28. UCLA*/(UCLA/Drew)__________
First year Student Budget: In State: $47,492, Out of State: $59,737 (but consider that you are a CA resident so you will not have those travel expenses and you have the option of living at home Score: 2.5 (only b/c you are a CA resident
Financial Aid/etc
: Both need based and merit based scholarships are offered (however mostly need based). Several loans available (funded by the state of Ca
well the state funds the university
besides the private/alumni donations that are given). % of students enrolled receiving financial aid: 87%, Average amount per scholarship/grant: $11,459, Average 2005 graduate Indebtedness: $97,341 (nice) Score: 5.75 (b/c the indebtedness is low mainly b/c most of students are in-state residents)
Curriculum/etc
: Quarter based
so things move fast
Integration of basic and clinical sciences that is enhanced through small group PBL. A holistic approach to patient care is emphasized very early through an innovative and nationally recognized Doctoring course. Specifically the curriculum is organized into 3 phases. Phase one covers the first two years (entitled Human Biology and Disease)
is the basic science phase of the curriculum
.material is presented using an organ-based structure. Contact time is limited to 24 hours (lecture time is approx. 10 hrs. per week) per week to allow for independent studies and electives (like medical Spanish
niiiiiiiiiiiice!). Instruction is driven by cases explored in small group, laboratories, conferences, clinical skills workshops. Patient contact begins during this phase. Phase two consists of clerkships: The third year begins with a two-week course, Clinical Foundations, focused on the basics of clinical care, including a review of the physical examination, BCLS, basic radiology, write-ups and presentations, with an emphasis on professionalism and ethical standards. This period is followed by 48 weeks of the core clerkships: Inpatient Medicine (8 weeks), Surgery/Anesthesiology/Opthalmology (12 weeks)\, OB/GYN (6 weeks), Pediatrics (6 weeks), Ambulatory Medicine (Combined didactics with clinical experience in Family Medicine [4 weeks] and Internal Medicine [4 weeks]
so a total of 8 weeks), Neuro/Psychiatry (Combined didactics with 4.5 weeks of clinical experience in psychiatry and 2.5 weeks in Neurology). There are 3 longitudinal courses that continue throughout the year: 1. Radiology - Core topics in radiology are included in the didactic sessions for each of the clerkships and include an emphasis on the use of imaging as diagnostic and treatment modalities; 2. Doctoring 3 Small groups of students meet twice a month to develop skills in communication and to reinforce standards of professionalism and humanistic approaches to patient-centered care; 3. Longitudinal Preceptorship Students spend two afternoons a month with a community-based outpatient preceptor to improve skills in clinical assessment and explore possible career choices. Phase 2 ends with a required Clinical Performance Examination (CPX) in which students receive feedback on their history taking, physical examination, patient/physician interaction, and information sharing skills. During Phase 3 faculty and students who are interested in common career activities are grouped into academic colleges during year four. This organizations is meant to strengthen career advising, improve quality and selection of electives, provide a means of honing clinical skills, and stimulate discussion of new findings in the basic, social, and clinical sciences relevant to the future practice of medicine. College activities include an introductory course focused on advanced clinical skills and decision making, a monthly series of evening seminars, a longitudinal academic activity that can be either teaching or scholarship, and regular advisory meetings. There are six colleges: 1. Acute Care, 2. Applied Anatomy, 3. Primary Care, 4. Medical Science, 5. MBA/MPH, and 6. Drew Urban Underserved (this last college is for students who are part of the UCLA/Drew Program). Grading Scale: 2 intervals (Pass/Fail or equivalent) for all four years with letters of distinction for outstanding work. There are many opportunities to do away rotations both at specified international rotations and other national locations. There are a few student aids to learning (but no mention of any simulation labs, etc
this does not mean that they do not exist on this campus)
one of the electives the school offers is Medical Spanish (this is a must in Los Angeles)
Score: 13.5
#Affiliated Hospitals/Facilities: 7 and a myriad supporting facilities/clinics (UCLA Med Center has been recognized as one of the top hospitals in the country) Score: 7.5
Selection Factors: Rolling, Public, for some reason does not give any specific state preference at least on paper
but we all know that the sheer number of qualified Cali residents causes them to admit a much greater number of residents than non-residents (in my favor
