Duke vs UCSD

[soresu]

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Thanks in advance for reading this and for all the help.

I feel very blessed to be in this position and was hoping the SDN community could offer some advice on this decision.

Location
I think SD is the clear winner here. I'm originally from California (currently on the east coast right now) and I can't think of a better place to spend the next four years.

Cost
I'm a California resident, so SD almost be half the price of Duke. That's a lot of money and not something to ignore.

Curriculum
Up for debate, but I find Duke's curriculum to be really interesting. Sounds a bit crazy to squeeze two years of pre-clinical classes into one year, but the students I spoke to say that it's manageable and ultimately worth it because you end up with a "free" third year to do a research project.

Rankings
Duke is higher up. I'm not sure if rankings have any impact though, and would really appreciate SDN's view on this. Also, I feel like my parents are pressuring me slightly into going to Duke (strictly based on rankings). I know this shouldn't have an impact on my decision, but I can't ignore it.

At the end of the day, I think I'm just weighing cost/location vs prestige. Am I just being stupid? I feel like I should definitely choose SD, but I don't want to have regrets about giving up a chance to attend a "top 10" school as my parents put it.

Do rankings have a significant impact for residency? If you get good clinical grades + nail your Step 1, will you be competitive as everyone else?

Thanks again for all the help. Much appreciated as always.

 

[prado]

You seem like you really like UCSD and you should definitely go there. It's a great school with a great reputation in California if you choose to stay for residency. You won't be held back at all when you apply as long as you have good board scores. Go to UCSD and leave Duke in the dust 👍

 

[GrabSlamBoot]

Yeah you seem like your set on UCSD. Go where you will be happy. Not where one school is ranked higher than another.

 

[wnm1]

My sister had a similar dilemma a couple years ago choosing between UCSF and Harvard, and in the end chose UCSF because she gets in state tuition, it's closer to family and her boyfriend, and the clinical training at UCSF is excellent. My parents were super upset for a while because they wanted the Harvard name but in the end they got over it. My sister is very happy at UCSF and did not regret her decision at all.

Duke and UCSD are not that much different in ranking, and UCSD is a great school. If you do well, your opportunities will be amazing too. Prestige is only what you make of it. If you want the Duke name, you should choose Duke, but be sure it is for more than just name, dissatisfaction at a school could affect your performance. San Diego is a wonderful place to live. Just go with where you will be happiest and don't let your parents influence your decision too much.

 

[Tots]

Thanks in advance for reading this and for all the help.

I feel very blessed to be in this position and was hoping the SDN community could offer some advice on this decision.

Location
I think SD is the clear winner here. I'm originally from California (currently on the east coast right now) and I can't think of a better place to spend the next four years.

Cost
I'm a California resident, so SD almost be half the price of Duke. That's a lot of money and not something to ignore.

Curriculum
Up for debate, but I find Duke's curriculum to be really interesting. Sounds a bit crazy to squeeze two years of pre-clinical classes into one year, but the students I spoke to say that it's manageable and ultimately worth it because you end up with a "free" third year to do a research project.

Rankings
Duke is higher up. I'm not sure if rankings have any impact though, and would really appreciate SDN's view on this. Also, I feel like my parents are pressuring me slightly into going to Duke (strictly based on rankings). I know this shouldn't have an impact on my decision, but I can't ignore it.

At the end of the day, I think I'm just weighing cost/location vs prestige. Am I just being stupid? I feel like I should definitely choose SD, but I don't want to have regrets about giving up a chance to attend a "top 10" school as my parents put it.

Do rankings have a significant impact for residency? If you get good clinical grades + nail your Step 1, will you be competitive as everyone else?

Thanks again for all the help. Much appreciated as always.

It sounds like you want to go to UCSD. Go to UCSD!!!

Just one note: I highly doubt UCSD will be half the cost of Duke. California medical schools are not that cheap. Just using the numbers on their website, UCSD's COA is about 235,000$/4 yrs and this does not account for rise in tuition, which could be rough given the past few years in California. I doubt that changes much though(still like an 80k difference between UCSD and Duke), but you should wait until you get financial aid information.

 

[deleted127837]

Rankings
Duke is higher up. I'm not sure if rankings have any impact though, and would really appreciate SDN's view on this. Also, I feel like my parents are pressuring me slightly into going to Duke (strictly based on rankings). I know this shouldn't have an impact on my decision, but I can't ignore it.

At the end of the day, I think I'm just weighing cost/location vs prestige. Am I just being stupid? I feel like I should definitely choose SD, but I don't want to have regrets about giving up a chance to attend a "top 10" school as my parents put it.

