USC vs Western

[imlyndon88]

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Which would you guys pick and why?

 

[Osity]

Which would you guys pick and why?

I would definitely choose Western. Nice campus, brand new facilities, awesome faculty and staff, no pbl, and happy students. The majority of USC students I have talked to said to somewhere else if you can. Western's tuition is less, as well as cost of living.

 

[Andrea86]

I have this exact same decision to make. Right now I'm really leaning towards USC. It's really come down to where I think I will be happiest and will learn the most/have the most opportunities. I know most people on SDN do not think highly of PBL, however, I really think it depends on your learning style. I've had the opportunity to speak to several current USC students and each are extremely happy with their choice to attend USC. Please feel free to PM me. Seeing as how we are in the same position, I'd love to know your thoughts.

 

[ScavangerPro]

I've had the pleasure of interviewing at both schools and really liked both, imo you can't lose. Judging by some of your recent posts on SDN you seem a little unsure about USC based on some old posts on this website. I must say to not take stuff on this website to heart, you never how "different" to put in a nice way the poster is. Just think about it, there is always that weirdo in one of your classes who is always clueless about everything, maybe its that person who is posting on SDN, thats why opinions on SDN should be taken at face value only. I would rely more on some real Dental students currently at those schools, I have the e-mail of a few dental students at USC that I got at the interview, if you need them just send me a pm.

 

[wantveneers]

I would definitely choose Western. Nice campus, brand new facilities, awesome faculty and staff, no pbl, and happy students. The majority of USC students I have talked to said to somewhere else if you can. Western's tuition is less, as well as cost of living.

It feels like this guy is hoping for a spot at USC, so he's doing everything he can to get you to Western!

 

[IluvHarryPotter]

If I had a choice blw the two I would choose USC only because Western is initially accredited. Western is awesome and new, but I would like to see how well their graduating class does. I mean they haven't even opened up their clinic yet, so who knows how good their patient pool is. Maybe wait a few more years for Western to develop a good reputation for their dental school, I'm pretty sure they'll eventually be one of the best.

 

[ScavangerPro]

If I had a choice blw the two I would choose USC only because Western is initially accredited. Western is awesome and new, but I would like to see how well their graduating class does. I mean they haven't even opened up their clinic yet, so who knows how good their patient pool is. Maybe wait a few more years for Western to develop a good reputation for their dental school, I'm pretty sure they'll eventually be one of the best.

Actually they have opened their clinic, its just that only faculty are seeing patients currently to get their patient pool established. They have a very long waiting list to get on the patient list, so patient pool is not suppose to be a problem. Their curriculum seemed very in depth, but you are right it would be nice to have a group of people already done with boards.

 

[IluvHarryPotter]

Actually they have opened their clinic, its just that only faculty are seeing patients currently to get their patient pool established. They have a very long waiting list to get on the patient list, so patient pool is not suppose to be a problem. Their curriculum seemed very in depth, but you are right it would be nice to have a group of people already done with boards.

Oh I didn't realize that, thanks for clearing that up.

 

[psychoboylol123]

You are not sure what their motives really are. 😎
If I were you, I would make a decision by myself or with my family.😉
You know what I mean. Heheheheh. 😀

 

[Osity]

It feels like this guy is hoping for a spot at USC, so he's doing everything he can to get you to Western!

Veneers, try and be informed before you post stupid comments. I was deciding between Creighton and MWU-AZ, and will be attending Creighton. Good effort though.

Back to the OP's question and some of the other comments on this thread. I interviewed at Western and loved the school. As someone previously stated, Western has not yet graduated a class. This is a serious consideration; however, they have opened 20+ programs in different health professions, and each one has succeeded. They have initial accreditation, which I'm sure as you know, will turn into formal accreditation when their first class graduates.

Talking with current and former USC graduates is why I would suggest Western. They are graduating with higher amounts of debt because of USC's high tuition costs and the cost of living in LA (cost is one of the two major reasons why I am going to Creighton over any other school). Additionally, while I am not personally a fan of PBL, it can certainly cater to some people's learning styles. If that is you, that is great. The majority of USC students that I have talked with don't like PBL, but there are definitely some that do.

Here are the four year cost projections from each school's website (tuition, fees, living expenses, etc.)

