Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 41% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most rank this school as average compared to other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools based on user responses were scenario-based questions related to Problem-Based Learning (PBL), such as analyzing case studies in groups, discussing ethical principles, and sharing personal experiences or preferences like accomplishments or travel choices. Some respondents mentioned participating in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format where questions were drawn randomly from a basket, while others noted a non-disclosure agreement during the interview process.
Interview was PBL style, so we were assigned a case study and worked on it as a group
We each were asked to pick a paper out of a basket, read the question aloud and answer it in 90 seconds or less. My first question was "what was the last book you read or play you saw and would you recommend it?"
We were divided into groups of about 10 applicants to do a PBL exercise. We also picked 2 questions out of a hat (very easy questions!) and answered in front of the group. Lastly, there was a brief 15-minute writing sample. Very laid back "interview"!
USC's interview is somewhat different. Instead of having a one-on-one interview, 7-8 applicants are grouped together and they conduct a mock PBL session, where two faculty members are present and they evaluate your performance in the group.
First section was a group PBL with 10 students and 2 faculty observers. They just guided the PBL but never gave any input into the discussion. Very easy.
CASE QUESTIONS. GAVE ME A SCENARIO ABOUT AN OLD MAN WHO DRANK LEMONADE DURING A LIGHTING STORM AND GOT SICK AFTER HIS WIFE HAD MADE MEATLOAF AND LEMONADE FROM LOCAL WELL WATER.
No questions, just a mock PBL session. But here's a tip. If you are really interested in the program, during the mock PBL session, make it seem like you are good at going through the process and not just good at getting to the cause of the "problem".
PBL interview structure: They will give you a storyline over 3 pages. Each page will contain more information than the last and your group's task is to evaluate each page and just discuss ideas. It is very simple and straight forward. There is very little you can do to prepare. My only advise is to BE YOURSELF! I can't stress that enough. Just enjoy.
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry discussed the MMI format through a mock PBL session where no direct questions were asked, but instead, participants engaged in group problem-solving activities. Respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement as specifics regarding questions were not disclosed due to the unique interview format.
Group PBL session. There are four pieces to the case. Work on one part at a time. Everyone got a chance to participate by either reading aloud, or writing on the board. There are two people evaluating.
Not a real interview. You arrive and they give you a writing sample to do for 15 minutes. Then you listen to speakers and videos about PBL and how to do PBL for an hour. Then you get a financial aid lecture that is really blunt and very helpful. After that, you spend 50-60 minutes in a group of 8 interviewing students doing a mock PBL Case (very simplified). The 2-3 "interviewers watch and evaluate you as you go through it. After that you take a tour and have lunch with students and faculty.
The PBL questions had to do with some person who was feeling sick while on a cruise and each part of the case reveals more information. Then you all throw out ideas of what the possible problem could be...
None, there were no questions asked. How, you might ask, do they choose who they accept if they don't ask you questions? I still haven't figured that out.
The school seems to be pleased with themselves that they do not do "interviews". Instead, they watch you in a group of about 10 people discuss a mock PBL case (unmedical related). I'm not sure how they can narrow down who they want to accept for students by just watching the group PBL case.
No questions asked, but do be polite with the dental students who have lunch with you during lunch. They will ask you general questions so keep in mind that you have your name tag hanging from your lanyard.
"Why aren't you talking?????"
"If you want to get an acceptance letter from us (i.e. if you wanna sell your house to afford your tuition here), you should be talking!!"
There was not a formal interview at USC. It was a mock-Problem-Based Learning Session. It was interesting to see how this approach works...it is not for everyone, but it left me with a very positive imporession.
none but the financial assistant was mentally asking me
"Can you afford this education? Due dates for financial assistance have been passed. But I need your money."
No question only PBL case. 3 part PBL a person read the first part, the group try to find fact, then ideas. after that another person read the second part, do the same thing as before and so on.
There are no one-on-one questions. The whole interview is conducted through a mock PBL case. A group of applicants are monitored by a member of the admissions staff as your group fumbles through the rediculous PBL case they give you.(Kind of scares me that they don't interview each applicant individually)
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry discussed multiple scenarios, including appropriate punishment for misconduct and personal fears in dental school. The interviews were in a group setting, possibly an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements, where questions ranged from ethical dilemmas to personal reflections and problem-solving exercises.
I don't remember exactly, but it was something like "What would be the appropriate punishment for a 4th year dental student if he/she said something hurtful or offensive about another classmate on social media?"
No questions were asked. At all. They know nothing more about you when you leave the school than what they knew before you got there. Except if you are shy or outgoing.
the most stupid thing is that there were only group interviews whixh were given the maximum weightage.....the problem to be discussed was non dental ie:plumbing....
it just did not make any sense to me that the fin aid group or the administrative staff were made to supervise the PBL session instead of the adcoms.....
its like the person who is the dumbest and loudest gets in......
no weightage seems to be given to practical test...(atleast thats what the results showed.....as people who had done the wrong exercise got in.....:(
nothing...again, it was just a mock pbl group session (you're in a group of say, 7 people, and there are two admissions staff people...i guess they just want to know how you work with a group like setting, etc etc)
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents were neutral about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a in a group interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had a closed file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as the school's website, SDN forum, and mock interviews. Some focused on understanding the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) process, while others emphasized being themselves and staying calm during the interview.
PBL is very difficult to prepare for as you are not given the case ahead of time. It is important to contribute to the group and also try to help facilitate discussion. It is best to make sure to read the information provided about PBL and the steps that you must go through during a PBL session.
nothing can prepare you since everyone has different questions from the basket. You get 2 questions: 1 is non-dental related and the other is dental-related
Be calm and understand the format of PBL. Keep an open mind to this style and don't show any hostility to this format because they can sense it. Relax and enjoy it.
You don't need to prepare. The school evaluates on how well you cooperate with others. If you're anti-social and selfish then go to another school. Just don't be a jerk.
read over PBL information that was set to us, but I didn't really prepare. they give you enough PBL information before the mock PBL. no preparation really needed.
Please do not do anything to prepare for this interview....it is not an interview...it is a joke mock PBL session that has nothing to do with anything...just participate...other than that I don't see how they chose their candidates from something so dumb...
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly and welcoming staff and students, the beautiful campus and facilities, the emphasis on clinical experiences and hands-on learning, the unique PBL curriculum, and the overall positive atmosphere at the school. Suggestions included providing more detailed information about the program, ensuring that all questions are answered during the interview day, and offering more insight into financial aid and tuition costs.
The faculty seemed very enthusiastic but no more than any other schools. The PBL is very interesting and there were some positive aspects of the format. However I could not obtain any more information that the vague answers about the program provided by staff and students. It is very important to make sure you feel like all of your questions were answered before leaving.
questions are different and unique to each applicant rather than everyone having to answer the same question (LECOM).
They also have the world famous dental anesthesiologist teaching.
The entire interview [the group interview, as well as the 1:1 interview] were both very casual. It appears as though the admissions commitee works hard to put everyone at ease, and really get to know us, versus asking us generic, cookie-cutter questions that everybody with any sense will have already prepared answers for.
