Loyola-Stritch vs UCSD

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Hey guys, here's the deal:
I'm a California resident. I got accepted to Loyola-Stritch with a $10,000/yr scholarship. Today I just got called by UCSD and was offered an acceptance off of the waitlist, and I have 10 days to decide.

Here's the facts:
Research:
I hate research. I did 3 years of research (drug design) in an undergraduate lab, published, filed for a patent, and I know that I don't want to do that with my life.
Future Plans (specialty)
I'm leaning toward emergency medicine, but I've always liked surgery.
Curriculum
I like the idea of PBL groups, but I've been doing well with lecture-based courses so far. The schools basically all teach the same stuff, so I figure that curriculum is more or less inconsequential.
Money
I'm trying to keep debt down, but I'm willing to incur greater debt if it means that I'll be happier.
Weather/Location
I'm one of the few californians that isn't a fan of california weather, and I hate the beach (too much dirt and sun and salt water). I enjoy seasons, especially the rain and snow. 20-40 degrees is definitely my optimum operating temperature.


So...what are you guys thinking? One of the advantages that a private school has over a public school (so I was told at Wake Forest) is that the privates aren't under any pressure from the state to turn out primary care docs. Primary care isn't what I'd like to do, so it'd be nice to not have pressure to go into it. Public is cheaper, but with the scholarship, it's only a marginal difference (what, $7,000 per year or so?). San Diego is higher rated, and is affiliated with 6 hospitals, whereas Stritch is affiliated with 1, I think?

One of my biggest concerns is the students. At San Diego, my interviewer told me he thought I'd fit in there, because everyone knows how to work hard. They kind of struck me as med student robots that didn't do anything but study. At Stritch, they seemed like they had lives, like they were normal people that happened to go to med school. They said that they go to class during the day, and study until 7 or 8. Then on the weekend, they study for about three hours per day, and they actually have more or less free weekends.

What are everyone's thoughts?

If you're going to be living at home (e.g with parents) if you go to UCSD that's going to save you a TON of money.

Chicago is an awesome city (not sure if you've had time to really see it). I would pick Stritch over UCSD any day of the week if the difference was only $7k. I'm originally from Hawai'i, and I know how you feel about the weather (I do like the beach though).

Originally Posted by MedPR

If you're going to be living at home (e.g with parents) if you go to UCSD that's going to save you a TON of money.

Chicago is an awesome city (not sure if you've had time to really see it). I would pick Stritch over UCSD any day of the week if the difference was only $7k. I'm originally from Hawai'i, and I know how you feel about the weather (I do like the beach though).

Tuition at Stritch is $47k. Minus the 10k/year, that's $37k.
Tuition at UCSD in the past was $28k, but the UCs have been going up in tuition, and as I understand it, they still don't have a definite tuition. W'll say conservatively that it raises to $30k. So the difference per year is $7k.

I live about 6-8h north of SD, so I'll definitely be renting a place wherever I go. I understand UCSD has cheap housing ~500/month, but the housing I'm looking at in Chicago is about $700. Again, the cost difference is more or less negligible (when happiness is at stake, anyway).

I would pick UCSD. I feel most people would.

Originally Posted by Nymphicus

I would pick UCSD. I feel most people would.

I feel like a lot of people would, as well. But why would you pick UCSD over Loyola?

Hmm, based on everything you wrote, why would you go to UCSD? I'm trying to get into UCSD, but its mainly because I'm in a serious relationship with someone going there for grad school and because of some other family issues. But I wholeheartedly agree with you about the students...I even wrote about that in another thread I think.

Obviously I can't give you an opinion on Stritch, but I imagine its a fine school with similar opportunities to most MD schools.

Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought UC tuition is around 35k/yr, no?

Anyways, good luck with your decision and let us know what you picked

If you hate Cali weather and hate research, why go to UCSD? Don't they require a thesis?

Originally Posted by Nymphicus

I would pick UCSD. I feel most people would.

I think the only reasons anyone would pick UCSD over Stritch is the weather and cost. I prefer Chicago weather to Hawai'i (same as California, basically) weather and if the cost is only $7k more, I would much prefer Stritch.

Med schools anywhere have the research opportunities you need to get into non-PC specialties, although the more well-known schools are likely to have stronger departments in these areas considering that competitive specialties are research-heavy. More importantly, where do you want to practice?

Originally Posted by MedPR

I think the only reasons anyone would pick UCSD over Stritch is the weather and cost. I prefer Chicago weather to Hawai'i (same as California, basically) weather and if the cost is only $7k more, I would much prefer Stritch.

