difficult situation UCSD vs U Michigan

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ilclamv

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I have just been offer admissions at UCSD today and i have already sent out my matriculation deposit to U Michigan. I have to decide very soon which school I shoud go to. I am at a very difficult situation now, cuz UCSD is my state school, which means 10k tuition a year, where as tuition at Michigan is 30k for out of staters. But then, Michigan is a much better school than UCSD in terms of teaching and facilities. I am really having difficulties deciding between these two? Does anyone have any suggestions or comments that might help me to decide?
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How long do you have to decide?

I would go to UCSD. It's not THAT much of a dropoff in terms of teaching/facilities. Though it does have the reputation of being a stressful place.
 
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Where will you be happier, considering the educational enviroment as well as location?

If you're considering academic medicine or want to get into a competitive residency for some other reason, then you might want to go with UMich. However, I think UCSD has a very good reputation and so there may not be a big difference between the schools. You might want to look at recent match lists for both places.

Have you gotten scholarship and financial aid info for UMich yet? Maybe you can stall a little until you get that info?
 
plus if you know you wanna come back to Cali for residency... UCSD all the way
 
I would pick UCSD all the way. I work at the med school and talk to students and although they say it's pretty competitive, you just cant beat the tuition, living in La Jolla is a blast and UCSD is moving up the rankings.

Jetson
 
Alright, I dropped my ten foot pole somewhere.

I would definately choose U Mich. Schoolwise, Umich is better, but UCSD has better location.

My problem with UCSD is that a ton of the students there absolutely hate it. I'll give like 2 of the ~7 examples of the stories I have heard from people I actually trust.


One person in my class is dating a 4th year student at UCSD (for the past 4 years) She personally said that the school is nice, but the administration is absolutely horrible. "If there was something to make life easier for the students, the administration would do the exact opposite"


One of my former students from UCLA who interviewed at UCSD told me that on his tour, a student walked by and whispered to the tour group "Run while you still can"

Lilycat, the moderator of this forum or the lounge, got pulled over on her interview there and was told by someone that if she gets into any other school, go there over UCSD.


That's three of the ~7 stories that I have heard of this sort from reliable sources. I know I would hate going through medical school if I didn't like where I was.
 
Originally posted by DW
is it true that UCSD used to have saturday classes?
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure of this, but I think it is every third saterday. I'm sure someone else knows better.
 
UCSD. no question about it. location, tuition, mexican food.... what more can you ask?
 
Can you really say UMich "teaching" is better? Where did you find this out?...USNews? Are there things UMich teaches you that UCSD doesn't?

Sorry for the sarcasm...but I really wish people wouldn't get so caught up in rankings. I'm sure you will get an excellent education at UCSD...

Bottom line...go wherever you think you'll be happiest...
 
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I would pick UCSD because I live in SD and it would be comvinient for me but I have a story for you.

I will repost a message I posted in other thread

"UCSD is all about location. I was an undergrad at UCSD too. I live in SD now and love the city. The weather is awesome and the fact that the campus is so close to the beach.
However, after all my interviews so it happened that it was the last place I visited. I noticed a lot more negativity among students and surrounding the school itself. But the fact that I already live here in San Diego and that because for that matter it would be so much cheaper, this is my first choice. In three words, location, location, location.
I interviewed and got accepted in UCDavis and I am wait listed for UCLA. I am also wait listed for Einstein and Cornell. I know this schools showed "happier students" than UCSD but location beats the others. That is for me and because my family lives here.

If you don't live in SD you might find yourself happier somewhere else. when I visited the campus found the same trend like in UCSD undergrad, competive people all around. I thought for a sec it was just myself BUT....
As I was walking towards my car after the interview was over, I saw a first year and asked me "is this your interview?" I said yeah this is my first choice. She said "Oh really, are u sure? I dont like it too much myself. Did you interview somewhere else" I said yeah at UCLA, davis, Irvine. Then she said "I would kill to have gone to UCLA"

Of course take everything for a grain of salt but the fact is that she didn't look happy. Other students kept saying "people keep saying things about this school but it is not that bad, you get used to it"

Like I said I want to be close to my family and I already survived 4 years of undergrad.

Hope this helps!"

hmm maybe it doesn't help you much does it?
 
Originally posted by fusionid
people keep saying things about this school but it is not that bad, you get used to it"
Click to expand...
This is the line I love.

I should stop picking on this thread before to many people get mad at me.
 
ilclamv, is it feasible to go revisit UCSD and reassess the place for yourself? talk to students for firsthand info.
 