The early clinical experience. The honest and comprehensive tour. The honest financial aid talk. The USC family is real. Top facilities and USC connection.
USC is amazing- the facilities and the students are fantastic. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by the curriculum (heavy emphasis on clinical experiences) and on PBL.
Remodeling clinic, everyone was very friendly, clinic seemed busy even though people say school has a hard time bringing patients in, beautiful school.
Where do I start, PBL seems effective and requires self discipline. The atmosphere was friendly and USC has a wide variety of extracurricular activities available: assisting, community service, research, etc. Exposure to many specialized fields; if you want to specialize, USC is highly favorable for specialization.
The faculty and admissions office were very friendly. Brian is a pretty awesome assistant director of admissions, he really makes you feel welcome. The school definitely does what it sets out to do and thats to make the interview day as relaxed as possible. Definitely one of the most relaxed interviews I've had so far, which is kind of a welcome change of pace.
the staff were very friendly and financial aid was honest about the high cost of attending. A lot of helpful information was given during the financial aid session. Facilities were nice and lots of clinics
It's warm even when it's raining. It's expensive but this school produces some of the finest dentists in the field. I was intimidated by PBL but it's just meeting in a group to do work together rather than doing it alone. I really don't think it's that big of a deal, either way. The school works, obviously.
World class faculty. They will be updating their clinic in the next couple of years. They have a very strong alumni base, and you can probably get a job working with one of them right out of school.
great school, i loved the PBL because it fits my learning style, good facilities and plenty of opportunities to get hands on experience throughout, lots of specialties to choose from and work in during 4th year, location - close to the beach
Everything! Students there are really satisfied. I've been to other schools and I met a number of students who had regretted not going to USC. In the previous post, the person mentions that the first years have all this time and in the 2nd they are really stressed. But think about it, all other schools are stressed out to the point where they want to blow their brains out. I really like the balance this school offers. The students perform well academically and maintain a social life. You make your own decision there with the free time. I hope I get into USC b/c I would like to use that time studying for the boards, doing research and volunteer work; which are opportunities you don't have much time for in other schools. Also, USC is known for their great hand and clinical skills. I didn't hear this from any of the people from USC. It's from testimonies of patients getting treatment from USC graduates.
I was impressed with the SIM lab and with their plans to remodel the 2nd floor clinic. The 2nd floor clinic will be modeled after ASDOH's clinic. I was also impressed with the fact that the program is more hybrid than 100% PBL.
How close all of the students are. Everyone is very happy to be there and is like a very close-knit family. Also, the PBL works as the students do very well on their boards.
Even though PBL is pointless, you are in class three times a week for 4 hours at a time. The student I ate lunch with said there are AM sessions (8-12) and PM sessions (1-5), so you will be assigned one or the other and then switch at the end of each semester. POSITIVE = only 12 hours of "class" time a week....meaning you have plenty of free time to learn the material....or plenty of personal time if you don't want to learn anything....
The facilities. I had no idea how big this school actually is. The 3rd floor has all the specialty clinics, very impressive. You'll be blown away by the hot co-eds that go here. Unfortunately, the female dental students don't look anything like the female undergrads here.
Great facilities, relaxing program, lots of hands on experience. i believe this might be the best school for clinical training. Lots of research opportunities. Also great location, both in terms of trafic and afordable living.
The facilities are really nice. Students are friendly and laid back. The first 2 years of school are relaxed and relatively stress-free. Each PBL group meets 3 times a week. The rest of the time is spent in clinical rotations or on independent research for your PBL case. Third and fourth years are like any other school where your days are spent in clinic. There is no class ranking and everyone has a high GPA since the lowest grade you can make in your PBL groups is a B. That, along with USC's prestige, provides lots of opportunities after graduation.
The nice and clean facilities. The use of digital X-rays. The campus is beautiful!!! The staff was very professional. The students were really nice. They did not seemed stressed at all. And..most importantly they appeared, from my observation, to be honest in all the questions that were asked of them.
The flexibility, AWESOME FACILITIES!!! I can't say that enough. The fact that every student I talked to on the side said they were sooo happy and would never go to any other school. None of the students had any regrets about their choice and some of them had got into UCSF, UOP, all the east schools, and UCLA. The school is really flexible and has a great reputation for its clinical skills. And the USC license plates looks really cool. The school itself is a really prestigious and exclusive school in CALI. The entire PBL program is ten times better than anything esle on earth. It teaches their students to think on their own. I mean really to be independent.
The area is not that bad. I know the east side is ghetto, but the school surrounding was not equivalent to the horror stories I have heard. The orthodontics facility was very new. Your first year is realxed.
I was really impressed with the PBL methodology. The facilities are top-notch, and the staff was incredibly friendly. Perhaps the most important thing was when I spoke to a group of students who were not the cheerleaders for the program, but average students going through the program, and they appaered to be genuinely happy.
nothing.(except that it has a large patient pool).....during the 3 day interview i did not have a chance to meet up with any faculty meber/student.....nobody gace us a school tour or anything.....they invited 140 candidates for 32 seats......
and nobody on the ad coms even appeared in front of even a single candidate on the day of orientation......that was extremely unproffessional
School's PBL program is impressive. For the first time I have seen a school focus on what is important instead of cramming mounds of information into a brain that will soon forget it anyways. PBL allows students the space to pick up and actively learn material by researching on their own and then coming together to share ideas. It's very similar to what engineering students go through and in my personal opinion an excellent way to learn.
PBL seems like a great way to learn. It's actually not as unstructured as I thought it would be. There is some structure to it, and a faculty member is there to help the group guide you in the right direction.
Applicants were consistently concerned about the high cost of attendance at the school, with many feeling that the tuition did not match the educational experience provided. Additionally, the heavy emphasis on Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as the primary teaching method raised doubts among applicants, who expressed a preference for more traditional lecture-based learning and a desire for clearer information on board exam pass rates. Suggestions included improving faculty interaction, addressing the dated facilities, and providing more transparency on outcomes and teaching methods.
Should have had more students available to visit with at lunch/give tours after. Not every table had the same amount of time to ask questions, and the tour groups ended up being larger
PBL is very unique and has its merits. It allows one to work closely with others and promotes a collaborative environment. I think this would be best suited for those who enjoy research. I was very concerned with the reluctance to provide board exam pass rates. I was able to ask a few students during lunch who explained that USC provides a lot of clinical experience which will be beneficial for part 2 of the board exams, but they are lacking in terms of content preparation.
Also I could not obtain a straight answer on if there are supplementary lectures for the PBL sessions or not. Some student said no, some said yes and some didn't understand what I was asking.
I felt like they were trying to sell the school and make sure that this school was your top pick. They even asked you at the end of the interview when you fill out your interview evaluation. There are not a lot of lectures during the first two years which is scary. The cost for the 1st year is $114,000. The group interview doesn't give you an opportunity to elaborate on your AADSAS application.
The 1:1 portion is only for members of the Post-Bacc program or for reapplicants, and I was bothered by that. As a post-bacc student, I had to already interview, so I feel like I've already been able to allow the admissions staff to get to know me. If I weren't in the Post-Bacc, I think I would have felt like the application did not get the chance to hear me out, or to know me as a person.
some people in our PBL case were very aggressive which hinders other people from talking and being able to voice what they think of the case... which kinda blows... hope they take that in consideration!
