Thank you everyone
Started by ConfusedPremed3000
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UAB, saving a ton of cash and its still a great program
Oh my goodness that UCLA price is absurd and that's so unfortunate that aid has disappeared. I think your pro/cons are right on for UCLA - it's a great school, but that is a lot of debt to shackle yourself to.
That being said, to be completely honest and give you my personal opinion, I would probably pick UCLA in this situation. I think medical school is one of the opportunities to shake up your life and "get out", especially if family is a weight on you. I would not want to practice in Alabama and I am heavily biased to the coasts. But it's home for you, so I can imagine it would be more tolerable. UCLA is also a school that is your gate to great opportunities just by virtue of being in an amazing coastal city and having the name on your resume.
This is not financially sound advice, but you will be able to pay off these loans unless this country tanks in which case the loans will not matter anyway lol. If you told me you are 100% going to be an academic peds subspecialist I'd say you probably shouldn't justify UCLA; however, your comments make me think you're going to try for something high earning.
A little word of advice from someone who considered a dual degree (but ended up deciding to graduate in 4), don't do a dual degree unless the school you're doing it at is great for that degree on it's own. You can do MBA/MPH things with just an MD and some networking.
I'm laughing at UCLA M1s telling you the school is too stress-free - check back in with them in 2 years lol, they'll be glad they picked DGSOM.
UAB is not a bad school by any means, it's actually the school I would probably choose if you told me I had to go somewhere in the deep south - TX - FL. But, as a biased imperfect human who doesn't make the best decisions but likes being happy, I would pick UCLA. Congratulations on a tough choice.
That being said, to be completely honest and give you my personal opinion, I would probably pick UCLA in this situation. I think medical school is one of the opportunities to shake up your life and "get out", especially if family is a weight on you. I would not want to practice in Alabama and I am heavily biased to the coasts. But it's home for you, so I can imagine it would be more tolerable. UCLA is also a school that is your gate to great opportunities just by virtue of being in an amazing coastal city and having the name on your resume.
This is not financially sound advice, but you will be able to pay off these loans unless this country tanks in which case the loans will not matter anyway lol. If you told me you are 100% going to be an academic peds subspecialist I'd say you probably shouldn't justify UCLA; however, your comments make me think you're going to try for something high earning.
A little word of advice from someone who considered a dual degree (but ended up deciding to graduate in 4), don't do a dual degree unless the school you're doing it at is great for that degree on it's own. You can do MBA/MPH things with just an MD and some networking.
I'm laughing at UCLA M1s telling you the school is too stress-free - check back in with them in 2 years lol, they'll be glad they picked DGSOM.
UAB is not a bad school by any means, it's actually the school I would probably choose if you told me I had to go somewhere in the deep south - TX - FL. But, as a biased imperfect human who doesn't make the best decisions but likes being happy, I would pick UCLA. Congratulations on a tough choice.
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Iron Man23
M.D. Class of 2029
Interesting choices. UAB is a great program and way cheaper.
harmonious_gazelle
Full Member
Go to UAB king/queen.... it's a great school, great resources available, and will get you where you need to go for much cheaper!!
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deleted1201071
UCLA, if you want a competitive speciality/residency placement, or want to be in California, then UCLA is as good as it gets. UAB will probably hold u back in this regard
UAB because of money & proximity to family. I think the grading system, although important to address, isn't worth the former two. Although I'd pick UCLA if you have a legitimate interest in matching in Cali & don't want to do it just because of the weather.
One thing I should note are the comments on UCLA matching more in Cali and UAB matching more in the south: I mean, they're both public institutions with reasonable degrees of in-state bias (with UAB having significant amounts of it) for a reason. People here choose to match in the same region. So idk if these should be a limiting factor. I'd be more concerned if you were attending, say, Hofstra, but didn't want to match anywhere in New York.
One thing I should note are the comments on UCLA matching more in Cali and UAB matching more in the south: I mean, they're both public institutions with reasonable degrees of in-state bias (with UAB having significant amounts of it) for a reason. People here choose to match in the same region. So idk if these should be a limiting factor. I'd be more concerned if you were attending, say, Hofstra, but didn't want to match anywhere in New York.
You can catch a lot of Dodger's and Laker's games for $300,000.
