Help.....Wester U or UCSD?

[Pharmasee]

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Ok, so a little bit about me,

I hear the Western is more of a nice atmosphere for people like me that are not so cut-throat, and I hear the UCSD has a really hard curriculum.

But I really would love to live in La Jolla, but I dont even know if I'll get into UCSD. What do you guys think? Should I apply to UCSD?

Is UCSD harder than WesternU? how much harder? What are the main differences between the two?

If I go to UCSD, will I have a better shot of getting a job in San Diego?

 

[nerv12345]

the school you went to doesn't reflect where you get hired

as for UCSD...their average last year was like 3.6-3.7
western was 3.2-3.3

i think UCSD would be harder to get into if you DON'T have a 3.6-3.7 as opposed to western. but hey there are always exceptions. that's why i'm applying there even though my pharmcas GPA is 3.08

 

[anh80]

the school you went to doesn't reflect where you get hired

as for UCSD...their average last year was like 3.6-3.7
western was 3.2-3.3

i think UCSD would be harder to get into if you DON'T have a 3.6-3.7 as opposed to western. but hey there are always exceptions. that's why i'm applying there even though my pharmcas GPA is 3.08

dont waste ur money guys...they;ll take ur check and wont even grant u an interview....been there done that....my gpa is a 3.4 and i still got ripped off

 

[Pharmasee]

Yeah, I think you're right.
I hear that UCSD is very difficult and that the program is new and still developing. Also, the admissions lady over the phone is sort of rude and cocky, she almost makes it sound like she can't wait to get off the phone with you.

I hear so many great things about Western, they have so many essay questions though. I really hope I get into Western.

 

[eddie269]

I think you should get accepted into both schools first, then make a decision. Otherwise, you are putting useless stressful thoughts into your head. I would just apply to schools that you wouldn't mind going to: i.e. If that was your only acceptance, would you be happy going there.

 

[confettiflyer]

If I go to UCSD, will I have a better shot of getting a job in San Diego?

if you have a PharmD, you can probably go wherever you want.

La Jolla is a LOT nicer than Pomona, but it's way more expensive. I, too, have heard "ehh" things about UCSD and am not applying there. I mean, it's a good school....just not for me.

 

[Pharmasee]

How come I search for UCSD and I can't find a SINGLE UCSD student who provides input on this forum...is it just me?

Why don't UCSD students tell us about their experience?
I really want to hear about it, it UCSD a big secret...lol

I really want to hear about their costs of living, their experience with faculty and all the other stuff..

Im really considering applying there and submitting my supplemental. I wish there was enough info about UCSD as there was USC and some other schools.

 

[MoreThanAFeelin]

I don't know if I'm able to help, but I was at UCSD for a transfer orientation the other day...I snuck out earlier, so I could take a sneak peek at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmceutical Science 😉. I took some pics with my phone. It's a pretty small building.










When I was in the building, I walked by 1 or 2 people and they seem to give a "stand-offish" aura.

 

[Pharmasee]

yeah, I took some classes a few years ago in UCSD and I had the same feeling. The professors were rude to me, and didn't want to answer any of my questions. I love the campus, it's a very nice place. UCSD is a great school too but I am hesitant to attend a public school because I went to a public school for undergrad and absolutely hated it. I guess some people like public and some like private.

I just have all these gut feelings that tell me not to apply to UCSD and that I will not be happy there. I think I wont apply there. I wish San Diego had more Pharmacy schools.

San Diego is great for vacations

 

[Gosondth]

How come I search for UCSD and I can't find a SINGLE UCSD student who provides input on this forum...is it just me?

You can check all the old roll call threads and PM them.

Why don't UCSD students tell us about their experience? I really want to hear about it, it UCSD a big secret...lol

Assuming only 10% of the currently enroll students checks SDN, there would be only 18 people checking at any particular time. Realistically there are probably only 3 or 4 that check occassionally, which explains the general lack of replies.

I really want to hear about their costs of living, their experience with faculty and all the other stuff..

Basically see answer to the first part.

 

[treetop02]

if you're not perfect, don't bother applying to UCSD.
I had a 3.6 overall gpa and was turned off during the interview. The professor and student interviewer were very rude. They had this look of disbelief and distrust the whole time during the interview. I felt like I was being interrogated. Thank God I came out of that interview room alive!

 

[treetop02]

did anyone mention they only accept 60 people?

 

[rxgales]

i talk to a student at Western and that student said that other students at Western who were accepted got denied of their intern license or got delayed for their rotation because when they did a live-scan (fingerprint) and criminal background check, they got DUI, etc ...this just show you the type of student Western accepted....

[ACPE - excellence, integrity, and commitment uh-huh]

 

[confettiflyer]

I don't think having a DUI makes you any less capable as a pharmacy student....


...but getting that license, on the other hand, is different!

 

[Hammrhage]

i talk to a student at Western and that student said that other students at Western who were accepted got denied of their intern license or got delayed for their rotation because when they did a live-scan (fingerprint) and criminal background check, they got DUI, etc ...this just show you the type of student Western accepted....

Wow... i dont kno where the heck you got this information from but as a student at WesternU I have to defend your bogus claim. I know some of my classmates were delied of their intern licenses because they did not sent the application in when the school asked of them during orientation week. We are not drunks, sure some of us might have more fun than students from the other california programs. We study just as hard as the other students and we do fun activities during our days off (block breaks and weekends). Its a simple balance of academic/social life. Check the board pass rate and that will tell you the quality of education here. My class is not cutthroat because there is no curve, so we share information and help each other. If all you want to do is to study your ass off go for it. Sure there are some sour apples out there, none from my class, but the fact that you are generalizing WesternU accepting rejects is malicious. I don't kno which pharmacy school are you attending or applying to but someone as judgemental as yourself, i would not like to see at Western or in the profession of pharmacy.

 

[confettiflyer]

I also defend Western U and agree that the comments posted were out of line and unprofessional, at best.

 

[shuush]

dont waste ur money guys...they;ll take ur check and wont even grant u an interview....been there done that....my gpa is a 3.4 and i still got ripped off

I honestly thought that I was wasting my money too when I applied to UCSD (GPA=3.3) but I ended up getting in. If you really want to go there don't let the intimidating stats keep you from applying. If you write good personal statements and show a variety of extracurriculars then you still have a shot. Good Luck!

 

[Pharmasee]

Im not applying to UCSD. it's my final decision.

Honestly, most people I have talked to there are stand-offish, I dont know why. I guess because it's a public school, they are trying to compete with schools like UCLA and Berkeley and the only way is to be very cut-throat. They are very smart people, all the ones I have met are great students, but I think it's just not my type of place to go to school.

But San Diego is definitely my type of place to live in.

 

[confettiflyer]

^^agreed. So go to a different pharmacy school and settle in san diego after graduation since by then you'll have the financial means to do so. it's seriously the best city i have ever lived in balance-wise.

 

[Gosondth]

Im not applying to UCSD. it's my final decision.

The secret of the stonecutters shall remain safe.

woohoo