Lunch was a decent assortment of subs, but the beverage selection was lacking... ended up with only one 8oz bottle of water, which left me quite thirsty
The current pre-doctoral students bad mouthed other schools. I don't think that speaks very highly of them or their confidence in their own program. Also, we didn't get to meet or speak with a single faculty member.
I personally wanted to know some stats like: What percentage of students pass the boards? What percentage of students pass the boards with 90% or higher? Etc. I had a hard time getting answers to these types of questions.
1-The cost of attendance ~430,000$/4years!!!!!!!!
2-You're pretty much on your own under the PBL system. I prefer to have a defined schedule. That way I know what I'm supposed to do. Whereas, with PBL they give you a case and then you have to figure out how you wanna use your time to conduct research on the given topic.
Quite a bit! First off, cost of attendance is through the roof! THe financial aid guy was super friendly and completely honest and pretty much said its not really possible to pay off your debt before 20-25 years when most other school graduates are paying theirs off in 10-15. Living expenses and average debt of a graduate right now is around $420,000! So, for what you get and what you pay, it doesnt even compare. They have a low student to faculty ratio and pretty much state that right away. They had a lot of problems recently that are slowly being worked out and on several occassions during Brian's presentation, I was thinking, should you really be telling us all of this? He likes the school but would say things to make you believe its not the greatest school at all. Current students kind of had a false confidence about the school. I asked what they liked about the school and the one student said name recognition. He says when he tells people he goes to USC dental school that they just assume its a great program. That definitely did not peak my interest. Also, its so laid back there that you have entire days off and it seriously sounds like you practically teach yourself, which may sound like an exageration but thats definitely the feeling I got, which made me feel like well what the hell are you paying so much tuition for then?! School's location is not a great location, right near a bad area. Cost of living is ridiculously high! Overall, its not that the school is that terrible, unless you dont like PBL cuz they have A LOT of PBL and it sounds like most of the students are too fond of it. Its just that for what you pay and what you get, no offense but its a joke. You can pay half and even a third of that for a better education, better equipment, better location, cheaper living expenses, more faculty, etc... Definitely no bang for your buck! Lastly, when they hand out your folder in the beginning, I looked through some of the papers and one of the first ones was a disclaimer about dental school rankings and that the ADA doesnt approve of any rankings and to discredit them if you come across them. Ive been to a lot of interviews now and have never come across that, ever. That screams to me that they are already getting defensive because lets face it, they are probably at or near the bottom of any ranking, not that I put a lot of stock in any kind of "ranking" but when a dental school gives you a disclaimer on it, that shows me they have some major issues going on there.
The cost of tuition is outrageous, and no, or limited on campus housing for the dental students. Most have to live just off campus in the bad neighborhood.
Estimated debt at graduation: $468,366.73
If you pay it off in 10 years, you pay a total of $671,888.21
If you pay it of in a more realistic 25 years, you pay a total of $1,064,794.52
wow, where do i start?
1. this school is expensive, but at least the admissions/financial aid rep was blunt and honest about the cost. additionally, i don't understand why the tuition is so high considering you teach yourself for the first 2 years... especially with the economic crisis, i can think of tons of dental schools that i'd rather attend and not face as much debt.
2. pbl. i wonder how effective this "learning" technique is especially since the majority of dental schools have failed to adopt pbl. i also heard that this school got SUED in recent years because the students couldn't pass their boards and that is why the school is trying the hybrid lecture. also, if you get a slacker in your group... sucks to be you! i don't hate pbl, and i think it could work well to the students' advantage in limited amounts but this school has way too much of it, which seems to not work well with professional students.
3. which brings me to how shady the admissions reps or whoever spoke to us continually bypassed questions concerning usc's board exam pass rate. they told us, "we don't have that information for the part IIs, but the part Is have really high passing rates." well, i heard that their part II average was like a 74, which is a FAIL.
4. i didn't meet one faculty member. 5. which also brings into account the "interview" itself was a mock pbl. that was fun, BUT what boggles me are the people who were assessing us... they were incredibly young and looked like students. so i wondered if they could even properly gauge us.
6. LACK OF PATIENTS. one girl said that she's competing with classmates to get patients. another said that "there is no harm for students to stand on the street advertising discounted dentistry"
7. kinda nitpicky, but um they don't require textbooks at ALL. so you can graduate school not buying anything. although i am against buying textbooks that are unnecessary, this school has online subscriptions, but my question is, well what if you are practicing dentistry and get stuck and need to refer to something in a book? i've shadowed a few dentists and they ALL have bookshelves with stuff from years in ds. maybe that's just for show, but i mean at least they have them.
COST (all loans are unsubsidized, which leaves a graduate 600k in debt - according to the financial session). organization - I felt very uninformed and lost. lack of personal interview. Seemingly ubiquitous discontent among students for lack of patients to treat and chairs to use.
The location of the school is not very nice or safe looking. USC is insanely expensive and the financial speaker was brutally honest about it! Tour guide was blahhh
The students were not enthusiastic at all. Some of them recommended for me to seriously consider other schools.
The school is almost 100% PBL, which isn't the greatest fit for me now that I know what it really means.
ITS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE!!!
The PBL program. Although the interview was very low stress, I was in dismay over the curriculum. I don't see how it's possible to learn without lectures and a textbook list. Everything learned is purely from the cases! I don't see the point of paying 68K in tuition per year to teach myself. It's ridiculous.
Just the fact that it was a looooooooooooooooooooooooooong interview. I got there at around 7:30 and didn't leave til 4:30. Big part of that was due to the fact that during the tour, the group that I was in, asked probably a hundred questions (no joke), and each answer was probably 5 minutes long. So do the math =(
It didn't feel like we were given the whole PBL experience. You basically listed anything you thought couldve been wrong with the patient. In school, you have to research every possible thing on that subject and know it for the test [lots of individual cramming]
A lot of the students are nasty/jerks, I think they were mad b/c of the amount of $ they have to pay b/c they didn't get high enough scores to get into a better, AND cheaper school. : (
Very lousy school, overpriced, located in a bad ghetto area and the dental students were not satisfied with their education. In fact I spoke to two dental students who highly encouraged me to attend a different dental school. There were also some jerk dental students who had this cocky attitude toward me. The faculties also didn't seem to be friendly and were cold and distant.
No chance to meet/interact with faculty, bad neighbrohood in the immediate vicinity of the school, huge emphasis financial aid since the school is so costly to attend.
Everything. Price tag was enormous, year round curriculum (PBL), students cant get enough time in clinic to fulfull requirements so over 1/2 graduate late. Faculty seemed distant and uninterested. They did not even have people talking to us, they showed us videos of people explaining curriculum etc. Oh, and they fed us fruit punch juice boxes and candy bars for breakfast and crappy pastry with wilted lettuce for lunch. YUCK
The students have way too much free time. "It is really easy to just get by without trying AT ALL. You can get an extremely low grade on multiple exams and they will say nothing" As quoted from some students. I have little confidence in their graduates. They have a high specialization rate but maybe that's just due to the lack of skill of the GPs. The place was a bunch of nutcases for admissions staff.
