UCs versus private schools?

[drlalchick]

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I was just wondering what people's thoughts are on attending a UC versus a private school (besides the obvious difference in tuition). Are there any advantages/disadvantages to public versus private? Thanks!

 

[silas2642]

I was just wondering what people's thoughts are on attending a UC versus a private school (besides the obvious difference in tuition). Are there any advantages/disadvantages to public versus private? Thanks!

No, and this applies especially for the UC's. They are dirt cheap schools (especially if you are instate) that are among the most respected institutions in the world. I honestly can't think of a disadvantage of going to one of these schools unless you don't like the location.

 

[thegenius]

No, and this applies especially for the UC's. They are dirt cheap schools (especially if you are instate) that are among the most respected institutions in the world. I honestly can't think of a disadvantage of going to one of these schools unless you don't like the location.

They are not dirt cheap, and they are some of the more expensive in-state schools around. The in state tuition will be around 21K/year for 2006. And it is going to rise anywhere from 5-10% over the next couple of years (greater than the national average.)

But they are excellent institutions, probably some of the best public medical schools around. I think one advantage to going to a UC school is if you generally want to practice medicine in California, then it would benefit you if you went to a California school.

 

[Telemachus]

They aren't so dirt cheap anymore. I'm a 4th year at one of them and next year's incoming class will be paying >$20K. When I started it was about $11K or so. But I guess it is still better than $35K.

The up side is that even the worst UC med school is better than "average" (if it were possible to say exactly wat that was).

 

[Elastase]

40k is a lot cheaper overall (after 4 years). They also have a lot of grants on top of that.

 

[drlalchick]

What about opportunities for research, getting residencies, etc?

 

[Telemachus]

They also have a lot of grants on top of that.

Funny, I know almost nobody who qualifies for any of the multitudinous grants that are listed in our financial aid packets.

 

[silas2642]

They aren't so dirt cheap anymore. I'm a 4th year at one of them and next year's incoming class will be paying >$20K. When I started it was about $11K or so. But I guess it is still better than $35K.

The up side is that even the worst UC med school is better than "average" (if it were possible to say exactly wat that was).

How the crap did the tuition double in four years? Now I'm really scared to be going to a private school that's $40,000/yr.

 

[Elastase]

Funny, I know almost nobody who qualifies for any of the multitudinous grants that are listed in our financial aid packets.

Which school are you at (just so I know to expect that)?

 

[Uegis]

I got quite a few grants and scholarships that I didn't even apply for at my UC school, comparable to scholarships I was offered at privates.

Going to a UC definitely makes it easier to match back into California. Of course, tons of people match back from other places, but being in California and associated with the system will make it easier to get into all the great UC residency programs. Also, California has the better weather, regardless of the storm that went pass Northern California last week. My reason for choosing a UC also included wanting to be close to family and friends. If that is a consideration, then there is really no point in going to a out of state private, though USC, Stanford, and Loma Linda aren't bad choices either.

 

[Elastase]

How the crap did the tuition double in four years? Now I'm really scared to be going to a private school that's $40,000/yr.

Bad CA politicians/policies...

 

[dynx]

How the crap did the tuition double in four years? Now I'm really scared to be going to a private school that's $40,000/yr.

State budget problems and hence education cuts. Then the UCs decided to hike up the tuition on the professional schools rather than spread it out more evenly over the HUGE undergrad population.

 

[Punisher]

State budget problems and hence education cuts. Then the UCs decided to hike up the tuition on the professional schools rather than spread it out more evenly over the HUGE undergrad population.

Actually, they raised the UC undergrad tuition too. I think it has also doubled over the last 4 years.

 

[Uegis]

How the crap did the tuition double in four years? Now I'm really scared to be going to a private school that's $40,000/yr.

AHHNOLD has decided to jack up "fees" (there is no tuition for UC med schools) for professional students, even more significantly than for the undergrads. If u think med students got it bad, the law students got it much worse. It's already at 24K for UCD when it was only 7K maybe five years ago. Tripled!

 

[BerkeleyMD]

I was just wondering what people's thoughts are on attending a UC versus a private school (besides the obvious difference in tuition). Are there any advantages/disadvantages to public versus private? Thanks!

You should definetly go private... for no reason other than I really want to get into a UC.

UC's are great, but the private schools do have better reputations and prestige. I'd take USC or Stanfurd over UCSD or UCLA.

 

[Telemachus]

I'd take USC or Stanfurd over UCSD or UCLA.

Not smart. Therefore you are perfect for USC or Stanford. Go ahead.

 

[billybama]

I'd take USC or Stanfurd over UCSD or UCLA.

are you serious?

 

[Mr. Tee]

You should definetly go private... for no reason other than I really want to get into a UC.

UC's are great, but the private schools do have better reputations and prestige. I'd take USC or Stanfurd over UCSD or UCLA.

Would you take them over UCSF? 😉

 

[BerkeleyMD]

Wow, that sure got a reaction..

I'd friggin' drop everything for a seat in any medical school in california right now.

But read the first half of my post, "You should definetly go private... for no reason other than I really want to get into a UC."

 

[BerkeleyMD]

Would you take them over UCSF? 😉

👎

 

[BerkeleyMD]

are you serious?

I guess no one picked up on the stanFUrd part, but not really. I am really in this to get into a UC.

 

[Mr. Tee]

👎

lol, I guess everyone has different priorities....I'd love to get into a UC as well. But seeing as how I'm out-of-state I don't think that will happen.

 

[BerkeleyMD]

Not smart. Therefore you are perfect for USC or Stanford. Go ahead.

Not smart ehh.. but perfect for UCS and Stanford, hmm, stratching head... pondering a little more.. Well then, I guess not being smart is not so bad.

Why do some people on this forum act like pricks? Half of you wouldn't have the balls to talk like this in person so it doesn't even mean anything anyway.

 

[BerkeleyMD]

lol, I guess everyone has different priorities....I'd love to get into a UC as well. But seeing as how I'm out-of-state I don't think that will happen.

you never know, but in your case you do have a better shot at the private schools

 

[Telemachus]

Why do some people on this forum act like pricks? Half of you wouldn't have the balls to talk like this in person so it doesn't even mean anything anyway.

Because you are not acting rationally if you truly believe that USC or Stanford are somehow better than UCLA or UCSD, or the other UC's when it comes to MD education. You acting irrationaly = me saying things that makes you think I'm a "prick"

 

[drlalchick]

What about UCSF versus US News-ranked top privates, like Hopkins?

 

[Medikit]

Bad CA politicians/policies...

Actually if I HAD to spend less money on education I would probably choose to do it in professional schools before I did it anywhere else.

What about UCSF versus US News-ranked top privates, like Hopkins?

There are few schools if any that I would pick over UCSF given the choice.

 

[BerkeleyMD]

Because you are not acting rationally if you truly believe that USC or Stanford are somehow better than UCLA or UCSD, or the other UC's when it comes to MD education. You acting irrationaly = me saying things that makes you think I'm a "prick"

USC and Stanford have extremely impressive match lists. LA and SD are impressive as well, but a lot more go into IM and FP as compared to those private schools. However, UCLA has impressive NIH funding, which is appealing if you want to be a clinician or researcher there later on.

You make it seem as though I am so irrational. Irrational is saying that ROSS is better than UCLA. Its totally fair to compare USC/UCLA/UCSD/Stanford. They are all top 20 schools!!

If I am still sounding irrational, then which institutions out rank the UC's in your opinion??