With regards to the tuition difference between the two schools - I recently talked to a UMich med student who was actually out-of-state as well. However, after a year living in MI, he filed for residency and has since been paying in-state. So, probably you would only have to pay the higher tuition for the first year. Thereafter, if you obtain MI residency after that period, you would just be paying in-state (and getting just as good a financial deal as with UCSD).

Hope this helps, and good luck with your decision!
 
From what I remembered at my interview a whole 21 months ago, someone asked specifically that question, and the fin aid lady said it is impossible for someone coming strait to school to get residency.
 
PS, welcome to SDN
 
I'd normally advocate UMich, but UCSD is an just such a great school that I think you'd be making a mistake by turning it down. The research oppurtunities are unbeatable in San Diego. The city is BEAUTIFUL, and FAR FAR away from that dreary place called Ann Arbor which snows about 1/3 of the year. The school itself is a rising star, and very up and coming. The free clinic is really nice, the students are super chill. The only drawback I see is the lack of a high power teaching hospital. Though the VA is really nice.
 
If you want information on UCSD, here is their website:

http://meded-portal.ucsd.edu/login.cfm

They actually have their class scheds up for the current week and a typical week. There is Saterday classes during fall and it looks to be about 22-28 hours in the classroom (not counting ICM) a week. (which is a lot)
 
I would vote for U of Michigan - if you can afford the delta tution. San Diogo is a better city howeverm U of Michigan is a bteter school.
 
Stay as far away from UMich as possible. I wouldn't even consider it. Even resident tuition at Michigan sucks, and its rising fast because the state is dragging the budget out of the toilet by raising tuition and dropping aid. Furthermore, every person I knew who went there for undergrad left after one year. Not the cold either, mind you, because my hometown is far north of Ann Arbor. I have to establish residency in another state just because I need a different state school to apply to for dental school. The school, in both med and dent, thinks it is California Northeast in its admissions policies, and thinks U.P. residents are better suited to MSU because we are rural, rather than "diverse" city folk from all over the country. There is a reason that the university is the subject of numerous state and national class-action lawsuits. You have a dream situation going to school instate, in San Diego, for cheap. Don't blow it.
 
1) I've known a decent chunk of people to go to UM for various degrees, and none have gotten instate residency. UM is much like UVA in that it takes a lot to get instate. If you get married while you are there though, and your spouse is working, you can get instate.

2) UCSD definitely wins in terms of cost and weather. I don't know much about it, but it doesn't sound like the greatest place in terms of student happiness. I choose my undergrad based on best education at the lowest cost, and although I hated large chunks of it (the administration mostly), I am really happy I am debt free coming out of undergrad. If I could stay virtually debt free, I would go to my state school (MCG), but for a variety of reasons I think that the quality at Michigan justifies the cost. It really all depends on how much you value your mental sanity. It is an $80k difference over four years roughly + interest if you take a loan. I don't think anyone is going to knock on UCSD's reputation. If you can handle a little added stress for 4 years, I would go to UCSD.
 
Originally posted by FMLizard
Stay as far away from UMich as possible. I wouldn't even consider it. Even resident tuition at Michigan sucks, and its rising fast because the state is dragging the budget out of the toilet by raising tuition and dropping aid. Furthermore, every person I knew who went there for undergrad left after one year. Not the cold either, mind you, because my hometown is far north of Ann Arbor. I have to establish residency in another state just because I need a different state school to apply to for dental school. The school, in both med and dent, thinks it is California Northeast in its admissions policies, and thinks U.P. residents are better suited to MSU because we are rural, rather than "diverse" city folk from all over the country. There is a reason that the university is the subject of numerous state and national class-action lawsuits. You have a dream situation going to school instate, in San Diego, for cheap. Don't blow it.
Click to expand...

so basically what you're saying is you have no basis re: umich medical school to make any valid comparisons. :laugh: a couple of high school kids who left? hell, as an undergrad, i transferred INTO umich because i didn't like my other state school. maybe the people you knew left umich because coming from the UP they couldn't handle the culture shock of a city that is caught up with the times :laugh: (sorry i couldn't resist. my mom lives in the UP. just picking!)

you have ranted anti-umich things in other threads before with no real validity to back them up.... and you're not even preallo. you have talked about business classes and going to dental school; what weight can you bring to this discussion? you just sound bitter.

