UC Irvine vs UPenn

[dinkydino]

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I was originally committed to UPenn, but just got an acceptance from UC Irvine yesterday. I am from San Diego and my goal is to match into a solid residency program back in California after graduation. I am all over the place when it comes to specialty interests but am considering: anesthesiology, internal medicine, and even more competitive specialties like ENT/dermatology. I envision myself working in an academic hospital and conducting research alongside my clinical duties but I am not really sure to what extent at all.

UC Irvine School of Medicine:

Pros:

• Full COA of 4 Years: about $50,000 (result of benefits from parent who is a veteran)
  • I have 2 years of a GI Bill that will cover full cost of tuition, books, and housing
  • the remaining 2 years, I am eligible to use the Cal Vet College Fee waiver which would cover full cost of tuition
• only 1.5 hours away from home
• location in SoCal is beautiful (albeit some may consider it boring) and I have access to great Asian food/grocery stores
• I can drive back and forth to move all my stuff from home
• very relaxed medical student atmosphere
• UC Irvine offers subsidized on-campus housing
• 2025 Match List: 68 students matched into California out of 97 students (70 percent)
  • of those 68 students: (1 neurosurgery, 3 general surgery, 1 dermatology, 2 urology, 0 ENT, internal medicine: 15, anesthesiology: 5)

Cons:

• ranked #42 amongst all U.S. medical schools (according to Admit.org)
• people say that Irvine is boring
• H/P/F grading during clerkships
• ability to get honors even during preclinicals

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Pros:

• ranked #4 amongst all U.S. medical schools (according to Admit.org)
• great facilities; perhaps one of the best children's hospitals in CHOP
• it seems that most people regard Philly as a fun and exciting city for young people
• city seemed pretty fun: food seemed good and students seem to have decent amounts of parties (so like "work hard, play hard" I guess?)
• I had the chance to go to second look and have definitely made some friends/people I seem to really get a long with and know who I'd want to live with

Cons:

• would graduate with $170,000 in loans (received a $25,000/year scholarship and have a GI bill passed down from a parent that will cover almost the rest of the tuition and provide a living stipend for ONLY the first two years of school)
• clerkships are GRADED
• UPenn environment is known to be more competitive/stressful
• 6-7 hour flight from home
• only 60% of days of year are sunny in Philly (vs. 80% of days of year being sunny in Irvine)
• I would have to move all my stuff via plane/air travel and wouldn't bring my car
• 2025 Match List: 14 students matched into California out of 140 students (10 percent) - I understand this is also because many students didn't necessarily want to go to CA
  • of those 14 students: (1 neurosurgery, 1 general surgery, 2 plastic surgery, 0 ENT, 7 internal medicine, 1 anesthesiology, 0 dermatology, 0 urology)

What would you choose and why?

 

[bananasundae3]

Dude…. Penn, it’s not even close.

 

[newkungfukenny]

Penn is well worth the 120k difference

 

[Yhwach]

Penn

 

[Lakers$]

Take the money help from penn. it
ill be a relief in the long run

 

[Dragonite7]

Matching to a California residency is not as hard as people seem to think, especially if you're smart enough to get into Penn. If you genuinely prefer UC Irvine that's fine, but don't expect it to give you any boost in matching over Penn.

 

[LunaOri]

Irvine. You want to live in CA, so why move?

 

[BigDawg101]

PENN. It will open so many doors. A 120k difference is not that much. You have to experience new things man, and imagine how much you might regret not taking the opportunity to study at a T-5 medical school. You gotta take that leap of faith.