Go to UAB.
Go to UAB.
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BuzzLightyr
Full Member
I can't see your stats or anything about where you are from or gender or social life. So i'm just giving you my opinion based on professional stand point. UCLA is a much better program and more respected. You still will owe loans at UAB right? In a network as big as LA/prestige of program someone will probably offer to pay your loans when you finish. Lastly and most important, if you know in your heart you want UCLA then thats your answer.
ConfusedPremed3000
Full Member
Yeah I'll still owe loans but the difference between 100k in loans and 400k loans with the interest considerations just seem vary large. Essentially 200k vs 800k by the end of when I finish and there is no guarantee I get a competitive specialty going to UCLA.
But as you and many have said so far, I think its a risk and opportunity cost that is definitely worth it in going to UCLA. Very much undecided but have a week left to keep pondering over this!
You've got your head on straight. UAB is a great school. Maybe a half tier below UCLA. Certainly not worth 300k. I recently hired a guy from Iowa over candidates from UCLA and USC on the central coast of CA (the only place in CA I'd really like to live). Just be the best doctor you can be. Be personable. If you really want to come to CA in 4 or 7 or 9 years it will still be here.
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deleted1201071
Not everyone is doing private sector though, OP if u are sure that u want to be a private practice or hospital employed physician then yea UAB clearly makes more sense. If you want to do any research, policy, etc then UCLA will probably make ur life easier
I think you’re really underselling UAB. I trained in the Midwest and our department would have taken a UAB trained physician or a UCLA trained physician as an attending or resident based on what they produced over any school or residency ranking and the likelihood they stick around long term.
UAB is a great institution. Your professional career will not suffer from attending.
I’m from Southern California and would be ecstatic if my child had your options. I’d tell her the same thing I’m telling you. I love the Dodgers and Lakers too. Not to the tune of 300-600k though.
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deleted1201071
No one is saying you will suffer going to UAB, UCLA just has vastly more resources and connections to support an academic career that UAB just doesn’t. Your production on medical school will be highly correlated to the strength of your PIs and research funding. Up to OP if this is important to them or worth the money.
Congrats on such stellar choices! Disclaimer: I'm a fellow DGSOM admit (who is also torn about decisions) crossing over to say hi on your thread 🙂 As others have mentioned, is there a direction you would like to pursue in the future (private practice, academia, hospital, etc.)? With all things considered in your pros/cons list, would you rather have your family closer or further away?
I'm originally from LA, and not going to lie, California is very enticing. However, UAB is a great option at the end of the day, and that difference in debt is nothing to laugh at. Both are wonderful options, but I think your choice really depends on your personal goals in life.
I'm originally from LA, and not going to lie, California is very enticing. However, UAB is a great option at the end of the day, and that difference in debt is nothing to laugh at. Both are wonderful options, but I think your choice really depends on your personal goals in life.
In the same breath I’d tell someone to pick UCLA and a scholarship over Penn or Harvard I’d tell someone to take UAB over UCLA. There is very little difference between UCLA and UAB wrt academia or residency options - Less than the difference between LA and top schools.
not sure if you’re underselling UAB or overselling UCLA. But it’s one of the two.
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ConfusedPremed3000
Full Member
Thank you to everyone that has commented so far and provided incredible insights. Taking into the consideration the financials and some of the issues at UCLA, I have decided to attend UAB SOM. Unless something drastically changes in these last two days, I will be withdrawing my A and the limited scholarship offer from UCLA DGSOM.
Thank you to @jvquarterback @harmonious_gazelle @pdidd3 @DoneDone3451 @hydroflaskhomie @kikikat @BuzzLightyr @xUnrevealed @Iron Man23 and others for chiming in with your great perspectives and points!
Thank you to @jvquarterback @harmonious_gazelle @pdidd3 @DoneDone3451 @hydroflaskhomie @kikikat @BuzzLightyr @xUnrevealed @Iron Man23 and others for chiming in with your great perspectives and points!
Congrats to you. Your medschool mascot has the coolest logo of them all. You will do great at UAB, go to the donut store they have adjacent to the hospital, fire as **** donuts
harmonious_gazelle
Full Member
Congrats!! Have a wonderful time in med school, ur gonna be a great doc!
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