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Dental SchoolDental school acceptances have begun. So congrats to those of you who have been accepted already. I know how exciting it is because I was so stoked last year around this time when I also got my first acceptance and it was the best feeling ever. And for those who haven’t heard back yet or had interviews, don’t worry.

Interviews and acceptances go through the winter and spring and so my best advice for you would just to be patient, trust the process, keep doing you. It takes a while for admissions to figure things out because there are a lot of factors that they have to take into consideration. If it’s meant to be, you’ll get into dental school eventually when the time’s right.

If you are lucky enough to happen, offered multiple acceptances from different schools, now it’s time to narrow it down to choose which program is the best fit for you.

I got accepted into three schools last year and I had the hardest time deciding which school I wanted to go to. Like it was literally 50/50 between UDaB which is my state school and UPenn, which was my reach school. And yeah, it took a long time for me to decide.

There are a lot of things to think about when choosing a dental school and here are the main factors that I took into consideration when I was choosing mine.

Cost of Tuition

The first thing is the cost. You are going to be in a lot of debt no matter which dental school you go to, but the less debt the better. I think that the trend is that in-state schools tend to be cheaper unless you get like private scholarships or scholarships for private schools. Cost is a big factor because tuition is already expensive in dental school.

And then on top of that, you have grab loan interest rates and so you’ll probably end up with like somewhere between 300,000 to half a million in debt by the time you get out of school. And so definitely something to consider financially.

Location

The next thing you’ll want to consider is the location of the dental school. You’re going to be living there for the next four years of your life and so you want to make sure you can see yourself living there and liking the weather and liking the atmosphere, like whether it’s the city or more suburban and maybe you want to stay close to your family and friends or maybe you want to completely move to a new city and move to the other side of the country. It is a really good opportunity to do that because you’re going to be in a completely new place for the next four years of your life and then after that, you kind of have to settle down, um, wherever you’re going to practice.

And so dental school is definitely a good opportunity to explore a new city in a new area of the country.

Class size

Class size is also something that I took into consideration. Do you want to have a larger class size or a smaller class size? Smaller class sizes I’d say would be around 50 students and larger class sizes would be 100+ students.

School culture/diversity

Another one is school culture and diversity. Think back to your interviews at these different schools and do you remember the vibe that you got from the students and the faculty? Did you like the vibe that you got at the school? Can you see yourself being there and fitting in?

Something really important for me is the class culture and so I wanted to make sure that I was going to be going to a school that emphasized working together and supporting students rather than being competitive.

I also wanted to be surrounded by people, diverse and life experiences and cultural backgrounds.

Faculty: student ratio

For me, I wanted to make sure that the faculty to student ratio was high because I wanted to make sure that I would have the opportunity to have direct relationships with my professors and have access to them when I needed help.

Community outreach

Another one is community outreach opportunities. This one is really important for me because part of the reason that I want to become a dentist is because of the aspect of community service. And so when I was looking at the dental schools and comparing them, I was looking at what kinds of programs and extracurriculars they offer for students to get involved in the community and to volunteer their time and helping those underserved.

Curriculum

A big one is a curriculum. Every us dental school has a different curriculum and it’s up to you to compare those and see which one you like best.

Some questions about the curriculum would be are the classes more lecture-based and the didactic or are they more pure based learning? Is the grading system pass-fail or is it letter grades? When you get to clinics, do you have to find your own patients or are they provided? Do you have the opportunity to use new technology like a cad cam course or is the school more on the traditional side? Is there an opportunity for interdisciplinary training like classes with medical students or pharmacy students?

Research Opportunities

If you’re interested in doing research while in dental school, then I would definitely make sure to check what types of research opportunities are available for dental students at those schools.

A general dentist or specialize

Lastly, I want to make sure to compare the schools and how they prepare their dentists, whether that be better for general practice dentistry or specializing. If you think that you just want to be a general dentist, then I’d say choose the school that allows you to have the most clinical experience, which means you get to see the most patients.

You get to do a variety of cases and usually, that ends up being your state school. If you think that you want to specialize, and I would say choose the school that has a high specialty rate for its grads.

Now that you’ve taken into consideration all of those factors, I would say make pros and cons lists. I made so many pros and cons list last year and it ultimately helps me decide why I wanted to go to UdaB.

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Here’s what it came down to for me. I got in-state tuition because I’m a Washington resident. I grew up in Seattle and went to Udab for my undergrad and I loved my experience there. I also did research at the UduB dental school while I was in undergrad and during my gap year, so I had already built relationships with the dental school faculty. I appreciated that UdaB put a heavy emphasis on teaching preventative dentistry.

