UC Irvine versus Columbia...

Get Your Med School Admissions Questions Answered!
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
S

Scooby Doo

IEatShavedPussyCats
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
3,797
Reaction score
1
Okay,

So I am very happy that I got into Columbia recently. However, I have now been offered an interview at UC Irvine. Cost wise, UCI is a HUGE SAVER...but can it really compare to Columbia???

I am debating whether or not to go to this interview. It won't cost any extra money really...so that's not an issue. And it won't take up any extra time. Just that 1/2 day I would be there.

Any opinions?
Members don't see this ad.
 
Dude, Scooby are you insane? You shouldn't even be asking this question. OF COURSE Columbia !!!!
No if's and but's about it. Look, Columbia might be more expensive but you'll benefit in the long run. It is a much better school. You don't want to be kicking yourself in the behind years later regretting that you chose UC, Irvine over Columbia.
 
congrats on the UCI interview Scooby. Just out of curiosity did you receive the interview invite via email or snail mail.

I would totally go to UCI just because of the cost issue. And take some time to weigh the pros and cons if you get an acceptance. If you are doing primary care that is probably the only reason to consider UCI.

If you plan to specialize or do any type of academic research, then its a no brainer, Columbia all the way. No point in wasting your time.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I am probably going to get grilled for saying this, but I would rather go to UCI than Columbia. Personally, location is a huge factor for me, and nothing beats Cali weather. You will have to work harder not coming from Columbia, but hey, it may make you a better doc for it. If you want to go into academics, choose Columbia. If not, save money and go to UCI.
 
Scooby, I think you know the answer to this one, but if you want peace of mind about the decision, then go to the interview, since it's not costing you anything but half a day of your time. I think it'll be pretty clear at that point, and you won't look back while you're paying off your debt and say, I wonder if I would have loved UCI.
 
i went to uci undergrad. its a great, clean school. the student body (both medical and undergrad) are very nice and fun ppl. also, u never have to worry about snow and cold if you got to uci. u will live 10 min away from the beach. it's always sunny there. also, what u spent one year at columbia would eual four years at uci. u should really think about this. i know that uci cant be compared to columbia, but look at all the benefits that come along with the school.
 
Scooby--

If you are at all undecided, even if you are leaning toward columbia I would still go to the interview. But if there is no way you would go to UCI over Columbia then don't go. give that chance to someone who wants/needs it... personally I would go to UCI just because of the local and personal preference... I loved UCI more than I thought I would after the interview... For me its the people and place, not the name. Students at UCI were the best! here I go again...
 
Hmm...I still am going to debate it.

Basically, it would take a little bit of time and I would have to drive a long way to get there..but it would be a "vacation" :)

Can someone describe the different routes you go?

1) academic
2) primary care
3) ???
4) ???

are the others like work for hospital or what?

I don't get it :)
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Accepted_me:
•EL HOMBRE DE LOS MOLECULOS!!!!•••••That was a great Conan skit on SNL. I am the mol-ecular m-an!
hahaha. good ****.
 
Scooby are you smoking crack?????? I know what you mean I just got an interview at stony brook...and am actually considering going. I look at it as I payed my $100 at least I can get free lunch :clap: :clap: :clap: :p
 
Yeah I liked UCI a lot more than I was expecting to. If it isn't going to cost you anything just go for it. Missing half a day of whatever else you would be doing won't kill you.
 
I laughed when I saw the subject of this post.... but I guess you were serious. Well.... I wouldnt think twice about it...... go to Columbia. I know cost is an issue.

Here is the thing about having 3 doctors in my family and knowing many of their colleagues.... if you are not going into academic medicine.... the med school you go to will not affect your career. The exception to that is if you want to go into a competitive specialty like ENT, derm, and any of the surgery specialities.

You can become as good as a physician as you want to be if you put the effort in.

My true opinion with cost included if:

1)GOING INTO ACADEMICS: Columbia

2)NOT GOING INTO ACADEMICS BUT A COMPETITIVE SPECIALTY: Columbia

3)NO ACADEMICS, NO COMPETITIVE SPECIALTY: Columbia
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Scooby Doo:
•Hmm...I still am going to debate it.

Basically, it would take a little bit of time and I would have to drive a long way to get there..but it would be a "vacation" :)

Can someone describe the different routes you go?

1) academic
2) primary care
3) ???
4) ???

are the others like work for hospital or what?

