The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC is located near south-central Los Angeles and downtown just off the 110 Interstate. Although the area surrounding it has a reputation for crime, the school's website claims that USC is one of the safest urban campuses in the United States.
The UCLA School of Dentistry is located in West Los Angeles near Bel Air. This affluent section of the city is also very safe but rent and housing in this area can be quite expensive.
USC offers a variety of programs for people interested in the field of dentistry. Besides the traditional doctoral dental program, USC also offers bachelor's programs for dental hygienists and graduate programs for people who want to be clinical researchers or educators. Post-graduate programs are also available for dentists who want to specialize in specific areas.
UCLA offers four-year courses for aspiring dentists as well as two-year courses for international students. The school also offers a program in oral biology for those interested in the field of oral health.
The admissions board at USC looks for students who have demonstrated good character and professional potential, as well as an eagerness for service. Every student accepted to the school has held a bachelor's degree and many of them have had an advanced degree already. At both UCLA and USC students must take the DAT (Dental Admissions Test) to have their applications accepted.
UCLA recommends students have course background in biology, physics and chemistry before applying to their program.
Although most students in dental school will be on some sort of financial aid, it is important to be aware of what the education will cost you. As of 2011, total school cost at USC, including tuition and room and board and other fees costs about $110,134 per year. At UCLA, each year, including summer semesters cost about $85,000 per year with all expenses such as room and board factored in.