Best Medical School in California

[mdquestion]

Just curious as to what everyone thinks. I've listed the usuals.

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[MiniMoo]

"Best" is going to be mean different things to different people. For example, if one wanted to go into rural medicine, Davis would be the 'best'. Just depends on personal interests and preferences.

 

[searun]

"Best" is going to be mean different things to different people. For example, if one wanted to go into rural medicine, Davis would be the 'best'. Just depends on personal interests and preferences.

You are absolutely right. It is subjective. If you enjoy the fragrance of cow pies, then Davis is the clear favorite. As for me, great ethnic restaurants and a sophisticated urban ambiance is important, so UCSF would be my choice for number one.

 

[RunningDiva]

You are absolutely right. It is subjective. If you enjoy the fragrance of cow pies, then Davis is the clear favorite. As for me, great ethnic restaurants and a sophisticated urban ambiance is important, so UCSF would be my choice for number one.

Sacramento does have great ethnic restaurants and downtown is attracting young professionals. Luckily the med school is not in the city of Davis so no fragrance a la cow pies.

Davis beats SF in many ways - cheaper living, more parking/no hassle, warm weather.

 

[searun]

Sacramento does have great ethnic restaurants and downtown is attracting young professionals. Luckily the med school is not in the city of Davis so no fragrance a la cow pies.

Davis beats SF in many ways - cheaper living, more parking/no hassle, warm weather.

I was joking. Davis is a fine school. I was born in Sacramento and spent my grade school years living in a neighborhood right next to William Land Park. Spent alot of time as a kid wandering around that park, and at the zoo. Then moved to Oregon when I was 12.

But I sure would rather spend 4 years in SF than Sacramento. Nothing against Sacramento, except that it is too hot in the summer. SF is just one of the great cities of the USA.

If you are interested in academic medicine, which I am not, UCSF is the clear winner. But Davis will get most people where they want to go, no doubt.

 

[CalBear2009]

I think that they all have a lot of unique things to offer. My California Med School Awards are as follows:

Best Loaction: UCSD. I mean its literally in paradise. Some might argue that other places are more fun to be, but I thought La Jolla was just amazing.

Best Facilities: UCLA. Didn't interview here, but just walking near thier med campus when I was down for the Cal-UCLA football game, I was blown away. That new hospital looks SICK!

Best Curriculum: UCSF. Read through the blog of a student, and it just seems amazing. A great balance of PBL and lecture learning.

Most Cohesive Class: UC Irvine. All off the people I met were all people I would want to hang out with. I just loved how close everybody was, and how much fun they all had together.

Best Affiliate Hospital: USC. LAC Hospital seems like an amazing opportunity. Very cool cases, very diverse patient population. It is brand new, and it seems like students get to do A LOT during clinical rotations. Also, my interviewer at Keck did residency there and went to school at UCSF and told me the "F**k you to Thank You" patient ratio is the lowest with the patient population in LAC.

Best School: UCSF FTW (might be a little biased) I just thought they had the best balance of awesome students, an innovative curriculum, great opportunities, fun location, and great clinical experiences.

*Don't know much about Davis and Stanford, but I also heard both were really great.

Basically you can't go wrong with Cali. And for all of those saying that many of our schools are going downhill because of the budget issues, I just wanted to clear one thing up. At my UCSF interview, we were given a breakfown of finances at the school, and IIRC, less than 5% of the schools budget was from tuition and state support.

 

[MiniMoo]

Best Facilities: UCLA. Didn't interview here, but just walking near thier med campus when I was down for the Cal-UCLA football game, I was blown away. That new hospital looks SICK!

The lecture halls really leave something to be desired. 🙄 But you're right, the hospital is absolutely beautiful.

 

[dw2158]

I think that they all have a lot of unique things to offer. My California Med School Awards are as follows:

Best Loaction: UCSD. I mean its literally in paradise. Some might argue that other places are more fun to be, but I thought La Jolla was just amazing.

Best Facilities: UCLA. Didn't interview here, but just walking near thier med campus when I was down for the Cal-UCLA football game, I was blown away. That new hospital looks SICK!

Best Curriculum: UCSF. Read through the blog of a student, and it just seems amazing. A great balance of PBL and lecture learning.

Most Cohesive Class: UC Irvine. All off the people I met were all people I would want to hang out with. I just loved how close everybody was, and how much fun they all had together.

Best Affiliate Hospital: USC. LAC Hospital seems like an amazing opportunity. Very cool cases, very diverse patient population. It is brand new, and it seems like students get to do A LOT during clinical rotations. Also, my interviewer at Keck did residency there and went to school at UCSF and told me the "F**k you to Thank You" patient ratio is the lowest with the patient population in LAC.

Best School: UCSF FTW (might be a little biased) I just thought they had the best balance of awesome students, an innovative curriculum, great opportunities, fun location, and great clinical experiences.

*Don't know much about Davis and Stanford, but I also heard both were really great.

Basically you can't go wrong with Cali. And for all of those saying that many of our schools are going downhill because of the budget issues, I just wanted to clear one thing up. At my UCSF interview, we were given a breakfown of finances at the school, and IIRC, less than 5% of the schools budget was from tuition and state support.

love it

 

[mdquestion]

What's everyone's opinion about Palo Alto? Boring...or tranquil? 🙂 I think Stanford might be my #1 if it weren't for it's suburban location.