Do rankings have a significant impact for residency? If you get good clinical grades + nail your Step 1, will you be competitive as everyone else?

Thanks again for all the help. Much appreciated as always.

Check your numbers before you assume UCSD is cheaper, but if what you listed are the things most important to you, you should go to UCSD. It sounds like what you want.

Since you asked and I don't think anybody answered: Duke trumps UCSD in overall prestige. You know that. It's the best school in its region (the so-called "Harvard/Ivy of the South"), while UCSD is the 'third best' medical school in California. If residencies have a ton of applicants from California (always), will they grab UCSF or UCLA over UCSD?

The thing is, things aren't that simple. Rankings do matter for residencies, and Duke's dedicated research year would likely make you more competitive for the most competitive residencies (radonc, etc.). I would ignore prestige, but give serious consideration to what the school can give you in terms of an overall competitive application.

Personally, I did exactly that, and I'm most likely going to the school I loved over the top 10s (come oooon, financial aid!). 🙂 Why? Because I think being in an atmosphere I enjoy will do more for my personal success and growth than the ranking, and 4~11 years (since many people match in their school's hospital) is a long time to not be in a place I know I'd be truly happy.

Is UCSD that place for you?

 

[wnm1]

Check your numbers before you assume UCSD is cheaper, but if what you listed are the things most important to you, you should go to UCSD. It sounds like what you want.

Since you asked and I don't think anybody answered: Duke trumps UCSD in overall prestige. You know that. It's the best school in its region (the so-called "Harvard/Ivy of the South"), while UCSD is the 'third best' medical school in California. If residencies have a ton of applicants from California (always), will they grab UCSF or UCLA over UCSD?

The thing is, things aren't that simple. Rankings do matter for residencies, and Duke's dedicated research year would likely make you more competitive for the most competitive residencies (radonc, etc.). I would ignore prestige, but give serious consideration to what the school can give you in terms of an overall competitive application.

Personally, I did exactly that, and I'm most likely going to the school I loved over the top 10s (come oooon, financial aid!). 🙂 Why? Because I think being in an atmosphere I enjoy will do more for my personal success and growth than the ranking, and 4~11 years (since many people match in their school's hospital) is a long time to not be in a place I know I'd be truly happy.

Is UCSD that place for you?

Also if you have never, ever venture outside of CA, go to Duke. The difference in ranking is really not that important, but personal growth and experience is important, so go to Duke if that will challenge you. But if cost and closeness to family is important, go to UCSD. Honestly, both schools are amazing. Just work hard and do well at whichever.

 

[dahassa]

Also if you have never, ever venture outside of CA, go to Duke. The difference in ranking is really not that important, but personal growth and experience is important, so go to Duke if that will challenge you. But if cost and closeness to family is important, go to UCSD. Honestly, both schools are amazing. Just work hard and do well at whichever.

I think this is a good point. CA is a bubble and perhaps venturing to a new part of the country will be more stimulating in a number of ways.

Anyways, I think Duke is definitely more prestigious then UCSD. While I don't think the USnews rankings matter that much, they are a relative indication of a medical school's reputation/perception and that does matter to a certain extent for residencies. The further and further you get from Cali the more Duke's reputation will be >UCSD. I also think Duke's curriculum is extremely innovative and unique. And the research opportunities are outstanding. Having said that, money is important. I would wait and see if Duke gives you any financial aid and what the final price is going to be first. As previously stated, Cali schools are mad expensive and private schools tend to give generous financial aid.

If UCSD and Duke are more or less the same financially, then I would give it some serious thought. If you really can't leave Cali then fine. However, go to second look and give Duke another chance. Don't pass on it so easily. Going to a USnews "top 10" is silly but Duke is def one of the best schools in the country. It constantly scores at the top of the residency directors list and it has a phenomenal hospital system. UCSD is also a wonderful school, but I would seriously encourage you to really consider both schools, research them, and attend second look first.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Also if you have never, ever venture outside of CA, go to Duke. The difference in ranking is really not that important, but personal growth and experience is important, so go to Duke if that will challenge you. But if cost and closeness to family is important, go to UCSD. Honestly, both schools are amazing. Just work hard and do well at whichever.

OP said he's on the east coast right now.

I agree with the above posters that you should go to UCSD if it is significantly less expensive than Duke. Out of all the reasons you listed above, prestige seemed to be the only category that Duke won (and maybe curriculum if you want to do research/stay in academic medicine). Go where you'll be happy.