Manitoba vs UBC vs UWO > which one to choose ?

[Buiaca]

Hello everyone. I've been reading this forum trying to find out some more information about the dental schools in Canada but there isn't much available.

 

I am an international dentist ready to start the last two years of the program (3 and 4) and I have applied to a few dental schools and had some interviews with some. So far I have received an acceptance letter from Univ. of Manitoba, I am still awaiting one from Univ. of Western Ontario and I am really confident that they will accept me there too. People that I know in the business tell me both are good schools, but I always had an itch about Vancouver (mostly because of the location, I have no idea how the education is actually like) and the interviews start in November. All the interview process (interview fee) along with travel and accommodation expenses to UBC (I am from the East Coast) is going to cost a hefty sum of money so I am not sure if I should go for it or not?

 

Of these 3 schools, which one would you go for? I am trying not to think about the geographical location (Vancouver would win and Winnipeg would lose), but try to focus on skills they provide. Having already practiced as a dentist before I am mostly interested in the clinical and practical aspects of the program. I want to choose the school that does that the best. I don't really want to go into an academic career after I graduate, but I am strongly considering Prosthodontics as a specialty.

 

So if any of you has more information about these dental schools (Univ. of British Columbia, Univ. of Western Ontario or Univ or Manitoba), please share !

Thanks.

[zap_man99]

UWO, best facilities for the best fees i think. Manitoba is very boring but also has a very very nice clinic. If you dont care about location I would choose manitoba (i believe its the cheapest). All are good schools though

[Buiaca]

Thanks. Manitoba is not the cheapest, U of T is.

For the international dentist programs (2 years), Manitoba charges around 130K $, UBC is 160K $. I don't know about UWO but I am guessing between these too, but the money is not the main concern right now, I was just thinking about the best clinical package.

 

One thing that I found out about UBC is that you don't touch a patient for operative dentistry during the 3 rd year. Everything is done on mannequins and you go on patients only during the 4 th year. This only applies to operative, but I don't really like it.

[zap_man99]

hmmm, im not really sure to be honest (im not that knowledgeable on the curriculum)

check out U of A-they always have spots for foreign trained dentists (and our clinic is starting to get up and running-its brand new). Although Im not sure if you want to come in this year as they are switching everything. But you should do clinicals for both years (with like 2 months of review at the beginning of your schooling).

[magnesium]

Thanks. Manitoba is not the cheapest, U of T is.

For the international dentist programs (2 years), Manitoba charges around 130K $, UBC is 160K $. I don't know about UWO but I am guessing between these too, but the money is not the main concern right now, I was just thinking about the best clinical package.

 

One thing that I found out about UBC is that you don't touch a patient for operative dentistry during the 3 rd year. Everything is done on mannequins and you go on patients only during the 4 th year. This only applies to operative, but I don't really like it.

 

New undergrad dents start treating patients in 3rd year and continue all the way through 4th year. Are you sure that the foreign-trained/advanced placement program only gives you one year of hands-on with patients? You might want to double-check that.

[Buiaca]

I was told it is only for operative and I don't think there is a difference in curriculum between undergrad and international dentists.

[Adversary]

Operative has been changing over the last few years. Back when I was in school, operative continues into October of 3rd year and patient care begins after that so most of third year involves patient care.

 

As an international dentist, you will be treated just like a dental student. My class had several specialists and depending on the department heads, some of my classmates were told to keep to themselves and not help out. One irony is that you may be taught by a number of foreign general dentists and somehow, they are accepted above you despite your specialty and they having no additional North American training either.

 

I have always told people that UBC, whether for dentistry, medicine, residency, or specialty, is a choice of location and atmosphere and not for any education advantages. If you value living in a wonderful place above most other factors, then you'll be fine at UBC. This is the same reason why people continue to work in Metro Vancouver despite the field saturation.

[aravis]

I really don't know much about UofM but I can compare UWO and UBC for you.

 

If I had the choice, I would go with UWO. It's not nearly as expensive as UBC and London functions nicely as a university town (with Toronto within a 2.5 hr greyhound bus ride). The facilities are nice and you actually have your white coat ceremony right at first year orientation. You also get clinic time in first year! Classes are all didactic meaning you don't get problem-based learning sessions but instead sit in a lecture room and listen to a prof teach. I've heard from UBC students, that PBL can get frustrating when you just want the answer. UBC dent students also have class with med students meaning they will have to learn a lot of med stuff that won't necessarily be applicable to dentistry. UWO dent students get their own class are are quite separate from the med school.

 

I hope this helps.

[magnesium]

I really don't know much about UofM but I can compare UWO and UBC for you.

