UCLA vs UCSF

[dayfu17]

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I know that there are old threads on this subject, but I just wanted to hear from people that have gotten accepted to both schools this year. Which are you going to choose and why? Does the "alleged" scandal at UCLA have any influence on your decision? I just got accepted to both today, and I have a feeling like it is going to be really hard to decide on one of them.

 

[Khala Jaan]

thanks for making this thread..i was just about to myself....i think im going to choose ucla (assuming i do get admitted into ucsf) because of the following reasons:

1. ucla is very organized compared to the disarray of ucsf. at ucsf, i know from recent grads, its hard to get patients--in some cases you have to even pay patients out of your own pocket to finish requirements.

2. ucla is organized into small clinics. i think thats cool.

3. ucla has a teacher apprenticeship course in which you create a whole course for first years (i want to teach later)
-i have no idea if ucsf offers this

The only negative factor about ucla was the pretty factor. its very not pretty...ucsf's library is to DIE FOR and its just waaay nicer looking.

 

[Mach band]

1. ucla is very organized compared to the disarray of ucsf. at ucsf, i know from recent grads, its hard to get patients--in some cases you have to even pay patients out of your own pocket to finish requirements.

I don't know much about UCLA, but your comment about UCSF is completely wrong. I have heard complaints about patient pool @UCLA in the past (may not be the case now) but never heard this from UCSF. If anyone interested in our school, you should come to our clinics and find out yourself. Patient pool is not a problem here. If there is problem, it is the student.

 

[predental1984]

i asked my interviewer the same question. She said that although there are enough patients, they are mostly poor and some can't afford the reduced fee for expensive procedures. Not the routine cavities etc. So the students get a voucher which allows the patient to be seen for free. I'm not sure if they give more than one voucher. To graduate I'm sure students have to perform a variety of procedures that the patient population may not be able to afford.

 

[harjay]

UCLA (if i remember correctly) has a pension they can apply toward patients if they want to do a certain case on a patient and they can't afford it. I loved the UCLA campus and I'm looking forward to the large campus feel complete with undergrad and football team (which was slightly lacking at my ucsd campus). Little things like that kind inched me towards ucla. I would love to live in SF, but UCLA is in such a nice part of town. I still haven't completely made my decision, but Im leaning towards UCLA

 

[predental1984]

Congrats on UCLA Harjay, UCSD has an undefeated football team however, since 1960 🙂
Also with their concussed quarterback playing this week, UCLA has no chance. Sorry. Down with Carl Durell.

 

[Khala Jaan]

hmm my sister actually just recently graduated from ucsf...and she has told me about her horrible experiences finding patients...so i was drawing from that mainly

i think, def ucla 🙂

 

[Fonz]

hmm my sister actually just recently graduated from ucsf...and she has told me about her horrible experiences finding patients...so i was drawing from that mainly

i think, def ucla 🙂

ahh well you didn't mention that before. What else does she say about the school?

 

[Khala Jaan]

ahh well you didn't mention that before. What else does she say about the school?

she finds it very concerning that most of hte staff has left, including the dean who has gone to nyu...and that it was just absolutely disorganized....she had to pay a couple patients to graduate...also the profs are very arrogant and condescending--they dont treat you as peers but rather as underlings unlike ucla which is known for treating their students as peers..so those are the reasons that really pull me away from ucsf...but the only thing is proximity..i live in the east bay so im hesitant to leave...and some sort of loyalty since my sister went there and i worked with many ucsf dentists.😕 oof hard decision..my heart is pulling me to ucsf but my mind is YELLING ucla....😱

 

[Fonz]

Oh I'm from east bay too, Hayward. So anyways I feel the same way too. I have contacts with recent grads and I'm gonna pick their brains like crazy next time I see them. Well I don't think SF has a pretty factor over LA besides the library. I thought that the wet and dry labs of LA were newer than the sim lab of SF. I guess one thing that could be a minus for UCLA is that they are going to implement a new curriculum starting with the class of '12. Although I think a more integrated curriculum is something that would interest me it will also be hard to be the guinea pigs. Its a bit risky.

