USC vs. UOP

[*PearlyWhites*]

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Would you rather go to USC or take a year off and go to UOP? (they supposedly will give me a spot in next years class without reinterviewing or retaking any tests/classes)

 

[AbuABuAbu]

UOP hands down! but it also depends... do you like studying by yourself with USC's PBL and going to school 3x a week or do you like to be taught with actual teachers? Its up to you.

P.S. UOP is year-round but so is USC!, but UOP is only 3 years while USC is 4.

 

[*PearlyWhites*]

Do you know which school does better on boards? Is one better if I later decide to specialize?

 

[ItsGavinC]

Bbut UOP is only 3 years while USC is 4.

I don't consider the 3 year program to be a benefit, although some such as yourself may. 3 years simply isn't long enough to become well-versed with all the necessary areas of clinical practice. For the record, I don't think 4-year programs are enough either.

 

[ironlung]

at uop, the first year is equal to the first two years at other dental schools, which means you take part 1 at the end of the first year. as far as clinical skills, you still get the same amount as other schools about 2 yrs and some change. in fact, you should not go to uop unless you want to be a GREAT clinician. if u want to specialize there are better options elsewhere.
since uop has no specialty programs (beseides ortho and OS which is not on campus), all the 'tough' cases stay with the student dentist. i am just starting my last yr (so i have had 1 yr of clinic) and i have done such things as: 4 apicoectomy, 3 crown lenghtining, 23 extractions, lots of fixed/operative, multiplte implant cases (though students dont place implants), multiple RCT, multiple denture units, and i still have 1 more year to go. clinically, i dont think anyone will be able to 'touch' me when i am out of school. will i be ready to practice after my education, absolutely...will i have more to learn...absolutely. dentistry is an on-going learning process.

 

[*PearlyWhites*]

Thank you all for your comments...so far it seems as though everyone loves UOP...can anyone mention any benefits for USC??

 

[DDSSlave]

I don't consider the 3 year program to be a benefit, although some such as yourself may. 3 years simply isn't long enough to become well-versed with all the necessary areas of clinical practice. For the record, I don't think 4-year programs are enough either.

👍

Benefits of USC? It's a 4 yr program. Think long and hard before you decide to sacrafice a year of dental school to get out sooner. I don't mean to step on UOP student's toes. It may be a fine school, but I have a hard time believing you can compress 2 years at other schools into 1 year. Maybe the basic sciences although trying to squeezing in phys, biochem, micro, neuro, anat, etc with pharm, general path, systemic path etc etc is a very tall order. Plus keep in mind at most every school 2nd year is predominately preclinical courses. I think every school, with the exception of a year of path, could take boards after 1st year. But trying to squeeze in all the basic sci plus a full year of OMFS, perio, implants, pedo, prosth, operative etc.. is not possible. If I am wrong, please educate me about the UOP. I admit, I don't know much about the program. One more thing. Just about all schools are full year with the exception of maybe 2 months after 1st year.

 

[DDSSlave]

Do you know which school does better on boards? Is one better if I later decide to specialize?

1) Any school that gives you the adequate amount of classes + time to study for them so that you can rock the boards. 2)Any school that gives some amount of time time do both in-depth research and table clinics.

Both are critical for applying to competitive residencies.

 

[GoGatorsDMD]

Wow implants and apicos as a dental student? I am impressed. I'd be happy to do RCT on a molar during dental school.


That must be why it's a jillion dollars a year @ UOP. 😉

 

[ItsGavinC]

Thank you all for your comments...so far it seems as though everyone loves UOP...can anyone mention any benefits for USC??

Yeah, depending on your learning style, you might consider going to class for only a handful of hours a week a benefit. I know that I would consider that a huge beneft.

And once again, a 4-year program is a benefit in my eyes. I'm not convinved the UOP produces great clinicians. My experience is that they produce average clinicians but that students on average really enjoy their time at UOP.

 

[ironlung]

i dont think my skills are 'average' nor do i think they will be when i graduate 👍

 

[toothcaries]

what is the total cost for each school?

 

[Col Sanders]

I was told the high board score for UOP this last winter was a 93, my cousin who plans to specialize was very dissappointed with the amount of emphasis and time given to boards prep. They give you a notebook of info and expect you to find the time to study while you have numerous classes, exams and clinic. He said he couldnt even get started studying for boards until a week before the test. The lady who is the course director of anatomy at UOP came and did a week of boards review for us and was amazed that we actually had a class specifically given to review for boards. She kept talking about how easy it is to pass, and didnt seem to put any emphasis on doing really well. It may just be my perception but UOP's emphasis is clinic with less emphasis on academics.

 

[toothcaries]

they'll tell you that on your interview..
some of us PREFER schools that are more clinically oriented.

no one goes to UoP to specialize.

