USC vs. BU

[Tigger38]

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Hi out there. I am trying to decide between going to USC or BU. Any advice would help at this time.

 

[ISU_Steve]

Wow....you literally went for opposite ends of the spectrum didn't you? If you can tolerate cold weather I would suggest BU. If you can't, then USC. Do a search using each school's name and you will find a wealth of opinions on both.

 

[asalazar]

Hi out there. I am trying to decide between going to USC or BU. Any advice would help at this time.

USC

 

[ADMD]

USC

I would attend BU, but that's because I like cold weather. 🙂

 

[Tigger38]

Thanks for the quick reply...it seems that there is a large number of negative opinions on BU. I am from Southern California, so most of the people I meet are more biased towards USC....can you tell me why you think BU would be a better choice? 🙂

 

[joobs]

BU kicks people out, USC doesnt. If you wanna practice in cali and u go to BU u gotta take the cali or west regional boards, which is like a 9 month process considering u pass. BU u cant have a car unless u wanna pay minimum 10 dollars to park in the D-school garage per day. BU is very disoragnized and all over the place, USC is smooth and most dental students say its very relaxed. Id go with USC lol.

 

[Profchaos]

Hi out there. I am trying to decide between going to USC or BU. Any advice would help at this time.

USC is my vote, because both are expensive but USC seems treating the students better and ultimately carries a better name.

 

[Profchaos]

I would attend BU, but that's because I like cold weather. 🙂

You would attend a school because you like cold weather?!
Wack!

 

[mvs04]

flip a coin for it and let the gods decide.

 

[joobs]

go with USC trust me.

 

[ISU_Steve]

Attend whichever school accepts you.

 

[fishindr]

Hi out there. I am trying to decide between going to USC or BU. Any advice would help at this time.

Interviewed at both...twice. 😱

Between the two, I would probably go to BU. I just don't think the Problem Based Learning is as effective as traditional...but that's just me (no need to start posting graphs and stats, I've already seen them ALL) I don't want to count on 7 other people to get me the information I need to know to pass the boards. The idea behind it is great, but you are trusting that EVERYONE in your group is on the same page as you. Besides, EVERY SCHOOL already has problem based learning in their curriculm...it's called CLINIC.

USC does in fact carry a "better name", but who knows if that will be the case in 10 years. The USC name was developed from years and years of quality dentists coming out of that school, then they switched to the PBL system, so who know's if it will stay that way.

The biggest compaint that I heard from the students was, "We are paying $300,000 to teach OURSELVES dentistry." If I'm dropping $52,000 for tuition every year, I want to be able to go ask a professor for some help when I have a question and not have him say, "Go look in a textbook or journal.", like the guy did to the students during my interview.

Disclaimer: I want everyone to know, this is just my opinion based on what I, personally, know about the school. This is why I would choose to go to BU over USC if given the choice. I think both are good schools and you will get a quality education for either of them.

 

[Tooth Doc]

Interviewed at both...twice. 😱

Between the two, I would probably go to BU. I just don't think the Problem Based Learning is as effective as traditional...but that's just me (no need to start posting graphs and stats, I've already seen them ALL) I don't want to count on 7 other people to get me the information I need to know to pass the boards. The idea behind it is great, but you are trusting that EVERYONE in your group is on the same page as you. Besides, EVERY SCHOOL already has problem based learning in their curriculm...it's called CLINIC.

USC does in fact carry a "better name", but who knows if that will be the case in 10 years. The USC name was developed from years and years of quality dentists coming out of that school, then they switched to the PBL system, so who know's if it will stay that way.

The biggest compaint that I heard from the students was, "We are paying $300,000 to teach OURSELVES dentistry." If I'm dropping $52,000 for tuition every year, I want to be able to go ask a professor for some help when I have a question and not have him say, "Go look in a textbook or journal.", like the guy did to the students during my interview.

Disclaimer: I want everyone to know, this is just my opinion based on what I, personally, know about the school. This is why I would choose to go to BU over USC if given the choice. I think both are good schools and you will get a quality education for either of them.

I completely agree with fishindr. I've heard a lot of complaints from USC students about the whole "I'm paying $300,000 to teach myself to be a dentist!" People also complain about the fact that there is no faculty there to help you. And, on top of that I saw on another thread that only 50% of USC students passed the CA boards.

