Georgetown vs UCR

[Sonia_spice]

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Hi everyone,

I have 4 acceptances, but narrowed my options down to either Georgetown and UCR. I am having trouble deciding where I should matriculate. Possible interest include IM, EM, OB/GYN, Anesthesiology.

UC Riverside
Pros:
Cheaper CoA (public school)
Close to home. Live in Moreno Valley (10 min away from UCRSOM) and will commute to save even more money.
UC system prestige
Alumni are establishing a strong reputations as more students are matching into competitive specialties such as ophthalmology and other specialties in IM
Great weather and plenty to do around

Cons:
Less prestige than Georgetown
Less resources than Georgetown
Appears that the school tailors students primarily for Primary Care and students with other interest venture out on their own to gain their own resources.
Elimination of Step 1 may have an impact on matching into competitive specialties

Georgetown
Pros:
Strong match history into every specialty
Globally recognized as a prestigious institution
New life experience (grew up primarily in Hacienda Heights and Moreno Valley my entire life)
Lively community

Cons:
Large class size
Expensive CoA and CoL
Far from family
Weather

 

[DevinBookerMD]

UCR

 

[Davidfromcali]

What’s the difference in COA? Like 150-200k? Definitely UCR by far. You can always network with doctors at Loma Linda , UCI, UCLA if you want to apply to a competitive specialty. I know students at UCR already do this

 

[mt14]

I would say depends on what you want to do. If you 100% want to do academic medicine and try and match at a top program, then Georgetown. If you want to stay in California for Med school and residency, save money, and match in any specialty you want but not necessarily at a top program then UCR. I disagree with the other poster that UCR is super primary care focused. Looking at their match list this year they matched people in derm, ortho, plastics, optho, EM, anesthesia, vascular etc. Actually only 11 people went into family Med, which is about the same as at Georgetown. Granted, the majority of UCR’s matches were within California. Overall, depends on your goals and how important cost is to you

 

[kahunas007]

I am kind of in your situation. I also have UCR with a good scholarship and two other schools without scholarship that rank much higher. UCR does not have a home teaching hospital and they rotate to community program primarilly in the IE, but they mange to match pretty well. Not sure what will happen with Step 1 P/F.

 

[tsmith64]

I would definitely go to Georgetown. My brother is currently at UCR and is trying to get into Derm and it has definitely been an uphill battle. I think it always is when trying to match into a competitive specialty, but it would be much easier if he went to a school that helped him form connections with Derm residencies. He has been completely on his own. And with step 1 being P/F, you want the best name behind you as possible.