I think PBL is helpful, but should not be used to competely replace lectures, textbook, and class notes. Either way, as long as you are self-motivated and want to learn about science/dentistry I don't think PBL will affect anyone's learning. And of course tuition.
The rude woman who was in charge. The lack of contact or intimacy with applicants. The failure to interview the applicants. The 1 hour session on how expensive the school is but the 0 minutes they spent interviewing you.
South Central LA is depressing. It like Temple with sunshine. Get used to bums asking you for change and what not. The aparments around here are in bad condition, and you'll be living off fast food for 4 years. And with the smog, its not a very healthy living. But hey, who cares, SC has the best football program in the country. Too bad Reggie Bush will be in the NFL by the time we get there.
I hated the group PBL, in the real class situation it would be different, but when people are all talking out and writing things on the board, the only way to get any attention to yourself is by interupting and talking over other people. There is no one on one interaction, no one comes up to you and introduces themselves or says anything to you directly
The staff was extremely arrogant and boasted to rather than informed candidates. The PBL curriculum seems more an excuse to take people's money while not offering basic services one should expect such as professors, books, required and suggested reading. Not only do you not get any of these, but you will be charged the nations highest tuition...brilliant....The student who I talked to openly told me NOT to attend this school.
The woman facilitator who watched our group PBL case was rude and short with us. She seemed irritated that she had to do it, even though its been her job for 6 years. She seemed like she hated life and left a bad taste in my mouth!
I don't feel like the school got a real sense of whether or not I was a good applicant just from the mock PBL case.
You don't really have teachers. You rely more on the other students for help and information. There were about 30-35 people at the "information session"! That is way too many.
Also, the day was about 8 hours long. Seriously.
Also, there was one guy that the whole admissions staff seem to know already and gave special preferences and privilages to. It was strange and rude to the rest of the applicants, most of whom were dying to go to USC.
The area of LA where the school is located is a dump! Students told me that most of them lived out of the area, paid for their trimester parking pass and drove to school. I concur.
I'll be honest. The cost is a little high, On campus food sucks, and I went to UCLA for undergrad so the area is a little bit shabby, but at least no pretentious west side losers acting rude to you. I like to eat a lot and I don't think I will have great choice of eateries at USC in the next four years.
The fact that you have to pay about 60 gran a year to study on your own. I talked to several students and they said the way they survive is by relying on their older classmates helping them out. NO FACULTY AT THIS SCHOOL! The board scores were about 86%, which for the price you pay is pretty B.S.
The whole PBL program (no lectures, no text books, lots of unhappy students). Observing the 1st year students' PBL session was extremely boring. Very hostile staffs and admissions officers. Outrageous tuition at $75000 ~ $80000 a year
the time spent for observing the 1st year student discussion session was long and boring. make us feel very stupid for being there sitting for about an hour, not making any noises and staring at those people constantly. even worse than watching the monkeys play in the zoo!
Not enough current students seemed to have the openness and courtesy/personalities to speak with the interviewees to ask them how their day is going, if they have any questions, or if they like the school. I have seen this a lot at other schools and I think it makes a huge impression on those interviewing when they can relate to the current student body.
Their board scores did apparently rise b/c of PBL, but a student told me that what they actually do is have students take a practice board exam. If you don't score above an 80, then you can't take the boards yet. That kinda skews the statistics a bit. Also, the price tag that came along with the school for pretty much teaching yourself the material!
The lack of organization on the part of the admissions staff. Some of them were unprofessional at times and seemed as though they were being burdend by having to conduct the interviews.
PBL. It just wasnt for me. I think i was a little prejudiced because i've always like SC. Surrounding neighborhood is "workign class" meanign rough.
Most applicants wished they had known ahead of time about the MMI component in the interview process, the relaxed and stress-free nature of the day, and the high cost of attendance. Additionally, some mentioned the neighborhood surrounding USC, the lack of lectures in the curriculum, and the need for appropriate attire and preparedness for the lengthy interview day.
That you can't really prepare for this interview at all so don't sweat it. Also don't let my opinion bias you because you may love the PBL style of learning, I just don't think it's for me.
Look in your folder as soon as you get it to see what your writing sample question is (blue paper). Also second time interviewees, you have a one-on-one interview.
Side note: if you're looking for a last minute hotel try the Millennium Biltmore. Cheap rates if you book within 72 hours of your arrival.
Just talk a lot and contribute to the discussion. Don't say random things that are not on topic. Here's an example, when discussing the "learning idea," say relevelant information like studying the mechanism of birth control pills not something like "she got pregnant."
watch out what folder you get when they pass them out. each one has a different essay question ranging from like... describe a current event, why dentistry, to where do you see yourself in 10 years, etc.
bring a pen or writing utensil for the essay. some people in our group didn't.
also i'm pretty sure they group people by their stats... i noticed that one group had all (or well the only) students who went to top undergrad universities.
for the pbl you do a case study on why some girl gets sick in africa. it's really, really easy.
finally, i wish i just apply to this school or go to the interview. i was familiar with the idea of pbl before the interview but ended up being so disgusted with the school's heavy reliance with it. i don't think i'll get accepted, but i do hope that somebody who really wants this type of learning will.
That the card they give you to write your name on during your PBL session is to be folded in half and your name needs to be on both sides (I ended up having my name upside-down on the side facing the admissions staffers).
I wish I had more questions for the students at lunch. The first, second and third years at my lunch were very energetic and happy they had chosen USC.
If you are a girl, prepare appropriate shoes because this interview process is a lot longer than other interviews so you don't want to be in shoes that are very uncomfortable.
The neighborhood surrounding USC is as bad as they say it is. PBL session does not offer a chance to reveal your capabilities to faculty with whom you would work as a student. Only the admissions staff are evaluating you during the "interview."
if you go during the morning rush hour (interview starts at 8:30am) it takes 30 minutes of stop and go to move through the last 4 miles of the 110 North before USC's exit
I did not like PBL or the tuition before the interview...Afterwards, I still do not like PBL or the cost of tuition, but I did realize that if you want to learn/excel in dental school you will (probably just like most other schools just less structured)...PBL will not make a difference...and if I don't get into schools X,Y, and Z, then i would pay the ridiculous tuition to teach myself for a couple of years...
Nothing, I went to SC so I knew a ton about the school already.
Many of the applicants there with me that day had only gotten interviewed at this school so far and seemed somewhate desperate since they hadn't heard back from any other schools yet.
Its not that expensive compared to other dental schools. If you take just the cost of going to school, then it comes out about 210-220K dollars which isn't that bad compared to the cost of UCLA and UCSF. The catch is you have to be willing to live at home with your parents. i guess that's why i was really excited.
I should have been more positive during the interview. I think I got pissed when I heard the financial aid presentation and that changed my attitude about the school.
tuition increases every year & the financial guy was mentioning "mac & cheese or instant noodles for 4 yrs"
what the fuck is the matter with this guy? is he trying to attract students or what..???
I finally was able to find out what the board scores were... for those of you also concerned they are a respectable 86-90% for both 1 and 2. That puts them in the top 10 in the country.
