Columbia vs. UCSF (OOS)

[azulluza]

I’m accepted at Columbia and waitlisted at UCSF. I want to send a letter of intent to UCSF, but only if I'm 100% certain I'll commit there, so I needed opinions on these two.

Columbia
Pros:

• P/F grading: less stress bc I want to specialize in ortho
• My boyfriend lives 2 hours away in PA, and with both of us being busy (him as an M3), proximity matters.
• I have friends and familiarity in NYC after living in Philly for 5 years and visiting often
• NYC has great food (especially Asian food), endless activities, and entertainment.

Cons:

• Tuition is expensive: ~388k for 4 years
• High cost of living (although SF may be similar? If not, pls correct me)
• Strong biomedical curriculum could be intense

UCSF (OOS)
Pros:

• Tuition: ~256k for 4 years
• Smaller class size (60 vs. 84 at Columbia)
• Students there told me they are much more relaxed and chill than other dental school students. They were also extremely friendly.

Cons:

• Weather: I heard it's usually foggy and cloudy (Living in Philly, I really hated the foggy, cloudy climate. Gloomy weather really affects my mood a lot.)
• P/F/Honors (may have to get honors to go to a residency)
• New to the West Coast, no support system
• Dangerous? (I know nyc may also be dangerous because it's a big city but on my interview day at SF, I experienced Asian hate crime at a train station. A man blocked me for 20 minutes, screamed at me, and another man almost got into a fight intervening. It left a bad impression of SF and made me feel unsafe.)

Summary: I’ve lived in Philly for the past 5 years, but my family is abroad, so I don’t have a “home base” in the U.S. Both schools have strong specialty match rates, small class sizes, and similar costs of living. Since I have a stronger support system on the East Coast and the gloomy weather in SF concerns me, I’m leaning toward Columbia. However, the $130k difference in tuition is a crucial factor, and I don’t want to be burdened with debt for 15-20 years. I’d really appreciate thoughtful advice on this.

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[slayeveryday]

Following… in the exact exact same dilemma

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What's the cost of attendance for both schools?

Honestly, SF is no less "dangerous" than NY. I don't know why you are so afraid of the weather in SF... it's generally more temperate than NY. Whenever I visit, it's not so foggy and cloudy, but you do have quite a range of temperatures that you have to have a sweater and a rain jacket ready (kinda like London). That said, you will experience "microclimates" and the landscape is very different compared to NYC. Both places are among the most expensive in the US, and they both have extensive public transit systems. Travel to the SFO airport though is much more simple than getting from Manhattan to any of the NYC airports, and you can travel anywhere in the world out of SFO or any NYC airports.

I don't know if Asian hate experiences are any different between NYC and SF. Homeless/houseless will be problems in both cities. Traffic will be horrible in both cities. I guess the one plus with SF is the ability to enjoy "wine country," and the natural beauty is amazing.

 

[azulluza]

What's the cost of attendance for both schools?

Honestly, SF is no less "dangerous" than NY. I don't know why you are so afraid of the weather in SF... it's generally more temperate than NY. Whenever I visit, it's not so foggy and cloudy, but you do have quite a range of temperatures that you have to have a sweater and a rain jacket ready (kinda like London). That said, you will experience "microclimates" and the landscape is very different compared to NYC. Both places are among the most expensive in the US, and they both have extensive public transit systems. Travel to the SFO airport though is much more simple than getting from Manhattan to any of the NYC airports, and you can travel anywhere in the world out of SFO or any NYC airports.

I don't know if Asian hate experiences are any different between NYC and SF. Homeless/houseless will be problems in both cities. Traffic will be horrible in both cities. I guess the one plus with SF is the ability to enjoy "wine country," and the natural beauty is amazing.

Thank you. Based on last year's cost of attendance (including cost of living) for four years listed on the school websites:

• UCSF: $458k (assuming I will be considered a CA resident starting D2)
• Columbia: $583k

While factors like weather and the safety of city life are important, my main concern is Cost vs. Being close to my boyfriend and friends. I also prefer the NYC vibe much more than SF in general.

 

[macsak]

Thank you. Based on last year's cost of attendance (including cost of living) for four years listed on the school websites:

• UCSF: $458k (assuming I will be considered a CA resident starting D2)
• Columbia: $583k

While factors like weather and the safety of city life are important, my main concern is Cost vs. Being close to my boyfriend and friends. I also prefer the NYC vibe much more than SF in general.

sounds like you made up your mind already
but note that 25% more expensive means 25% longer to financial freedom, and 25% longer to retirement
and that is NOT taking interest into account...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I just point out that if your boyfriend is an M3, then you really have to worry about 1 year where you will be apart assuming he won't do an away in SF (if you live there). I also mention "it don't mean a thing if you ain't got a ring."

The comment about Asian food/restaurants being better in NYC vs. SF... I beg to differ a bit there. 🙂

Regardless, it feels that you would be more comfortable at Columbia. You have two great choices, but you need to figure out managing that debt number. Columbia should have a lot of financial aid in their endowment banks, so hopefully that will help you if you grind while in school. Note if you are serious about your relationship, you have to worry about his debt number too.

 

[azulluza]

sounds like you made up your mind already
but note that 25% more expensive means 25% longer to financial freedom, and 25% longer to retirement
and that is NOT taking interest into account...

Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind!

 

[azulluza]

I just point out that if your boyfriend is an M3, then you really have to worry about 1 year where you will be apart assuming he won't do an away in SF (if you live there). I also mention "it don't mean a thing if you ain't got a ring."

The comment about Asian food/restaurants being better in NYC vs. SF... I beg to differ a bit there. 🙂

Regardless, it feels that you would be more comfortable at Columbia. You have two great choices, but you need to figure out managing that debt number. Columbia should have a lot of financial aid in their endowment banks, so hopefully that will help you if you grind while in school. Note if you are serious about your relationship, you have to worry about his debt number too.

Thank you so much. I asked Columbia admissions about financial aid so hopefully I’ll get a response soon. I will also think about other factors as well!