Why do people want to go to expensive private schools like Columiba, Penn, Case,

[Stacker]

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Why do people want to go to expensive private schools like Columbia, Penn, Case, when they can go to their state school and pay much less for tuition?

 

[FROGGBUSTER]

Why do people want to go to expensive private schools like Columbia, Penn, Case, when they can go to their state school and pay much less for tuition?

Brand name for most, better research opportunities for others.

 

[Duriel]

Sometimes you don't get into your state school

 

[NOLAdentist2016]

Not every state has a state school. And state schools don't have a 100% acceptance rate, so its not always a choice.

 

[persenmi]

Not every state school is easy to get into for residents, like CA for example (UCSF and UCLA) and not every state has a state school. Therefore, the next best option is the expensive private schools because they don't have to favor in-state students or anyone for that matter. Said another way, if you are in a position where you need to apply out-of-state, private is the way to go in most cases because it is a long shot to get into another state school if you aren't a resident (e.g. Texas d-schools). However, I know a CA resident who got into San Antonio d-school. It can happen but its rare (like less than 5% oos).

On the bright side, some private schools are very good. UPenn (where I go) for instance has a very high specialization rate. This is a good thing if you are interested in some of the more competitive specialities. Harvard, Columbia, Tufts, etc are first rate institutions as well.

 

[molar3]

Not every state school is easy to get into for residents, like CA for example (UCSF and UCLA) and not every state has a state school. Therefore, the next best option is the expensive private schools because they don't have to favor in-state students or anyone for that matter. Said another way, if you are in a position where you need to apply out-of-state, private is the way to go in most cases because it is a long shot to get into another state school if you aren't a resident (e.g. Texas d-schools). However, I know a CA resident who got into San Antonio d-school. It can happen but its rare (like less than 5% oos).

On the bright side, some private schools are very good. UPenn (where I go) for instance has a very high specialization rate. This is a good thing if you are interested in some of the more competitive specialities. Harvard, Columbia, Tufts, etc are first rate institutions as well.

what do you mean by very high specialization rate? its "easier" to get into a speciality if you go to penn, as compared to.....other dental schools? just wondering! 😳

 

[bluepills]

what do you mean by very high specialization rate? its "easier" to get into a speciality if you go to penn, as compared to.....other dental schools? just wondering! 😳

Generally speaking, yes, that's the case. The Ivies, UCSF, UCLA, etc. have great specialization rates.

 

[polola55]

what do you mean by very high specialization rate? its "easier" to get into a speciality if you go to penn, as compared to.....other dental schools? just wondering! 😳

Yes, that's what he meant. This is true for most Ivy schools.

 

[LittleTomato]

Some states don't have a public dental school. When totaling costs, I've found that many private school school tuition rates are comparable to out of state public schools.

 

[HoustonDAT]

Why do people want to go to expensive private schools like Columbia, Penn, Case, when they can go to their state school and pay much less for tuition?

Because naive predents think patients actually give a damn what school you get you're DDS/DMD from.

 

[thesituationPhD]

yea, i believe someone on these boards had some brilliant theory of how patients in certain areas will only go to dentists who attended xyz dental.

 

[iralex801]

Probably because they have higher specialization rates. I had an interview with Columbia and even if I got in I think I'm going to end up going to my state school. A lot of people keep saying that you will eventually be able to pay off your school loans, but in reality it isn't. Every older person who I have talked to whether medical, dental, law, etc have told me to go to the cheapest option you have. It's probably because they went through it and see that its not easy paying off 300-400 k in loans.

 

[tayloreve]

So you can look all accomplished and stuff at your 10 year high school reunion when all the girls dropped out of college because they got pregnant.

 

[HoustonDAT]

Probably because they have higher specialization rates. I had an interview with Columbia and even if I got in I think I'm going to end up going to my state school. A lot of people keep saying that you will eventually be able to pay off your school loans, but in reality it isn't. Every older person who I have talked to whether medical, dental, law, etc have told me to go to the cheapest option you have. It's probably because they went through it and see that its not easy paying off 300-400 k in loans.

Iralex801 did something smart. This person did something that most know it all predents don't bother to do. This person actually sat down with a professional they knew well and talked nitty gritty finances. This person took a calculator and did some basic interest calculations and concluded that 300-400k in student debt is not easy to work off on a 100k salary. Since Iralex801 is smart, I'm also sure this person also took into account other impending expenses such as housing, transportation, children, savings, retirement, malpractice, health insurance, etc. More predents should listen to Iralex801

 

[herkulease]

Its easy to say take the cheaper option if you had a choice.

Most people are praying for just 1 offer. heck some people are praying for just 1 interview.

If you have no other options you essentially have two choices.

A. Bend over and take it.
B. Decline offer, reapply and hope you get into a state school if you have one or a cheaper one.