Really I wish I knew the interview was going to be tiring. Infact this might be one of the lengthiest interviews of all dental schools. UCSF was like only 4.5 hours, while USC lasts until 5 PM. SO get a good night rest so you can enjoy and stay awake during the interview. Don't get shocked if they tell you-you are lacking a requirement. they probably made a mistake. The cost should not scare anyone. The program is deffinitely worth it.
They had not even double checked that I had taken a biology course, and so I got a stupid letter saying that I had not finished one of my requirements. I told them later that I had finished the course two years ago.
i wish i would not have applied here......as they seem to be bothered only about moneyyy......nothing else....
preference is given to green card holders......atleast that is what the results showed.....
worse part.....i still havent seen the people on the adcoms who have (or may be havent )made the so called selection of candidates....
that I had to make up some absolutely meaningless classes just to fulfill their "requirement", I wouldn't have gone to the interview if I had known.
the black woman in the admission office is a monster! you will belive me once you see her.
the financial person was so proud of the highest tuation they requist in the nation while i doubt if he is aware of the fact that usc is not the best school in the nation.
Applicants generally provided feedback on the USC dental school interview process, focusing on the unique PBL curriculum, the cost of attendance, and the overall experience of the day. Many applicants mentioned concerns about the high tuition fees, the PBL learning style, and the lack of traditional lectures. They also highlighted the friendly faculty and students, the relaxed nature of the interview, and the mixed opinions on whether USC is the right fit based on individual learning preferences.
I think there are a lot of negative views towards USC but going to the interview cleared a lot of concerns I had. I think the best people to ask about any worry are the dental students themselves so it was a great opportunity to meet them. I got to ask any question I could possibly think of and they were happy to answer every single one.
The PBL style is different than other schools. This is very realistic but many students will not be used to it. I think it suits more outspoken and enthusiastic students as well.
be yourself.. you should be fine. if you get people that are too overly aggressive in your group.. just let them talk. it's not cool to talk over others and cut people off. take charge but also step back so others can get a chance to talk. pbl is teamwork.. not someone who tries to take full control all the time. be chill/respectful and r e l a x.
I was a little apprehensive before visiting USC since I've heard mixed reviews about the program and PBL, but the school left a great impression on me! The interview was extremely laid back and stress-free and the program and curriculum sounds great!
I was super impressed with USC. In previous years I feel like I've read a lot of negative comments about USC. However, they seemed to have really made some changes including increasing the amount of clinical experience you get. I also really liked PBL. You aren't spoon fed information at USC and instead learn in a more stimulating (and fun) environment.
Overall, the program is good. PBL is definitely something different and it is not for everyone. I don't know how well they do on board exam but with no lectures, more effort is required to study for board exams. I also got the impression that they don't have high specialty rate. If you want to specialize, you should consider elsewhere. However, they do have great graduate program; consider applying after your DDS degree. Also, during your Mock PBL session, don't "over participate", let others speak as well, try to listen/understand before speaking nonsense, be professional after all you are a soon-to-be dentist
It's very expensive and the area is not great. Everyone is very friendly but the facilities don't look all that nice considering how much tuition costs.
This is not an interview. I felt more like a starved wolf in a hungry pack scrounging for any remaining piece of meat on a two-week old carcass in the dead of an Alaskan winter. The problems with this "interview" are: 1) in the PBL group session you either interrupt people left and right or you come off as too passive...don't know which is worse and 2) you don't get to express yourself beyond a paper secondary application and a ten minute writing sample (unless you are a second-timer).
It's really not an interview. I feel like the admissions decision is not based on your performance during the "interview" but on your AADSAS and secondary information which you turn in the day of the interview.
I enjoyed my day at USC. Brian is such a cool guy and other staff are very friendly and helpful as well. The PBL session is very interesting because it gives you an idea of what you'll be doing for the next 4 years and how you'll be learning in a group setting.
I really wouldnt suggest this school to anyone I care about! I know it sounds cynical but I had an open mind going into the interview and the cost to go there is simply not worth it, no matter how great the name USC sounds.
If you really want to go to USC, be very active during the mock PBL session - but not too aggressive. I think they're looking for students who are not only involved, but also open and courteous to their peers. It was a very stress-free and relaxing day, but weird in the sense that you have no idea how they're gonna choose applicants.
The mock PBL really made me reconsider my negative views of PBL. I think it could work out okay. However, the cost is what made me decide not to attend.
It takes a little luck to get a group where there are a few timid individuals. If you are naturally loud and love speaking, you'll excel at the interview and get in almost for sure. If you're in a group where everyone is really good then you better have good grades to get in. I'm pretty sure they evaluate your performance against others in the room.
The admission affice people who are commeted to Judge us while they are not qualified to do that should admire our hard effort to get more education and they should know that we are speaking two or some of us speak three languages an we might have accent but we still more educated than any of them and they cann't laugh at us it is not OK
Honestly, I have no idea how they selected me over other applicants. I feel like I sent them my AADSAS and that's it. Given my late interview date, I am not sure how they took the time to consider my supplemental app before accepting me. Everybody was happy, but few were friendly. I can honestly say I have no idea what the interview/pbl session was for - the whole day seemed worthless.
PBL scenario where you work in a group of 10 students to solve a clinical case. You take turns reading/writing facts and ideas to try and figure out whats wrong. 2 admissions staffers watch you. Be polite and work well with your group and you should be fine.
overall i really liked the school and i didnt think i would. even though its in a bad part of town it is well guarded and taken care of. it is expensive but they offer a few options for reducing tuition or getting repayment scholarships from the military or the state.
9-10ish = introduction/school info session
10-11 ish = PBL group activity/sample writing
11-1 ish = financial aid info/lunch
1:30-2ish = optional tour
group of 8 for PBL activity- wasn't too bad, somewhat interesting. But not sure if 100% PBL would be an effective study method.
Overall, I'm not sure how useful the interview process is for the admissions office. The only time that you're monitored is during a "case study" in order to simulate PBL. I have no idea how they evaluate your fit into the teaching style.
I really enjoyed my experience at USC. The students and staff there are wonderful and very down to earth. Not just the dental school, but the entire school as well. The guys there are also cute hehehe...(girls there are pretty also). But what I don't understand is why students from other schools hold such a grudge on USC. Is it jealousy? I mean during my interview there were interviewees that were just there to attack the SC students and not even give them a chance. I noticed the people from Arizona State and UCLA were behaving pretty rudely and arrogantly. As a Texan, I've never seen such behavior in my life. What really burned my heart was when we were having lunch with some of the dental students. I was having a conversation with a really tall sweet chinese student and during our conversation, a student from UCLA asked how old he was. He replied saying he was 28 and then the UCLA student asked, "Aren't you pretty old to be a first year?" That comment just crossed the line. I had an interview at UCLA also and the students there didn't seem very friendly to each other either. You see a big difference between students of USC and UCLA. I once vacationed in the LA area and was fortunate to attend both a USC and a UCLA game. The opposing team's visitors were treated with respect at USC but at the UCLA game there were UCLA fans that were just cursing at the opposing teams. I'm not sure what most pre-dental student's opinions are but I'm pretty fed up with all this competition and people trying to tear each other apart. I feel USC has everything that I like in a school and I hope I am accepted there.
