stanford vs. ucsf

[ordinarygraces]

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hi -
i am thinking about the possible scenario of choosing between stanford and ucsf.

i already feel tied to stanford and am planning on going, but i expect to feel torn if i get an offer from ucsf... is ucsf far and away the school i should go to, if i get a chance?

 

[klooless]

I would say follow your heart. When (not if) you have the opportunity to choose between Stanford and UCSF, you should definitely take advantage of revisit weekends, and then choose the institution that makes you feel most at peace.

K....time to get back to work...

Gluck!

 

[loomis]

hi
i've been lucky enough to have this situation right now and i've spent the past month or so talking to various alums from those 2 institutions, as well as other docs in the area I'm interested in (neurology and psychiatry). i think the consensus appears that UCSF has more "solid" clinical training and great research chances to boot. However, Stanford has been pouring in lots of dough to revamp their med school both in terms of facilities and curriculum (UCSF will be too...moving to another location but that's much farther away in time). so many docs are looking with interest with what happens to sms in the next few years....could be great...could be bad though 🙁

as for lifestyle, i would really like to live in an urban area like SF, but i also like stanford' campus (gorgeous) as well as its very near access to outdoorsy things, etc.

as a non-trad who's been doing research the past few years, i also lean towards the curriculum of stanford, with its flexibility and emphasis on research. so i think right now, i am leaning towards stanford.

i am probably going to both of their recruitment weekends, so i'll let you know how it goes.

hope to see you on those days!!!
loomis

 

[Trixie415]

I was in this (albeit very fortunate) situation last year, and I am now an MI at UCSF.

Either way I don't think you can go wrong-they are both amazing places in terms of the education you will get. The deciding factors for me were:

1.) location-I am much more of a city person, so I love San Francisco...but I wouldn't mind some of the warm sun down in Palo Alto at times.

2.) cost-I was/am a CA resident, so it was hard to beat the $. That being said, the tuition was raised from around $10,500 to $16,000 in the July before I started, and it is predicted to be around $20,000 next year....I was told today that they wouldn't have an exact number for us until July again.

3.) my classmates-After attending second-look weekends, I really felt I belonged at UCSF. Everyone at Stanford was great, but I felt I had much, much more in common with the folks at UCSF, and got a genuinely warm feeling from the faculty.

In the end, I made the right choice for me, but I have a friend who made the opposite choice and is very happy at Stanford. If you can, attend both of the second-look weekends. Then go with your gut!


Trix

 

[beatla19]

they're both excellent schools, and it's close as to which one I would pick. I'm not much for fog, and SF traffic can get a bit hairy at times. I'd go with Stanford, just for the environment.

 

[jlee9531]

ucsf

excellent for both primary care and academic med. opportunities.

sf is great, and i personally think fog is wonderful. lots more to do here in the city as well.

for the most part will prolly end up being cheaper than stan.

 

[NYGirl12]

Originally posted by jlee9531


. . . i personally think fog is wonderful.

i missssss the foggy lazy saturday mornings! but seriously, you can't go wrong with both schools. go with the place that makes you feel "home". if i'll be given the chance to make this decision in the future, i'll go with ucsf because a.) money is a factor for me b.) i love san francisco c.) i really really love san francisco. congratulations and don't forget to go to second-look weekends! 😍

 

[remedy]

I agree with Trixie415 - attend both preview weekends to give you an idea of who you'll be spending the next 4-5 years with. My impression was that schools have very different strengths and attract a different type of student. That should become clear if you attend both preview weekends.

What interests you more? Elite clinical training (go with UCSF) or biomedical research (go with Stanford)? Metropolitan area (UCSF) or suburb (Stanford)? Want to take undergrad classes (Stanford) or not? Want to go to school next to a beautiful park (UCSF) or not? You can make a table showing a ton of differences between Stanford and UCSF. There's always a lot of debate about which is the better school since they're both thought of in high regard and are located less than 40 miles from one another, but they're so different that by the time you make your decision by May 15 it should be clear which school fits you best.

