Columbia vs. UCLA

[Scooby Doo]

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In light of the recent Harvard vs. UCLA debate, I am wondering what people think of Columbia vs. UCLA.

Does Columbia have "enough of a name" for those people who are choosing Harvard b/c it's a once in a lifetime experience.

Voice up!

 

[Universal Coverage]

Scooby, so I've been wondering the same thing about Penn and UCSF as you can see from that thread. I know that on the east coast, and especially New York, Columbia is a huge name and very prestigious, I dare say almost as much as Harvard. I'm not sure about Columbia's reputation on the west coast though. Growing up in California, I spent much of my life not knowing Columbia was an ivy league school. And there really are those in the west, and even still in the east who might think Columbia is just a country in South America. But those opinions don't matter anyway I guess. I think Harvard and its universal appeal will always stand alone and in its own league, but Columbia and Penn (in my case) might have some of that prestige. How much does prestige mean to you? If you are looking for an incredible life experience then living in NYC and going to a school with the history and tradition of Columbia might offer something unique. But UCLA is definitely also an awesome medical school and maybe you should look more at where you will be most happy, the curriculum, and location. Congrats and good luck.

 

[rajneel1]

haven't you decided yet? may 15th is long gone!!
only you know the answer to this. if you want a change of pace then go to columbia. but if family, weather, etc. are important to you then UCLA is it. both are great schools.

 

[The Fly]

Yeah, are we talking hypothetically or are we talking waitlist, or what ??????? 😕

Scoob - c'mon man, you know what the deal is with these two schools -- Columbia is a marginally better program (and more traditional) with what would probably be a more hands-on clinical experience. That being said, UCLA MC is an excellent hospital, one of the best, period. And the clinical rotations their are known as being a little cushy. . .

Scoob - In the end, I think it comes down to where you'd rather be and where you want to end up for residency (East coast vs. West coast); this is, of course, assuming that the $$ is not a major issue (i.e. receiving good fin aid from P&S).

UCLA may not be an 'ivy league' medical school -- but then again, remember that Brown and Dartmouth fit into that category and are certainly not top programs.

Do you want to be in NYC or Los Angeles -- ??? To me, that's what it really boils down to with these schools. . . (again, assuming UCLA is not going to save you gobs and gobs of $$). 🙂

 

[Scooby Doo]

Well yea...This is totally assuming that I GET ON THE waitlist at UCLA and then subsequently get accepted!

I am in at Columbia and holding that acceptance tightly right now 🙂

But basically, people were just saying b/c harvard was amazing you had to go there. I mainly started this to see what people thought of columbia versus UCLA and if the reasons to go to columbia were the same.

I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING, that in the harvard one, people don't bring up (as much) family, weather, or whatever but are saying "DUDE, IT'S HARVARD!" ...then when you go to talk about any other school, everything else comes into play. Kinda sucks harvard gets such preferential treatment in this game 🙂 But I guess they deserve it...

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
•I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING, that in the harvard one, people don't bring up (as much) family, weather, or whatever but are saying "DUDE, IT'S HARVARD!" ...then when you go to talk about any other school, everything else comes into play. Kinda sucks harvard gets such preferential treatment in this game 🙂 But I guess they deserve it...•••••This is true, but I don't think it's deserved...at all! 😛

I think Columbia falls into the category that all the 'other' (arguably, Hopkins falls into the same category as Harvard) top schools are in -- wonderful and amazing, but not Harvard. These include:

Washington University in St. Louis
University of Pennsylvania
Duke University
University of California?San Francisco
Columbia U. College of Physicians and Surgeons
University of Michigan?Ann Arbor
Yale University
University of Washington
Cornell University (Weill)
Stanford University
Baylor College of Medicine
University of California?Los Angeles

Among others. . .

Thoughts?? 😕 🙂

 

[Oski]

Just pick one.

 

[KDMD]

Fly--While you named some very prestigious schools, I don't think you have to look beyond U.S. News to come up with that list.

 

[Patiently Waiting]

Scooby,

It's still too early for you to begin worrying about making a choice yet. I would wait til mid July and see if getting into UCLA first. Assume that you'll be heading to NYC this fall so that you won't have to deal w the last min looking for a place and a major moving fiasco... It sounds like you will be wayyy happier by attending UCLA.