Western- $340,000 (they only have their first two years projected, so I used the second year's budget for years three and four. Usually the fourth year will be substantially less because you're not there the whole year).

USC- $391,000

Fifty-thousand-plus dollars is a lot of money, especially when you figure in interest. In the end, you need to go where you think you will be the happiest. If that's USC, go there. If it's Western, go there. Wherever you go, you'll graduate a dentist, and most of how good you become as a dentist depends on you, not the school (which is why I think cost is so huge).

Good luck with your decision and congrats on getting in to multiple schools!

 

[imlyndon88]

thanks for all your input guys!

I agree
the Western Interview really impressed me and they seem to really care about their students

USC feels more like I'm just one of the numbers you know? Even at the interview

Some worries I have with USC is the fact that if you want to apply for specialties, you're going to have to do the studying for various subjects by yourself (or that's at least what I've heard)

I've heard that with PBL, because you're learning from other students, it may end up that while some groups go in-depth enough others may not or some groups explore the right topics and other don't

Because of that I've heard that there is really no way to test for things learned from a PBL session and consequently, one must study by themselves for NBDE I and so on.

Also denti-cal has been removed so the patient pool is alarmingly shrinking (apparently)

It just seems like there's two polar opposite groups to this debate
One either really hates USC or really loves USC

I'm more of a lecture man myself so I'm not too sure
I mean Western has not graduated a class and applying to specialty school from Western may be a challenge or more difficult than USC

Both locations are ghetto (pomona vs. los angeles)
so I'm just really really lost on this

Any other thoughts or topics to discuss regarding this debate?

 

[psychoboylol123]

I think why don't you bring this debate up to "Dental Students" forum.
They might have better ideas and suggestions for you since they are already in the schools. And one more thing, they don't have anything related to your acceptance's decision.

 

[Osity]

I think why don't you bring this debate up to "Dental Students" forum.
They might have better ideas and suggestions for you since they are already in the schools. And one more thing, they don't have anything related to your acceptance's decision.

I agree with pschyoboy, post a thread in the dental student forum. I do agree with you on the interview, they made you feel like they really cared about you as an individual, and as far as getting into a specialty program, as long as you graduate near the top of your class you'll be fine. I actually about the same specialty program question when I was at Midwestern, and they said that grades and your letters of recommendations from your professors are what will make it for you. Let us know what you end up deciding!

 

[cowbuddha]

I think Osity hit it pretty well. I would only add that Western is new so it is somewhat of an unknown quantity (no history), but USC has bad history, at least within the past decade. I am recently out of the dental school game (graduated 2010), but kids at USC that I knew did not have a favorable impression of the undergrad DDS program, chiefly due to unreasonable graduation reqs (esp clinical) and overall clinical experience. It's not my intent to bash the school, and I am sure there will be movement to correct deficiencies, but these are my current impressions, YMMV.

Veneers, try and be informed before you post stupid comments. I was deciding between Creighton and MWU-AZ, and will be attending Creighton. Good effort though.

Back to the OP's question and some of the other comments on this thread. I interviewed at Western and loved the school. As someone previously stated, Western has not yet graduated a class. This is a serious consideration; however, they have opened 20+ programs in different health professions, and each one has succeeded. They have initial accreditation, which I'm sure as you know, will turn into formal accreditation when their first class graduates.

Talking with current and former USC graduates is why I would suggest Western. They are graduating with higher amounts of debt because of USC's high tuition costs and the cost of living in LA (cost is one of the two major reasons why I am going to Creighton over any other school). Additionally, while I am not personally a fan of PBL, it can certainly cater to some people's learning styles. If that is you, that is great. The majority of USC students that I have talked with don't like PBL, but there are definitely some that do.

Here are the four year cost projections from each school's website (tuition, fees, living expenses, etc.)

Western- $340,000 (they only have their first two years projected, so I used the second year's budget for years three and four. Usually the fourth year will be substantially less because you're not there the whole year).

USC- $391,000

Fifty-thousand-plus dollars is a lot of money, especially when you figure in interest. In the end, you need to go where you think you will be the happiest. If that's USC, go there. If it's Western, go there. Wherever you go, you'll graduate a dentist, and most of how good you become as a dentist depends on you, not the school (which is why I think cost is so huge).

Good luck with your decision and congrats on getting in to multiple schools!