Name of school: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Year you are in (if willing to share): 1st (I know who you are ladnar ;])
Curriculum: Simply amazing. UCSF is never comfortable in its curriculum. The school's education committee constantly critiques and challenges itself to change and push the limits of their pharmacy students. They take a lot of time to determine what courses can complement each other and put them into a quarter; they also determine what courses are substantial for teaching in other quarters. It's all very logically sequenced and consequently, students build off their foundation knowledge really well.
Like ladnar said, we have a heavy science curriculum (but not basic science as there's a difference between learning mitosis/meiosis, which one should have learned and understood really well in prereq classes, and physical/adv. organic chemistry). Because of this, students are taught how to think, react and adapt quickly to situations. This gives us an advantage as we're expected to not only know specific dosage, mechanism of action and pathophysiology but conduct research to enhance hospital and health systems. On that note, there aren't very many UCSF pharmacists who are in community settings because UCSF primes us with opportunities to affect pharmacy on a state, national and international level.
Our curriculum is split into 3 pathways. Depending on the pathway, you will be exposed to different skills. For one of the pathways, you are guaranteed to go to Geneva to intern in the World Health Organization and create change on a world scale.
Location: San Francisco, need I say more?! We're between Stanford and Berkeley. Silicon Valley is only 45 to an hour away. We are surrounded by prestigious institutions that work closely with UCSF such as the Stanford-UCSF relationships.
Cost: It rose a little bit, but still definitely worth the investment. UCSF doesn't only teach material but ways to find resources, critically assess situations and interprofessionalism with health professionals, business administrators, government agencies, scientists, etc.
Faculty: One reason why UCSF has a great education is due to its faculty members. UCSF has nobel winners left and right, whether they are based at UCSF or are visitors from other institutions. Our lecturers are the ones that invented all the pharmacokinetic equations, wrote the multiple textbooks such as therapeutics, and contributed tremendously to health science. At times, they stumble on teaching a concept, but they acknowledge when they aren't clear and send out supplemental emails and review in the lecture to help us understand.
Reputation: UCSF has a great reputation and not because of US News. It's great because the education you receive is a world class education and expectation. They attract the brightest and most genuine people who want to move the world in a positive direction.
I also hear many employers say that UCSF students tend to know a lot more. Again, that's only what I've heard from them. It's an observational statement.
Clinical Rotations: I haven't experienced rotations yet, but from what I hear UCSF rotations are hard. They expect a lot from their students.
Housing: There are options :] It's more expensive than other places, but again, it's SF.
Study areas: Library, LOTS OF COFFEE HOUSES (chain like starbucks, and many many mom/pop shop cafe places :])
Social Scene: Loads. Lots of clubs, many bars, great food. San Francisco brings many people from all over the world. There is a constant in and efflux of people. Great networking! I randomly met Stanford law students at a coffee house once and we had a great conversation about pharmaceutical law.
Local Hospitals: I hear they're great, but I haven't been on rotations yet.
Board Prep: They help prep us in the middle of our last year.
Overall: I love it. I think that you should find a pharmacy school that fits you. What makes UCSF so amazing is the people. We have a very diverse class with different religions, ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientation, etc. We also have great relationships with the other programs such as dental, medicine, physical therapy, phd/master, and nursing.
We are assigned into groups where we have 2 dental, 2 med, 1-2 PT, 1-2 nursing students, and 2 pharmacy students. We choose a community center or underserved institutions such as API wellness center, elementary schools, etc. and we do a project to benefit it. We have to utilize the different skills in our professions to educate and empower their patients, students, etc. It's a great way to learn how each profession works and network!
Grades:
Curriculum: A+
Location: A
Cost: B-
Financial Aid: B+
Faculty: A
Reputation: A
Technology: B+
Study Space/Library: A-
Library technology/Resources: A-
Rotations: N/A
Social: A
Hospitals: N/A
Post Grad: N/A -- but there is a lot of alumni support. I don't know why people think that only private schools have a great alumni network.
Overall Grade: A-
I am being real and not giving As or A+s to all the criteria. I don't really think that there is any perfect school. Overall, I am really enjoying my time here. I have access to opportunities that I never imagined. I love the people in my class and at the school. When it comes down to it, the people make the program amazing. The San Francisco is our campus, and the SF community members support us. As our director of admission always say, "We're not #1 for everyone!" This is my experience and is definitely different from everyone else's. Ask yourself what the important facets to an education are, and what institution will give it you that. There is no such thing as a perfect school.
