Rush v UCLA

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
W

walmartluckycharms

New Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2025
Messages
5
Reaction score
1
Hi all! I’m excited about the opportunity to choose between these two great schools and would love some feedback.

A little bit about me:
  • Non-trad 4 years out of college
  • Coming from the Northeast
  • Interested in family medicine/peds/emergency medicine specifically working with urban underserved
  • Would like to be a strong clinician - not as interested in research/academia although I’m not opposed to quality improvement/public health research
  • Partner will be moving with me - no strong family ties keeping me tied to any location otherwise
  • Both schools will be in areas that are new to me (although I’ve lived in both warm and cold climates and much prefer warm weather)
Rush Medical College
Pros
  • Strong service orientation
  • Have heard from many students that they believe they’ve received a strong clinical foundation which has been echoed by their preceptors on clerkships
  • Diverse patient population and opportunities to rotate through Cook County
  • Great public transportation system
  • Student body seemed to be made up of many non-trads who had very interesting gap years/former careers
  • P/F pre-clinical
  • Cheaper COL than LA
Cons:
  • Name recognition for residency - may not be as well known outside of the Midwest, not sure I want to stay in the Midwest for residency
  • Weather - while I’m coming from a cold climate I’m not a big fan and would love to not spend more time in a place even colder than before
  • In-house exams
  • Ranked clerkships H/HP/P/F

UCLA Geffen
Pros:
  • P/F preclinical and clerkships (except 4th year)
  • Several affiliate hospitals to see many different hospital systems
  • Home programs in my areas of interest seem strong
  • Has a great match list throughout the west and east coast if I wanted to head back to my neck of the woods
  • 3rd year is dedicated to a self-driven project which I could use to explore public health/community work
  • No AOA
  • Weather
  • Would ultimately like to settle down in CA
  • Partner will have a better time finding work here
Cons
  • Traffic
  • High COL
  • Mixed reviews on the 1-year pre-clinical and in house exams preparing students for STEP
  • Couldn’t pinpoint the vibes at this school so not sure if this is a a con - but have heard that it could be a competitive student body
Summary: I want to set myself up to have the best clinical foundation possible. Most of the information about quality of education has been through the grapevine so if anyone had any other input on these schools that would be great! I’m leaning towards Rush at the moment but feel like I’m passing on a great opportunity at UCLA that would open many doors if I changed my mind about interests.

I have not received any financial aid info from either school but if I don’t receive any aid the COA is about the same per MSAR (93,000 per year for RUSH, 98,000 per year OOS for UCLA).

Thanks in advance for your time and input!
Members don't see this ad.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
UCLA will open more doors on research and competitive specialities - I know you’re not interested now but I think it can be worth keeping doors open.

Both of these schools will give you lots of opportunities to work with urban underserved populations, especially Spanish-speakers.

Do you have feelings on living in LA vs Chicago? Pretty different vibes. Chicago is very “neighborhood-y” and can feel like a small town if you want it to, in a good way. Also better public transit. I’ve lived in the area near Rush in Chicago if you have questions about it!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Lets take prestige out of the picture.

UCLA is P/F & much more curriculum support with that third year. I wouldn't worry about the 1 year pre-clinical hiccup - lots of schools have implemented that now. It makes year 1 much tougher but you'll be thanking yourself later. Much more time to pursue your interests.

Add that to the fact that you want to match in California: Rush is going to not do great in that arena. Meanwhile with UCLA, you'll be the cream of the crop for Cali residencies. This is an oversimplification but UCLA opens more doors, just in terms of geography.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Members don't see this ad :)
alaskagirl1992 said:
UCLA will open more doors on research and competitive specialities - I know you’re not interested now but I think it can be worth keeping doors open.

Both of these schools will give you lots of opportunities to work with urban underserved populations, especially Spanish-speakers.

Do you have feelings on living in LA vs Chicago? Pretty different vibes. Chicago is very “neighborhood-y” and can feel like a small town if you want it to, in a good way. Also better public transit. I’ve lived in the area near Rush in Chicago if you have questions about it!
Click to expand...
I’d probably take sunny weather over the cold winters any day but have never visited LA or Chicago. I’ve heard LA has a big city feel and Chicago can be more homey as you put it. I think I could thrive in either. Thanks for your input!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
thefirerisen said:
Lets take prestige out of the picture.

UCLA is P/F & much more curriculum support with that third year. I wouldn't worry about the 1 year pre-clinical hiccup - lots of schools have implemented that now. It makes year 1 much tougher but you'll be thanking yourself later. Much more time to pursue your interests.

Add that to the fact that you want to match in California: Rush is going to not do great in that arena. Meanwhile with UCLA, you'll be the cream of the crop for Cali residencies. This is an oversimplification but UCLA opens more doors, just in terms of geography.
Click to expand...
Heard! Wasn’t sure how much school location factored into residency but sounds like it’s pretty significant. Thanks for your input!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
tweedledumb said:
UCLA is moving to a 1.5 year preclinical as a response to student concerns about the 1 year btw! If you want to end up in Cali, I agree that UCLA is the better option.
Click to expand...
Whoa that’s good to know. Do you know if that will start in 2025 and if the school has given a firm yes to this change? Haven’t heard anything directly from them yet in any of their communications. Thanks for your input though!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Plus they are good at taking feedback. UCLA has a lot of more resources and name recognition than Rush. Not saying Rush isn't a good place, but UCLA is the name and the brand. Side note though, having visited Chicago, it's probably one of the prettiest and cleaner major cities in the US.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
go to ucla:
  • discovery year (can get a dual degree ... e.g. MBA)
  • lots of global health opportunities
  • Early Authentic Clinical Experience (you can start seeing patients from year 1 - not at Pitt)
  • 1st year students can be health coaches, patient navigators, etc. (really cool opp)
  • more free clinic/homeless outreach than Pitt (if you are big on underserved)
  • better hospital system (for M3 M4)
  • really invested mentorship opportunities compared to rush
  • curriculum is a problem everywhere: self-learning is the way
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
  • Poll Poll
Pitt V Ucla
Replies
1
Views
574
Goddo Usoppu
Goddo Usoppu
W
UCLA v Miami
Replies
1
Views
1K
Bowel-Plumber
B
DMed2029
UCR SOM vs RUSH
Replies
6
Views
653
DMed2029
DMed2029
TheQuibblerClinician
MCW vs RUSH vs UICOM
Replies
5
Views
1K
olemickyd
O
M
  • Poll Poll
Yale v. Harvard v. Penn v. NYU v. WashU v. Columbia
Replies
13
Views
3K
newkungfukenny
newkungfukenny
Top