This is the coolest school! The school ranked within the top 10 schools in the Board Exams. It was the most laid back and enjoying interview. PBL is pretty fun and you get more time to study with this curriculum.
They just want to see how you perform in a mock PBL session. I tried to be insightful, acknowledge others positively, and volunteer to read. It worked, I was accepted.
The interview was very low stresss which is how they design it. The problem is there is never actually an interview. About all they could evaluate you on was the mock-PBL session but still I dont see how they could do based upon that. They really want to inform you of the PBL setup and say if its not for you then don't come here because you will not be happy.
it was not worth going for the interview. you can pay less money and get a much better education elsewhere and be happier. students did not seem happy. it was depressing.
Overall, I enjoyed the interview process. I was hesitant in the beginning about going to the interview because of the bad rep USC has been getting lately, but I was surprised that the school was quite nice. PBL seems like an interesting way to learn, but I'm glad their curriculum is not 100% PBL anymore. The mock PBL session was very relaxed. When they remodel the clinic I think the facilities will be top-notch.
The day started with information about PBL and how the program is moving toward a hybrid approach. They told us that the first year dental students have some lectures in place (like radiology) and year long course in Dental Anatomy (new to the program). I was impressed with their approach to include lectures for amalgam, composite & head and neck anatomy (at USC's Keck school of Medicine). The school's facilities were very nice (especially the SIM lab). The 2nd floor clinic is bad right now, but they said that will be completely remodeled in the next year. USC's campus is really nice (huge George Lucas film school going in across the street). The PBL experience seems like it will be really beneficial now that they have integrated lectures into the curriculum. I would be really happy to be accepted (my wallet might hurt a little).
Well ...
Everybody knows that USC has a price tag equivalent of a decent house. The only justification they provided for this is that they're "cheaper" than NYU when you combine both tuition and living expenses. They didn't tell us as to why they're so expensive. I mean, PBL curriculum sounds like a low maintanence, low cost approach to education, so why does it cost so much????
There is no interview, PBL is not something I would like to try for my dental education. I am more into traditional lectures than teaching myself dentistry. Heck, for the amount they charge I should be able to get something in return and not having to find sources to learn the material. They are crazy.
Overall the interview experience was enjoyable. USC has a long-standing tradition as a great clinical school and it seems that they've not lost site of that tradition. The SIM labs were great, the students and faculty were very encouraging and the overall vibe from the university created a very warm environment. The PBL curriculum is not for everyone, but it does seem to be an innovative way to approach dentistry in terms of clinically oriented cases. It helps build confidence and creates dentists who, I believe, might be better suited for critically evaluating a case. In any case, it's a great school.
I enjoyed the overall experience. I did not think there was anything wrong with the school that deserves negative comments... the only things that could cause problems are the cost and the program type if PBL is not suited to you.
A groupd of 8 students are given a very simple, mock PBL case and 2 people watch you. I think it's completely pointless, that "interview" doesn't tell the admissions ppl anything about you.
It's not your typical interview. Basically a group session that reflects a PBL situation. All you have to do is yap like a hungry dog and you get the attention by the admissions people watching you like a lab rat.
PBL was actually kind of fun, but I don't see how well I would learn with that. I prefer the traditional lecture format. Maybe if they change into a hybrid format, it would be better.
Minimal stress, ample time to meet other applicants and some current dental students. I had hoped to at least hear the dean speak about the school's mission statement, etc. but no such thing happened. USC has a gorgeous campus, but then again you better get what you pay for...
If for some reason you really really want into this school, then in the mock PBL session use quality not quantity comments. Try to think of a different perspective or another point of view, use fellow interviewees names and branch of their comments, make sure you have addressed all the ideas, follow the steps, and dont overtalk..... Also volunteer to scribe and try to keep people organized when scribing.
Aweful. The USC dental school thinks they are the number 1 program. They're not. They're expensive and have way too much free time. I really do not know what you pay for when attending the school. The only thing nice is the sim lab and it's way to big.
I feel like USC dental is more of a production line atmosphere. Where the product is someone with debt and DDS. Very impersonal environment.
1st year students were happy...duh, they have 10 hrs of activities to do a week.
The 2nd+ year students seemed very unhappy. I did not see one pleasant student in the clinic.
Overall it was a very positive experience. PBL is an interesting pedagogey and while it isn't for everyone, it does appear to make you more prepared for the real world. It was pretty interesting to go through an actual PBL case. I was hesitant at first, but left the interview with confidence that this form of teaching really works. Also, the students are eased into dental school and have a lot of free time the first year, which is nice.
The experience was great, and I have friends at the school who speak highly of it...but it takes a certain type of learrner to want to go there, and I'm not one of them.
We began the day with lecture about the school and finances. Then we had lunch with students who gave us advice to attend other schools. Next, everyone were split into groups of 3 consisting of 8 each and did PBL. The interview ended with a tour of the school by a student who was very impatient. The day was relaxing but my impression of the dental school's program was negative. I do know their medical school is excellent, but USC is not well suited for dentistry.
The over all expereince was good, faculity were nice and welcome. PBL is not as bad as people talked. It will work on some people, if they like to facing challanges and very self-motivating. The only concern is the cost of attending. One night spent at USC, which was not really good neighborhood. Its surrounding is really crapy and unsafe.
You probably already know the two most important things about USC: they use problem based learning instead of traditional leactures and they are really really expensive. USC spends most of there day trying to explain those two factors. A one hour financial aid presentation, a one hour intro to PBL lecture from a professor, and a half an a hour observing a actual PBL session. The interview day did not "sell" PBL to me, it actually made it look worse while observing the PBL case....but in the end its a dental eduaction and you will still receive that DDS...The interview is a group PBL session that two members of the admission's staff observed...we also had a writing assignment...we all had different topics (it was random)..they say 15 minutes but people were handing them in at various parts of the day if they didn't finish...I don't know why they say "15 minutes"....most importantly, if you don't want to do any work or study for exams, then this is the school for you...it seems that slackers can still get by with doing very, very little....and I mean little...I did not get that feeling at any other school
I really thought USC would seem like a prestigous dental school since its undergrad has a great reputation. But you walk in and learn that its one of the most expensive schools in the country but yet you don't have a single class. You teach yourself and other students in your PBL group teach you what they found in independent research. What psycho would pay that much money to do independent research is beyond me. This school needs to get off their high horse and start EDUCATING and CARING about their students.
