A twist on the old "Does it matter where you graduate from?" question

[VikingLegacy]

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baleeted

 

[wordswordswords]

I would only hesitate if you have no leads for a research position in Seattle. Otherwise, being on the interview trail, it seemed like the other interviewees came from all over the country from the entire range of private and public institutions. This was especially true when I interviewed at UCSF and UW (I think it's a West Coast thing to care less about rankings). UW as an institution is highly respected for its research. If you have 2 years of research experience by the time you apply, and you explain to the UW adcom that you wanted to be in Seattle for a variety of reasons, I think they would be more than receptive. When I was there it seemed everyone loves their city, and you could be a part of that. (Also, there was definitely someone else at my interview from UW undergrad, and I met someone already in the program who went to UW undergrad.) If I were in your shoes and I was confident I could find a research position in Seattle, I would move in a heartbeat, especially with the tuition hike.

 

[Kickback]

Would you be able to transfer? Most universities require that you complete at least 60 hours of credits at their institution to transfer.

Although your academics are on the right track, what I hear around these forums is that you need 2+ years of research (by application time) to be competitive for admissions into MSTP programs.

 

[calvinNhobbes]

It's not going to make one bit of difference whether your undergraduate degree is from UCSD or UW. They are both great public universities with very similar reputations, US News rankings, etc, etc.

Now that being said, if UW is going to be your first choice for MSTP then moving there and making as many connections as possible can only help you, in my opinion.

I have no idea why your advisor thinks UCSD is so superior to UW from an undergraduate stand point.

 

[Musclemass]

Now that being said, if UW is going to be your first choice for MSTP then moving there and making as many connections as possible can only help you, in my opinion.

Except, aren't schools with MSTP programs under some expectation to recruit nationally and not just funnel their own undergrads (where applicable) into their programs? Maybe not. If so, OP may have better luck applying at UW as a UCSD grad.

Also, I could see this becoming a negative, perhaps minor, for apps at other schools. A certain interview question will be "Why did you transfer?" If the answer is "because I wanted to be back in Seattle", interviewers at the non-UW schools will wonder why, just a few years later, leaving Seattle doesn't again present a problem. Perhaps there's a good answer, perhaps not.

First time I ever heard of someone preferring Seattle weather to another West Coast location, much less to San Diego's. Usually discussions about Seattle weather go the other way around. But to each his own.

Good luck.

 

[calvinNhobbes]

Except, aren't schools with MSTP programs under some expectation to recruit nationally and not just funnel their own undergrads (where applicable) into their programs? Maybe not.

I actually had much more difficulty trying to apply to MSTP programs at public schools. Coincidentally, both UW and UCSD were the two I was interersted in, but didn't complete either secondary due to this. I believe the letter from UW specifically stated I would be at a significant disadavantage since I was not a state resident. But this was 10 years ago so things may have changed since then.

 

[joshinjosh]

Oh man, we are the exact opposites. I go to UW and want to go to UCSD's MSTP. I believe you can only transfer a max of 90 credits at UW. So if you did, you'd have to do two more years of work to get a degree.

I guess the alternative is to come to Seattle after graduation. In terms of research, you'd pretty much have to be a UW student to do unpaid (possibly independent) research in a lab. However, there's some options like Friday Harbors apprenticeships, Fred Hutch, and other biotech, similar to those in SD.

 

[Freak]

I would vote sticking it out at UCSD ... don't forget that UW is also going to have a tuition hike. The reason I say that is that you are settled at UCSD and making the move to UW will set you back a little (either in the class flow and also in a lab).

I agree with musclemass that it will look weird to be school-hopping ... if you are MSTP or bust, then it is wise to make sure that you are competitive to all schools.

The most important things you can do is do well on the MCAT and publish/research. Where you go will be somewhat irrelevant. With those in hand, your MSTP dreams will be much closer in hand.

Finally, I would say that it is just 2 more years ... it sounds really odd, but when you become an MSTP, you start thinking in 5-10 year increments.

The other thought I have is that can you graduate early ... finish your degree requirements maybe 6 months early ... I think many MSTP's accept relatively quickly post-interview, so you could then decide to move to your new city (hopefully Seattle) and find something to do.

 

[VikingLegacy]

First time I ever heard of someone preferring Seattle weather to another West Coast location, much less to San Diego's. Usually discussions about Seattle weather go the other way around. But to each his own.

You know how once in a while you'll go into the 4-degree room to centrifuge something and you'll find a guy just sitting in there, reading publications?

...I'm that guy.

Well, having considered what everybody here and in real life has told me, and having slept on it, I think I'll push for early graduation. If all goes well, that should only be two months after the earliest I could transfer anyway.

Thanks for the good perspective and insight, everybody.

 

[Freak]

Quick last thing ... make sure that what you do in your year between UG and MSTP is something a med school would not frown upon.

 

[Musclemass]

You know how once in a while you'll go into the 4-degree room to centrifuge something and you'll find a guy just sitting in there, reading publications?

...I'm that guy.

So that you don't succumb to sentimental nostalgia, try this the next time you go into that cold room:
Take a pitcher of ice water and a table fan. Turn on the fan and turn off the lights. Pour the pitcher of water over your head.

Welcome to Seattle!!

Best wishes in achieving your dreams.