So, enjoydrywax, are you thinking about UCSD even if you get off UCLA's waitlist?
Oh definitely. My attachment to UCLA strictly comes from wanting to be as close to my home as possible (it was very very convenient during my ugrad here), but in terms of everything else I think UCSD takes the cake.
All the med students I met at second look were just as enthusiastic about their school as anybody I talked to at UCLA and honestly I think the H/P/F would keep me on my toes (what's this? a pre-med who doesn't want pass/fail?). I am too prone to slacking and procrastination. Also I think HPF would help prepare me for the boards, because I can definitely see myself falling into a "just do what I need to do to pass" mentality.
Also it seems like UCSD has way more lecture time and way less PBL-esque type stuff than UCLA. I think this is a total advantage since I plan on never attending lecture (studying on my own time) and won't have to waste too much time in these small group BS low-yield activities.
UCSD has a plethora of research opportunities and I cant see much of a difference between UCLA when it comes to this criterion. Sure maybe they have slightly more NIH money (??), but from what I read UCSD's research is just as, if not more, hard hitting than anything going on at UCLA.
The UCSD clinical training is hands down the best you can get. Down in SD there is no competition for medical training. UCSD is the only medical school in the county so all opportunities are ours. With LA, there's competition between USC/UCLA/whatever and honestly I don't want to deal with that. Lastly, I remember a few med students at UCSD mentioning that all residency directors know that UCSD graduates are clinically competent and can throw down come internship and residency. Some were even commenting that UCLA students are still pretty "soft and mushy" in terms of clinical aptitude, but I don't know if there is any truth to this. Point is, I will come out of UCSD as a rock solid clinician and I think that's a great thing.
Finally, location is huge for me and as far as I am concerned it seems like the La Jolla beach life is for me. Besides I spent four years here in westwood already, I could use some change. As far as I am concerned, La Jolla >>>>> Westwood.
edit: I just want to add that I now understand why people would pick UCSD over UCLA (given they have both options in hand). It's just a different feel/attitude down there and it's one of those subjective "fit" things. If you plan on doing residency in california like I do, the difference between UCSD and UCLA is absolutely negligible.