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Patiently Waiting:
•Scooby,

It's still too early for you to begin worrying about making a choice yet. I would wait til mid July and see if getting into UCLA first. Assume that you'll be heading to NYC this fall so that you won't have to deal w the last min looking for a place and a major moving fiasco... It sounds like you will be wayyy happier by attending UCLA.•••••I am not really asking for myself. I know for sure that IF I got into UCLA, I would go. I am just asking this question b/c of that Harvard vs. UCLA thread.
I already know I would choose UCLA over Columbia. But I am wondering what people thought of that 🙂

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by KDMD:
•Fly--While you named some very prestigious schools, I don't think you have to look beyond U.S. News to come up with that list.•••••Maybe what I was trying to say wasn't very clear but I was trying to distinguish among the top schools as falling into two categories (as far as popular prestige is concerned):

1. HMS and Hopkins
2. Other top medical schools

So, what I meant was that there is this aura about Harvard and Hopkins that simply doesn't really apply to the others, even if we're talking about Columbia or Penn -- that being said, and now that I think about it, there almost seems an exemption to this rule if you attend SF or LA, since they're so absurdly competitive.

Of course, this is all my speculation and my $0.02... 😀

 

[rikkitikki]

Also think of what kind of living environment you want. My friends from CALI are having a hard time adjustin g to NYC especially in the winter because outdoor activities (ie running everyday outside, access to ocean) were very important them- lack of light etc. Not all Medical schools areall work and not play if you are not a city person you might suffer.

 

[lady bug]

Which one is more prestigious- U Penn or Penn State?

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by lady bug:
•Which one is more prestigious- U Penn or Penn State?•••••<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

Upenn = Ivy

Penn state = Not Ivy

Penn State = much easier to get into...though that doesn't mean your education is "worse"

but we are talking prestige here...Penn is like ranked 3 or 4 in US news every year. It's one of the top research places and all this other random stuff...

 

[Scooby Doo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by lady bug:
•Which one is more prestigious- U Penn or Penn State?•••••<img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

Upenn = Ivy

Penn state = Not Ivy

Penn State = much easier to get into...though that doesn't mean your education is "worse"

but we are talking prestige here...Penn is like ranked 3 or 4 in US news every year. It's one of the top research places and all this other random stuff...

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by lady bug:
•Which one is more prestigious- U Penn or Penn State?•••••😕 😕 😕

Seriously, people, is this a joke??????

😀 :wink: 😛 😀

 

[kafshar]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
[QB]Well yea...This is totally assuming that I GET ON THE waitlist at UCLA and then subsequently get accepted![QB]••••when did you interview? I knew UCLA lagged this entire year, but that is ridiculous. Are there any other schools that are this late!

 

[SMW]

OHSU was very late with decisions this year.

 

[UCSFallthway]

Hey scooby,

How did your interview go? Hopefully it went well.

Aiightz good luck

 

[McEntrye]

I think many people (on this thread and SDN in general) make the mistake of assuming that a name means something is automatically better.

If i have a headache, i will take ibuprofen and pay $2 a bottle instead of $4 for advil, which is the same thing with some sugar added.

In terms of Harvard, i know many high level academics (i.e. prinicpal investigators [professors for you unsophiticates]) and physicians and they all say that Harvard is good and everything, but its not the best.

Columbia is actually considered better by experts, its probably number 2 or 3 in north america.

So columbia is a name school that is actually really good, Harvard is two parts name half a part actualy quality (main strength is its hospitals).
As for UCLA, you definitely have great name points(David Geffen notwithstanding) but you have to live in LA(smog, gangs, traffic).

Whereas NYC is one the best cities to live in the country. I would say NYC and SF are pretty close, NYC having the edge for weather and culture reasons.

So, Scooby Doo, if money is not important, then go to columbia, you will love manhattan. (i.e. if you plan on being a plastic surgeon, or a anesthesiolgist, or whatever).

If you get into LA, and you want less debt, then go there. It has the best hospital in the west.

Good luck all!

 

[Scooby Doo]

Hey everyone,

Well $$ is DEFINITELY an issue but with finaid given to me from CU the price would be only a little less for me to go to UCLA. SO that doesn't play a huge role.

The interview was interesting...it could have gone either way. He either LOVED me or hated me. I couldn't tell.

I appealed and then got an interview so I didn't interview until late May. So I could only get onto the waitlist. I had no problem with this b/c waitlists are MADE to move. So who really cares.

🙂

Good luck 🙂

 

[SMW]

Hey, Scoob, if you go to UCLA, we'll never meet. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

 

[modemduck]

Hey Scooby, if you don't go to Columbia how will I learn to pick up girls like u? hehe =)

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:
• I would say NYC and SF are pretty close, NYC having the edge for weather and culture reasons. •••••SF and NYC pretty close...

Yeah right! :wink: 😛

SF is a great city but it has nothing on Manhattan. . . 😀