Also, they offer a lot of community-based outreach programs. There’s even a class offered every single quarter called health and homelessness where we learn about how dentistry impacts the homeless and underserved and I’m currently taking it and love it and all of the outreach opportunities that we’ve been given so far.

I also knew some folks from undergrad and met some awesome people at my interview that I was super excited to be classmates with.

Lastly, I’m pretty sure that I want to practice in Seattle once I graduate, so I wanted to stay local and build the relationships here with the dentists.

Best Dental Schools in the U.S. in 2023

Harvard University

Harvard University often ranks as one of the top universities in both the country and the world, and this prestigious Ivy League school is also home to one of the nation’s top dental schools. The Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) is not located on the university’s historic main campus in Cambridge, but a few miles away in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. HSDM students study alongside Harvard medical students for part of their coursework, and they also gain hands-on experience at the Harvard Dental Center, which sees over 25,000 patients annually.

New York University

New York University’s large College of Dentistry graduates roughly 350 DDS students every year. Students take courses in a range of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical areas. Extensive clinical practice is a hallmark of the program, and NYU takes pride in diversity of its patient pool. Students gain real-world experience in all four years of their education, and they work closely with their group practice directors and faculty.

NYU’s dental school is the largest in the country, and nearly 10% of all dentists in the United States were educated there. The school receives about 300,000 patient visits annually, so the breadth and depth of opportunities is hard to match.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

The University of Alabama is perhaps best known for its impressive NCAA Division I athletic programs on the Tuscaloosa campus, but the Birmingham campus is home to one of the nation’s best dental schools. The UAB School of Dentistry graduates about 70 DMD students annually. Students can take advantage of the school’s connections with the UAB Health System for a range of research and clinical experiences. UAB offers eight areas of dental specialization: clinical and community sciences, endodontics, general practice, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, and restorative sciences.

UCLA

The UCLA School of Dentistry graduates over 100 DDS students a year, and the school also takes pride in the number of graduates who go on to postgraduate training or to earn advanced degrees in oral biology. UCLA dental students begin direct patient care in their second year of the program. Clinical experiences include rotations to a range of specialty and community clinics. UCLA’s urban location guarantees that dentistry students have access to a wide range of hands-on experiences working with a diverse group of patients.

University of California San Francisco

UCSF is the only school in the University of California system that has no undergraduate programs. This has allowed the campus to specialize and excel in health fields. The medical school is one of the best in the nation, as is the UCSF School of Dentistry. The school graduates over 100 DDS students annually, and UCSF takes pride in the research opportunities and clinical experiences available to its students. The school’s Dental Center sees over 120,000 patient visits each year. The School of Dentistry also wins high marks for research, and it has been ranked the #1 dental school in the country based on funding from the National Institutes of Health.

FAQ

Is it hard to get in dental school?

Yes, getting into dental school IS DIFFICULT, not as much as getting into med school. Start shadowing or volunteering in a dental clinic to get some experience, start looking into when you want to apply and when you want to take the dat’s so you can work out when to start studying

Is NYU a good dental school?

In general, yes. NYU has a prestigious reputation in the dental community. It’s the third oldest dental school in the United States and has one of the fastest-growing dental research programs in the nation

What GPA do dental schools look at?

Getting into dental school is so competitive that a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) is the minimum you’d need to even have a chance. A 3.3 GPA or above would set you apart, and you should aim for the same GPA in your science courses. Getting into dental school isn’t just a matter of grades, however.

How much does a dentist make right out of school?

The median pay for dentists is $153,900, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. New dental school graduates won’t be earning this much right away. But they will start with relatively high pay, with a median entry-level salary of $118,800, according to PayScale

What is harder to get into medical school or dental school?

The way I understand it is, there are more people applying for less seats in dental school so in that way dental school is harder to get into, but medical school has a more competitive pool (higher GPAs etc). So, depending on how you look at it either one is harder to get into

Which is easier MCAT or DAT?

The MCAT is harder – it has Physics in the test and also none of the DAT science questions are passage based. However, the DAT does have some biology sections that are not tested on the MCAT and the DAT has a perceptual ability section which can be difficult to master.

Is a 3.6 GPA good for dental school?

A 3.5, 3.6, 3.8 or whatever? if you want to have competitive GPA where you will have no problems with your GPA, then probably 3.7-3.8 i would say for dental schools. but of course you can overcome those numbers with DAT, ECs, etc

Is it worth being a dentist?

Dentistry might appeal to you if you want to improve people’s wellness and oral health. It’s a hands-on profession that often calls for creative problem-solving. Dentistry can also be an ideal path to owning your own practice, setting your own schedule, and earning a six-figure income

Conclusion

Remember that all dental schools are great and unique in their own way. It’s just up to you to decide which dental school is the best fit for you. All of the dentists that I’ve worked with so far have told me over and over again that dental school is just laying the foundation and the very basics of what you need to know, and every single dental school is going to do that for you.
And then once you get out and start practicing on your own, that’s when you actually start doing the real learning. And so keep that in mind if that helps release some of the pressure of choosing which school to go to.

