Dartmouth vs. UCSD

[caliguy67845]

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Hi Everyone,

I'm hearing back from the last of my schools, and it looks like my choice will be between Dartmouth and UCSD. I'm completely torn.

I'm from California, but I went to school in the northeast and I love both the warm CA sun and the 4 seasons that you get back east, so the weather in San Diego isn't THAT much of a draw for me.

I'm wondering how people compare their curriculums and communities overall? I feel like Dartmouth has a more intimate feel with potentially better mentoring but also a work heavy reputation. UCSD has the research $$, and from what I've heard, their restructured curriculum is much less work-intensive with less lecture hours etc.

Also, coming from CA, I've always thought of UCSD medicine as a powerhouse, but is that true nationally? Is Dartmouth a bigger name across the country? Not that this is a huge factor, but I'm thinking it does have some effect on future opportunities in academic medicine and residency placement...

I'm also not considering cost.

With that in mind, where do you think I should go?

 

[Ichiban88]

Which school did you like better? I think private schools give a homier vibe than the public institutions but there are always exceptions. In my opinion, the medical school at UCSD is more renown than Dartmouth's. I think Dartmouth's reputation comes from its undergrad. But then again, Im not from the east coast and I have never seen Dartmouth medical school. BTW, how do you create these polls?

 

[Nymphicus]

Dartmouth ships you around for your rotations.

Dartmouth has a small class size.

Dartmouth has snow, mountains, and forest instead of beaches or people.

Less variety in New Hampshire for sure.

Dartmouth has TDI if that's your thing.

UCSD has the advantage if you want to stay in California for residency.


Are any of these important to you?

 

[r1d1]

UCSD is higher ranked. But if you want to date upper class white girls, go to Dartmouth and never look back. I know quite a few ivy league girls who only date men from ivy league schools.

 

[TheShaker]

UCSD is higher ranked. But if you want to date upper class white girls, go to Dartmouth and never look back. I know quite a few ivy league girls who only date men from ivy league schools.

Are there really girls like that? 😕

 

[r1d1]

Are there really girls like that? 😕

You will be surprised to know how many women go to college to find wealthy husbands.

 

[skais595]

Dartmouth ships you around for your rotations.

Dartmouth has a small class size.

Dartmouth has snow, mountains, and forest instead of beaches or people.

Less variety in New Hampshire for sure.

Dartmouth has TDI if that's your thing.

UCSD has the advantage if you want to stay in California for residency.


Are any of these important to you?

I have only seen UCSD, but I would definitely point out these two as possibly important points. I personally would like to have some central idea of where my rotations will be (like "San Diego County" for UCSD). Also, if you have interest in medicine for the underserved, I would imagine the opportunities are better at UCSD. If you're interested in rural medicine, Dartmouth.

Just my thoughts.

 

[premed2000]

if you want to end up doing residency on the east coast, you might want to go with dartmouth. I mean, look at how many people they match into MGH. They even place a significant number of their students into UCSF for residency. Their match list and avg board scores are pretty darn impressive.

 

[Nandrolone]

San Diego is amazing...I feel like it would offer more opportunities since the city and patient-exposure would be much less homogenous than the one at Dartmouth. Having said that, if you like cold weather, nature and winter-sports Dartmouth is the place for you (I am doing my undergrad here, and love it)...but let me be 100% honest, if I were given the chance, I would chose UCSD in a heartbeat...perhaps, I wanna explore something new...haha

 

[CsHead]

Wouldn't UCSD also be the cheaper option for you?

If it were me, I would chose UCSD every time, but this is about you. How did you actually feel at the schools?


The cold thing ican be BS anyway, drive a few hours and you are boardin on the mountains.

 

[caliguy67845]

They would be about the same cost for me. I would be paying OOS tuition to UCSD..

Soley in terms of reputation, which ahead nationally, or is it even?

 

[Nandrolone]

They would be about the same cost for me. I would be paying OOS tuition to UCSD..

Soley in terms of reputation, which ahead nationally, or is it even?

UCSD is more prestigious....like ppl said, Dartmouth's rep comes from its undergrad

 

[Ichiban88]

UCSD is more prestigious in the medical world. Outside of medicine, Dartmouth might impress your future mother in law more.

 

[1stmeds]

you would get better training and research opportunities at UCSD

 

[caliguy67845]

Sorry, but didn't you say you were from California? Why would you be paying OOS?

I'm from CA originally but lost my CA residency after undergrad when I stayed back east to take time off.

 

[nychila]

Both are good schools, and neither would deprive you of anything, but ultimately it comes down to whether you would like to live in a college town in the Northeast (except when you spend a few months away in San Francisco for your rotations) or beach weather in a city in California. Most UCSD students will be Californians while Dartmouth students come from all over the country, as well as having many international students.

