Students affected by UCSF/USC interview clash

[NileBDS]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I guess you are right, it is about the availability of a Sunday when the school is empty so that applicants can perform the bench exam.

Exactly. I mean, you must realize that schools here run pretty tight ships as far as scheduling is concerned (at least at Pacific we do). I could probably tell you the interview dates of both DDS and IDS applicants for now and 5 years in advance (of course pending the approval of that respective committee). The point being made here is that there are many and many more events going on at any given week/month/year at the school (CE courses, faculty meetings, accreditations, other interviews, board exams and prep courses, ...) and rescheduling your interviews (on a short notice) means inconveniencing the whole administration, not to mention rescheduling everyone else. There easiest answer would be "if you can not make it, we have 100 other very qualified applicants who can". I know it sounds harsh, but it is very true.

In conclusion, all I can say is that if you have been invited for an interview at both schools, you should be damn proud of yourselves, not frustrated. You are definitely attractive applicants and will for sure make the right choice. Whatever got you this far in your career, will see you all the way. So just go to whichever interview you decide on, and NAIL IT ! WOW them ... and most importantly, please be yourself. That's who they are really interested in.

Just my 2 cents, at this point in time if I were in your shoes I would go to UCSF. I've been reading up on the dental threads, and a lot of people are super frustrated with the dental school at USC. It is to a point where they are suing their own dean (go figure). It's just a big mess over there from what I hear. Even their own students are very open about criticizing the administration, and the mishandling of their concerns. You can imagine that LESS than 20% of the class of 2007 graduated on time. Read more for yourselves here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=421699
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?referrerid=81776&t=422261

Good Luck to all !

 

[elto]

Thank you so much for the links Nile... I did not know about the problems a USC. Now I am reconsidering going to interview there.... I am speechless after reading their graduation rate!!!!

 

[jayashree]

Thank you Nile BDS.... for helping me confirm my decision 🙂

 

[pmc14]

Hi Nile Bds,
Thanks for the info.
Priya.

 

[bulgogi]

My ex roomate is applying to both called USC and asked them about how many interviews they offerred. They said 150 this year (I think it was 110 last year). Maybe they increased because they saw the interview conflict. He said that if that was true he's probably going with UCSF just based on odds. He guesses that maybe at least 30-40 people are accepted to both schools. Even if nobody from UCSF drops the interview to go to USC, then the odds are much better for UCSF. He thinks that at least 15 will want to be close to home in L.A., and if that's true then the odds are so much better with choosing UCSF. If the reverse is true, it doesn't make nearly the impact at USC.

15 drop from 70 at UCSF you have to compete better than 39 people(16 spots).
15 drop from 150 at USC you still have to compete better than 105 people(32 spots).

Since it seems that USC is more subjective on their PBL test and hand skills, then the ratio of interviews to acceptances and entering scores aren't as much a player, and you have to take into account all of the other 105 people's ability to do well in the interview.

This is only looking at a drop of 15 from UCSF to USC for personal reasons like living at home. If the number is closer to 40 that got into both, or for some reason more than 15 choose to ditch UCSF for USC, then the odds of getting into UCSF go up very fast.

I already know one person in the situation who is going with USC even though she is accepted by UCSF for an interview only because she lives in L.A. I just hope there are more and that mybe they'll post to the site.

Personally, I'm just waiting to hear from UCLA by 11 Oct so I can ditch my USC interview for UCSF to maximize my odds of getting into any school, even if I have to hang out with my old roomate again. What do you guys think?

 

[cryo]

Bulgogi,
After reading your post, I got a feeling that all you did is encouraging people to attend UCSF interview. I am not going to offend you, but I really suspicious about your purpose. According to what I know, USC definitly is much easier to get into than UCSF. Every year they have a very long waiting list, much longer than UCSF! Many people in the waitinglist at USC got the admission finally!

 

[bulgogi]

No offense taken.. I am curious what people think of the odds versus the image that it may have of being easy to get into. I'm sure for 32 they will say it was easy, but for the other hundred or so that are rejected they may disagree. but I would disagree that it's easy slightly. A lot of highly qualified applicants will choose their school based upon it's location in L.A.

I'd like to hear people's opinion, and what the conventional wisdom says about the stigma and odds of the schools.

 

[simrank78]

Bulgogi,
After reading your post, I got a feeling that all you did is encouraging people to attend UCSF interview. I am not going to offend you, but I really suspicious about your purpose. According to what I know, USC definitly is much easier to get into than UCSF. Every year they have a very long waiting list, much longer than UCSF! Many people in the waitinglist at USC got the admission finally!

I agree with cryo. Its like motivating everyone to go to UCSF interview 🙂

 

[NileBDS]

I agree with cryo. Its like motivating everyone to go to UCSF interview 🙂

Maybe or maybe not. Take ANY and EVERY thing you read on SDN for what it's worth. And just for the record, if that was the posters intention, it really will not do much harm (or good) even though they would like to think otherwise. Having said that, I do not think s/he intended any manipulation.

 

[bulgogi]

Thanks you Nile,

Aside from that though, really... Do you guys have an opinion on which way to go based on numbers & facts that might be will ing to share? I understand if people don't want to share theri thoughts.

 

[drneeru]

After years of hardwork and waiting for the one interview call, we are not left with any choice but to choose interview between 2 schools. To maximise our chances of admission it is justifiable that we attend as many interviews as we can as it is a very competitive program. It is sad that schools are not considerate enough to give us this only chance. People who feel we are exaggerating here are either very lucky to have got selected after attending just 1 interivew or never have had experienced this dilemma. Honestly, I do not want to leave my chances of selection to my fate or anything after all this hard work. I deserve to attend to the all schools interviews am invited to.

 

[koeman]

i know its seriously wrong on part of USC ppl they have all the time to check in for dates of UOP and UCSF. If this was going to happen shud have wrote on website prior to applying that dates may clash ! simply taking poor students money :-( and aspiration. It deprives us all a chance ppl. am still mailing Emily and letting her know wht happened is not good.I request you ppl to do that atleast and let them know that its not a good thing on thier part and that too for such a program which is itself so competitive.

i already did send them a very strong-languaged email. coz this is so unfair. count me in for the group message thing.

 

[CAdentist2007]

It seems like applicant's are placed in a dillema on which school to go to.. Both schools are great schools.. It is known that UCSF is more research oriented and USC is more clinic oriented. One should decide on which school to go based on what their ultimate goals are ... if you are a research person and academically spear headed.. UCSF might be more suitable and vice versa. However we have to also understand that there are great academicians who have graduated from USC and vice versa.......

It is a difficult choice but what ever be it... work hard focus and you have all the wishes

Good luck to you all
[email protected]