 

If I had the choice, I would go with UWO. It's not nearly as expensive as UBC and London functions nicely as a university town (with Toronto within a 2.5 hr greyhound bus ride). The facilities are nice and you actually have your white coat ceremony right at first year orientation. You also get clinic time in first year! Classes are all didactic meaning you don't get problem-based learning sessions but instead sit in a lecture room and listen to a prof teach. I've heard from UBC students, that PBL can get frustrating when you just want the answer. UBC dent students also have class with med students meaning they will have to learn a lot of med stuff that won't necessarily be applicable to dentistry. UWO dent students get their own class are are quite separate from the med school.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Does the PBL curriculum continue into the clinical 3rd and 4th years at UBC?

[Buiaca]

Thank you for all your feedback so far. Unfortunately I am starting to think that UBC is not such a big deal after all. So far between UWO and U of Manitoba, I am choosing UWO and I am going ahead and paying the 5000$ tuition deposit not to loose my seat. But the UBC interview is in less than 3 weeks, there is still time to prepare and I still have to make a decision about it.

 

P.S. Is PBL that bad ?

[zap_man99]

its useless. i also hear that its very frustrating at UBC because u just want the answer.

[Adversary]

Does the PBL curriculum continue into the clinical 3rd and 4th years at UBC?

 

Yes.

 

I don't think I have ever met an international dental student who actually liked PBL.

[Buiaca]

The main reasons I wanted UBC was the location (it is hard to resist ) and more opportunities for a specialty. My aim is Prosthodontics and so far only UBC, U of T and Dalhousie offers it in Canada. I am thinking it might be difficult to get it graduating from UWO, but even if I get it there is the issue of paying; 250K $ is not enough to pay the UBC tuition (170K $) + speciality (135K $) + living expenses over 5 years.

[aravis]

Domestic applicants to specialty programs should have no problem applying anywhere in Canada, regardless of where they completed their DDS/DMD. Just because you did your DDS/DMD in one school doesn't mean that they'll have a preference for you. I'm quite sure this is the same case for internationally trained dentists.

 

With that said, this is your choice and the important thing is that you'll be :D:D with your decision. Maybe living in Vancouver is really worth the hefty expenses! I couldn't say.

[Adversary]

The main reasons I wanted UBC was the location (it is hard to resist ) and more opportunities for a specialty. My aim is Prosthodontics and so far only UBC, U of T and Dalhousie offers it in Canada. I am thinking it might be difficult to get it graduating from UWO, but even if I get it there is the issue of paying; 250K $ is not enough to pay the UBC tuition (170K $) + speciality (135K $) + living expenses over 5 years.

 

Pros isn't competitive. And also, pros is new at UBC so the program isn't as good. Consider a well-known pros program in the states instead.

[Buiaca]

OK, so I am back from the UBC interview and I just got an email that I am accepted.

 

The problem is I still don't know what should I choose, UBC or UWO. I am already in UWO (I already paid the deposit), but if I decide for UBC I have to do it in 2 days otherwise I loose my seat at UBC.

 

So does anyone have any last minute thoughts or suggestions regarding this difficult choice ?

[zap_man99]

the only real difference usually is that you get to know the people in the specialization program. But if you get to know your faculty and they like you anyways. they will give you good references.

No matter where you go, its pretty much the same and you will have equal opportunity at each school for specialization.

 

btw, U of A will be getting a pros speciality in the next few years

 

BTW

for lifestyle i would probably choose UBC, but both are very great dental schools imo

i believe it is way more expensive though

both clinics are pretty up to date (UBC is a bit more because they have high tuition)

[UBCStudent128]

OK, so I am back from the UBC interview and I just got an email that I am accepted.

 

The problem is I still don't know what should I choose, UBC or UWO. I am already in UWO (I already paid the deposit), but if I decide for UBC I have to do it in 2 days otherwise I loose my seat at UBC.

 

So does anyone have any last minute thoughts or suggestions regarding this difficult choice ?

 

Wait, aren't interview invites not even out for UBC? How did you have your interview, let alone acceptance today?

[Buiaca]

I am an internationally educated dentist. The pathway is different and if accepted we will join the regular students for the last 2 years of the program (3rd and 4th).

[zap_man99]

I really don't think you could go wrong with either.

[000]

A classmate of mine (UBC class of 2011) got into UBC pros right after graduation. She was an international student at UBC and studied 3rd and 4th year with us.

 

I do think there's a bit of inhouse advantage. She was an outstanding student with amazing hand skills.

 

Hope this helps.

[yingxuy]

Class to teach the meaning of say, you do not problem-based learning programs, but sitting in lecture hall listening to a professor to teach. I heard that students from the University of British Columbia, PBL can be frustrating when you just want to answer.

[reddishh]

It really depends on where you live, but I would choose UWO out of those 3.

[Buiaca]

Thank you for all your thoughts, I chose UWO in the end, but I am keeping an open eye on UBC for Prostho specialty.

[realtime9]

I would also choose UBC just cuz it's much cooler!!!