For those who haven't heard (I did call immediate family), I got into University of the Pacific!!!
Here goes a list of Pros and Cons that I can think of on the spot:
Pros:
-Nice part of San Francisco - Pacific Heights
-Family Housing is in The Presidio (military base-turned Federal National Park) just 3-4 mi from campus near Baker Beach
-Curriculum aimed at preparing for excellent practices, not JUST excellent dentists
-Curriculum aimed at making excellent dentists
-Facilities are very nice, modern, up to date
-"Humanistic" approach towards faculty and students
-3 Year program (this is a big pro)
-Higher percentage of acceptances for specialties (oral surgery perhaps??)
-Lots of windows around the building (hooray for natural light)
-Few specialist residents, means dental students handle the complicated cases rather than passing them off to residents (part of why their acceptance is higher into specialty programs)
-They claimed to recieve the highest endowment for any dental school in the US last year (means that alumni are doing well, but I can't back this statistic up for dental schools specifically)
-location
Cons:
-Cost --this is a decent con. It will be at least 50-70K more to attend UoP than it would be for us to attend Temple
-Having to get business appropriate clothes to wear everyday, no scrubs (not a big deal)
-No immediate family in the proximity
That first con is a biggie, but we would be done a year early, offsetting that amount by a decent chunk. Also, the quality of the education/cirriculum would seem to offset the rest anyways. The last one is also a biggie. Camarillo is 6 hours by car away, Emily's parents are 12 hours away. Kitye (emily's mom) says they'll pay the difference if we opt for a 3 bedroom apartment so they can live with us :-)
So, we're pretty set on UoP, but still checking everything else, just to make sure. Any ideas? I'll appreciate feedback.
If we live in the family housing, I'll just ride my bike to school. Most other dental students live across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin city where they have a low-income housing lottery that lots of students live in. The only way to justify that, though, is to get a carpool together and ride in and out with other students to split the transportation costs (toll fees, parking$$$$, gas)
We're excited!
5 comments:
This is what I think (since you asked for feedback):
Is there anyway that you can figure out a good estimated cost difference between 4 years at Temple and 3 at U of P?
Business appropriate clothes are cheap at JC Pennys. (When Erik was a salesman for 2 months we bought his whole wardrobe for around $100.)
As far as no family being close... we feel kind of isolated and we only live 2 hours from Camarillo, but you know, being "on our own" has been kind of nice in a way. I really miss the family support system for babysitting exchanges, help, friends, etc., but it has forced Erik and I to make friends in our ward (something we didn't have to do in Camarillo) and spend more time together. Being away from family really isn't as bad as it sounds. Plus Tehachapi is only five hours away from San Francisco (one hour less than Camarillo!) so you have family closer than you think. :)
One other pro is that your family will probably come visit you A LOT because San Francisco is a place everyone wants to go.
Christian,
I'm soo Excited for you! I don't think it really matters where you go, I think you need to realize how awesome it is to have two good choices! I remember a few times when I have been faced with makeing big decisions about the future, and when you are picking between good and good, it really doesn't matter. I bet in your gut you have already made up your mind, just based off of what you feel you want to do, but you are hesitant to make a decsion based on feel and are looking for a logical reason to "explain" why you feel the way you do. Again because it is good and good you are choosing between, go with your gut. Plus I vote for San Fran too.
Love you guys!
I vote for San Francisco, too, because that school made the biggest impression on you for good. I can still remember the sound of your voice after you visited there and how excited you were and hopeful you would get accepted. Now you have......your prayers have been answered the way you wanted them to so just be thankful, thankful, thankful!!!Besides, I would LOVE to drive up to San Francisco to visit....I don't know that city very well at all and would love to have the chance. Only been through it a couple times, but haven't even ever been to Fishermans' Warf or Chinatown or Alcatraz! I couldn't be more supportive of your choice to go there! Be at peace and enjoy the holidays now...mama lassen
Congratulations Christian & Emily. I am so excited for you. I bet you will choose the right school for you. That is exciting that you got into dental school. You will have to let us know which one you decide on.
Congratulations again!!!
Sounds like you will get better experience at U of P than Temple. Oh and get a blessing. God always gives good advise!
Julie
Post a Comment