so I have no problems with that), heavy screening of applications (which can be a good and bad thing
this school is heavily focused on numbers
so if you do not meet the numbers cutoff your file will be sent to another committee that considers other aspects of your application). Overall Median GPA: 3.78, Median Science GPA: 3.76, Median MCAT: 32Q (Ranges: V: 5 15, P: 6 15, B: 6 15, writing: L T). I hear that the average age is pretty young; 7056 applications for 717 interview slots
here are some stats from 2004: 5,418 applicants
2,358 received a secondary, 2063 completed the secondary, 758 invited for interview, 726 interviewed, 245 accepted, 121 matriculated Score: 5.5 (only because of my Ca. residence)
Diversity: 28% URM (but we all know that this includes Drew which is like 90% URM), 80% Minority (awesome
but this includes all programs affiliated
like Drew/UCLA, and UCR/UCLA Score: 15++++++++++++ (this for UCLA and all of its programs
.but not UCLA alone)
Dual Degree Programs: MD/MBA, MD/MPH, MD/Oral Surgery Residency Programs, MD/Short Term Training Program, MD/PhD
Score: 7++++++++++++
Student Support: Large biomedical library (kind of antiquated though)
students have access to the Charles Drew Biomed. library as well, strong SNMA (includes the Drew program students as well), office of multicultural affairs is existent, several student organizations, career counseling, tutorial assistance; the school provides a Master Study Program (MSP provides first year students with an opportunity to explore a variety of learning methods necessary for success in our curriculum by participating in small group study sessions led by second year medical students who have excelled in the subject area. Students are able to enhance their understanding of course content in a stress free learning environment by participating in one or all of the MSP groups offered.), other academic services offered as well
Score: 5
Housing: On campus graduate housing available for the first two years, off campus affiliated housing, non-affiliated off campus housing all over westwood
.plus I LIVE FAIRLY CLOSE TO BOTH CAMPUSES (UCLA main and the Drew Univ. Campus)
being able to live at home and save some dough is quite nice! Score: 6 (it would be lower b/c of expensive housing, but I live close to campus)
Location: Los Angeles
the best place to be
I must a very diverse patient population
.and you better know some Spanish
I love LA
GRRRRREAT WEATHER, can go skiing and to the beach all in the same day
yes that is nice
Score: 5+++++++
Class Size: 170 (Includes UCLA Drew and UCR too)
.so approx 24% of interviewees matriculate
so much more are accepted Score: 4.25
Residency Match List: 38% of past graduates have entered primary care residency programs, 62% enter the specialized programs
Volunteer/Research Opportunities: This school is HEAVILY involved in community outreach: ranging from community health education to providing clinical access to inner city communities; 80% of students participate in community service, The Center of Excellence (COE: Research and Educational Resources in Minority health) plays an integral part in the urban communities. In addition to organized school wide funded community outreach programs, many individual student volunteer organizations organize community events. Research: This school is a HUGE research school. Several summer research fellowships are available to students (both minority student fellowships and general student body research fellowships; short term research opportunities are also available. Over 75% of students participate in research; several research facilities (including core); Total NIH funding: $285,852,720 (rank 8th), Total NIH supported research funding: $268,345,066 Score: 11++++++++++
Miscellaneous: I would not mind going to UCLA. I am weary of King/Drew Hospital
they closed)
I am thinking that I would love to be home
or close to family
this school is nice, pretty good website, videos available for viewing. Notes about the Drew Program: this program is geared towards students who have a dedicated interest in serving in an underserved community (well at least they mention that interest)
this program makes four total medical schools where URMs are the majority. So technically Drew University is just under the wing as UCLA/Drew. The program is cool but the hospital where most of the clerkships are completed is HORRIBLE. King/Drew hospital has had all kinds of problems that have been heavily publicized. It did have a Level 1 trauma center but that was closed due to funding and due to shiesty practices
supposedly much of the staff (not including the docs) were improperly trained. See Drew for more information Score: 3
Total Score: NO FULL SCORE ASSIGNED UNTIL ALL SCHOOLS COMPLETED
HELPS PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE INLETS FOR BIAS
. Watch for the water that comes out subtlely from your 2+ day old squid next time you eat around there. Where are the sushi police????
