There are a lot of different programs at Midwestern...medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physicial therapy, podiatry, physician assistant, occupational therapy...just to name a few. The DO class (medicine) and the dental class are probably the 2 largest classes, and there is a certain animosity between us. (This is a generalization. I have several friends in the DO program, as do my classmates. We do actually get along quite well.) Personally, I think the animosity stems from one simple fact...the medical students are jealous of the dental students. This is why.
1) We don't have to work as hard as they do. Because the medical students are fighting to get into a good residency program, there is an inherent competitive nature in their class. In order to get into the residency that they want, they have to get perfect grades and amazing board scores. Thus, they always need to try and "one-up" each other. That means staying in and studying on a Friday or Saturday night while their friends are going out so that they can have just a few more hours to study for that exam. We dental students don't need to do that. After school, we all become dentists and there is nothing to really compete for. Thus, when studying, we share notes and form study groups to share information. Also, we don't need to learn all the detailed information that the medical students do. During the first year, we take pretty much the same basic science classes with the same professors. However, the professors cut out a lot of material and make it a bit easier for our class. We learn everything we need to know for our boards in one year. We take the boards on our schedule. The medical students have to take the boards after 2 years of classes and have a very limited time to prepare for them (2 weeks tops). Then they have to move all over the country for rotations. Dental students go across the street and "rotate" in the clinic.
2) We will make about the same amount of money as some of them with less schooling (for the most part). Average salary for a general dentist (4 years of dental school): $133,000. Average salary for a family physician (4 years of medical school, 3 year residency): $145,000.
3) We have super cool events while they are studying. Last year, the "odontoblast" dental prom was held outside in the courtyard near the library. The library has floor to ceiling windows that are lined with study carels on all 3 floors. We were outside drinking, dancing, and playing loud music while they were inside studying in full view of our dance party. Friday, we had a "wet n' wild" party on campus, that involved a giant inflatable waterslide. Anyone walking home from campus had to walk right past our huge picnic. It was a really enjoyable time and the waterslide was SO much fun. Even the professors got in on the waterslide action. (Watch the video. Some friends of mine come down first, then me and some more friends, followed by a classmate, and finally by the professor.)
Wow, glad to see you are getting your tuition dollars worth!
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