UCSD is a much, much better research school. It's not even close. But if OP isn't interested in that, and really likes the cold, it sounds like Stritch is a good fit.

By the way, UCSD isn't under any pressure to turn out primary care docs. In fact, I think it would be an easier road to match into a competitive specialty from UCSD than from Loyola.

Originally Posted by nadaba

By the way, UCSD isn't under any pressure to turn out primary care docs. In fact, I think it would be an easier road to match into a competitive specialty from UCSD than from Loyola.

This. UCSD students definitely match well into competitive specialties.

https://meded.ucsd.edu/asa/admissions/match_2009/

Originally Posted by nadaba

By the way, UCSD isn't under any pressure to turn out primary care docs. In fact, I think it would be an easier road to match into a competitive specialty from UCSD than from Loyola.

I think this is the key right here. I'm not interested in research, and I'll miss having seasons, but if UCSD can help open residency doors that Loyola cannot, then I think that those other criteria seem rather superfluous.

Thanks for the input guys, I'm well on my way to making a decision!

I'd still take UCSD despite your concerns over the weather (I am a californian too)

Originally Posted by EvilSponge

I'd still take UCSD despite your concerns over the weather (I am a californian too)

I think this may be the first time I've ever seen this sentence. really. ever. I still don't understand how the range for average monthly temp for the entire year can be ~10 degrees.

/tangent

Originally Posted by MedPR

I think the only reasons anyone would pick UCSD over Stritch is the weather and cost. I prefer Chicago weather to Hawai'i (same as California, basically) weather and if the cost is only $7k more, I would much prefer Stritch.

no

It sounds like that you may want to go to Loyola based on many different factors, but realize that UCSD may open up more doors. My suggestion: look up the match lists for both schools and compare. How far apart are these schools in rankings? A significant amount (30 spots) or barely any (10 spots)? Look into the nitty gritty more of the cost differences between the schools--consider the cost of living difference in Chicago and SD. And after that, just go with your gut and don't look back.

But to me, it sounds like you'd much rather go with Loyola, even though you think most people would choose UCSD. If you'd rather go with Loyola, who cares what other people think? Your rationale for Loyola seems pretty good to me.

I'm a midwesterner so I'd probably chose UCSD just for the nice change of pace, but from what you're saying it sounds like you'd really enjoy the trip up to Loyola. UCSD is a UC so obviously very good, but Loyola is not a school that is going to hurt you in any way. It is not exactly down town chicago which I'm sure you've already realized but the hospital is very good, and no opportunities will be closed to you by going there.

UCSD. Me, biased? Yes.

Thanks to everyone for all of your input. I've decided to go with UCSD, actually. I think that I would prefer living in Chicago, but by no means will I be miserable living in SD. Regarding the school itself, both are great, but SD really blew my socks off. I went down there for a second look earlier this week and spoke with the dean. She says that, since they changed the curriculum, the average step 1 score was between 239-240...which is amazing. I was also told that the school was not pressured to produce primary care docs, nor am I expected to do research (I just have an independent study project, but it doesn't have to be original research).

The student I met with was not at all robotic, and very personable, so I think my impression on interview day was incorrect.

All in all, I was VERY impressed with SD the second time around (maybe I was just too nervous about the interview to really take it all in on interview day)- moreso than when I went to Loyola for the second look.

Thanks again for all of your advice- I thought that after I made a decision, I'd be still torn, but on the contrary, I'm very excited!

Originally Posted by Robanada

Thanks to everyone for all of your input. I've decided to go with UCSD, actually. I think that I would prefer living in Chicago, but by no means will I be miserable living in SD. Regarding the school itself, both are great, but SD really blew my socks off. I went down there for a second look earlier this week and spoke with the dean. She says that, since they changed the curriculum, the average step 1 score was between 239-240...which is amazing. I was also told that the school was not pressured to produce primary care docs, nor am I expected to do research (I just have an independent study project, but it doesn't have to be original research).

The student I met with was not at all robotic, and very personable, so I think my impression on interview day was incorrect.

All in all, I was VERY impressed with SD the second time around (maybe I was just too nervous about the interview to really take it all in on interview day)- moreso than when I went to Loyola for the second look.

Thanks again for all of your advice- I thought that after I made a decision, I'd be still torn, but on the contrary, I'm very excited!

That's great, congratulations! I'm jelly that you're going to SD for med school!