Feinberg vs. UCSD

[tomatosoup1]

Hi everyone! I'm so grateful and happy with my acceptances but also torn because I love both these schools. I'm definitely leaning towards feinberg but it is just tough for me to give up living in san diego 😭 I'm interested in derm or plastics for now but that is definitely subject to change especially since i know theyre both super competitive. Any advice is appreciated!!

Feinberg

Pros:

• my sister lives in the area
• closer to my SO (in NYC)
• worked here during my gap year and have met a lot of feinberg students
• great research opportunities
• have lived in Chicago for 6 years so I have friends in the city
• ranked slightly better

Cons:

• it is so cold and literally gets dark at 4 pm in the winter
• I love Chicago but part of me does want to live somewhere new

UCSD

Pros:

• I love san diego when I've visited and amazing weather all year
• It would be really nice to live in california long-term since my SO is from there
• I would love to live in a new part of the country and get to meet so many new people
• also a really great school with strong research
• more opportunities for growth in derm / plastics in southern california? (i heard this from someone who is from orange county - unsure of how true it is)
• everyone seems so happy here!

Cons:

• idk how i feel about the quarter system coming from an undergrad quarter system school
• soooo far from my SO (literally across the country) and family

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[Present-Row-4056]

Seem's like your main concerns are weather. All of our buildings are connected via bridges, so that helps in the winter. Do you have any preference between the two on curriculum?

 

[The OTC]

Seems like you are really pulled to UCSD and are ready to turn a new leaf. UCSD is top tier and has great research opportunities. It is the only med school in san diego so you get priority at different sites including the children's hospital, Rady's. I'm pretty sure there is affordable grad housing, right? At UCSD, you'll be able to live and study only minutes from La Jolla Beach.

I do understand being far from family, friends, and SO, but take medical school as the time to try a new place out! During residency, you may have more responsibilities to factor in your decision to train (spouse, children, aging family, etc.)

 

[tomatosoup1]

Seems like you are really pulled to UCSD and are ready to turn a new leaf. UCSD is top tier and has great research opportunities. It is the only med school in san diego so you get priority at different sites including the children's hospital, Rady's. I'm pretty sure there is affordable grad housing, right? At UCSD, you'll be able to live and study only minutes from La Jolla Beach.

I do understand being far from family, friends, and SO, but take medical school as the time to try a new place out! During residency, you may have more responsibilities to factor in your decision to train (spouse, children, aging family, etc.)

Yes the grad housing looks honestly super nice from the pics and vids I’ve seen!

I’m so conflicted because I would love to have a new chapter in my life but at the same time I have so many connections in chicago and to Feinberg specifically 😭

 

[Present-Row-4056]

The organ systems are great. We also have SAM (Synthesis and Application of Material) weeks which are at the end of a block so every couple organs systems. It’s case based and is useful for combining our knowledge of the different organs for Step. Good week to catch up on research as well with less class.

ECMH is great. Almost done with M1 and we are about to start seeing patients independently without M2s when they go start dedicated. We interview the patient then present to the attending, then see the patient together. Also get to write complete notes and stuff so a great preview to clerkships. There’s also no specific family med clerkship because we already have ECMH every other week and 2 two weeks of ECMH in M3/M4.