I think I was gonna vote. Was just curious of what other people though.

1. UCSF
2. UCLA
3. Stanford
4. UC-SD
5. UC-Davis
6. UC-Irvine
7. Loma Linda

 

[dermda]

where's all the support for UCLA lol

 

[dermda]

Best Facilities: UCLA. Didn't interview here, but just walking near thier med campus when I was down for the Cal-UCLA football game, I was blown away. That new hospital looks SICK!

Amazing! UCLA's hospital system's ranked 3rd the nation and Best in the West for 20 years in a row! The new Ronald Reagan Hospital was designed by world-famous architect I.M. Pei and covered in travertine tiles throughout!

 

[CalBear2009]

Amazing! UCLA's hospital system's ranked 3rd the nation and Best in the West for 20 years in a row! The new Ronald Reagan Hospital was designed by world-famous architect I.M. Pei and covered in travertine tiles throughout!

Reading about your dilemma between LA nad SF, its seems like you are leaning a lot towards LA. Is that what your thinkin or you waiting for SF ASW? I'm sure you'll be happy at either place. None the less go with your gut and congrats on your "problem".

 

[Naijaba]

This really really depends on what you're looking for. My reason for choosing Stanford over UCSF: Stanford is #1 in computer science research, and medicine is becoming more and more tied to technology. However, Stanford is not the best choice for individuals seeking primary care positions.

 

[dermda]

Reading about your dilemma between LA nad SF, its seems like you are leaning a lot towards LA. Is that what your thinkin or you waiting for SF ASW? I'm sure you'll be happy at either place. None the less go with your gut and congrats on your "problem".

yea, I'm leaning towards LA now but I have to wait for UCSF ASW to decide though

 

[brooklynblunder]

man if seventh day adventists are the only people that make it to heaven, we are totally gonna look back and be like damn, we were so wrong

 

[mdeast]

Who voted Loma Linda? lol. Not to mock it or anything.

 

[RunningDiva]

I was joking. Davis is a fine school. I was born in Sacramento and spent my grade school years living in a neighborhood right next to William Land Park. Spent alot of time as a kid wandering around that park, and at the zoo. Then moved to Oregon when I was 12.

But I sure would rather spend 4 years in SF than Sacramento. Nothing against Sacramento, except that it is too hot in the summer. SF is just one of the great cities of the USA.

If you are interested in academic medicine, which I am not, UCSF is the clear winner. But Davis will get most people where they want to go, no doubt.

👍

Ahhh, nice. I love SF but living wise its a pain. I'm quick to jump when ppl call Sac a load of (cow) crap b/c its actually a neat city. I'm not hot on academic med either and Davis seems have fantastic student support and a great environment.

 

[searun]

Who voted Loma Linda? lol. Not to mock it or anything.

Not me, since I am an afficionado of Pinot Noir. Another reason to choose SF, its proximity to the wine country. Also the availability of fresh dungeness crab and great sourdough bread. All prerequisites to a fine medical school experience.

Man, I need a glass of good wine. So no Loma Linda for me. Although I suppose I could still eat dungeness crab and sourdough bread, that's 2 out of three.

 

[d1ony5u5]

I think Loma Linda should be naturally excluded from the poll. It can't appear in the same sentence with "best"...

I jest, I jest...
But really, to satisfy my curiosity, is Loma Linda actually good at anything? All I know about it is that it is a small black hole among the Cali medschools.

 

[BlueElmo]

👍

Ahhh, nice. I love SF but living wise its a pain. I'm quick to jump when ppl call Sac a load of (cow) crap b/c its actually a neat city. I'm not hot on academic med either and Davis seems have fantastic student support and a great environment.

Yeah SF is crazy expensive living-wise, but it really is one of the most beautiful cities out there in the whole world, IMO.

 

[RunningDiva]

Not me, since I am an afficionado of Pinot Noir. Another reason to choose SF, its proximity to the wine country. Also the availability of fresh dungeness crab and great sourdough bread. All prerequisites to a fine medical school experience.

Man, I need a glass of good wine. So no Loma Linda for me. Although I suppose I could still eat dungeness crab and sourdough bread, that's 2 out of three.

Amen.
Fresh crab on Fisherman's Wharf is niiiice. I could eat a whole baguette by myself. Unfortunately, the bread just won't rise the same way anywhere else in the world. I will have to ask my parents to overnight be some loaves so I can freeze and enjoy all semester. It just doesn't taste the same if its not from SF.

Yeah SF is crazy expensive living-wise, but it really is one of the most beautiful cities out there in the whole world, IMO.

YES yes yes.

 

[Appless]

UCSF based on location as well as opportunites/prestige/whatever you want to call it. The UC system as a whole is just great🙂. Personally id rank them for me...UCSF > UCLA > UCD > UCSD > USC > UCI > Stanford > Loma

But based on general perception and what they can offer i think most would say.... UCSF> UCLA > Stanford > UCSD > UCD > USC > UCI > Loma Linda

Personally while stanford is obviously huge i would never want to attend there nor did i even apply as their focus on producing academic docs only isnt for me. Davis is much more focus on clinicians/community which is why i love it.