Northwestern vs UCLA (Top of WL)

[Maximus0703]

Hey guys. I just wanted to get some opinions on these schools. I am already admitted to NW and should be admitted to UCLA post May 1st. Financials are unknown and I’ll update as more information comes. Currently I’m looking into neurology or rads, and maybe PSTP. In terms of location I would like to get out of the Midwest for residency.


Northwestern
Pros

• Best interview day experience by far
• Very organized and responsive administration
• ECMH for longitudinal clinical mentorship
• AOSC and RISE for extended research work
• Focus on Wellness

Cons

• More traditional preclinical time (20 months)
• Match list seems centered in NW/Midwest but I’m thinking that is mainly the choice of students as opposed to their lower ranked choice
• PBL: Heard that students get stressed by some team projects
• High rent (1200 to 1500)
• Very young class (gunner vibes from some people)
• Weather

UCLA
Pros

• Favorite Students by far
• Stronger research connection (thesis based on programs made at UCLA)
• Weather
• 1 year preclinical
• Free 3rd year for anything
• Feel like they recruit a very diverse class
• Can reduce tuition by claiming residency in M2 year
• Stronger match list?
• Weather

Cons

• Worst Interview day, seemed disorganized and very “put together at the last minute”
• Didn’t communicate if there were any student programs like ECMH or has (website is tough to navigate)
• COL in LA

Thanks for the advice in advance. I am only on two WL that I would consider with NW and UCLA (CCLCM and Sinai).

Update: No aid or merit from NW 🤪🤪 so UCLA will be cheaper without any assistance (saving 12,000 annually from M2 year)

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[deleted1095841]

should be admitted to UCLA post May 1st

Even if they communicated to you that you're in the upper tier of their waitlist, I want to caution you that you can't be 100% sure you'll make it in.

That being said, if you do get into UCLA, that seems to make the most sense since they have P/F clinicals (which is really really nice) and you state that you don't want to stay in the midwest for residency.

I wouldn't put much stock into the interview day experience. Once classes start, you won't be dealing with the admissions office at all. And the students who volunteer for interview day activities aren't very representative of the student body as a whole.

 

[Maximus0703]

Even if they communicated to you that you're in the upper tier of their waitlist, I want to caution you that you can't be 100% sure you'll make it in.

That being said, if you do get into UCLA, that seems to make the most sense since they have P/F clinicals (which is really really nice) and you state that you don't want to stay in the midwest for residency.

I wouldn't put much stock into the interview day experience. Once classes start, you won't be dealing with the admissions office at all. And the students who volunteer for interview day activities aren't very representative of the student body as a whole.

Yeah I totally agree about it not being assured. I only looked into sdn threads in prior years to see that applicants who were not given upper tier were admitted. Since UCLA is ranked, I’d assume that top WL applicants get in most of the time given that regular WL usually get in.

 

[Dwan]

The organization of the interview day doesn't really have anything to do with your student experience at the school. This also applies to residencies and fellowships. Some programs are just bad at selling themselves.

 

[Maximus0703]

Bump with updated info.
- Received DGSOM acceptance
- Received 10k/yr scholarship from Feinberg

The question I have now is how much time do I have to accept UCLA given that today is technically the CYMS deadline. Also, the email said I had 5 days to accept, which seems really underhanded considering I won’t know financials by then.

 

[deleted1146359]

Disclosure: WL at NW but not likely to attend

I heard multiple times that if you go to NW and repeatedly ask for more money, they will give you more. One student even said they are considering going tuition free in the future because they have the money to give. If you think you'd go to NW if the finances were significantly different, I'd contact admin and clearly lay out what they need to get you through the door(half-tuition, 75% tuition etc.).

If they don't come through and offer you more money, it seems like UCLA is obviously your preferred option based on the fact that you have very few bad things to say about the school. This and the fact that UCLA's curriculum seems far less bloated and has P/F clinicals make it the natural choice IMO.

As for the timing, I'd reach out to both schools to let them know what's going on with making a choice to request some extra time to let you decide after hearing about financials. This could also light a fire under them to offer you more money, so you never know!

 

[Pre Med Hopeful 456]

I’ll add a different perspective here about NW and finances (was between there and another school that I’ll be attending). When emailing admissions they seemed to be pretty stingy about matching other scholarships. But at the end of the day both institutions are fantastic and it seems you prefer UCLA more + it’s a bit cheaper too.

 

[chilly_md]

Would recommend UCLA for P/F, weather and flexibility for 3rd year to fit what speciality you want to pursue.

If you get accepted to CCLCM, you should strongly consider them, especially due to the free tuition.

 

[purplepea]

Ik NW will match up to full tuition, But agree w/ others that you seem to like UCLA more and if minimizing stress is imp to you, I feel UCLA has a less stressful atmosphere.

 

[Maximus0703]

I just wanted to respond to the commenters with a thank you for advice. Just to clarify my standpoint, on paper UCLA seems like the logical option but all my instincts are pushing me to Northwestern. Through the interactions I have had with either school, it seems like Northwestern is more structured/organized while UCLA is more chaotic.

 

[Maximus0703]

Just wanted to let the commenters know that I selected Northwestern. They ended up bumping my scholarship up while I received no aid from UCLA.