I would go with BU.

 

[dentallover15]

Hi out there. I am trying to decide between going to USC or BU. Any advice would help at this time.

what were your stats?

 

[EyeAmCommi]

I completely agree with fishindr. I've heard a lot of complaints from USC students about the whole "I'm paying $300,000 to teach myself to be a dentist!" People also complain about the fact that there is no faculty there to help you. And, on top of that I saw on another thread that only 50% of USC students passed the CA boards.

I would go with BU.

Ditto.

 

[budge311]

all these people are prolly on the usc waitlist hoping they get a spot......lollllllllllllllll dont be a sucker go to usc its a way better school.

 

[ecdoesit]

where are the trojans? since u will be in so much debt either way, usc's life style is way better, so my vote goes to the sch in LA. i have no idea on the current clinical environment, but usc used to have really awesome clinics. and they have a number 1 football team!

 

[ianwright]

Hi out there. I am trying to decide between going to USC or BU. Any advice would help at this time.

It's 50/50

 

[Rezdawg]

all these people are prolly on the usc waitlist hoping they get a spot......lollllllllllllllll dont be a sucker go to usc its a way better school.

Or on the BU waitlist. 😉

 

[gabrielmeraz]

where are the trojans? since u will be in so much debt either way, usc's life style is way better, so my vote goes to the sch in LA. i have no idea on the current clinical environment, but usc used to have really awesome clinics. and they have a number 1 football team!

I feel its useless to tell somebody which is a better school. BU is a great school, I went to BU for the interview and happened to like the program and school. I went to interview at USC as well (of course, awesome school and clinics) and was accepted at both schools. The only thing that stopped me from going to BU was the harsh weather and the fact that USC is the closest to my hometown San Diego California (my wife wanted also to stay close to her family). One thing we don't have to do us "The Trojan Family," is to start bashing other schools since we have the utmost respect for any dental program in the US. It is simply not our style 😉 By the way....go Bruins!!!! hehehe We shall see each other at the Coliseum

 

[WildcatDMD]

I passed up the USC interview after I was accepted to BU because the whole concept of PBL was exactly what I hated in some classes in undergrad... I hate group projects. It is obviously up to you, they are both extremely expensive. The weather isn't great in Boston. I actually don't mind living without a car here, most stuff is walking distance (in the city) and the subway/bus system isn't too bad. Research PBL more to figure out if it would be a good learning experience for you. Boston goes by the tradtional lecture format, which I like.

 

[TODDS2BE]

I would go to USC .. CALI!!!!!!!!! i dont get it why would someone like to shovel the snow if they can lie on the beach?

 

[ianwright]

I would go to USC .. CALI!!!!!!!!! i dont get it why would someone like to shovel the snow if they can lie on the beach?

shoveling snow is actually a great hobby

 

[Profchaos]

shoveling snow is actually a great hobby

80 posts per day!
Man, this is pretty insane

 

[ianwright]

80 posts per day!
Man, this is pretty insane

did it ever occur to you that 'ianwright' is a coorporation?

we are a group of approx 10 friends that have diff personalities - I'M THE CRAZY ONE 😍

but we all benefit from SDN - it's better than sex!

 

[rajkang]

Dental education in USA is not standardized. If you go to BU and then want to take cali board then there is good chance that you will fail and if you go to USC then dont expect to pass NERB easily. e.g. crown cutting techniques are different. Another factor is that BU will get help you take NERB and USC will probably help you take cali boards. Finding patients for your exam would also be easier for local board exam. Imagine if you study in BU and then want to take cal board, how are you going to find patients for cali exam. I would say if you want to settle in cal then go to USC or if you want to settle in west then BU.

 

[ecdoesit]

there are ways around it. and also, the CA board is disappearing. The western regional will dominate. Worse to worse, do a PGY1 and get ur license.

Dental education in USA is not standardized. If you go to BU and then want to take cali board then there is good chance that you will fail and if you go to USC then dont expect to pass NERB easily. e.g. crown cutting techniques are different. Another factor is that BU will get help you take NERB and USC will probably help you take cali boards. Finding patients for your exam would also be easier for local board exam. Imagine if you study in BU and then want to take cal board, how are you going to find patients for cali exam. I would say if you want to settle in cal then go to USC or if you want to settle in west then BU.