ANYWAY.
to the OP -- go where you feel you will be the happiest. for some people, being happy means less debt and sunny climate. for some people, it means going to the highest ranked school possible. in your situation, (especially if i wanted to return to cali for residency), i'd pick UCSD. that low tuition is really hard to match. and we do get snow here. 😀
 
Thanks to all you guys that posted comments and replies and I really appreciate your inputs.
I just have another question. Alot of replies seemed to have mentioned that one should go to a california medical school if one wants to match into a california residency program. this is not the first time I have heard this saying. I am just wondering, are California residencies positions more open to california med school graduates? Will going to U Mich negatively affect my chances of coming back to california for residency? Also if I do a residency in another state (say I stay in U Mich to do a residency)? can I still come back to california to practice?
 
Originally posted by ilclamv
Also if I do a residency in another state (say I stay in U Mich to do a residency)? can I still come back to california to practice?
Click to expand...

Nope...California does not allow people who train in Michigan to come back and practice.
 
Originally posted by Big Lebowski
Nope...California does not allow people who train in Michigan to come back and practice.
Click to expand...

:laugh:

no, it won't necessarily hurt you... but you will likely have a better shot at staying in the same area. i'm sure there are people from umich who do residencies in CA, but i'll bet it is easier to get those residencies if you went to school in CA. i have no solid proof to back up my statements; i'm just reiterating something i've heard a few times. 🙂
 
Originally posted by Big Lebowski
Nope...California does not allow people who train in Michigan to come back and practice.
Click to expand...

LOL.... but seriously, congratulations on getting into both UCSD and U Mich. I wish I was in a similar situation.. currently I am accepted at U Mich but I'm still waitlisted at UCSD (also a cali resident). If I was in your position, based on all the factors, I think I would choose UCSD.

Out of curiosity, any tips on getting off the UCSD waitlist? i.e. did you send in any LOI's, updates, calls, etc?
 
have any any of you two checked your status on the UCSD website. I tried earlier and it wasn't working. It says AAMC id or something "can't be validated". I hope this doesn't mean I've been rejected. Anyone?
 
As for the residency issue, I am actually leaving my area of the country to be more competitive when I return. Think of it this way. If you were a PD looking at applications in california, people from UC schools are a dime a dozen. True, they probably bias certain onces over others but your degree just probably isn't valued the same way as if you said you were a UCSD graduate on the east coast. People place a value often on things that are exotic, different, and new. Given, there are tons of Californians in medical schools across the country, how many will be Michigan graduates? Given, that if you went to a no name school or regional on the other side of the country it might seriously hurt you because they have never had a resident or faculty member from that school, but I'm willing to hedge my bets that most good California residency programs have gotten students from all of the top twenty medical schools and frequently from the top ten.

I know this was the case with my undergrad degree. People from Silicon Valley were like "Wow, a GT grad," while in Georgia it doesn't mean anything. It's all about supply and demand.

Just my $.02.
 
I'm not sure if it's true at all that it is easier to get into a Cali residency if you're a Cali school grad. There are probably more people from California schools that match in Cali. However, that may just be due to the fact that more california med school grads want to do residencies in California. UMich places almost all of their students into top programs all over the country. Since the vast majority of their students are not from California, most of them are not applying to residencies in CA. Several of their students each year do match into competitive programs in CA though.

It does appear that med schools take a lot of their own grads for residency. I haven't seen a matchlist for UCSD but you may want to go there if you eventually want to do your residency specifically at UCSD.
 
I was in the same boat as yours, deciding between U Mich and Colorado (similar academic reputation, great location, family). Here are some considerations which helped me to make the decision.

1. I got the last three years match list for both schools. It's hard to conclude the quality of the match list from just one year. If you are thinking about MGH, Hopkin for your future residency, go to Mich. Otherwise, I feel that at least 30% Colorado students matched just as good as 50% Mich students.

2. After talking to numberous academic physicians, 90% told me that your board score, lol, aoa are way more important than your school's name. So their conclusion is that it's you who makes your med education and makes youself competitive, and it doesn't matter that much where you receive your degree. Not convinced totally, I got my school's physicians referral list. I can tell you that majority of academic physicians at UC didn't graduate from big name schools, but most of them did their residencies at reputable places.

3. It's much easier to practice at the location where you did your residency. I personally know some Wash U or U Penn residents had hard time to find an ideal job at Colorado.

4. Tuition is a huge factor to be considered. Maybe because I have been working for five years before med school, financial independency and freedom of debt free are something significant for me. Besides the life experience, med school is actually a kind of investment which helps your dream to come true. I have to evaluate the pay-off of my investment, and I feel 80k doesn't justify the difference between Colorado and Mich.