 

[harjay]

.... I guess one thing that could be a minus for UCLA is that they are going to implement a new curriculum starting with the class of '12. Although I think a more integrated curriculum is something that would interest me it will also be hard to be the guinea pigs. Its a bit risky.

The vibe I got from them regarding the curriculum was that it was just a refinement of the current material. They cut out some unnecessary stuff and combine some other classes that are similar.

 

[Khala Jaan]

i think the curriculum change shows that they are a dynamic school that is willing to change-thats huge--most schools are stuck in time...i dont know if ucsf has been changing but i think its a positive that ucla is.

yes -the prettyness factor was in regards to the libraries...ucsf's is BEAAUTIFUL

 

[dayfu17]

From the booklets that both of the schools gave me, it looks like UCLA has a much higher specialty rate. UCLA got 10 into ortho while UCSF got 3, UCLA got 10 into pediatric while UCSF got 6. UCLA got 5 into Oral surgery, while UCSF got like 2. After visiting the schools, I was more excited about UCSF, but if UCLA can increase my chances of specializing, then I make pick UCLA. The only problem with the numbers that I listed above is that 24 of the 101 graduates from UCSF didn't respond. That makes those numbers inaccurate, but they are probably pretty close to the real numbers.

 

[harjay]

Another one of the factors that influenced me for UCLA was just how happy the students were to be there. During the lunch/student talk, all 4 year-students were just gushing with good things to say about it. It wouldn't surprise me if they were chosen selectively for that reason, but it helped alot. They also went on and on about the school's reputation nationally and how that helps in applying to specialties.

 

[ucla2134]

i think ucla is cool for undergrad since you have more time to party and go the game, my dental students at UCLA says the experience is hell and that you have no life and she said she just want to get out of here

 

[armorshell]

From the booklets that both of the schools gave me, it looks like UCLA has a much higher specialty rate. UCLA got 10 into ortho while UCSF got 3, UCLA got 10 into pediatric while UCSF got 6. UCLA got 5 into Oral surgery, while UCSF got like 2. After visiting the schools, I was more excited about UCSF, but if UCLA can increase my chances of specializing, then I make pick UCLA. The only problem with the numbers that I listed above is that 24 of the 101 graduates from UCSF didn't respond. That makes those numbers inaccurate, but they are probably pretty close to the real numbers.

The problem is with the numbers you have you can't say UCSF only "got" 2 in, because you have no idea how many applied. It's completely possible that UCSF matched 100% of the people that applied for specialties, and UCLA matched 50% of those applying.

"Specialty rates" are a worthless metric that don't take self-selection, personal motivation and countless other confounding factors into account. Go somewhere you liked, somewhere you can do good work and you'll specialize. Don't let some nebulous "rate" statistic scare you into going somewhere.

 

[sacjumpman]

i think ucla is cool for undergrad since you have more time to party and go the game, my dental students at UCLA says the experience is hell and that you have no life and she said she just want to get out of here

I've heard similar rumors. Not so much that they hated the school, but just that the curriculum is extremely challenging and you have zero free time.

Than I consider that every school is going to be pretty much all consuming, so it sorta makes it a mute point in my mind.

 

[sacjumpman]

The vibe I got from them regarding the curriculum was that it was just a refinement of the current material. They cut out some unnecessary stuff and combine some other classes that are similar.

Yeah, this is the exact same impression I was under after talking with Dr. Bibb.

She had said something along the lines that student feedback was that some of the classes overlapped and were repetitive. Thus, the new setup for next year wasn't a complete overhaul, but rather a modification.

She also mentioned they were trying to integrate two half days a week with the material that has been cut out. This was huge in my mind, but it didn't seem guaranteed.

 

[Fonz]

Looks like its overwhelmingly UCLA. Where are all the UCSF folks at to defend their school???? I think I really need to get in touch with current UCLA upper classmen and/or recent grads.

 

[armorshell]

Looks like its overwhelmingly UCLA. Where are all the UCSF folks at to defend their school???? I think I really need to get in touch with current UCLA upper classmen and/or recent grads.

