UCI v. Northwestern

[112]

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So I have to choose between the two....which would you recommend and why? 😕

 

[eastsidaz]

So I have to choose between the two....which would you recommend and why? 😕

More specifics por favor. For instance, are you a CA resident who will get in-state tuition? How do you feel about cold weather? Which place did you get a better feel for? Do you prefer the Chicago metro area to the LA metro area, or vice-versa? Do you want to live in the heart of a city or in the 'burbs? Where is your family, and where are you from? It's impossible to just tell someone where to go without knowing what's important to them.

 

[112]

So I went to UCI for undergrad....I'm from orange county and my family and friends are all here too....I was looking forward to a change and I don't mind the cold weather, I prefer the NU curriculum...but then again I've never lived far away from home and though I am totally excited about the change, I keep hearing about how a support system during med school is very important... I think I would have a lot more of that at UCI....but that also comes with a lot more distraction because its home.

More specifics por favor. For instance, are you a CA resident who will get in-state tuition? How do you feel about cold weather? Which place did you get a better feel for? Do you prefer the Chicago metro area to the LA metro area, or vice-versa? Do you want to live in the heart of a city or in the 'burbs? Where is your family, and where are you from? It's impossible to just tell someone where to go without knowing what's important to them.

 

[Bluntman]

More specifics por favor. For instance, are you a CA resident who will get in-state tuition? How do you feel about cold weather? Which place did you get a better feel for? Do you prefer the Chicago metro area to the LA metro area, or vice-versa? Do you want to live in the heart of a city or in the 'burbs? Where is your family, and where are you from? It's impossible to just tell someone where to go without knowing what's important to them.

Ditto. But for the sake of conversation...

I know I would choose UCI because:

1. It's close to family.
2. I don't like cold weather.
3. I like the beach (the kind that is on an actual real-life ocean).
4. I'd get sexy discounts for in-state tuition.
5. I'm in love with southern cali.
6. I would get to be a foot taller than the average person at UCI so I'm set if anyone ever starts some ****. 🙄

 

[Bluntman]

So I went to UCI for undergrad....I'm from orange county and my family and friends are all here too....I was looking forward to a change and I don't mind the cold weather, I prefer the NU curriculum...but then again I've never lived far away from home and though I am totally excited about the change, I keep hearing about how a support system during med school is very important... I think I would have a lot more of that at UCI....but that also comes with a lot more distraction because its home.

Sounds like you've got your mind made up already. NU seems like a great fit for you. Just make a bunch of friends when you get there and be sure to stay grounded with your fam/friends back home and it'll be fine. 👍

 

[ABC321]

I hope this isn't even a ? for you....Northwestern for sure!

 

[112]

I hope this isn't even a ? for you....Northwestern for sure!

thank you!! thats what I was leaning toward, I just wanted to get some more opinions...

😉

 

[paradisedoc]

I concur. Definitely Northwestern. Better school and lots of new experiences. The ONLY down side is the tuition differences, but don't know your financial situation. Sounds good.

 

[45408]

give me your spot! 😀 :waitlist@NU:

 

[112]

I concur. Definitely Northwestern. Better school and lots of new experiences. The ONLY down side is the tuition differences, but don't know your financial situation. Sounds good.

either way im taking out loans....i figure why not live it up in chi town 🙂

anyone for UCI?

 

[Oasis]

either way im taking out loans....i figure why not live it up in chi town 🙂

anyone for UCI?

I vote for UCI...PM me if you want to know why

 

[OctoDoc]

I think you should ignore everyone's advice. Choosing a medical school is a highly personal decision, and people on SDN don't know you well enough to give you sage advice.

That being said, go to UCI. The sea air is a whole lot sweeter than kielbasa and saurkraut farts.

 

[Flopotomist]

Uhm - have you ever been to Irvine? If not, you REALLY should visit and ask yourself if you wanted to live there.

 

[pls accept me]

As a UCI graduate on both NW and UCI's waitlist/alternate list, I say you should go to NW. 🙂

Flopotomist, Irvine is much cleaner.

 

[Flopotomist]

As a UCI graduate on both NW and UCI's waitlist/alternate list, I say you should go to NW. 🙂

Flopotomist, Irvine is much cleaner.

Cleaner than the area of Chicago around NW?? I am not sure I would agree with you - but I think the issue of cleanliness is irrelevant. Irvine is a pit of nothingness, and the bastard stepchild of the UCs. (Oh, and they rejected me, so I am bitter lol)

 

[Bluntman]

Uhm - have you ever been to Irvine? If not, you REALLY should visit and ask yourself if you wanted to live there.

Flop...I imagine you are hinting at the fact that there is not much to do immediately where the school is, which is certainly true since it's in residential suburbia. But to play devil's advocate for a second (and since I'd be a ***** if I didn't defend where I grew up)...

The area where you'll be living in around UCI, in the heart of OC, is one of the nicest places to live in the nation. Add to that the fact that it is like 10 min to Newport and the beaches, 20 to Fullerton/Anaheim, 40 to LA, and an hour to SD, and you'll find yourself right at the center of a whole ****load of fun opportunities.

 

[eastsidaz]

Uhm - have you ever been to Irvine? If not, you REALLY should visit and ask yourself if you wanted to live there.

