How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
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How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
No responses
How did you prepare for the interview?
SDN was a help in getting me prepared for the professionalism question. I also checked out the Buffalo website.
What impressed you positively?
Spacious, clean, well-lit, new equipment. New building. Liked the feel of the suburban campus. While initially skeptical, I think the electronic curriculum is a good idea and the way of the future for all other dental schools. You get your own operatory. There seemed to be a good deal of bonding among students and a sense of camaraderie in their tiered system.
What impressed you negatively?
The cold wasn't bad, but the wind was a bit much. I was disappointed that the clinics were empty when we took our tour. I wanted to see the students and faculty in action! I arrived the day earlier and was told (by Barbara) that I shouldn't go into the clinics on a self guided tour. This was really different from other schools that I went to where they encouraged me to roam freely. The profs and other students didn't seem really care too much about the fact that impressionable, potential students were in their midst. The pace of life around Buffalo seems slow (for example, it took me 30 min to check out my food from the grocery store). I was disappointed to hear that the cafeteria on the dental school's campus closed after lunch.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
There is a nice grocery store and some fast food places right next to the Travelodge in the University District. This hotel was the right choice for a cheapo like me. I got my food from the grocery store. The dental school is a short walk across the street from the Travelodge. No need to rent a taxi. The people at the Travelodge were great. I left something there and they mailed it to me on the honor system if I agreed to send them a check for the postage. Advice for interviewing at any school: find the preclinc lab and talk to the students there.
What are your general comments?
This was one of the 2 most organized and serious interviews I sat through. I appreciate that. They had standard questions that they ask everyone. They may also have had a short list of questions that they chose from to ask people. In addition, they had specific questions for me that they had written down beforehand while reviewing my application. The school has a bit of a PR problem: while on the tour at least a couple other students said out loud "Don't go here". Reading SDN, apparently these are not isolated incidents. I wish I could have gotten to the bottom of this to see if it was just some kind of a joke. As an interviewee, it is anything but a joke! I really liked the suburban setting with easy access to the urban beneftis of Buffalo. This is a safe and cheap place to live. If you have extra time, it might be nice to take the free bus to the main campus to check it out. While I was initially put off a bit by the comments of some students, I later came to really appreciate this school. This school is a great value and may be even cheaper than your own state school (if you have one). You can get NY residency in the second year. This school has a great research reputation and good acceptance rate for those wanting to specialize.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
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