I can vouch for their pimped out library. I go there sometimes when I need to escape from the wireless internet at UoP's library/museum combo special .

 

[sacjumpman]

Looks like its overwhelmingly UCLA. Where are all the UCSF folks at to defend their school???? I think I really need to get in touch with current UCLA upper classmen and/or recent grads.

haha. You know what though... I just didn't get a chance to interview at UCSF. My secondary was in probably 3 days before the Oct 15 deadline.

I'd still LOVE to get a chance to check the school out, I might be singing a very different tune. Something about living in the City sounds very fun. Not to mention being a hop skip jump away from my hometown.

 

[Revellian]

During the lunch/student talk, all 4 year-students were just gushing with good things to say about it. It wouldn't surprise me if they were chosen selectively for that reason, but it helped alot.

The student interviewers are volunteers from the student body. There's no selection process, or at least there wasn't when I was a 3rd year.

 

[Revellian]

I've heard similar rumors. Not so much that they hated the school, but just that the curriculum is extremely challenging and you have zero free time.

Than I consider that every school is going to be pretty much all consuming, so it sorta makes it a mute point in my mind.

I just graduated this past June and my experience at UCLA was extremely positive. I think the time commitment depends on the individual. I probably averaged about 50 hours per week during my 1st year for both class and study time. Second year was more like 60-70 hours per week because of the extra time required for fixed and removable labs, while 3rd and 4th year were more like 40 hours per week. As I said, this is entirely dependent on the individual, and you may have to spend more or less time depending on how quick you are with memorization and lab work. I was pretty quick with the lab work, and closer to average with the memorization, but always had plenty of free time. I don't want to understate the work load. It IS challenging, but everyone learns how to handle it.

Also, I felt the administration made sincere efforts to improve the curriculum and clinical experience for my class, as well as future classes. My interaction with professors and clinical instructors was overwhelmingly positive, and I feel I was fairly well prepared to practice general dentistry upon graduating. I would definitely choose UCLA again if I had to do it all over again, which (thank God) I don't.

Good luck to everyone with your decisions.

 

[timme625]

I was talking to my friend who goes to ucsf and she said she was debating between ucsf and ucla and chose sf mostly because the schedule was a lot more chill at sf since you get those "iso's" two days a week so you get out at like 12 and at la you go to class M-F, 8-5. She seemed to think that the students at la weren't very happy about this and hardly had anytime to go out and actually enjoy the city.

 

[Fonz]

I was talking to my friend who goes to ucsf and she said she was debating between ucsf and ucla and chose sf mostly because the schedule was a lot more chill at sf since you get those "iso's" two days a week so you get out at like 12 and at la you go to class M-F, 8-5. She seemed to think that the students at la weren't very happy about this and hardly had anytime to go out and actually enjoy the city.

So what does she think about it now that she is enrolled??

 

[timme625]

she said she loves it there - goes out every fri and sat, has time to go to the gym everyday. of course she is stressed and all that but she still has time to have a life. But she's a really social person so I'm sure it just depends what type of person and student you are...

 

[Fonz]

she said she loves it there - goes out every fri and sat, has time to go to the gym everyday. of course she is stressed and all that but she still has time to have a life. But she's a really social person so I'm sure it just depends what type of person and student you are...

Well did she just start out there? How long has she been in school?

 

[UCSF2012]

ISO's the precise reason why I'm not going to UCLA. I need me time. Two afternoons off (to do sports) is just enough time to clear the mind and have enough of a life to not be miserable. I can just imagine the hell and stress UCLA students have to bear thru every weekday.

 

[sacjumpman]

ISO's the precise reason why I'm not going to UCLA. I need me time. Two afternoons off (to do sports) is just enough time to clear the mind and have enough of a life to not be miserable. I can just imagine the hell and stress UCLA students have to bear thru every weekday.

So, if hypothetically, Dr. Bibb would confirm the two half days that UCLA is trying to integrate, would that change your decision?

