Board Preparedness: UCSF vs UCI

[202]

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I know I'm extremely fortunate to be in the position of receiving acceptances from both UCI and UCSF, but at the current moment, I'm having a really difficult time choosing between the two. I think my main concerns are the type of education that each school provides and the amount of time each school gives off to study for the boards. I've been hearing that UCSF expects you to be brilliant when you enter, and therefore don't teach you information relevant for the boards but expect you to learn that on your own. UCI on the other hand, has a curriculum geared completely towards teaching for the boards (a plus considering the fact that I'd like to match in a competitve residency later on). The thing is...my sights are set for matching into a competitive residency, but I don't know if I should choose UCSF for its name and prestige, or UCI for its board-geared curriculum. Any UCSF or UCI Medical students out there that can help?

 

[jjmack]

I don't like schools that just teach to thre boards. If you are good enough to get into UCSF you will do fine on the boards no matter where you go. IMHO coming out of UCSF even with slightly lower board schools will be better for your career. good luck.

 

[Tra La La]

I know I'm extremely fortunate to be in the position of receiving acceptances from both UCI and UCSF, but at the current moment, I'm having a really difficult time choosing between the two. I think my main concerns are the type of education that each school provides and the amount of time each school gives off to study for the boards. I've been hearing that UCSF expects you to be brilliant when you enter, and therefore don't teach you information relevant for the boards but expect you to learn that on your own. UCI on the other hand, has a curriculum geared completely towards teaching for the boards (a plus considering the fact that I'd like to match in a competitve residency later on). The thing is...my sights are set for matching into a competitive residency, but I don't know if I should choose UCSF for its name and prestige, or UCI for its board-geared curriculum. Any UCSF or UCI Medical students out there that can help?

Go to UCSF. Great hospitals, some of the world's best research, and an impressive match list to boot. The reputation of the school will carry you a long way.

 

[202]

thanks for the replies! I'm still having a hard time though...anyone know how much time ucsf gives off to study for boards?

 

[physiclas87]

sorry, i'm a newbie.

What are the "boards"?

How many are there?

When and why do you take them?

What is covered on the boards?

thanks

 

[physiclas87]

btw go to UCSF *******

 

[Tra La La]

I know I'm extremely fortunate to be in the position of receiving acceptances from both UCI and UCSF, but at the current moment, I'm having a really difficult time choosing between the two. I think my main concerns are the type of education that each school provides and the amount of time each school gives off to study for the boards. I've been hearing that UCSF expects you to be brilliant when you enter, and therefore don't teach you information relevant for the boards but expect you to learn that on your own. UCI on the other hand, has a curriculum geared completely towards teaching for the boards (a plus considering the fact that I'd like to match in a competitve residency later on). The thing is...my sights are set for matching into a competitive residency, but I don't know if I should choose UCSF for its name and prestige, or UCI for its board-geared curriculum. Any UCSF or UCI Medical students out there that can help?

Also, I believe that currriculums that teach to the boards do not necessarily produce better physicians.

 

[derf]

Also, I believe that currriculums that teach to the boards do not necessarily produce better physicians.

but don't board scores correlate to residency placement, or is reputation/research ranking a greater variable in this area. any current med students with insight. I'm kinda in a similar predicament with the OP.

 

[DHMO]

I know I'm extremely fortunate to be in the position of receiving acceptances from both UCI and UCSF, but at the current moment, I'm having a really difficult time choosing between the two. I think my main concerns are the type of education that each school provides and the amount of time each school gives off to study for the boards. I've been hearing that UCSF expects you to be brilliant when you enter, and therefore don't teach you information relevant for the boards but expect you to learn that on your own. UCI on the other hand, has a curriculum geared completely towards teaching for the boards (a plus considering the fact that I'd like to match in a competitve residency later on). The thing is...my sights are set for matching into a competitive residency, but I don't know if I should choose UCSF for its name and prestige, or UCI for its board-geared curriculum. Any UCSF or UCI Medical students out there that can help?

As a current UCI student, I have to say, "are you nuts?!" Don't pass up an opportunity to go to UCSF simply because UCI gives you a little more time to study for Step 1. It's true that UCI does very well on step 1, in fact, I have 'heard' that it has the highest average in Cali (who knows if that's true). But if you are concerned because that might be true, just compare the match lists from UCI and UCSF. You will find that UCSF's is much more impressive. I think you have a pretty easy decision to make. Feel free to PM me if you want to know anything else.