I would like to post this feedback from the perspective of some one who would not do well in the PBL program, because I don't feel like I would. I have no negative feelings toward PBL as a system or the school, I just don't think it's for me. I think lots of people could do very well in this system. However, I do very well in class lectures. I do very well with structured material. And I don't do well studying in groups. Basically I really don't think I would learn a whole lot if I didn't have some one expecting something of me. I wouldn't learn a whole lot if I didn't know what to spend the time learning and what not to. I asked a lot of questions and they really seem to be more interested in whether or not you can go through the process of learning for yourself through a "problem" than whether you actually figure out the problem or not. I asked whether some students slacked off even though members of their group were counting on them. One student replied "of course!" Then do you just miss out on the material that he was supposed to look up? I asked. "The material is all there if you WANT to look it up, but you don't have to." he replied. I was really confused by this mentality. I guess you just learn whatever you want to and retain as much or as little as you want to. I should probably rephrase that. I would probably just learn whatever I wanted to and retain as little as I wanted to in this kind of system. I just don't think I would be motivated enough to always be looking up what I'm missing because of other students in the group who slack off. Also, it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot of potential to set yourself apart as a good student. It seems like no one would know if you were busting your butt to learn all of this stuff because you don't really have an opportunity to prove it. Again, this would lead to me being very unmotivated and not becoming a very good dentist. If you are a person who learns well from textbooks and doesn't like being pushed, and is very self-motivated, you would probably do really well here. If you're very social you would also do well here. Again, this is not a knock on the school, it's just not for everyone and not for people like me. I'm sure they turn out great dentists, but they just wouldn't be able to make one out of some one like me. So make sure you know everything about the school and the program before you commit to it.
There is no interview only a PBL case so its very relaxed. Just enjoy the experience. Really makes sure PBL is for you. Unfortunately my interview group did not get to see a real PBL case. We saw the evaluation portion where the groups members spent an hour basically complimenting each other. It was bizarre just having to sit there and watch these dental students tell each other how great they were. I really wished they could have shown us a real case. Even so, PBL seems like a really fun way to learn. Working as a team to learn seems effective and fun. Really, make sure that PBL is what you want. There are no text books, no lectures, so if you don't understand something, its all on you to somehow find it. The tuition at this school is also very expensive. About 87,000 the first year and second year. Third year is 90,000, and the 4th year i think is around 70,000. Plus LA is an expensive place to live.
there seems to be no real reason to attend the interview other than to learn about the PBL and financial aid. I really don't see how they pick their applicants, I came home very dissappointed
Interview was long and involved a group problem-solving exercise..there were too many people at the interview itself...but when we divided up it was a smaller, more manageable group. I actually thought the interview was creative, but the school was unimpressive and the students seemed very unhappy and unsure of their skills.
It was a really great way to prep you for dental school. it was a no bull-shit approach to their school and I liked that. Unlike other schools, they didn't try to present a glossy image of their program. You really walk away with a true sense of how your days are going to pass by in the next four years. I left with a positive impression.
The day is long. Starts at 8:30 and lasts til 4:00, so eat breakfast and wear comfortable shoes. But since the day was so low-stress, it wasn't bad at all.
I had a really good time at this school. I was impressed by pretty much everything except for the financial aid session, in which I was completely stunned by the numerous loans that I'll have to be taking out, but that is typical wherever you go.
it sucked.... USC is a reputable school but the way they carry out the mock PBL & shit was just disgusting... once you get interviewed, it all depends on how LOUD you were during PBL...
stupid PLUMBING question....
what is it all about..??
Great interview. Finally a school that you can commute to without getting stuck in L.A. traffic. Great campus and IMPRESSIVE facilities. No one can argue with that. The students are very friendly and they are not competitive nerds I met at other schools. the program seems felxible your first year, while the second year gets really tough. Great location and its very safe and easy street parking. Cost is going to be around 230K if you live at home. So, it is pricy, but the students seemed to love their experience. I got their in ten minutes, parked on street and walked to the school. Arive on time!!!! The admissions girl made a note of who was coming in late. The group interview was cool and regardless of what people said I did cut off and overspeak a little over the other students, but I would not recomend that.
Overall, it was a favorable experience. I even met some pretty cool applicants of all types. We pulled together during the interview process. Although the PBL-sessions are not for everyone.
The location is not that bad, Just stay close to the school. I like the idea that you gain good hands on experience on clinical procedures. Hoewever, specializing is pretty difficult at this school. Their board scores are at about average since they have no faculty teaching the students on material necessary to pass the boards with high scores. The campus is nice and flat. Not too much walking.
I had a very positive experience at USC. It is different in that it is a PBL method, and is not the perfect choice for everyone. However, the overall experience was very nice.
advanced standing students with perm residency may apply there with a lot of confidence.....
but this is not the place for candidates who have faith in fairness of selection procedures.....
USC uses Problem Based Learning (PBL) as their curriculum. So basically students seemed to have a lot let stress and much more free time, especially in their first 2 years. If it wasn't for growing up in LA, and the cost of education, I probably would have liked USC more.
The day is very long, beginning with an introduction, an hour of watching the students in a class, then coming back and doing a writing sample for 10 minutes. Then an hour speech by a professor (which was very interesting) about the program and dentistry. Then an hour financial aid presentation. Then you eat lunch with dental students, which is the best time to learn about the program, the pros and cons of USC and any real questions you want answered. Then you have your "interview" with 7 other applicants, where you are given a dilemna and you work it out together. It has nothing to do with science, some problems like deserted on an island or a question about problems with the house plumbing. Then you have a tour of the school.
Overall, I really liked the program, as it seemed more in tune with how education should be taught and the students seemed to have a life. The campus is beautiful, but it located in poorer neigborhood. On the plus side, you're ten minutes away from santa monica and beverly hills.
complete waste of time. the day started out with a brief introduction of the admissions staff, then observation of a student group of 8 working on a case. then we went back to rutherford hall on the fourth floor for a financial aid info talk, brief writing sample, and one of the faculty- i forgot his name, spoke to us about the PBL: apparently they teach their students how to think. that was a bit disconcerting, if the students couldn't think prior to their enrollment into the dental school, they probably should pick another profession. maybe it was the early morning, but i almost fell asleep. students that I spoke to all seemed to reflect positively on the school, other than, of course, the cost. and the tour was decent, the facility was clean and spacious, definitely a place that I felt I would want to work in.
Then we went back to the dental building for a mock PBL, two admissions staff sat in the room to observe us and made their little notes.
Then they laid the bombshell, they told me I lacked some things in my file and I needed to complete them. Needless to say, I was absolutely FURIOUS. the admissions staff could have mailed me the paper informing of the info that my file lacked. But, instead they invited me to the school, THEN they gave me the bad news. again, I have to stress, COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME!!
for the fellow applicants: probably a good idea to ask them about the specifics of your file prior to the interview.
On the day of the interview all of the applicants, about 30 total, were gathered in a lecture hall on the fourth floor of the dental school. There was a presentation about the school, the history of PBL (Problem Based Learning), an overview of financial aid, lunch with dental students (we were given a $5 voucher for the school cafeteria - bring some extra cash for parking and additional food as the $5 doesn't go very far) a tour, and an 'interview.' The interview consisted of a mock PBL session. About ten students were brought together in a group and given a mock case. Two admissions officers (in my case no professors or students were present) presided over the session, which consisted of being presented with a problem and the group trying to work through it. There was a fact gather phase, an 'ideas/theory' phase, and a 'what we need to know in order to proceed' section. This was repeated three times, with each time more information being presented about the case. At the end we were given the outcome of the case (it was based on a clogged drain in an old home). The facilitators told us that they were interested in seeing how we interact in a small group. It was also a chance to find out if an independant-study format would be a good fit for each candidate. The key to doing well in the session is to be courteous, don't speak over others, and don't be loud and domineering. There was no other interview other than the mock PBL session. The school is very nice, the area is not that bad, and the students were all very friendly and willing to talk. One thing that I liked about the format is all of the time that is available to students: at USC students only attend school three days a week. The rest of the time is spent doing research for class. Each of the students said that they have plenty of time, don't feel stressed, and said that they are learning just as much, if not more, than their friends at other schools (such as UCLA and UOP), and that is reflected in their high board scores. In addition, the school stated that finding patients is never an issue and as well as scheduling time in the operatories. I feel that the PBL format would be a very good fit for me, although the one thing that is hard to swallow is the very, very high tuition at USC. They do offer some rather generous scholarships, but they don't use them as recruiting devices - thus students are notified of them until well into their first year (it sounded like winning the lottery).