Just purely curious. I know what you mean though. Even if I just used them to study, the break from straight classes is huge, in my mind.

 

[Pilot Mike]

ISO's the precise reason why I'm not going to UCLA. I need me time. Two afternoons off (to do sports) is just enough time to clear the mind and have enough of a life to not be miserable. I can just imagine the hell and stress UCLA students have to bear thru every weekday.

I wouldn't call it hell that we go through, but is there a dental school out there that you don't have to work your butt off in? I think our curriculum is demanding and we have a lot to learn every week, but its definately manageable and we do have free time during the week. Whether that free time is some kind of sport or going to the gym, hanging out with our classmates in westwood, or doing whatever else, we know how to work hard and play hard. Seriously, I am really happy I came here and even though its demanding and tough at times, its a great school with so many awesome people here.

 

[tooth decay]

Apparantly, according to recent events, UCLA lets their students cheat, UCSF doesn't. Or is that, UCLA lets their students buy their way in? I forget.

 

[harjay]

Apparantly, according to recent events, UCLA lets their students cheat, UCSF doesn't. Or is that, UCLA lets their students buy their way in? I forget.

-_- the issue at which you are poorly hinting is irrelevant to this thread

 

[tooth decay]

-_- the issue at which you are poorly hinting is irrelevant to this thread

I am sorry to have broken up the UCLA lovefest.

 

[Khala Jaan]

my sis went to ucsf..and everyone cheats there...so its a universal problem...i dont think we can use that as an indicator of success.

I am sorry to have broken up the UCLA lovefest.

 

[armorshell]

Apparantly, according to recent events, UCLA lets their students cheat, UCSF doesn't. Or is that, UCLA lets their students buy their way in? I forget.

According to the article all the SoCal schools are doing it. People in SF are known for our high moral fiber.

 

[Mach band]

hmm my sister actually just recently graduated from ucsf...and she has told me about her horrible experiences finding patients...so i was drawing from that mainly

i think, def ucla 🙂

I was wondering why someone recently said it was her/his dream school (literally)! I would expect your sister would have told you a little earlier. Maybe while you were applying?🙄

Regarding student interviewers, there is no selection process. We volunteer.

 

[Khala Jaan]

I KNO HUH! thats a major prob for me cuz i have SERIOUS loyalty to ucsf..my heart is set on ucsf 😍but my mind is telling me ucla mite really be the better route😳..thats why im still going to do the ucsf interview and see if i still like ucsf or not...this is SUCH hard decision..however, thank God i get to do it..but yea i know everyone iv told im going to ucla, theyr like wat? u said ucsf before! as for my sister, she told me these things after i came back from teh ucla interview..as i told her about the school, she started to compare her experience at ucsf with what i had seen/heard at ucla

well, i have to be practical and see ucsf for wat it really is and ucla too. Luckily I have a while before i have to make hte final choice...i would love to hear more ucsf ppl defend ucsf tho cuz my heart is soo dang set on ucsf 😕

I was wondering why someone recently said it was her/his dream school (literally)! I would expect your sister would have told you a little earlier. Maybe while you were applying?🙄

 

[UCSF2012]

I KNO HUH! thats a major prob for me cuz i have SERIOUS loyalty to ucsf..my heart is set on ucsf 😍but my mind is telling me ucla mite really be the better route😳..thats why im still going to do the ucsf interview and see if i still like ucsf or not...this is SUCH hard decision..however, thank God i get to do it..but yea i know everyone iv told im going to ucla, theyr like wat? u said ucsf before! as for my sister, she told me these things after i came back from teh ucla interview..as i told her about the school, she started to compare her experience at ucsf with what i had seen/heard at ucla

well, i have to be practical and see ucsf for wat it really is and ucla too. Luckily I have a while before i have to make hte final choice...i would love to hear more ucsf ppl defend ucsf tho cuz my heart is soo dang set on ucsf 😕

UCSF owns the healthcare reputation in Cali. Aside from dentistry, it has 3 other schools: medicine, nursing, and pharmacy. It tops the list in US News in all three of of these fields. Somehow, I don't think the school'll slack off in dentistry. The board of trustees won't have that. Plus, the NIH seems to believe very highly in UCSF, because they give the most money to them.