 

[lulubean]

have you gone to both second-look weekends? its four years of your life and lots of money, and i say go where you feel is the best fit. you can go to ucsf and you don't like the school or environment, you are not going to excel as much as you if you had gone to place where you felt more at home. but i agree with everyone else, don't go to uci just cuz you are worried about the boards.

of course, if you felt most at home at ucsf, that would solve all your problems 😉

 

[Tra La La]

but don't board scores correlate to residency placement, or is reputation/research ranking a greater variable in this area. any current med students with insight. I'm kinda in a similar predicament with the OP.

Good point...but obviosuly, if UCSF does have lower Step I scores than UCI and UCSF grads are matching to better/more competitive residencies, reputation has to count for something.

 

[lola]

go to ucsf unless you have a bad gut feeling about it. you are kidding yourself if you really think uci will prepare you better for the boards! just because uci has more time off, and as a result *may* do better on the boards, does not mean that the students get better residency placements. i have no idea where these rumors about uci doing the best on step I are coming from. if they are true, it is probably because many uci students take a 1 month long kaplan course that teaches for the boards. going to ucsf will likely be a better experience with greater opportunities to see interesting patients and work with amazing physicians. i am fairly happy with uci, but even if they are preparing me well for step I (???), i don't think the clinical training will be as good as at some other schools. i would much rather be a well trained, thinking physician than someone who can rattle off a bunch of memorized facts.

 

[dannyl]

Personally I would go where I'd be most comfortable/happy, because that's where I'd probably excel (including studying for/performing on Step I). But, all of the above posters gave great advice, CA kids seem to be so much more level-headed than some of these other characters on this board!

Good luck and congrats on having an awesome choice to make!

 

[NorCalGirl]

thanks for the replies! I'm still having a hard time though...anyone know how much time ucsf gives off to study for boards?

A current student told me they usually finish their last block in March and get a month off. During that month, they can take Step 1 anytime they want.
So if you take it earlier, you get more vacation time and if you take
it later, then you get less vacation time before starting the third
year, which I guess starts at the end of April - early May.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

UCSF grads consistently match in the top residencies all across the nation. I wouldnt worry too much about their board preparation.

 

[202]

UCSF grads consistently match in the top residencies all across the nation. I wouldnt worry too much about their board preparation.

But doesn't how well you do on the boards determine what kind of residency you will be competitive for? I mean, if I go to ucsf and perform poorly on the boards, I'll still probably have a hard time matching. I'm just interested in finding out whether they prepare you well and give you enough time off. does 1 month allow enough preparation? and how is the courseload around the month of january-march? is it easy enough to allow you to study for the boards and classes? sorry for all the questions, i'm just really trying to do my research on this. it'll be where i spend the next four years of my life.

 

[Haybrant]

But doesn't how well you do on the boards determine what kind of residency you will be competitive for? I mean, if I go to ucsf and perform poorly on the boards, I'll still probably have a hard time matching.

Ive been wondering about this too; ucsf like stanford where I plan to attend has p/f in the first two years. It feels like if you dont do well on the boards it will really hurt b.c the school doesnt have gradations of h/p/f to judge you by. I reckon research (clinical, basic, etc) is crucial because of this, so take that into consideration.

 

[Gut Shot]

Jesus Christ, this is a problem? Follow your gut. It doesn't matter, really. If you want to live in SF, go there. If Irvine strokes your knob then sign on. For f***king the cat, flip a coin if all else fails.

 

[lola]

But doesn't how well you do on the boards determine what kind of residency you will be competitive for? I mean, if I go to ucsf and perform poorly on the boards, I'll still probably have a hard time matching. I'm just interested in finding out whether they prepare you well and give you enough time off. does 1 month allow enough preparation? and how is the courseload around the month of january-march? is it easy enough to allow you to study for the boards and classes? sorry for all the questions, i'm just really trying to do my research on this. it'll be where i spend the next four years of my life.

well...uci doesn't get much more than a month, so i hope it is enough. you will do fine on the boards no matter where you go if you study hard during your first 2 years of med school. don't stress about it now!

 

[Dr..Dr...Dr..]

Go to UCI, definately. Board scores mean everything. You will definately score higher on the boards at UCI. You will be overshadowed at UCSF. The new curriculum is not geared towards step one at UCSF, you will score barely above the national mean, and you will fail to match in your competetive residency of choice, you will be forced to attend a primary medicine rotation in Fresno and spend your life performing routine physicals at Kaiser. You will eventually be replaced by a nurse practitioner.


this opinion has nothing to do with my UCSF alternate-list status

 

[doc05]

school curriculum has little if anything to do with your board score...it's about the student. go to ucsf: it's a better school, better location, stronger reputation, substantially more impressive match list.