For whatever it's worth, it might be helpful to know that the vast majority of USCD graduates stay in California for residency, while Dartmouth graduates go all over the country for residency, including quite a few each year going to the West Coast.

 

[caliguy67845]

Oh damn! I've stayed back east for three years now post college graduation and I'm still trying to hold on to my CA residency. How do you know you lost it?

In fact, that reminds me of that jury duty notice my parents just got that I have to postpone, yet again...

The UC system registrar has a list of requirements that you need to meet.

 

[DrWatt]

I'm wondering how people compare their curriculums and communities overall? I feel like Dartmouth has a more intimate feel with potentially better mentoring but also a work heavy reputation. UCSD has the research $$, and from what I've heard, their restructured curriculum is much less work-intensive with less lecture hours etc.

You have a tough choice but really cant choose wrong. I would base the decision off whether you are more interested in an East vs West Coast residency.


What do you mean by having a work heavy reputation? I haven't heard that before. I thought it was considered one of the places where med students were happiest?

 

[Nymphicus]

You have a tough choice but really cant choose wrong. I would base the decision off whether you are more interested in an East vs West Coast residency.


What do you mean by having a work heavy reputation? I haven't heard that before. I thought it was considered one of the places where med students were happiest?

Lots of in-class time (lecture). I don't recall if it was mandatory or not. Also, weekly-ish quizzes.

 

[nychila]

Lots of in-class time (lecture). I don't recall if it was mandatory or not.

It's not, and all lectures are recorded. They're trimming the lecture time.

 

[anguisette]

They would be about the same cost for me. I would be paying OOS tuition to UCSD..

Soley in terms of reputation, which ahead nationally, or is it even?

I would double check with UCSD to be sure, but the host I stayed with was OOS and she said she is in-state for years 2-4.

 

[1stmeds]

I'm from CA originally but lost my CA residency after undergrad when I stayed back east to take time off.

actually, if you graduated from a CA high school (spending 3 or more years in one), and have lost your residency, you will still not be considered a "resident" BUT you would qualify to pay resident tuition and be exempted from "non-resident tuition". I looked it up because I was in the same boat. check out the exceptions for UC residency determination. you may not need to pay OOS:

http://www.ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/uc-residence-policy.pdf

 

[virtuoso735]

Where's the poll?

Anyways, I would choose UCSD over Dartmouth in a heart beat. San Diego > Hanover, and IMO UCSD reputation in California and throughout the country. Also, you have more research opportunities at UCSD.

 

[flodhi1]

UCSD is higher ranked. But if you want to date upper class white girls, go to Dartmouth and never look back. I know quite a few ivy league girls who only date men from ivy league schools.

You will be surprised to know how many women go to college to find wealthy husbands.

That's got to be the lamest thing I've heard all day

Where's the poll?

Anyways, I would choose UCSD over Dartmouth in a heart beat. San Diego > Hanover, and IMO UCSD reputation in California and throughout the country. Also, you have more research opportunities at UCSD.

Any way back to the topic at hand. OP, I would pick UCSD in a heart beat. I've heard Dartmouth has long class days and that would be a major issue for me. One of the most important things to me is having time during the day to get stuff done. The absolute last thing I want is long lecture days every day!

 

[twizzlers713]

No way I'd do Dart. Unless you really think you'd enjoy the area, UCSD is your best bet

 

[UrbanRiver]

UCSD!!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile

 

[Gerudo]

Dartmouth.

Because I want to go to UCSD.

-sees results-

Damn it.

 

[0919mmk]

DMS student here. Looking over the above comments, here's my take:

1) Yes, there is a lot of class time, but very little of it is mandatory. It is all recorded, so either way, you are going to learn however you want to learn.

2) If you are not in to New England weather, then it can be really tough here. The winters are def long, lots of SAD here lol.

3) Research dollars (kind of goes hand in hand with ranking) are definitely fewer here than at UCSD. If you wanted to be a MD/PhD or something, then yeah, UCSD hands down. I'm doing research here, and the nice thing with a small school is that it is super easy to get research gigs (just because you know all your professors really well). Along those lines...

4) Yes, our Step I and match results are crazy, in part because we get great letters of rec. I'm sure you can find ou match results somewhere, but basically yeah, tons of grads head to MGH residencies, UCSF, Mayo, all those places.

5) Our curriculum is in flux (I'm sorry, "redesign") right now, so that can be annoying if you needs tons of structure. Mostly you find your own way thru the material, but I think it's that way at most places.

Thats all for now - let me know if you have questions. Overall, most my classmates are really happy that they came here, mostly because it's a really tight-knit community, we have fun, and the admin/profs are super-accessible.

 

[vilanmary]

Their match list and avg board scores are pretty darn impressive.

 

[nychila]

Their match list and avg board scores are pretty darn impressive.

Dartmouth? What's their average Step 1 score? I have only been able to find their unofficial 2009 number, which is 236.