UCLA vs Columbia vs UPenn

[melad916afg]

Post:
School 1: UCLA
* IS
Pros:

• 20K scholarship
• in-state tuition (~320K including scholarship)
• close to support system (family and friends)
• ~5-hour drive or 1-hour flight from home
• P/F grading system
• nice weather
• high matching rates
• I like the vibes at the interview
• quarter system (I went to a UC school)
• connected to the main campus
• diverse

Cons:

• won't be able to have a new experience
• high cost of living
• I heard that it is difficult to get patients
• clinical aspect is average
• no summer break after the first year
• facilities seem old

School 2: Columbia
* OOS
Pros:

• P/F grading system
• has a medical curriculum that I have an interest in
• NYC (new experience)
• high matching rates
• faculty seems nice
• Ivy League
• clinics are beautiful
• diversity

Cons:

• expensive (~510K)
• away from my support system
• high cost of living
• weather is cooler
• lack of clinical skills
• not connected to the main campus

School 3: UPenn
* OOS
Pros:

• 120K scholarship (I am asking them to increase that to match UCLA price, will hear back after winter break)
• Philly (new experience)
• high matching rates
• faculty seems nice
• Ivy League
• clinics are beautiful
• diversity
• connected to the main campus
• cheaper cost of living
• better clinical skills

Cons:

• expensive (~380K including scholarship)
• graded
• more competition
• weather is cooler
• away from a support system
• bigger class size ~144 people

Summary: Currently I am leaning towards UCLA. All of these schools are amazing schools and I am blessed to have received offers from them. I am not set on general dentistry and I am interested in specializing. I have never moved away from my family and this will be the first time living by myself. People have told me that cost should be the most important factor when deciding and UCLA will be the cheapest option for me. If anyone had trouble picking between these schools in the past or attends one of these schools, please leave some advice. Thank you!

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[macsak]

Post:
School 1: UCLA
* IS
Pros:

• 20K scholarship
• in-state tuition (~320K including scholarship)
• close to support system (family and friends)
• ~5-hour drive or 1-hour flight from home
• P/F grading system
• nice weather
• high matching rates
• I like the vibes at the interview
• quarter system (I went to a UC school)
• connected to the main campus
• diverse

Cons:

• won't be able to have a new experience
• high cost of living
• I heard that it is difficult to get patients
• clinical aspect is average
• no summer break after the first year
• facilities seem old

School 2: Columbia
* OOS
Pros:

• P/F grading system
• has a medical curriculum that I have an interest in
• NYC (new experience)
• high matching rates
• faculty seems nice
• Ivy League
• clinics are beautiful
• diversity

Cons:

• expensive (~510K)
• away from my support system
• high cost of living
• weather is cooler
• lack of clinical skills
• not connected to the main campus

School 3: UPenn
* OOS
Pros:

• 120K scholarship (I am asking them to increase that to match UCLA price, will hear back after winter break)
• Philly (new experience)
• high matching rates
• faculty seems nice
• Ivy League
• clinics are beautiful
• diversity
• connected to the main campus
• cheaper cost of living
• better clinical skills

Cons:

• expensive (~380K including scholarship)
• graded
• more competition
• weather is cooler
• away from a support system
• bigger class size ~144 people

Summary: Currently I am leaning towards UCLA. All of these schools are amazing schools and I am blessed to have received offers from them. I am not set on general dentistry and I am interested in specializing. I have never moved away from my family and this will be the first time living by myself. People have told me that cost should be the most important factor when deciding and UCLA will be the cheapest option for me. If anyone had trouble picking between these schools in the past or attends one of these schools, please leave some advice. Thank you!

cheapest

 

[_more2go]

These are all prestigious schools with high specialty match rates but could probably improve clinically so in this case, I would agree with going for the cheapest.

Also, do you know when Penn's break ends? I'm waiting to hear back from them.

 

[deleted994703]

i thought you decided on ucla? (i recognize you from fb) don’t overthink this. pick ucla unless penn turns out to be cheaper and you want to be away from your family. also if you want to specialize don’t worry about the clinical experience.

 

[melad916afg]

i thought you decided on ucla? (i recognize you from fb) don’t overthink this. pick ucla unless penn turns out to be cheaper and you want to be away from your family. also if you want to specialize don’t worry about the clinical experience.

Thank you, yes I still believe UCLA is the cheapest, I’m sticking with them unless UPenn makes it cheaper

 

[melad916afg]

i thought you decided on ucla? (i recognize you from fb) don’t overthink this. pick ucla unless penn turns out to be cheaper and you want to be away from your family. also if you want to specialize don’t worry about the clinical experience.

They will probably be back first week of January!

 

[mcuban00]

out of curiousity, did you ever hear back from penn about matching ucla's price? curious how they would respond to that

 

[kwkj7]

im in a similar situation, waiting to hear back on upenn increasing the scholarship...

 

[kwkj7]

im in a similar situation, waiting to hear back on upenn increasing the scholarship...

I think if you have a chance to move from home and spark personal growth, then you should do it!