PLZ HELP: USC-Keck (full-tuition) vs. UCSD

[ma_ri_ojurere_olorun]

UC San Diego
Pros

• Med school is in a beautiful area
• Great opportunities for clinical exposure and independent study under faculty advisor
• May be considered more prestigious, and I am considering a competitive specialty
• Great match list
• Great electives from Yr.1, while Keck is from Yr. 2

Cons

• Did not give me money (but I can hope lol)
• Students did not seem very social or lively, and I don't want a boring social life
• Did not seem as focused on case-based learning
• Not as many URM's in their class (I am URM 🙂 )
• SERIOUSLY worried about the rumors of general student unhappiness

Keck
Pros

• They gave me money
• In los angeles and close to family
• During interview and accepted students events the current students seemed really social and engaged
• Dean Arias is the nicest Dean I have ever had the privilege to meet
• Grading system is more of a true P/F
• Training in LAC hospital is wonderful
• A lot of URMs in their class
• emphasized student wellness

Cons

• Med school is not in the nicest area
• VERY large class size
• Earlier start date (I finish undergrad towards the end of June, so it would be nice to have a longer break)
• It would be nice to live somewhere other than LA, but im not so sure if La Jolla is that different
• Not used to the semester system
• Couldn't find concrete info. on dedicated study time for step1

Summary: I don't feel one is extremely better than the other, except for the tuition given by Keck. I would appreciate input from current students. Please help, thank you for your time 🙂

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[LongLiveThanos]

If you have the money, go where you want. Personally, I prefer UCSD over USC.

 

[lalalallala]

What is the price difference? I think based on your pros/cons USC seems to be winning

 

[Goliath]

I’d go with USC if the price difference is significant, otherwise UCSD. UCSD has a slight edge in reputation, but I wouldn’t say it would be worth an extra 80-100k.

 

[dpmd]

As a USC grad I am biased, but you mention clinical exposure as a pro for UCSD but USC has lots of early clinical exposure. As for the URM thing, there is a lot of support from the school and opportunities for mentorship and social support from the other URMs (which I am also). I actually preferred it over the UCs I got into but got a scholarship which made it equal financially so I attended. With your situation I would attend without hesitation.

 

[ma_ri_ojurere_olorun]

As a USC grad I am biased, but you mention clinical exposure as a pro for UCSD but USC has lots of early clinical exposure. As for the URM thing, there is a lot of support from the school and opportunities for mentorship and social support from the other URMs (which I am also). I actually preferred it over the UCs I got into but got a scholarship which made it equal financially so I attended. With your situation I would attend without hesitation.

Thank you! Do you mind telling me how much time you had to study for step 1? And how you felt about being in such a large class?

 

[dpmd]

Thank you! Do you mind telling me how much time you had to study for step 1? And how you felt about being in such a large class?

I think I had several weeks for it, but don't remember exactly. I certainly felt like I had enough time for studying (but basic sciences were always a struggle for it so I didn't do as well as I would have liked). I never really felt the class size was large. I mean it was larger than my undergrad classes (went to a small private undergrad), but we had our assigned smaller groups (the 6 person intro to clinical medicine group and the larger collection of those groups were we did afternoon problem based learning stuff where it was like 30 people) so I had plenty of face time with the instructors and preceptors even if the lectures had more people. Plus a lot of us URMs hung out in the diversity office so I had that group of friends too. It felt like a small class.

 

[ma_ri_ojurere_olorun]

I think I had several weeks for it, but don't remember exactly. I certainly felt like I had enough time for studying (but basic sciences were always a struggle for it so I didn't do as well as I would have liked). I never really felt the class size was large. I mean it was larger than my undergrad classes (went to a small private undergrad), but we had our assigned smaller groups (the 6 person intro to clinical medicine group and the larger collection of those groups were we did afternoon problem based learning stuff where it was like 30 people) so I had plenty of face time with the instructors and preceptors even if the lectures had more people. Plus a lot of us URMs hung out in the diversity office so I had that group of friends too. It felt like a small class.

Thank you!

 

[ma_ri_ojurere_olorun]

If you have the money, go where you want. Personally, I prefer UCSD over USC.

Do you have any particular reasons why you prefer UCSD?

 

[ma_ri_ojurere_olorun]

What is the price difference? I think based on your pros/cons USC seems to be winning

Right now, money is important, but it isn't a major factor in my decision.

 

[LongLiveThanos]

Do you have any particular reasons why you prefer UCSD?

With all things very similar, it comes down to location. La Jolla will beat the ****ty part of Los Angeles where Keck is located.

 

[dpmd]

With all things very similar, it comes down to location. La Jolla will beat the ****ty part of Los Angeles where Keck is located.

There are some good areas to live near keck that won't break the bank. Not sure if that is true for ucsd.

 

[LongLiveThanos]

There are some good areas to live near keck that won't break the bank. Not sure if that is true for ucsd.

It's a good 30 minute drive from livable parts of LA to Keck.

 

[dpmd]

It's a good 30 minute drive from livable parts of LA to Keck.

Untrue. Monterey hills is a 10 minute drive away and is where a bunch of students and hospital workers live. Another 5 minutes gets you to south Pasadena or whatever that other neighborhood on a hill is called.