-
Scholarship Access: Becoming a Student Doctor course
Free access to comprehensive medical school prep. Eligible students include AAMC FAP recipients and HS graduates from underserved areas. Apply today. -
Uci
- Thread starter ganesha123
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2007
- Messages
- 4,696
- Reaction score
- 8,529
- Points
- 7,636
- Fellow [Any Field]
- Attending Physician
CA is facing a 41B deficit, UCI isnt going to be throwing money at many people so dont depend on it.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 441
- Reaction score
- 3
- Points
- 4,626
As somebody who is already holding another UC acceptance, I would suggest you not waste your time with interviewing at UCI. Firstly, when I interviewed there I thought their facilities were second-rate and it seems like you'd get lackluster clinical training since you'd only round at 1-2 hospitals that are 20 minutes away, which is a negative in its own right. Also, this school seems to pull most of its students off the waitlist so it seems like many people "settle" for UCI. This is just my opinion.
The one advantage is that I thought their class was much more collegial than all of the other UCs. Of course this could vary dramatically from class to class, but they seemed to really be proud of that so it could mean it's something they strive for when putting together their classes. Another advantage is that Irvine is conducive to living the med student life. It's a very planned city so everything you need is pretty much right there, but you will need a car to access it. Partying is pretty easy too since you are close to laguna beach and other OC party municipalities. Biking and walking are very possible and safety is not even a concern since crime is pretty low.
Like I said, I wouldn't waste your time since I thought every other UC afforded opportunities that trump anything UCI had to offer. Also by turning down the interview you give another person (perhaps one who hasn't inteviewed at any of the UCs) a chance to attend a state school. Whatever you choose good luck with your journey.
edit: Chessknight87 is correct in saying that california is ****ed in terms of money and you can almost guarantee that you will not be getting any scholarship. However, when I went to UCI I stayed with my friend who has half her tuition paid for, but she is a URM and played the game well despite coming from an upper middle class family.
The one advantage is that I thought their class was much more collegial than all of the other UCs. Of course this could vary dramatically from class to class, but they seemed to really be proud of that so it could mean it's something they strive for when putting together their classes. Another advantage is that Irvine is conducive to living the med student life. It's a very planned city so everything you need is pretty much right there, but you will need a car to access it. Partying is pretty easy too since you are close to laguna beach and other OC party municipalities. Biking and walking are very possible and safety is not even a concern since crime is pretty low.
Like I said, I wouldn't waste your time since I thought every other UC afforded opportunities that trump anything UCI had to offer. Also by turning down the interview you give another person (perhaps one who hasn't inteviewed at any of the UCs) a chance to attend a state school. Whatever you choose good luck with your journey.
edit: Chessknight87 is correct in saying that california is ****ed in terms of money and you can almost guarantee that you will not be getting any scholarship. However, when I went to UCI I stayed with my friend who has half her tuition paid for, but she is a URM and played the game well despite coming from an upper middle class family.
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2006
- Messages
- 5,375
- Reaction score
- 38
- Points
- 4,621
- Location
- Orange, CA
- Resident [Any Field]
No. There is not a lot of financial aid at UCI. Most of the aid is need-based. Although there is some merit based aid but its limited and really only for ridiculous applicants.
Regarding the previous posters comments - the facilities are old - but it won't affect you guys because there is a brand new building being built. All the medical education offices, private study rooms, study carols, new computer lab, new student lounge and new lecture halls and discussion rooms. So the facilities you guys see are a moot point - they really only give tours because its whats done. Nothing you see is what you'll use.
The hospitals are not in Irvine and are about a 20 min drive away but that really has no effect on the quality of education. You no longer go to the med school campus much once you hit 3rd year so a lot of people move near the hospital. And I'm not sure who told you we only rotate at 2 hospitals, there are dozens of different facilities that are rotated in throughout the year (the largest ones being UCI Medical Center - which is brand new, VA in Long beach, Kaiser in Santa Ana, and CHOC).
Its true a lot of students choose to go to other UCs. Partially because if you look at rankings UCI is lower than most of the other UCs. Which is a choice, but residency directors don't care that much about med school ranking so it has less importance than other factors and you should really go where you are happiest. If you already love the UC you've been accepted to then stick with it. Don't waste the money to fly to the interview and let someone who wants to slot have it. How many people we pull off the waitlist varies. But about 55% of people are accepted after interview which is pretty average among schools.