Ouch! I have friends at UCI who love it; of course, people at NU love it there (I did).

 

[112]

Ouch! I have friends at UCI who love it; of course, people at NU love it there (I did).

east did u go to NW for undergrad?

 

[112]

UCI has cuter girls.

ha ha thanks! thats a compliment to me but that doesnt help my situation 🙄

 

[beebs]

hey,
i went to nu for undergrad and now im a ms1 at uci. nu is a GREAT place to be. many of my good friends from nu are still there for med school, and they seem to really enjoy it there. chicago is a wonderful city and has a lot to offer. but from personal experience, im loving it here at uci and couldnt see myself anywhere else.

anyway, from my conversations with my friends at nu, the two schools are very different. im not sure if ure planning to, but i would highly recommend going to both school's second look. you never really know if you can picture yourself at a school until you visit (especially in a city as cold as Chicago. if you've never been to chicago or have never lived somewhere with real winters, cold has a whole new meaning once you leave sunny socal. it wasnt a problem for me, but it does bother a LOT of people who never anticipated it becoming a problem. dont let the spring trick you either. spring is gorgeous, but just remember winter lasts from ~late nov/december--~mid aprilish depending if its a good winter or bad one. a few years back it snowed until may.)

some things ive noticed about uci and nu:
our study bodies are quite different and like u mentioned, so is our curriculum. (pm me if you want some specifics on uci curriculum. changes have just been finalized for the incoming ms1's at uci).

uci seems to prepare you a little better for the boards (we take shelf exams during 1st and 2nd year where as nu doesnt). i have some friends at nu who are frustrated by the lack of specific preparation for the boards. but then again, everyone complains about the boards and most people do fine on them.

nu has great city life, but uci has the beach and outdoorsy stuff. my class in particular into outdoorsy stuff--lots of rock climbers, bikers, triathelets, etc. although there are a good number who go to the clubs, salsa dancing, etc.

the students at uci are extremely close. we have a small class and everyone knows eachother and gets along quite well. case in point, about a fourth of the class took a trip down to rosarito this past spring break together. im not positive about the feel at nu, but my perception from my friends who are there is that they are not quite as cohesive a group as the students at uci.

uci students are building a reputation for activism. there are many dedicated and very charsmatic people at uci who are taking the initative to lead student group on issues such as universal healthcare, pharm free intiatives, etc. (we have a very active amsa group that has a lot of exciting things planned for next year). i dont know what nu is like in this respect, but if you are at all interested in such issues uci is definitely a great place to be for this. (from the words of my good nu friend, "amsa is more of a joke around here"--no offense intended for the dedicated amsa reps at nu)

these are just a few of the main difference that i can think of right now. feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions. i can probably hook u up with some nu kids too if you'd like.

vickie

ha ha thanks! thats a compliment to me but that doesnt help my situation 🙄

 

[beebs]

oops, i didnt realize i was logged in under my friends sn. if you have questions, pm me at hotchicalica.

hey,
i went to nu for undergrad and now im a ms1 at uci. nu is a GREAT place to be. many of my good friends from nu are still there for med school, and they seem to really enjoy it there. chicago is a wonderful city and has a lot to offer. but from personal experience, im loving it here at uci and couldnt see myself anywhere else.

anyway, from my conversations with my friends at nu, the two schools are very different. im not sure if ure planning to, but i would highly recommend going to both school's second look. you never really know if you can picture yourself at a school until you visit (especially in a city as cold as Chicago. if you've never been to chicago or have never lived somewhere with real winters, cold has a whole new meaning once you leave sunny socal. it wasnt a problem for me, but it does bother a LOT of people who never anticipated it becoming a problem. dont let the spring trick you either. spring is gorgeous, but just remember winter lasts from ~late nov/december--~mid aprilish depending if its a good winter or bad one. a few years back it snowed until may.)

some things ive noticed about uci and nu:
our study bodies are quite different and like u mentioned, so is our curriculum. (pm me if you want some specifics on uci curriculum. changes have just been finalized for the incoming ms1's at uci).

uci seems to prepare you a little better for the boards (we take shelf exams during 1st and 2nd year where as nu doesnt). i have some friends at nu who are frustrated by the lack of specific preparation for the boards. but then again, everyone complains about the boards and most people do fine on them.

nu has great city life, but uci has the beach and outdoorsy stuff. my class in particular into outdoorsy stuff--lots of rock climbers, bikers, triathelets, etc. although there are a good number who go to the clubs, salsa dancing, etc.

the students at uci are extremely close. we have a small class and everyone knows eachother and gets along quite well. case in point, about a fourth of the class took a trip down to rosarito this past spring break together. im not positive about the feel at nu, but my perception from my friends who are there is that they are not quite as cohesive a group as the students at uci.

uci students are building a reputation for activism. there are many dedicated and very charsmatic people at uci who are taking the initative to lead student group on issues such as universal healthcare, pharm free intiatives, etc. (we have a very active amsa group that has a lot of exciting things planned for next year). i dont know what nu is like in this respect, but if you are at all interested in such issues uci is definitely a great place to be for this. (from the words of my good nu friend, "amsa is more of a joke around here"--no offense intended for the dedicated amsa reps at nu)

these are just a few of the main difference that i can think of right now. feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions. i can probably hook u up with some nu kids too if you'd like.

vickie