Higher education is a significant investment in your future. More so if you decide to venture into A-class courses like dentistry. It is essential to identify a college that can help you achieve your dream of earning a dental degree.
Choosing a Dental School
Joining a university is an important decision and achievement for many. It is worth taking every minute to find a school that suits your preferences while remaining within your financial reach.
There are over sixty dental colleges in the USA, so choosing one can be challenging. To narrow down your list, here are some factors to consider:
Location
Choosing a location that you love is essential to enjoying your campus life. It would help if you were okay with the housing arrangements, whether on or off-campus.
Avoid living in a location that costs time to commute or experiences frequent traffic snarl-ups. You might be late for your classes and miss out on important information.
Cost Considerations
Dental tuition fees run into thousands of dollars, and you want to be sure you pick a college that doesn’t leave you sinking in debt.
When choosing a school, remember to keep your financial expenses to the minimum. Every saving, no matter how small, will help protect your finances.
Class Sizes
Some learn best in large classes, while others prefer much smaller groups. Fewer students mean more individualized attention. To have an idea of general class sizes, check out student to faculty ratios on your preferred college’s website.
Practical Experience
At the end of your studies, you will need to have hands-on experience in various dental procedures. It is important to establish whether your dental college has an in-house hospital or an outside arrangement for students to gain the necessary practical knowledge.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Studying is not all there is to student life. Extra-curricular activities are as important to have a balanced college life. While you can use a paper writing service by essayservice when faced with complex writing assignments, you need to find a college that provides an opportunity to excel in other activities, like sports, outside your course.
The USA has a wide selection of dental schools for anyone aspiring to join a dentistry career. Here are our top picks for your consideration.
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine
As one of the colleges belonging to the prestigious Ivy League, only a handful of applicants manage to qualify. Apart from outstanding academic grades (average GPA 4), Harvard School evaluates applicants based on other aspects like community service and leadership skills. The student-faculty ratio on the website is 7:1.
Harvard School of Dental Medicine gives students a golden opportunity to deal directly with patients. Dental students first study clinical medicine then progress to intensive dental studies. Although the school fee is high, Harvard is well known for scholarships and financial aid to students.
The University of Michigan School of Dentistry
University of Michigan’s dental school ranks as a top authority in the field and is the dream of many aspiring dentists. You need to have a GPA of 3.75 to join the school.
As one of the top NIH-funded institutions, the college’s research center is well equipped to ensure your research projects succeed.
Students get a chance to treat patients from around the Michigan area under the supervision of faculty licensed dentists in special students clinics. The college also provides a unique opportunity for dental students to travel to distant locations and care for less advantaged individuals.
UCSF School of Dentistry
As one of America’s leading dental schools, the UCSF School of Dentistry prides itself in educating dental professionals through a selection of detailed programs.
The busy UCSF Dental Center provides a hands-on training field. Over 120000 patients visit the center, making the school a perfect ground for competency-based training.
The University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry is an established research center with projects in stem cell research, bioengineering, hard tissue biology, and other fields.
Its location in a culturally diverse city means students experience diversity and enjoy learning in a stimulating environment. Students need an average GPA of 3.58.
The University of Washington School of Dentistry
UW School of Dentistry offers a dynamic array of courses to ensure students gain the best skills to address patients’ dental problems.
The school is home to several clinics providing special care for special groups like autistic patients, the psychologically impaired, and persons with disabilities.
The institution prides itself on having multiple research programs in collaboration with other dental research centers worldwide.
Students from minority communities are encouraged to apply through the school’s dental pipeline program. The average GPA required for admission is 3.6.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Penn Dental Medicine is one of the nation’s oldest dental schools. The world-class institution offers students a modern learning experience, ranging from the latest techniques to ample opportunities to practice with patients.
The dental center handles thousands of dental patients annually. They are attended to by students under the close supervision of licensed faculty members.
An average GPA of 3.7 can earn you a place at the institution. There is a wide range of options for living on or off-campus at Penn. Their in-house apartments feature air-conditioning, laundry, and parking. Off-campus students can find budget-friendly accommodation in Philadelphia.
The New York University College of Dentistry
NYU College of Dentistry is one of America’s largest dental schools, training over 1800 students each year. Studying in the institution allows students to interact with the diverse student population, drawn from over 50 nationalities.
Every year, dental students get research experience from the Summer Research Fellowship, held at the dental college. Students benefit from grant proposal advice and get notified about new research opportunities. To qualify for admission, students need a GPA of 3.5.
Conclusion
Getting accepted into any of these first-class dentistry schools offers an excellent start for a dental medicine career. It might be a costly course, but with hard work and determination, you can be on your way to recovering the cost just a few years after graduation.
Besides, there is always a high demand for dental services, with graduates transitioning into employment as soon as they earn their certificates.