Keck USC vs UCR

[MedSchoolHopeful13]

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Hi Everyone!

I'm trying to decide between Keck and UCR.

I absolutely fell in love with Keck and it has so many opportunities that UCR doesn't have. UCR is pretty new and doesn't have a graduating class yet. But it is almost half the cost of Keck and they are very generous with financial aid. From what I've heard, Keck mostly gives aid in the form of loans.

So basically, do you think it's worth it to go to Keck and take on the financial burden, or save money and go to UCR?

Thanks!

 

[KungFuPanda123]

The cost of attendance at Keck always blows my mind whenever I look at it. It's actually insane.

Despite that, I personally would rather cough up the extra cash and attend Keck than go to Riverside.

 

[iker]

Ah! I'm in a similar situation. UCI or USC?! I feel like this is a tough one but maybe its just me.

My only advice for OP - obvious difference is that USC serves urban underserved and UCR serves the inland empire (can be underserved as well) so that's just your preference

 

[MatthewDamon]

Ah! I'm in a similar situation. UCI or USC?! I feel like this is a tough one but maybe its just me.

My only advice for OP - obvious difference is that USC serves urban underserved and UCR serves the inland empire (can be underserved as well) so that's just your preference

I don't know about that... most of the drawback of attending Riverside comes from the fact that it's a newly established school and this presents some risks, as OP said.

UCI is well established and is much cheaper than USC. In terms of prestige, if that's a factor, I don't think they differ either.

 

[iker]

I don't know about that... most of the drawback of attending Riverside comes from the fact that it's a newly established school and this presents some risks, as OP said.

UCI is well established and is much cheaper than USC. In terms of prestige, if that's a factor, I don't think they differ either.

Sorry, I definitely agree. I just meant that was the only input I could provide. Also, I was told that when UCR had the Haider program with UCLA (first two years at UCR, last two at UCLA), their students had higher step scores than the UCLA students. I don't know if that means anything necessarily, but I thought I'd share.

And thanks for the input! I think I'm leaning towards UCI as well.

 

[MatthewDamon]

Sorry, I definitely agree. I just meant that was the only input I could provide. Also, I was told that when UCR had the Haider program with UCLA (first two years at UCR, last two at UCLA), their students had higher step scores than the UCLA students. I don't know if that means anything necessarily, but I thought I'd share.

And thanks for the input! I think I'm leaning towards UCI as well.

I think I heard something like that too.

Congrats to both of you! Great situation to be in.

 

[Slack3r]

USC. Strong reputation, strong reputation in many fields, established school, located in LA (not Inland Empire).

 

[iker]

USC. Strong reputation, strong reputation in many fields, established school, located in LA (not Inland Empire).

I agree. They are also much stronger in research if you're interested in that.

 

[MedSchoolHopeful13]

The cost of attendance at Keck always blows my mind whenever I look at it. It's actually insane.

Despite that, I personally would rather cough up the extra cash and attend Keck than go to Riverside.

My mom was telling me that Keck was on the news the other day. I got excited until she finished with "...for being one of the most expensive schools in the United States" -___-

 

[MedSchoolHopeful13]

My family lives in Riverside so living in the Inland Empire isn't a problem for me. It's more that UCR is so new and USC has such a strong reputation and provides connections throughout life.
I didn't know that about UCR! (that it had higher step scores). That definitely makes it more appealing. I'm wondering if the fact that UCR doesn't have many departments, unlike USC, will make it harder to get letters of rec/to form bonds with the department head of whatever residency I'd like to go into.

 

[KungFuPanda123]

My family lives in Riverside so living in the Inland Empire isn't a problem for me. It's more that UCR is so new and USC has such a strong reputation and provides connections throughout life.
I didn't know that about UCR! (that it had higher step scores). That definitely makes it more appealing. I'm wondering if the fact that UCR doesn't have many departments, unlike USC, will make it harder to get letters of rec/to form bonds with the department head of whatever residency I'd like to go into.

Don't base a school on its step scores. First of all, it's all self-reported. Second, different schools provide different amounts of time for their students to study for it. I don't know the specifics for Keck and UCR, but I do know one school that provides their students with 2.5 months of pure study time (~10 weeks). Another school only offers 4 weeks for their students to study (and I believe that there are some schools where they only provide like 2 weeks). Obviously with the same quality students, the students at the school with 10 weeks to study will do way better than the students who only get 4 weeks to study. Those students have the extra time to tailor their education towards the Step. The students who go to the school with 4 weeks to study may be getting a more well-rounded education.

I think that it's pretty clear that USC provides a better overall education than UCR (more research options, better clinical experiences, etc.). Maybe the reason why UCR students better on Step (if they actually do) is because UCR's educational curriculum is more in-line with what is on the step exam? Not saying that this is actually the case, because I don't know, but UCR could teach things that are actually on the Step exam, while USC teaches a multitude of things - only some of which is actually on the step. Also, perhaps UCR gives more study time than USC?

Ultimately, don't use the average step score to figure out where you want to go. I'd recommend only using it as a VERY general guideline in the same way that you can use US News & Reports rankings.

 

[HopefulSlav]

How does USC feel when it comes to post baccs? Sorry, I've researched with little success.