UCLA vs USF

[pd2020]

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Hi everyone, I could really use some advice on choosing a school! UCLA is an amazing program but I am feeling a bit conflicted due to the distance from my family and the price. I also loved Tampa much more than LA when I visited. I'm currently interested in cardiology and oncology but we all know that can change.

UCLA
Pros

• Great location- LA
• Pass/Fail
• Top 20 school- Ability to match into anything/anywhere
• College campus environment
• Supportive students

Cons

• Super expensive ~ 110k per year
• Far from home
• Extreme traffic
• Graduate housing lottery + 4th year having to move to a non-subsidized apartment

USF
Pros

• Great location- Downtown Tampa right by the ocean
• Close to family in South Florida and Orlando
• Great research + clinical sites
• Cheaper: in-state tuition plus lower cost of living ~70k per year
• Potential scholarship after matriculation
• More affordable housing near the school

Cons

• Tiered grading
• Lower ranked
• Possibly more competitive environment

 

[carpe_diem_to_medschool]

Hi! Congratulations on two amazing acceptances! Full disclaimer that I am on the WL for UCLA.

UCLA is a great institution and the pass/fail curriculum creates a collaborative environment among what I've heard to be the friendliest of students. With that said, it is getting to be more expensive living here (speaking as a LA native) due to rent gouging post-recent fires. Hoping this diminishes by the time 4th year comes around when you'd have to find your own housing situation. Also would largely benefit from having a car to drive to various clinical sites (although carpooling with classmates is an option and can get by with longer commutes via public transport, but less ideal in terms of flexibility).

USF has a solid match list and seems to be in a highly desirable location. Personally have heard great things from graduates of the overall environment and opportunities available within the institution. The have a graded curriculum but can present as relatively less stressful for your personal situation given how close your support system is. If they can provide some additional scholarship $$, then truly a huge plus.

It ultimately comes down to what you value in the next 4 years of your life! A more chill academic environment while being OK living further away from family and paying a higher cost vs keeping support system close and graduating with less debt while forgoing a T20 ranked school.

Best of luck in the next chapter of your life and congrats again!

 

[Yhwach]

110k per year is a lot for a med school. don't go to UCLA

 

[carpe_diem_to_medschool]

110k is cheap for a med school. go UCLA

110k/year, ~440k total

 

[Yhwach]

110k/year, ~440k total

my bad. misread

 

[DoneDone3451]

USF

 

[bbread]

USF

Go blue!!!

 

[DoctoDude]

I think you should take the UCLA acceptance and run with it. In the grand scheme of things, it will open a lot more doors for you and there is a lot of pros to having the UCLA name. Another thing to consider is that it will be a lot more difficult for you to match outside of Florida, particularly at top-ranked institutions from USF.

I have also heard that USF admin is very unsupportive/toxic, and some students have described the environment as more cutthroat/competitive. The graded system is definitely going to be more stressful, and you will always be under pressure to perform/study harder, especially when it comes to the match, knowing you do not have a big name school supporting you. The USF name is not well-known in medicine and will not open many doors for you, and in the grand scheme of things, I think the 40k difference is negligible. They also do have double the national average in SOAPing, and students don't get much support when it comes time to apply for residency.

At the same time, I do understand how important it may be to have a close support system, and that's definitely a pro that cannot be ignored. At the end of the day, UCLA will make your med school experience much better, while USF may be a slightly more ideal place to live. Either way, I think you can be happy at both, and it is your decision which one matters more to you, but to me, UCLA is a no-brainer.

 

[Basalganglia4life]

UCLA is the better school. But I’m not sure it’s $160 K plus 9% interest better. Being that you’re from Florida and it’s much cheaper. I probably lean USF.

Full disclosure, though I am on the UCLA waitlist

 

[Lakers$]

Usf