5. I had contacted Umich financial office, and I can assure you that if you are not in Mich before the date of your acceptance letter, you can't acclaim Mich residency for all four years.

6. Family is so important for me that even I love everything I saw at U mich, I know I will be much happier here in state.

So, I send out the "no-enrollment letter" to Mich without any regret. I know Mich is a much better school than Colorado. But I also believe my ability to be my best at both schools. Good luck for your decision, and honestly you can't make mistake by choosing either school.
 
Originally posted by calipremed
I'm not sure if it's true at all that it is easier to get into a Cali residency if you're a Cali school grad. There are probably more people from California schools that match in Cali. However, that may just be due to the fact that more california med school grads want to do residencies in California. UMich places almost all of their students into top programs all over the country. Since the vast majority of their students are not from California, most of them are not applying to residencies in CA. Several of their students each year do match into competitive programs in CA though.
Click to expand...

Word...I always hear this too. I agree with cali premed. I don't think it is necessarily easier to get a cali residency as a cali school grad. Its just that everyone at a cali school usually applies to a cali residency. Of course a place like UMich won't have as many people place into cali residencies, not all of their students were originally from cali and want to go there for residency.

If anything, coming from a cali school will allow one to do rotations in cali hospitals so that residency directors know them already. However, I'd say most schools will let you do away rotations at cali hospitals for the same purpose.
 
surf or snow?
 
please stop spreading unsubstantiated rumors about UCSD. i am a MSI and there are no saturday classes and there have never been any. the only time we had to to do something on saturday was interview patients b/c that was the only time that the patients were available. we only had to do it for three sat afternoons anyways.

UCSD is a great school and i love it here. if anyone has any specific qustions you can PM me.
 
Originally posted by CalBear
please stop spreading unsubstantiated rumors about UCSD.
Click to expand...

They are not to unsubstantiated (Past Thread ) If you really wanted to make a change, you should show this thread to the adminisration.
 
Hey CalBear,

I didn't know you were an MSI at UCSD? I am too. I think I used to remember who CalBear was. Anyway, I will PM you and we'll figure it all out.

Jalby,

Most of your claims about UCSD are hearsay. I am a first year med student, just like CalBear. I have to say that the rumors are indeed unsubstantiated. I think med school is tough no matter where you go. It'll be stressful and competitive. I love it here and I don't think the work load is that bad.

But it is true that our classmates are competitive but not in the sense of "gunner" competitive. Everybody studies hard and does well. You should look at the mean in our class. The mean is in the range of 85-88% consistently (sometimes even 90%). But that just means you are in great company and that's nothing to be afraid of.

I don't know why you are hell bent on saying negative things about UCSD when there are many, many other great things about the school.
 
Originally posted by Cambrian

I don't know why you are hell bent on saying negative things about UCSD when there are many, many other great things about the school.
Click to expand...

You are 100% right. But your administration really screws you guys. But everything I have posted is direct second hand information. (As in the person who it happened to told me personally) 2 of them were my students who was interviewing while I was TAing them in a lab class at UCLA and other were my friends from UCLA, or people I met in other areas.

I just think you guys might need an admin change. But it might be UCSD as a whole that has the competative attitude and makes the admin make life harder for you guys.

About life being harder for you guys, you guys have 23 hours a week of pure class on a good week. On a bad one ~28, right?? That's more than most schools by a lot. And are the electives they talk about really electives, or do you have to do something??
 
Originally posted by Jalby
You are 100% right. But your administration really screws you guys. But everything I have posted is direct second hand information. (As in the person who it happened to told me personally) 2 of them were my students who was interviewing while I was TAing them in a lab class at UCLA and other were my friends from UCLA, or people I met in other areas.

I just think you guys might need an admin change. But it might be UCSD as a whole that has the competative attitude and makes the admin make life harder for you guys.

About life being harder for you guys, you guys have 23 hours a week of pure class on a good week. On a bad one ~28, right?? That's more than most schools by a lot. And are the electives they talk about really electives, or do you have to do something??
Click to expand...

Jalby-
why do you insist on being such a jerk about UCSD? Why do you insist that our administration "screws" us over when you are not even a student here? as i recall, you go to USC. I really do not want to argue with you about nit picky "heresay" and "secondary" rumors that you insist on propagating. sounds to me like someone is bitter at UCSD for one reason or another. If there are people on this message board who really want to learn about UCSD and are willing to keep an open mind to the "truth," please e-mail me and i would be happy to share with you my honest opinions about the school.