I'm willing to bet most people will take option A. Is an extra 100k in total debt before interest such a big issue that you risk the possibility that you NEVER get accepted again.

 

[oldbboy]

Actually Columbia isn't too bad cost wise compared to NYU, USC, Tufts, BU.. etc and even out-of-state tuition rates for public schools.

Also specialization programs do prefer students from didactic programs suchs as Columbia, Penn, Harvard...

Also about paying off your loans.. NYU which is one of top 5 most expensive dental schools, its graduates pay off their loans in average of 6.5 years and the schools you are talking about are a lot cheaper...

and most dentists I know produce at least 200k a year even as associates...

 

[Choob]

Prestige and hopes for specialization

 

[YoHomey]

For some, they couldn't get in there for undergraduate so it's like redemption time now.

 

[iralex801]

Iralex801 did something smart. This person did something that most know it all predents don't bother to do. This person actually sat down with a professional they knew well and talked nitty gritty finances. This person took a calculator and did some basic interest calculations and concluded that 300-400k in student debt is not easy to work off on a 100k salary. Since Iralex801 is smart, I'm also sure this person also took into account other impending expenses such as housing, transportation, children, savings, retirement, malpractice, health insurance, etc. More predents should listen to Iralex801

Haha do you happen to be one of the older dental students. I am going to be 21 going into dental school if accepted and I feel like none of my peers agree with me. At first, I didn't think repaying it would be an issue, but someone pointed out a very important fact to me. He said even if I planned out for the next 10 years on how to repay my loan, life is unpredictable and unforeseen expenses can arise. For example, if you get a divorce or you had more children than expected. There are tons of things that can happen in your life that you didn't plan for. All these expenses add up and will force you to drag out your repayment period even longer.

Anyways, for a person as young as me, it's hard to accept advice from older people until you've experienced the consequences yourself. I reflected in my past experiences and I've remembered situations where I thought my elders were wrong but ended up being right. So, it will be difficult in making a decision, but I think I'm finally for once going to take my elders' advice.

Also as a kid, it's also hard to give up prestige or location of the school for lower tuition. People's perception of how successful you are matters a lot more when your younger and trying to prove yourself for me at least. Going to ivy league also gives you bragging right lol. Also, when your young wouldn't you rather live in a beautiful place instead of an alright place lol.

Anyways this is my thought process for why I advocate in choosing the cheaper school. You are in no way stupid if you decide to go to a expensive well-known school. I'm sure you have your own personal reasons for wanting to. I just want to point out that going to a school that is 100k or 200k cheaper will make a huge difference.

 

[iralex801]

Its easy to say take the cheaper option if you had a choice.

Most people are praying for just 1 offer. heck some people are praying for just 1 interview.

If you have no other options you essentially have two choices.

A. Bend over and take it.
B. Decline offer, reapply and hope you get into a state school if you have one or a cheaper one.

I'm willing to bet most people will take option A. Is an extra 100k in total debt before interest such a big issue that you risk the possibility that you NEVER get accepted again.

Most defintely accept the offer to the only school that accepted you. I am only talking about if you have a choice. It's way too risky to not accept the offer and reapply. There's a chance you wont get accepted to any school second time around.

 

[321931]

It's like buying clothing at "Designer Brand Store" over "Generic Brand Name."

Designer clothes seem "nicer" and more exclusive over Generic clothes; however, both fit you well, both keep you warm, both make you look nice, both end up serving the same purpose. Yet, one is 300x more expensive then the other one.

I would gladly choose a cheaper education route, but alas, I don't live in Texas and UC's, which are as expensive as private education, didn't work out for me. Paying back 300k in loans over 60k....really make me sad deep down inside =(

 

[poiu]

clothes analogy [edited version]: it's needing clothes and only having those expensive designer brands available to you. so do you buy the clothes or pass?

 

[Flosstooth]

I can promise you..........NOBODY, with the possible exception of your parents, gives-a-rat's-ass what dental school you went to.

 

[dantemac]

Very few patients will care either. Go to whichever school you feel will give you the best education.

 

[cjb04]

I am one of those who did not get in to my state school. My second application cycle, I applied to 15 schools and got offers on 12/1 from 2: MWU-AZ and NYU. My choice was between $$$$$ or $$$$$. Don't forget about the opportunity cost associated with reapplying if you have been granted an acceptance. You are essentially giving up 1 year of private practice income (figure roughly 80-120k, depending on where you work)in the hope of getting accepted to a different "dream school". In the end, I figure I will probably just have to live frugally for the first few years after graduating until my income is able to easily sustain loan repayments and monthly expenses without losing sleep.

 

[JLum]

Because naive predents think patients actually give a damn what school you get you're DDS/DMD from.

👍 Why do people spend more than they earn or try to impress the idiots next door? Simple answer, really...