What are the best things about attending University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry?

UNMC College of Dentistry has one of the smaller class sizes in the country and, as a result, offers a unique “family” environment that larger schools cannot provide. This aspect is what draws in many applicants. Students get to know everyone in their class well, along with staff, faculty, and even the “higher ups” in administration. Coming from a large university, this has been one of my favorite parts about attending this school. My professors and administrators not only know my name, but they also know me outside of the classroom and school setting. And, of course, our small class size is conducive to forming close friendships with our peers. We are close after having shared experiences in and out of the classroom.

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What are the worst things about attending University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry?

While being a smaller school has many obvious advantages, there are also some downsides. News travels quickly within classes, between classes, and even sometimes between students and faculty. Attending UNMC was my first “small town feel” experience, and I quickly learned that everyone seems to know and share everything about everyone else...whether it’s completely true or not! Some out-of-state students struggle with the lack of activity that Lincoln (or flatland Nebraska in general) has to offer. While the city does have an excellent parks and trails system, it is as landlocked as they come, and there are no mountains nearby which eliminates a large amount of outdoor activity. Lincoln is a mid-sized college town, not a big city, and with that comes fewer opportunities for big entertainment and lifestyles that other locations offer. The closest “big city” is Omaha (about an hour drive), and calling Omaha a "big city" is a stretch by most people’s standards. As we say, “Nebraska: it’s not for everyone!”

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What do students need to know/What do you wish you knew before attending University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry?

The small class size and environment will definitely be a challenge for people who like to lay low and blend into the crowd, as most people know who everyone else is. We greet our sterilization techs, assistants, janitors and faculty members by name.

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