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Those are all of the things that I took into consideration when I was choosing which dental school I wanted to go to.

Consider the cost and availability of financial aid

Financial aid is a crucial resource for many students who want to have a higher education but may not have the financial means to do so. The cost of education can be daunting, but financial aid helps ease the burden for thousands of students each year. There are many forms of financial aid available, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs. These resources can help cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, and other educational expenses.

It is important to note that financial aid is not always readily available or easy to obtain. Many scholarships have stiff competition, and grants may have specific eligibility requirements that not all students may meet. Additionally, many students may struggle to navigate the complex and often confusing application processes for financial aid. Even when students do receive financial aid, it may not cover the entire cost of their education, and they may still have to take out loans or find alternative ways to pay for their schooling.

Ultimately, the cost and availability of financial aid can play a significant role in whether or not a student is able to pursue higher education. It is important for students to invest time and energy into researching and applying for financial aid opportunities, as they can make a significant difference in financing their education. Despite the challenges of obtaining financial aid, it is important for students to remain persistent and take advantage of every opportunity available to them.

Consider the cost and availability of financial aid

Financial aid is a crucial resource for many students who want to have a higher education but may not have the financial means to do so. The cost of education can be daunting, but financial aid helps ease the burden for thousands of students each year. There are many forms of financial aid available, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs. These resources can help cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, and other educational expenses.

It is important to note that financial aid is not always readily available or easy to obtain. Many scholarships have stiff competition, and grants may have specific eligibility requirements that not all students may meet. Additionally, many students may struggle to navigate the complex and often confusing application processes for financial aid. Even when students do receive financial aid, it may not cover the entire cost of their education, and they may still have to take out loans or find alternative ways to pay for their schooling.

Ultimately, the cost and availability of financial aid can play a significant role in whether or not a student is able to pursue higher education. It is important for students to invest time and energy into researching and applying for financial aid opportunities, as they can make a significant difference in financing their education. Despite the challenges of obtaining financial aid, it is important for students to remain persistent and take advantage of every opportunity available to them.

Consider the overall support and resources available to students, such as counseling and career services

As a student, it is crucial to be aware of the support and resources available to you. Universities and colleges offer various programs to help students navigate the challenges of academic and personal life. Some of these include counseling services, career services, and academic support.

Counseling services are an excellent resource for students who are experiencing emotional or psychological distress. Many institutions provide free counseling services for their students with licensed professionals who can help with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Students can either make appointments or attend walk-in sessions, depending on the nature of their needs. These services help students deal with the challenges of college life, which can be overwhelming at times.

Career services also play a vital role in helping students succeed. They provide valuable support in the form of career counseling, resume writing, and interview preparation. Career advisors can help students identify potential career paths based on their interests and skills. They can also provide guidance when it comes to job searching and networking. Career services are designed to help students transition from college to the workforce, setting them up for success in their chosen fields.

Finally, academic support resources provide students with the tools they need to excel academically. This includes tutoring, study groups, and workshops. These resources help students improve their grades and better understand course material. Academic support services can be especially valuable for students who are struggling to keep up with their coursework or who want to improve their academic performance.

In conclusion, as a student, exploring and taking advantage of the support and resources available to you can make your college experience a lot more manageable, rewarding, and fulfilling. Don’t be hesitant to schedule counseling appointments or talk to career advisors or attend tutoring sessions, these resources are there to help you succeed!

Consider the school’s accreditation status and reputation

As a passionate advocate for education, I believe that the school’s accreditation status and reputation are critical factors in choosing the right institution. Accreditation is a process of validating that the institution has met certain academic standards and is capable of providing a quality education to its students. It is essential to ensure that the school is accredited by a recognized accrediting body as it determines the worth of a degree when it comes to employment opportunities and further education prospects.

When selecting a school, it is also essential to consider its reputation. A school’s reputation speaks to its overall quality, level of academic rigor, and its ability to provide its students with a top-notch education. Prospective students should research the school’s history, faculty, and alumni to ascertain its reputation. They can also check rankings and reviews online to gain a better understanding of its standing within the academic community.

In conclusion, accreditation and reputation are crucial in selecting an educational institution. They both provide a gauge of the quality of education that the school has to offer. Students who attend accredited schools with a positive reputation not only benefit from the quality of education they receive but are also more likely to be viewed as desirable candidates by future employers and admission committees. I encourage any student considering higher education to prioritize accreditation and reputation when selecting the right school for their academic goals.