I don't get it :) •••••I see it as this:
1. Academic- involves research, attending at major teaching hospital
2. Primary care - general peds, IM, family practice, ob/gyn- can work in your own practice, with a group, or at a hospital (ie out patient clinic)
3. non-Academic (Private?)- work at hospital, no research or major teaching responsibilities

Note: Academic medicine pays way less than having your own practice or just working at a hospital. For example, Anesthesiologists working at a private hopsital probably make $200k/yr. Anesthesiologists who are in academics make closer to $120k/year.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
ok isn't this obvious...pple from east coast say columbia...pple in west coast say Irvine...

look at these factors

1) Cost =
Irvine = Awesome, 40,000 less
Columbia = 120,000+

2) Weather =
Irvine = Sun, beach close by
Columbia = Snow, and rain to worry about

3) Location =
Irvine, in southern california....all the great places that come with it
New York city = capital of the world

4) Reputation =
Irvine, most people go to primary care
Colubmia, great for specialities

5) Classes=
Irvine, 9 to 12 everyday, everyone is laid back
Columbia, not sure?

6) Exams
Irvine, givesh shelf exams, old USMLE exams for ur classes
Columbia, not sure?

honestly, you were whinning all the time, about not getting any UC interviews...and now your debating on whether to go there or not? go to the interview...I highly recommend....my perception changed a lot when I visited the school and saw happy the students were.....its nto going to kill u if u go there...
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by WatchaMaCallit:
•
honestly, you were whinning all the time, about not getting any UC interviews...and now your debating on whether to go there or not? •••••LIAR!!!!!!!

You told me when you went to the interview you got completely TURNED OFF by the school b/c the kids there had no senses about them! You said you hated it!!

Also, about the whining....

<img src="http://216.40.201.240/s/contrib/blackeye/2gunsfiring_v1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.theunholytrinity.org/cracks_smileys/cwm/big/cry.gif" alt="" />

SOOOO....

<img src="http://216.40.201.240/s/cwm/big/firemad.gif" alt="" />
 
Scooby,

Did you receive the invite via snail mail or email?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by nray:
•Scooby,

Did you receive the invite via snail mail or email?•••••Email...they had my complete application for like 4 or 5 months before any email though :)
 
haha cute faces....no let me elaborate....because you seem to have selective memory...

I SAID, I HATED THE STUDENTS WHO WERE interviewing that day...especially that snobbish girl with 14 interviews!! who kept on bragging and putting pple down..

however, for the reasons I mentioned on the previous page, I was very impressed with the school...and slowly day by day, my view is changing, cause I have friends there and at undergrad in ucla they were tripping, but in med shcool their always partying!!! i'm like wha!!?!?

listen, if u were going to compare UCSF and IRVINE...obviously it would be a no brainer...howeever, because your comparing PRIVATE SCHOOL IN ANOTHER LOCATION to a public school in california! what I wsa saying, is that your getting two different things...there is no doubt and no arguement that columbia has the better reputation, BUT, is that what your looking for, are u intersted in specialities, or primary care? low tuition fee, weather etc etc...ur factoring so many thigns there....do u want to be close to the beach...it depends on U....

so pick and chose wisely...at this point, if u havent visited the school...ur making unnecessarily stupid judgements.....dont be foolish into thinking that 120,000 is pocket change...its going to take u at least 4 years to pay it back! remember interest! on the other hand, u can move to irvine and invest in a condo instead of an apartment...and have the rest of ur money go into a house! so many factors...
 
Thank you watcha... :)
 
Dude,

Just a few more things to add to what everyone else is saying...

My best friend, who is originally from Northern Calif., attended undergrad at Occidental in Pasadena and loved it....i'm sure you know it, since you're a So-cal boy. Anyway, she got into the master's program at Columbia for Journalism (J-school, I believe it's called). I know journalism and med are 2 different things, but this has to do with location...so hear me out.

She hated New York. She appreciated the culture and the city life, but she absolutely could not wait for her one year program to be done. She said people in her classes would make fun of her because she went to the gym, worked out and ran. She got made fun of because she didn't wear enough black and didn't smoke...these are kind of funny things, but still, kind of not. I've never heard her sound soooo depressed in my life. And she's a very outgoing, intelligent and vibrant person....She was so glad to get back to California!

So, I guess what I'm saying, go where you think you are going to be most comfortable. If you're into big names, prestige and the possibility of making lots o'dough, then hey, maybe Columbia is for you. But, if you want to stay close to home, pay cheap tuition, be near the beach, live in a pretty mellow place and get a quality UC medical education, then go to UCI...I know I would if I were in your shoes.

I know this is random, but didn't you get into Pitt, also?

Good luck, Scoob...
 
