VCU vs. Creighton

[skyskier]

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OK, so I just got the call and found out I was accepted to Creighton through the RDEP program (for Utah residents). This puts me in predicament since I have already committed to VCU. Costs between the two schools will be negligible when fees and living expenses are factored in. I would really like to hear what people have to say about choosing between these two schools in the following areas:

1. Clinical experience.
2. Ability to specialize (I don't know if I want to specialize, but I would like to go to a school that would give me a good chance to specialize if I decide to do so).
3. Overall experience (ie. student satisfaction, living in Omaha or Richmond, etc.)
4. Anything else you can think of.

 

[DrSmiles12]

Isn't R-dep a lot cheaper.

 

[Flyboy]

I've heard that the clinical at both schools is awesome. However, Creighton does not have specialties so you will most likely get more difficult cases there because they can't be outsourced. I think either school is a win win. I've heard great things about both and as far as Omaha vs. Richmond, I have no idea. Good luck and congrats on getting into both!!

 

[skyskier]

Isn't R-dep a lot cheaper.

RDEP would discount $18000 for the first year which I would do at the University of Utah. The other 3 years would be done in Omaha at Creighton's normal tuition. If I decide to return to Utah after dental school I would get an additional $18000 each year that I am back for up to 3 years. The problem is, I don't think I want to return to Utah after d-school because the market in any desirable area is so saturated with dentists. In that case I would forfeit the 3 year reimbursement making the cost of attendance between the two schools almost the same.

 

[samdds]

I personally think Creighton is an awesome school. I am not saying VCU is not, I am just not familiar with the school. The clinic at Creighton is huge. But Creighton doesn't have any specialize programs, you might need to go to another school if you want to further advance your education. But because there is no specialities in the school, dental students get to expose to a variety of procedures. In addition, the living standard in omaha is pretty low.

 

[bodiddely]

Won't you be able to get in state tuition at VCU after the first year though? You'll want to look into this more but I think that VCU would probably come out substantially cheaper if this is the case (and you don't return to Utah).

Congrats on the acceptances, I know that RDEP is ridiculously competitive!

 

[denticus]

Won't you be able to get in state tuition at VCU after the first year though? You'll want to look into this more but I think that VCU would probably come out substantially cheaper if this is the case (and you don't return to Utah).

Congrats on the acceptances, I know that RDEP is ridiculously competitive!

You actually don't get in-state tuition after one year at VCU. The financial adviser said that if your only purpose for going to Virginia was for educational reasons then you would not qualify.

Skyskier, I don't know man! I knew this was going to happen. I knew you would be accepted. If it were me, I would take Creighton in a heart beat because I actually wouldn't mind returning to Utah. However, VCU was awesome too and they have a great faculty. That's a tough decision.

 

[poppajac]

A few of the differences and advantages to VCU though: Brand new clinic and other facilities and you take the boards after the first year. When I interviewed, Dr. Healy told me that at that time 42 people had applied for residencies and 40 people had been accepted from the graduating class. Also, I stayed with a 3rd year when I went to VCU and he loved the area. I played basketball with about 15 other dental students and everybody raved about the city. You are close to everything: DC, New York, etc. The weather is warm most the year.

 

[2008hopefull]

I don't know if you have visited both schools, but (aside from the things mentioned above) Richmond is way better! Creighton is an old building in a run down part of the city and it is COLD in omaha....... As far as the schools are concerned; I really don't know why anyone would even consider Creighton over VCU. Creighton is a good school, but it is full of old military faculty and the are rooted in old dentistry. For example; the still are very adamant about the fact that amalgam is great and the spend a lot of time teaching it..... even though most schools are moving away from it and it was recently banned in Norway. VCU is the easy choice!

 

[already954]

There are pros and cons to both schools. I am also from Utah so I can see where you are coming from. However I know which school to choose when it is those two. There are two big advantages to creighton; one there are no specialties, and two it is much cheaper(only if you go back to utah...otherwise it is not a pro). I however can name multiple reasons to attend VCU; first they are building a brand new building with lots of clinic space (check out the VCU website for a floor plan), second starting this year the D1 students are seeing patients in the second semester of their first year (not assisting but doing injections and the like), third if you want to specialize VCU is the place for you, fifth you take the boards after your first year so you can focus on clinical experience D2-D4, fourth Richmond, VA is a really awesome city that is close to everything (D.C., N.Y., THE BEACH, etc.) Finally, they have a sim lab(creighton doesn't).

If you plan on coming back to Utah then go to creighton, however if you are not let someone else who knows that they are coming back to Utah take that spot so they can save money.

 

[skyskier]

There are pros and cons to both schools. I am also from Utah so I can see where you are coming from. However I know which school to choose when it is those two. There are two big advantages to creighton; one there are no specialties, and two it is much cheaper(only if you go back to utah...otherwise it is not a pro). I however can name multiple reasons to attend VCU; first they are building a brand new building with lots of clinic space (check out the VCU website for a floor plan), second starting this year the D1 students are seeing patients in the second semester of their first year (not assisting but doing injections and the like), third if you want to specialize VCU is the place for you, fifth you take the boards after your first year so you can focus on clinical experience D2-D4, fourth Richmond, VA is a really awesome city that is close to everything (D.C., N.Y., THE BEACH, etc.) Finally, they have a sim lab(creighton doesn't).

If you plan on coming back to Utah then go to creighton, however if you are not let someone else who knows that they are coming back to Utah take that spot so they can save money.

Thanks for your comments. That is exactly what I am leaning towards. Its just a tough choice because I don't want to regret my decision either way. If I go to VCU and end up returning to Utah, I'll be bummed because I won't get the rebate, however, if I go to Creighton and don't end up returning to Utah, I'm afraid I'll regret not going to my favorite school (VCU). Right now I'm about 80% sure I don't want to return to Utah because of the dental market.

I am very good friends with a dentist that went to VCU and now owns a practice in Orem. I emailed him about my problem and he said that some of his friends from d-school that practice in Arizona or Colorado make about 25%-50% more than the average Utah dentist's salary. Now, I'm not in dentistry only for the money, but I would like to be able to comfortably pay off my loans when the time comes. I'm just not sure Utah will offer me that until long after graduation.