UCLA vs UCSD

[Smyle4Jenn]

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I'm having trouble differentiating the two schools. They are both comparable in many areas. Both are top research schools with opportunities to work with the underserved community. Both have diverse clinical sites and good match results. UCLA is more PBL, whereas UCSD has a more traditional curriculum. Does anyone else know other traits to help distinguish the two schools?

 

[Mutt]

I think you pretty much summed it up.

As many people will tell you, students at UCSD live pretty stressed out, so you've got to be okay living constantly on edge.

UCLA does have a better national reputation, and if you look at the match lists, it is leagues above UCSD.

Also, how you learn it an important factor. UCSD, as you said, is more lecture but they are also known for making their students learn in excessive detail - which I think contributes to the level of stress for everyone.

I think there is more of an opportunity for regret at UCSD, but if you have some other reason that outweighs all other factors, then go for it.

 

[Bluntman]

As many people will tell you, students at UCSD live pretty stressed out, so you've got to be okay living constantly on edge.

LOL...that generaliztion isn't even close man. I know a bunch of MS1s at UCSD that graduated undergrad with me last year...everyone said the first quarter was way easy and they went out and partied as much as I did. Even now when they are getting more into the thick of it, my friends are nowhere near stressed out and living on edge. There are a lot of scheduled classes...but people think of them more as "optional" it seems- I know some students that hardly go and instead take a more independent approach to their learning, which is fine. I'm sure there are some people that are stessed out, but I haven't gotten the impression that it's any worse than any other UC. But then again I should note that I am naturally more attracted to chill people and tend to avoid the neurotic ones. 🙄

 

[Mutt]

LOL...that generaliztion isn't even close man. I know a bunch of MS1s at UCSD that graduated undergrad with me last year...everyone said the first quarter was way easy and they went out and partied as much as I did. Even now when they are getting more into the thick of it, my friends are nowhere near stressed out and living on edge.

Since you obviously don't know "everyone," and, as you said, your friends are more like you (i.e. laid back), then you're not getting a comprehensive cross-section. UCSD has always had stressed out med students.

But then again I should note that I am naturally more attracted to chill people and tend to avoid the neurotic ones.

Unfortunately, neurotic ones get in to med school more often than "chill" ones.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Since you obviously don't know "everyone," and, as you said, your friends are more like you (i.e. laid back), then you're not getting a comprehensive cross-section. UCSD has always had stressed out med students.

Were you a UCSD undergrad, or perhaps a current med student? Because I'll put a little more faith in (fellow alum) Bluntman's statements than someone who is at best loosely tied to UCSD.