UCLA needs more defending than UCSF. UCLA has name recognition because it's a full university and has a sports team. Lots of students go there, including more high scorers.

 

[Khala Jaan]

UCSF owns the healthcare reputation in Cali. Aside from dentistry, it has 3 other schools: medicine, nursing, and pharmacy. It tops the list in US News in all three of of these fields. Somehow, I don't think the school'll slack off in dentistry. The board of trustees won't have that. Plus, the NIH seems to believe very highly in UCSF, because they give the most money to them.

UCLA needs more defending than UCSF. UCLA has name recognition because it's a full university and has a sports team. Lots of students go there, including more high scorers.

i guess i understand ucsf had recognition, but i want to know what it has recognition for that will effect me. i am not interested in research.. i am interested in being trained to be the best dentist who is able to pay the bills while treating underprivileged patients and in teaching. i know that ucla has business courses in its fourth year and has a course you can take in which you create a course for first years..these are the huge factors pushing me to ucla...i am unaware of similar courses at ucsf, but i also have never asked-but plan to do so at my interview. i would be interested if anyone here knows the answer? i know my sister does not since she was not interested in teaching, specializing, or owning her own practice.

 

[UCSF2012]

i guess i understand ucsf had recognition, but i want to know what it has recognition for that will effect me. i am not interested in research.. i am interested in being trained to be the best dentist who is able to pay the bills while treating underprivileged patients and in teaching. i know that ucla has business courses in its fourth year and has a course you can take in which you create a course for first years..these are the huge factors pushing me to ucla...i am unaware of similar courses at ucsf, but i also have never asked-but plan to do so at my interview. i would be interested if anyone here knows the answer? i know my sister does not since she was not interested in teaching, specializing, or owning her own practice.

how does a class where you create a course matter?

If you want business skills, you take classes at the nearby B school. UCLA has one. UCSF has USF partnered. If you don't feel like applying to B schools too, then go to UCLA for that couple business courses. Or just stop by some business school bookstore and go buy some of their textbooks.

 

[UCSF2012]

...and make of this as you will, but UCSF medical ups UCLA medical in one area. They have a more targeted curriculum. They focus more on the essential information you need to know and essential background information to make that information understandable. Less fluff material. This makes UCLA medical students have to work harder and learn more. This has translated to more in-class time for UCLA medical. UCSF dental has less in-class time also. See any possible connections?

 

[Khala Jaan]

how does a class where you create a course matter?

you also teach the class..so it is very useful and exciting for me since i will for sure teach.

 

[Khala Jaan]

...and make of this as you will, but UCSF medical ups UCLA medical in one area. They have a more targeted curriculum. They focus more on the essential information you need to know and essential background information to make that information understandable. Less fluff material. This makes UCLA medical students have to work harder and learn more. This has translated to more in-class time for UCLA medical. UCSF dental has less in-class time also. See any possible connections?

thanks for the info 🙂

 

[Fonz]

I KNO HUH! thats a major prob for me cuz i have SERIOUS loyalty to ucsf..my heart is set on ucsf 😍but my mind is telling me ucla mite really be the better route😳..thats why im still going to do the ucsf interview and see if i still like ucsf or not...this is SUCH hard decision..however, thank God i get to do it..but yea i know everyone iv told im going to ucla, theyr like wat? u said ucsf before! as for my sister, she told me these things after i came back from teh ucla interview..as i told her about the school, she started to compare her experience at ucsf with what i had seen/heard at ucla

well, i have to be practical and see ucsf for wat it really is and ucla too. Luckily I have a while before i have to make hte final choice...i would love to hear more ucsf ppl defend ucsf tho cuz my heart is soo dang set on ucsf 😕

I'm almost in the exact same situation as you. I was soo sure I wanted to go to UCSF but after hearing things from recent grads that they weren't really happy with the school it got me second guessing it. I am also not interested in specializing but I do want to teach eventually too. Interesting to hear that your sister had trouble finding patients because I thought that wasn't an issue at UCSF.

