Stony Brook Dental School, UConn Or Stony Brook, HELP!!!
Q: OK I've narrowed it down to the University of Connecticut or Stony
Brook. I think both programs are about equal, well maybe UConn is
slightly better educationally but I think that Stony Brook is better
clinically. UConn is pass/fail and Stony Brook ABCF. Both schools will
place me in a residency if I desire they both have near 100% placement
compared to the national average of 40%. I feel comfortable in both
schools but I have a lot more connections at Stony Brook than at UConn.
On one hand it would be nice to start from scratch again and fresh at
Conn but I just can't pass up all of the wonderful connections that I
have at Stony Brook. Both will cost me about the same amount with maybe
a 6,000$ difference in the favor of Conn but not much. It just seems
that UConn puts more effort into their relations with students. They
present themselves much better and seem more organized than Stony
Brook. On the other hand the patient pool will be much better at Stony
Brook. The only real downside is that the school is a bit cut-throat.
But aren't all dental schools like that? Argh!!! I knew this was going
to happen even before I applied to schools!!! I can't tell you all how
damn frustrating this is. I have been so blessed with being accepted to
a lot of schools and I narrowed it down to the two that I felt were best
for me and now I can't decide between them. This really sucks! It
would have been so much easier to have been accepted to just one school.
Ah well... any suggestions? If it helps I am thinking of practicing in
either Rhode Island, Conn., Mass. or Maine, somewhere near the shore.
There is an outside possibility that I may stay in NY but not likely. I
am also currently thinking about going into Prosthodontics or
Periodontics but am just not sure (need experience). I could really use
some serious help here I have to make my final decision by Fri. the
14th!
A:Time to start accepting responsibility for your own career. This is the point
at which only you can decide and it really, really does not matter which place
you actually go.
BTW, I don't remember dental school (Tufts 78) as being particularly cut
throat. I remember the faculty being exceptionally abusive to the students.
There was little respect between faculty and students.
I did four years in the Air Force prior to dental school and the Air Force
treated you with the assumption that you were telling the tuth unless proved
otherwise i.e. the definition of an officer and a gentleman. Dental school was
just the opposite.
I have vivid memories of my dental school interviews. My admissions
interview at Tufts (fall '75--I was an alternate, wound up at NYUCD)