clinic are much better and I feel like you get a great clinical education. The down side is the cost and if you get in somewhere else you should got to the cheapest school, they education will be just as good at a lot schools.

 

[cmcner]

wanna know whats bad about USC?

http://dentistry.usc.edu/doctoral.aspx?id=912

Agreed, but I live for about $15,000 less a year than their estimated cost ($26k for living expenses per year is extreme) while having a ton of fun and not suffering for a few dollars so take $60,000 off of that total for me, and when you don't get into your state school then that 15k in savings for living modestly puts the cost of the school in line or cheaper than most other private schools or even state schools in which you aren't a resident.

 

[omaralt]

Agreed, but I live for about $15,000 less a year than their estimated cost ($26k for living expenses per year is extreme) while having a ton of fun and not suffering for a few dollars so take $60,000 off of that total for me, and when you don't get into your state school then that 15k in savings for living modestly puts the cost of the school in line or cheaper than most other private schools or even state schools in which you aren't a resident.

Very difficult to live off $15K/yr in southern Cali