Forget Undergraduate Rivalries

My "Don’t Be Crazy" Story

I loved going to UCLA for my undergraduate career as you can see.  UCLA and USC have a big rivalry that is engrained in the students starting Freshmen orientation and remains throughout the four years.  As bruins we were indoctrinated to despise the privileged silver spoon fed USC students on the wrong side of Los Angeles.  The drama and rivalries are all a part of your undergraduate experience.  That was all good and fun then, but now is the time to grow up.

Forget the rivalries when deciding what professional schools to apply to and attend. Don’t let them hold you back.

When applying to dental school you are entering the professional world. You are going to get your doctorate from a school that you will affiliate with for the rest of your life.  This is the next chapter to your story.  You need to think like a professional student and look past your rivalries. Understand what is right for you now.  This is the next phase of your life and it is okay to break down the walls that your past put up.   

I received two acceptances from Boston University and USC Dental School. Throughout my application cycle I would say “I will go to any dental school that accepts me; if I get into two dental schools and one of them is USC, I will without a doubt go to the other dental school even if it is far far away-- No matter what.” My loyalty was that strong.

After getting into two dental schools, it was now time to kick up my feet and choose. It felt damn good for the first five minutes, but when it came down to making a choice it was mentally draining.   “Where would I spend the next four years?”  It was my choice, and I was lucky to have one.  East coast versus West Coast.

I am a California girl born and raised, and knew that I would come back to California to practice.  I love the sunny weather, and all my family and friends live in California.  It is everything that I know. USC should have been the perfect dental school choice for me, but my undergraduate loyalty tore me apart.  

Boston University excited me with the idea of change.  Moving to a new city, new state, far far away across the country. The adventurous side of me wanted BU.  

I was having a mid twenties life crisis knowing that adulthood was coming soon.  First comes professional school, then work. This was my last chance to be spontaneous, get up and move to a new place.  BU would be the ultimate rebellious act.  To turn my back on USC, Los Angeles, my social circle in California, and the future southern Californian connections.

I was so tormented that I traveled to Boston in the spring one last time before making a decision. It was a new experience compared to the winter.  It was a beautiful 75 degree sunny day until 3:30pm when all of a sudden a flash thunderstorms rolled in. The heavy downpour of rain created a rumble on the roof of the cab.  You were unable to see outside the windows because it was like you entered a car wash with water spraying everywhere. There was the loud sound of thunder followed by a flash of lightning. The cab driver pulled off the road because of poor driving visibility. He called it New England weather. 

After I returned from my trip, I ran into a friend attending UCLA Medical school.  She went to Washington D.C. for undergrad and reminded me that professional school is very demanding.  It comes down to your free time. One question. “Do you want to take your breaks in warm sunny southern California weather, or brutal freezing cold weather?” I looked up to the sky that beautiful warm May day with the sun against my face and knew there wouldn’t be a flash flood thunderstorm. It was decided! If I rebelled, I would only be rebelling against myself.  USC Dental School was a perfect fit for me.  

After considering all the factors and thinking like a professional, it was clear. Several of my friends crossed over to the Trojan side, this is professional school it doesn’t matter where you came from, it's where you are going.

Tip: Don’t be crazy and go with your gut instinct.  USC was a safe bet. It was in my home state, and Los Angeles was my home.  The change was not drastic for me.  I went with the stable predictable choice rather than being spontaneous.  It was the less exciting choice, but it was the right choice for me.

Dental school is very demanding make everything else in your life easy.