 

[harjay]

.... Plus, the NIH seems to believe very highly in UCSF, because they give the most money to them.

True, but I thought it was funny that at our schools presentation by the UCLA dean, he said that UCLA is the #3 school in the nation for research funding (#1 after hopkins? don't know what happened to #2). Then again, I don't know what types of research he was including.

how does a class where you create a course matter?

If you want business skills, you take classes at the nearby B school. UCLA has one. UCSF has USF partnered. If you don't feel like applying to B schools too, then go to UCLA for that couple business courses. Or just stop by some business school bookstore and go buy some of their textbooks.

At the UCSF interview, they really pushed the opportunities available. This includes many dual degree programs, as well as the option for a business certificate or something from USF if you don't want to spend an extra year or two. I don't remember them discussing this at UCLA

 

[Khala Jaan]

True, but I thought it was funny that at our schools presentation by the UCLA dean, he said that UCLA is the #3 school in the nation for research funding (#1 after hopkins? don't know what happened to #2). Then again, I don't know what types of research he was including.


At the UCSF interview, they really pushed the opportunities available. This includes many dual degree programs, as well as the option for a business certificate or something from USF if you don't want to spend an extra year or two. I don't remember them discussing this at UCLA

yea, im with you fonz...as for wat harjay said, for myself, i dont want to do research, so again im not encouraged by the research argument...and at the moment im not into the dual degree idea...n i dont see why i should be excited about going to anohter school, when i can get business experience within the DDS program at ucla? i dunno...maybe someone else has a different perspective..im sorry if i sound so negative, but really im just looking for specific things in my dds program...i want business courses WITHIN hte DDS program and i want teaching experience WITHIN the DDS program...if anybody can tell me wat ucsf has to offer in these areas, i would be very thankful...honestly i hope you can solve this for me..i love the bay area-born and raised-and i luve hte ucsf library 😍

oh and the other concern i have is, in your experience (speaking to those who are ucsf students), have the ucsf professors been treating you as peers? of course i understand there may be a few exceptions but im talking about the overall campus set-up..is it supportive or not? are the students helping each other and working together or is there a lot of student rivalry and competition?

okay i guess i had a few more questions than i anticipated before typing this out 😛

 

[tooth decay]

my sis went to ucsf..and everyone cheats there...so its a universal problem...i dont think we can use that as an indicator of success.

Of course, everyone (including your sister?)cheats at UCSF, and the UCLA crowd are just misunderstood. And when did one start using cheating as an indicator for success?? That is sad.

 

[Khala Jaan]

Of course, everyone (including your sister?)cheats at UCSF, and the UCLA crowd are just misunderstood. And when did one start using cheating as an indicator for success?? That is sad.

no my sister was one of the two students she knew of who did not cheat. i was only telling wat i know of the school...i dont mean to put down ucsf, but rather understand the two schools....as for indicator of success--i meant that just because one school does not have a scandal on its hands, does not mean that the other school is more moral...but if u must be insulting, carry on.

 

[tooth decay]

no my sister was one of the two students she knew of who did not cheat. i was only telling wat i know of the school...i dont mean to put down ucsf, but rather understand the two schools....as for indicator of success--i meant that just because one school does not have a scandal on its hands, does not mean that the other school is more moral...but if u must be insulting, carry on.

You're right in the fact that scandal does not make another school more moral than other schools. It just makes the school with the scandal more immoral. No insults intended. Just wanted to present the other side of the coin.

 

[Khala Jaan]

You're right in the fact that scandal does not make another school more moral than other schools. It just makes the school with the scandal more immoral. No insults intended.

hmm but the way i see it..is that really a problem with the school? or is it a problem of the students? the school wont teach me to cheat...some students come in wanting to cheat their way through so they will, whether they go to ucsf, ucla, harvard, or the moon. so does this make the school "more immoral"?

(as for "no insults intended." give me a break-im no dim-wit, but non-the-less, apology accepted.)