 

[ecdoesit]

UOP really focuses their scope to produce GP.
Not that many people would go there to specialize.
If you just want to be a GP, UOP bcos you could spend ur extra yr at a real office and improve ur skill and speed.

On the other hand, USC also has a great clinical reputation. And the pbl people are having higher board scores, so it is a good thing, right? Have u gone thru their interview and understood what pbl is and how it works? i think that's the most important thing be4 u spend ur 300K.

 

[Meggs]

..... students on average really enjoy their time at UOP.

Yeah, they have an extremely humanistic approach. And is also right that they'll you about their vision right on the interview, they're not a research school, if you want a research school go somewhere else. Dugoni will tell you that himself.

 

[*PearlyWhites*]

I agree that UOP is extremely humanistic. That is what appealed to me. I guess I was just stuck because since I haven't entered dental school I still do not exactly whether or not I plan to specialize, but I don't want to totally eliminate that possibility. At the USC interview they gave us an idea of the PBL program, and it seems like an interesting approach. Since it IS so different from the way I've been taught my whole life, I'm a little nervous. I don't really know if the traditional method of classes from 8-5 or PBL will prepare me more for the boards.

 

[KDBuff]

I don't want to make a huge deal of things, but in my first two weeks at UOP I am extremely confident I made the right decision for me. The atmosphere thats been set up is great. People do specialize here, I know a guy starting an OMFS residency this year who went here. Also a dentist I worked for who is now in endo school said he met a bunch of UOP grads at his interviews, and he thought they were all very prepared.

Gavin, the curriculum works like this: Anatomy, histo, biochem, physiology first year, path, micro, pharm second year. Pre-clinic first year, half the day in clinic second year. Third year just about all in clinic. About the clinical skills, you've been in school for a year, have you even stepped foot in the preclinic yet? We're already cutting preps in the simulator and doing wax ups in the second week.

I only post because i think people have huge misconceptions about the school. Oh yea, we get a month off in the summer too.

 

[jpollei]

Hey ironlung,
Not to incite ill feelings (which is NOT my goal), but do you really suppose that everyone will be as poor of a clinician in comparison to UOP grads as you make it sound? I admittedly don't know much about the UOP program, though dozens of students from my undergrad are there. But in talking to three dentists in California, all who have had associates from UOP in the past, none of them would associate with another one. Is it possible that there is a lot of stratification in the learning that different students measure up to? The requirements you mentioned seem like those which are required to graduate from most dental schools...but if I'm misinformed please let me know.
I defiantely agree with your comment about much to still learn once we graduate, though. Hopefully we're all better clinicians 2 or 5 or 10 years out.

 

[Ilikechemicals]

USC has the added benifit of being a school people have actually heard of. Im not saying that UOP isnt good or anything but USC is a well known, nationwide (if not worldwide) school. Im sure coming out of USC as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or undergrad people will acknowledge that you went to a good school.

Im saying all this and I go to UCLA.

Besides go to USC because your BF wants you too.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Gavin, the curriculum works like this: Anatomy, histo, biochem, physiology first year, path, micro, pharm second year. Pre-clinic first year, half the day in clinic second year. Third year just about all in clinic. About the clinical skills, you've been in school for a year, have you even stepped foot in the preclinic yet? We're already cutting preps in the simulator and doing wax ups in the second week.

Thanks for your message, although I wasn't the one who commented about the curriculum. I'm very well aware of UOPs curriculum. My uncle, who is currently the president of the WREB and on the ADA accreditation committee, graduated from UOP.

I also have a former Arizona classmate who joined you guys down there at UOP just this week.

I don't question your curriculum at all. And yes, we've spent about 4 months in preclinic.

 

[DDSSlave]

Gavin, the curriculum works like this: Anatomy, histo, biochem, physiology first year, path, micro, pharm second year. Pre-clinic first year, half the day in clinic second year. Third year just about all in clinic. About the clinical skills, you've been in school for a year, have you even stepped foot in the preclinic yet? We're already cutting preps in the simulator and doing wax ups in the second week.

Hmmm. I think this was meant for me. Thanks for the rundown. Isn't every school in preclinic the first year? If you're asking, our preclinic labs (not including didactic classes) include waxing, oper and prosth 1st yr; more oper, prosth, pedo, endo, in/onlay, and implantology 2nd yr. We start clinic in spring of 2nd yr.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Isn't every school in preclinic the first year?

I think most are. We also start seeing patients of our own during spring of 2nd year.

 

[*PearlyWhites*]

All of your info has been great in helping me make my decision!! I know a few of you are actually UOP students, but are any of you USC students or are your opinions of the school based on friends/acquaintances? If someone does go to USC...is the grading fair in PBL and are there curves like most other schools?