Initially, I considered USC as my "back-up" school. After talking to the students, spending an hour in an actual PBL session and listening to the financial aid counselor crack a few jokes about the $300,000 debt I would accrue, I realized that I was in desperate need of another back-up school. At lunch, after enduring a long wait in the kitchen smoke, I had the opportunity to speak to 2 dental students. Afterwards, one pulled me aside, looked me sternly in the face and said "You can go here. But if I were you, I would go to a cheaper school." When we joined the other applicants, she continued to talk about how happy she was at USC. Hmm, contradictory? Or perhaps happiness doesn't equate to money. Yeah. Haha, I know.
The interview wasn't actually an interview. You're placed in a group of 8-10 people and given a scenario, divided into 4 scenes. The plot is not dental nor medical related. In fact, its pretty ridiculous. I'm not sure if I gave the best impression as I was so dissuaded by the curriculum and cost, I literally wanted to run away. So, I think I came off silly and blase.
Although this didn't occur during the interview, I thought I should share something from someone in the admissions committee. So, I have this "connection" who is on USC admissions. Although he is currently on the admissions board, he told me that, based on my stats and background, I would not gain anything from USC. He actually told me to go to UCLA instead. Keep in mind, this guy is looking out for my best interest. He's not someone who would point me in the wrong direction out of spite. In any case, now I know why suggested UCLA over USC.
It was an all day experience. After spending the morning going over all the info and learning the philisophy behind PBL we had a chance to watch current students doing PBL. Then we broke off into groups and practiced the exercise ourselves. It was a lot of fun, and the people there were great. Despite the riduclously high tuition I thought the school was great. They had great facilities, staff and facultly. Personally I am a big fan of PBL. Many school are already copying the cirriculum, but I think it is best at the source. Thumbs up for USC
It's a different interview format. Not any less stressful than other traditional interviews, but different. The rest of the day will allow you to get a good feel if PBL is right for you. They take you to a real class, give you a lecture on PBL, let you talk to students in PBL, and put you through a mini-PBL case during your interview.
Absolutely no logic or common sense needed during the interview. The interviewer only wants to find out if you have a loud voice. Be prepare to say ANYTHING as loud and fast as you can. The PBL is only for research minded, talkative people. Don't even bother to apply if you aren't able to talk non-stop for 90 minutes.
The lecture introducing PBL was informative, however I felt like the prof giving the PBL introduction looked down on traditional learning methods, and was very narrow minded in assuming all students of the traditional learning method aren't able to motivate themselves to learn and all of us only study for a good grade.
The PBL mock session was extremely weird as well. I just gave up trying to compete with 2 loud mouths in my group of 10. We had a writer, up at the board jotting down our ideas, I kept giving him time to write our ideas down before I say the next thing, but the 2 people in our group just won't shut up, shouting out every single remotely related thing that comes to their heads... stealing my ideas and putting the writer in a writing frenzy. This is not how I ususally work in a group, I don't think it fully assessed my communication skills.
Some people saying that PBL mock interview is a competition, but people in my group said all they want to say and it was not a fierce competition. I got admitted and will defenitely attend this dental school since their teaching method is unique.
Great. The atmosphere at USC (the dental school being on the main campus) is a plus 10!!! You will be on a great and integrated- very exciting college campus, so its NOT like your doomed to some dark dungeon in a building away from the rest of the school. The program seemed great, administration people were really nice (obviously), and LA is just bustling. So, it seems like a great place to be. Also, the PBL program eases you into the workload of a dental education, so that your not hit hard with mounds of work the very first year. Great interaction between faculty and students in classes. Each group of 8 students has one faculty mentor to guide them. So its a great atmosphere. Also, the dental building being in the heart of CALIFORNIA, is very bright and airy because of the many windows- adding a happy environment.
I thought just the opoposite of some of the other interviewes because our session was very calm and anyone who had something to say said it. We tried not to interupt each other and part of the evaluation is how you interact with others not how many answers you blurt out. Just be yourself, but your better self for the session.
If you are a quiet personality, don't even bother applying to this school. PBL interview is like a Jeopardy show without the buzzer. You know the stuff, but other students already say it first leaving you desperate to find other things to say next. So if you have PBL interview coming up for you, practice saying things as fast and loud as they come to mind. Students in the program don't seem to utilize PBL to its intended purpose. Yet the interview itself is very well-coordinated. Great facility, I gotta admit. The students are friendly too, allowing you to ask pretty much anything during lunch.
The pbl session we had to participate in (basically our interview) was about plumbing. It's just to get a feel as to what PBL is like. the only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that I felt I was competing with other students to say something as quickly as possible. (That's how you're assessed in the interview). And, one of the students I talked to during lunch said the same thing. So even though you're supposed to be in this noncompetitive enviornment, I still feel like it would've ended up being a race as to who can say the first learning need first.
In defense of USC, I felt that grading of 130 typodonts was nicely done. It is obvious to a trained eye to tell who is capable and who is not. No need to analyze under a microscope. It was a fair amount of time to evaluate. They didn't waste our time or theirs, unlike other schools who shall remain nameless.
USC is on the PBL program. If you are not self-motivated to study than this is not the school for you. Its completely different from undergrad and seems to be more difficult than traditional teaching.
I have always thought of SC as a great school with a great reputation in the dental community but unfortunately don't feel that way more. I've heard a lot of negative comments about PBL (or USC's way of implementing it)but went to the interview with an open mind expecting to be impressed by the school and the new program. Unfortunately the opposite happend. I just don't think spending $300K on a dental school whose primary learning tools for the first two years are giant sticky-notes and magic markers is a wise choice for me. But that's only my oppinion.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should streamline the financial aid presentation, provide more information about the MMI portion of the interview, update documents sent pre- and post-interview, and improve communication by sending confirmation emails for interview dates. Additionally, applicants recommend having one-on-one interviews, addressing traffic considerations, improving staff friendliness, providing earlier tours, and offering solid acceptance letter dates.
Reduce time for financial aid presentation. Most of the information is more necessary for those who have been accepted
I did not get to interact much with the admissions office other than when i called in to schedule in the interview. They didn't seem very friendly however they handle thousands of applications. I would suggest that they send confirmation emails to the invited applications to confirm their interview date. The woman who scheduled me abruptly ended the call and I did not feel confident that my interview had been scheduled.