Like any school UCI has its faults. But you really need to go where you are happiest, so the class make-up, type of curriculum, location and culture of where the school is all have a huge effect on whether or not someone should attend there. And all of those are very subjective decisions that depend on what a person wants personally.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2008
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 4,551
- Pre-Health (Field Undecided)
I am undergrad in UCI right now. It would be the happiest day of my life if I get accepted to UCI SOM. 
By the way, Alwaysaangel, I read your MDApplicant profile. You are my inspiration!
By the way, Alwaysaangel, I read your MDApplicant profile. You are my inspiration!
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2007
- Messages
- 652
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 75
- Pre-Medical
Sorry to spam this thread with one of those "which school is better" posts, but I was wondering if I could get ppl's thoughts on comparing UCI vs UTSW. Im asking because I was accepted to UTSW and recently received a preinterview rejection letter from UCI, and I am debating on whether I should try to contest the decision to the higher ups at UCI in light of having done new activities and receiving a higher MCAT score since I submitted my app in September. While I know that there is no guarantee that I could even get an interview, I believe that I would have a significant chance since I sent similar letters to UCSD and Baylor and was able to subsequently get interview offers from those schools.
Regarding UTSW vs. UCI, it seems like UTSW is the better deal in terms of reputation, resources, and tuition [they give scholarships to all OOS such that they end up paying in state tuition (~12k/yr)]. On the other hand, UCI would enable me to stay in CA and be close to my family in Southern California. However, besides location, is there any other reasons to justify UCI over UTSW. In particular, would attending UCI increase my chances of matching in California for residencies as compared to UTSW?
Thx for the help.
Regarding UTSW vs. UCI, it seems like UTSW is the better deal in terms of reputation, resources, and tuition [they give scholarships to all OOS such that they end up paying in state tuition (~12k/yr)]. On the other hand, UCI would enable me to stay in CA and be close to my family in Southern California. However, besides location, is there any other reasons to justify UCI over UTSW. In particular, would attending UCI increase my chances of matching in California for residencies as compared to UTSW?
Thx for the help.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2006
- Messages
- 14,411
- Reaction score
- 26
- Points
- 4,641
- Medical Student
Dude, you already have multiple accetances. You got into UTSW. Be happy and don't look back. Some would kill for that UTSW acceptance.
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2007
- Messages
- 652
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 75
- Pre-Medical
Thx, Im excited about UTSW, I guess Im mostly wondering about how a medical school's location or state of residency comes into play for the residency matchs/placements, since ideally, I would like to end up in CA.
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2009
- Messages
- 229
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 4,531
- Medical Student
What is with this attitude on SDN? I feel like all you people believe that if somebody has received acceptances they should just forget about any of the other schools they have applied to simply because that would seem "greedy."
Hey BlueElmo, did you even READ his post? He has a CLEAR reason for why he is interested in a California school despite his multiple acceptances. Man this system really just breeds sheep that are taught to be happy with what cards they have been dealt to them.
To help the OP: I wouldn't even bother with UCI especially since you have another instate acceptance. I think a previous poster touched on the issues, but UCI seems like a second-rate med school relative to all of the other in-state powerhouses (UCSD, UCLA, UCSF, UCDavis). I guess I should qualify that statement by saying any med school is a good med school and honestly the decision can only be made by you. What I suggested was just my opinion and what I would probably think if I were in your position.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2007
- Messages
- 652
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 75
- Pre-Medical
Thx for the info Blunt.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2006
- Messages
- 14,647
- Reaction score
- 44
- Points
- 4,621
- Resident [Any Field]
I'm not sure I'd say UCI is second rate compared to UCD. I know UCD is a brand new med school but I would rather attend UCI. Yes UCDMC > UCIMC for sure though.
UCD and UCI are very comparable.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 441
- Reaction score
- 3
- Points
- 4,626
I don't know.. when I saw UCD's facilities I was pretty damn impressed. I don't thinK I could say the same for UCI. It all comes down to personal opinion though.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2006
- Messages
- 14,647
- Reaction score
- 44
- Points
- 4,621
- Resident [Any Field]
orange county >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. sacramento.
Last edited:
hey guys..i am going to withdraw my interview slot..good luck to whomever it goes to!