Also, wait for until you get your financial aid package from each school before assuming UCSF will be cheaper. Some students were going to take out less loans at Stanford than UCSF, while for others the reverse is true. Students at both schools average taking out $65-70k in loans.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Harps]

Originally posted by jlee9531

for the most part will prolly end up being cheaper than stan.

Stanford IS the cheapest medical school in the country...lowest debt (avg. $60,000), I believe.
Any arguments here?

-Harps

 

[CalBeE]

This debate sorta reminds me of the whole U of Chicago vs. Northwestern debate...both schools in the same caliber.

I'd have chosen UCSF for the location, but Stanford for school eventually. UCSF is a health science campus, and lacks the resource in other areas that Stanford's campus can provide. Although I'm sure UCSF has some agreement with Berkeley, but that's like on another campus.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I hope I'll have to make this decision for myself.

 

[TheFlash]

UCSF, UCSF, UCSF! The reputation speaks for itself. I was also reading somewhere that the vast majority of people faced with this decision chose UCSF (but I'm not sure how true that is).

tf

 

[loomis]

Originally posted by TheFlash
UCSF, UCSF, UCSF! The reputation speaks for itself. I was also reading somewhere that the vast majority of people faced with this decision chose UCSF (but I'm not sure how true that is).

tf

flash is right...more people choose ucsf over stanford historically.
the figure is something like 60-65% of people choose ucsf over stanford (based on this internal stanford document that got circulated around the web).

 

[ordinarygraces]

Thanks to you all for your input. What I gleaned from these posts and from talking to my sister was that UCSF appears to be the more popular choice, but that what Stanford may presently lack in comparison is made up for in its flexibility, location, climate, aid packages etc.
If I am fortunate enough to get to choose, I will post an update. Thanks again.

 

[finnpipette]

wow, i envy you guys with ucsf/stanford acceptances. You guys rock! Congrats!

 

[doctorcynical]

Finnpipette, easy on the spam fetish.

 

[doctorcynical]

Is this a troll who started this thread. This is a no brainer. Stanford wins every time. If you want to be a nursing assistant go to UCSF. If you want to be a doctor go to Stanford.

 

[NYGirl12]

Originally posted by doctorcynical
Is this a troll who started this thread. This is a no brainer. Stanford wins every time. If you want to be a nursing assistant go to UCSF. If you want to be a doctor go to Stanford.

oh god. 🙄

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by NYGirl12
oh god. 🙄

you took the words right out of my mouth...

 

[doctorcynical]

What? 😉 I just love Stanford. I figure if I post enough good stuff about Stanford an ADCOM will see it and personally send me an acceptance letter via PM.... now that would be cool.... I'm starting a new thread.

Stanford or bust.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by doctorcynical
What? 😉 I just love Stanford. I figure if I post enough good stuff about Stanford an ADCOM will see it and personally send me an acceptance letter via PM.... now that would be cool.... I'm starting a new thread.

Stanford or bust.

They would also see that you're an a-hole.

 

[la ni?a]

"Is this a troll who started this thread. This is a no brainer. Stanford wins every time. If you want to be a nursing assistant go to UCSF. If you want to be a doctor go to Stanford. "


With comments like this you are obviously in need of some serious attention. You seem extremely immature and will probably not get into Stanford or UCSF.

For the poster UCSF and Stanford are both great schools, go were you felt more comfortable.

 

[doctorcynical]

Sorry la nina. I am just a bit bitter. Stanford hasn't called today.
I'll try and tone it down.

 

[CalBeE]

Unfortunately I won't have the choice (Didn't apply to UCSF, just rejected by Stanford)

But I'd choose Stanford over UCSF b/c Stanford is adjacent to the undergrad and other grad school campuses, where you can utilize resource at those places (Taking management or health care law classes, etc.) Also, it makes it easier to be a TA for undergrad.

 

[gramcracker]

Come to both preview weekends if possible, and just get a feel where you're happiest. I definitely miss living in a city, but I didn't apply to UCSF (I was out of state), and I'm really happy at Stanford. Congrats on your acceptances!