Scooby

You should go to the interview. You never know when a school is going to make a really storng impression on you or not. UCI might be so perfect for you, and you'd never have known it if you skip the interview. I mean, I interviewed there and wasn't all that impressed, but some people LOVED it. It's just different for each person, so YOU have to go see it for yourself.
 
Ok..thanks :)

I am 99% sure I will go to the interview :)
I love Cali and would love to stay here but I don't want to close any doors. That's one thing I hated about New York (the rules of smoking indoors)...Cali has that wonderful law where there is NO smoking at any bars or anywhere indoors. :D

THANKS!

Wow..almost to 2000!
 
Columbia is a great school -- no doubt. However I must say that once I got some other letters I withdrew my application. When I interviewed there -- the MSTP had many unhappy students and the program director didn't seem to care much at all. On another note I know NIH issued them a warning 3 yrs ago to speed up their process because they were notorious for having people in their MD/PhD program for like 10 years on AVERAGE! And Morningside Heights is not so appealing to the "non-city" person. It's not really the "classic" post-card NY. Rather very worn down -- but heck they have great labs. However these are just thoughts on the research end of the school. They have some great researchers. However for the inexperienced lab student -- they tend not to cater much because it would sort of "slow the train down" so to speak. A lot of their people like to publish heavy -- which for PhD students (if they are totally motivated is great), but usually their MD students resort to extramural programs for research experience. But in terms of their training in the clinical end -- it's very good for the subspecialty type just as everyone has said. But Columbia is probably the most notable program in New York City :D
 
listen there are so many factors in determining where a person goes to school...and it could or could not even be related to a school's reputation!

I have a friend, who got accepted to stanford, and at the time was accepted to USC....she chose USC OVER STANFORD&gt;....i wanted to slap her face silly...I'm like USC OVER STANFORD, and she was like I want to live at home and be with my family...I mean that is what she WANTED....of course, she then got accepted to UCLA which was her first choice!

but my point is....there are so many factors that pple look at when they chose a school....it's not always reputation, and the great research program! family, environment, weather etc etc, there are tons of factors to chose from!
 
Dude. UCI any day. I turned down Columbia for UCSD/UCLA. West Coast schools rule!
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by spicoli:
•Dude. UCI any day. I turned down Columbia for UCSD/UCLA. West Coast schools rule!•••••Umm...UCI isn't exactly UCLA or UCSD...but ok..
 
Frat Buddy: Man, the Berkeley Bar scene is like a George Foreman Grill.
ME: What?!?!?!?
Frat Buddy: Yeah there's a lot of sausage and what's left over is fat.

- Scoob, I like your signature...lol! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />
 
hey, bumpin another old thread.

just curious, scooby, did you go to UCI?

and btw, i'd take UCI anyday.
 
On my phone...somehow posted in the wrong thread even though I'd never opened it. :confused:
 
Last edited:
prexies said:
Congratulations! How did they contact you?
Click to expand...

t9kzu.gif
 
Scooby Doo said:
Okay,

So I am very happy that I got into Columbia recently. However, I have now been offered an interview at UC Irvine. Cost wise, UCI is a HUGE SAVER...but can it really compare to Columbia???

I am debating whether or not to go to this interview. It won't cost any extra money really...so that's not an issue. And it won't take up any extra time. Just that 1/2 day I would be there.

Any opinions?
Click to expand...

Umm obviously Columbia.
 
Scooby Doo said:
Okay,

So I am very happy that I got into Columbia recently. However, I have now been offered an interview at UC Irvine. Cost wise, UCI is a HUGE SAVER...but can it really compare to Columbia???

I am debating whether or not to go to this interview. It won't cost any extra money really...so that's not an issue. And it won't take up any extra time. Just that 1/2 day I would be there.

Any opinions?
Click to expand...

Asking the sdn crowd means you're selecting a body of opinions that are disproportionately gunner and prestige-oriented. Maybe Irvine is a better match.
 
someone was asking if the II came via Email or snail mail so I just thought I'd answer that UC Irvine sends II via Email (and I think I've heard the status page gets updated a little before you get this Email).
 
You guys realize the guy who posted this thread is like...in his mid 30s now and hasn't been on SDN for over 3 years, right?

Also, I was in middle school :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

D
Duke vs. UC Irvine
Replies
5
Views
1K
canarystones
C
wysdoc
2023-2024 UC Irvine
8 9 10 11 12
Replies
554
Views
117K
Femsco1225
F
A
UCF versus SLU
Replies
6
Views
529
Busy11pk
B
M
UC Irvine vs Georgetown (WL) vs. Einstein (WL)
Replies
11
Views
2K
pierty
pierty
B
Advice: Columbia SPURS or MSK SCORE program?
Replies
3
Views
353
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top