CalBear
 
Alrighty then. I'll drop it. Should have kept my ten foot pole handy.
 
I think it is sort of telling that a few cal residents in this thread were waitlisted by ucsd but got an outright acceptance to Umich. Umich isn't harvard/hopkins, and UCSD is a UC school!! Honestly, I wouldn't give up a good steak dinner for the reputation difference between UCSD and UM, much less $80,000.

The *only* possible reason you would take UM over UCSD is if you hate california and love the midwest. I don't like california much myself, but I don't like the midwest either.
 
Originally posted by meanderson
I think it is sort of telling that a few cal residents in this thread were waitlisted by ucsd but got an outright acceptance to Umich. Umich isn't harvard/hopkins, and UCSD is a UC school!! Honestly, I wouldn't give up a good steak dinner for the reputation difference between UCSD and UM, much less $80,000.

The *only* possible reason you would take UM over UCSD is if you hate california and love the midwest. I don't like california much myself, but I don't like the midwest either.
Click to expand...

so being #9 in the selectivity rankings and # 8 overall means nothing to you huh? in fact, anyone can get in! (from cali of course)
dont get me wrong, my sister went to ucsd undergrad and it is by far the most beautiful campus i have ever visited. but lets not make misinformed conjectures about umich ok?
 
Yeah Michigan is a top school....but UCSD isn't bad either. Isn't it ranked #15 or #18 or something? After the top 5-6 schools, I really don't think there is all that much difference between 10-25. Compare the match lists of Baylor, Pittsburgh, Emory, and CWRU. They are almost identical in quality.
 
no youre right - if i were in the op's spot i would prob go to ucsd for any of the reasons mentioned in this thread. plus like i said my sister goes there and even if it turns out that the students are malignant (which who knows if that is true, shouldnt it vary from class to class?) or the classes to be rigorous (this is med school we're talkng about) you could always just take the 2min walk to the beach or the ten minute drive downtown where there is always something going on.
 
Thanks to all of you that made that replied to my question.
It was hard to decide which to go, but in the end, I decided to go to U Mich. The biggest reason ist hat I am a UCSD undergrad myself and I am tired of san diego. the weather here is nice, but having absolutely no seaons what so ever kinda my nerves after a while. four years is enough for me. So, going to the midwest is like a whole new experience for me. But for those of you who have never lived in san diego, I definitely would recommend UCSD. If I went to U Mich for undergrad, I would most like have chosen UCSD =) So I guess I am paying a $80,000 ticket to see the midwest. I figured that if I don't leave california now, I may never leave california, since I want to do residency and practice in california.
for those of you out there thats interested in UCSD med school, its not as bad as some people have said. The students here work very hard and there are alot of classes, but the administration is doing whatever it can in recent years to boost student morale. the students at ucsd are not competitive, but simply worked hard, because UCSD is very proud of its record of 100% pass rate for the USMLE. So, the faculty here spends alot of time to make sure that every student will pass the boards. Worse comes to worse, you can always party at downtown SD or Pacific Beach and check out the hunnies. by the way, just in case you are wondering, there are alot more pretty girls at UCSD these days, so the weather shouldn't be the only reason to come to SD ^.^ Also, I checked out the match list at UCSD for the past 4 years. it is true that on average not as many students from SD match to top residency programs or competitive residencies as U Mich, but the top 15-25 % match really well (both in terms of prestige of residency program and the competitivenes of the specialty). UCSD graduates match into UCSF, Stanford, and UCLA regularly. So good luck to all of you and thanks alot for your comments.
 
either way, things were bound to work out well for you. Congrats again!!
 
good luck at Michigan. i myself paid a hefty price to come out to boston for undergrad and i'm on the first flight back to cali after graduation, haha. but i totally feel ya on wanting to experience something new. but $5 says that after a year, you won't believe you ever said you disliked the mono-seasonal weather of SoCal =).
 
Ann Arbor is a great place for grad schl, mind u this is coming from an MSU person, who absolutely hates the Wolverines 😛
There is soooo much to do culturally and its so diverse. For example I went to a jazz club there on Sat. Plus we went to a mexican club a few weeks ago, hiphop last week.
I used to hate Ann Arbor as an undergrad but now I actually like it 🙄 , really has a lot going on. U of M campus has a lot of historical buildings and is like 3 and a half hrs from Chicago, straight down I-94.
I'm from state of Michigan so might be biased becos its close to loved ones, but it is a good institution, big on research and a lot of projects going on
 
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