UCSD vs Pritzker (UChicago)

[RealMadrid2025]

Hi everyone, I’m incredibly grateful to have these options, but I could really use some advice! I haven’t heard back about financial aid yet, which will be a factor, but I want to start thinking through my decision and get some input.

A bit about me:​

1) From California, went to private undergrad in CA, and would love to match back here for residency.
2) Interested in a competitive surgical subspecialty (plastics or ortho). I love the OR and the immediacy of outcomes and pt improvement.
3) Not interested in academic medicine—I see myself in private practice or a non-academic hospital setting.
4) Top Priorities for med school:

• A place where I will genuinely be happy for four years. I want to have a life outside of medicine and balance.
• Strong mentorship and support for matching into my specialty of choice.
• Prepare me well for residency to be a technically-proficient surgeon.
• Best shot at matching back to California for residency.

UC San Diego​

Pros:

• Location & weather – Can’t beat San Diego’s climate and overall quality of life. Allows me to do my hobbies year-round (hiking, tennis, pickleball, go to the beach)
• On-campus housing - 4 year grad-housing guarantee which will save a lot of time commuting to clinical rotation sites and dealing with housing logistics
• Close to family and SO – 1.5-hour flight to the Bay Area.
• No AOA or internal rank - laid back culture per students
• Robust research portfolio- Clinical faculty and attendings at Rady’s Children Hospital to ask for ortho and plastics research opportunities
• Structured mentorship - Academic Community Director, Big Sibs, Senior MS4 Mentors, Preceptors, Senior Faculty Advisor (chosen in third year). It's up to me to ask the right questions and figure out who knows who, however.
• Better 2024 Match - 3 orthos (2 at UCSD) and 2 integrated plastics (none in CA)

Cons:

• In-house exams- means more self-guided, independent learning for Step
• Self-driven opportunities – A lot of networking will require cold-emailing and actively seeking out mentors or people my mentors know for research opportunities. No specialty advisors. I was told by a current med student that no opportunity will fall into your lap.
• Bigger class size (150) - Not trying to get lost in the weeds. I went to a private undergrad and really thrive with personalized, longitudinal mentorship.

Extra consideration:

COA: $307,513, they will match scholarships from schools if funds are available.

2 Year P/F Preclinical. H/NH/P/F Graded Clerkships

UChicago Pritzker​

Pros:

• Service-oriented – Big draw for me, aligns with my values. 6 student run free-clinics.
• Small class size (90 students) – More personalized mentoring, close-knit community, and longitudinal advising
• Strong mentorship & research support – 4-year longitudinal research curriculum (focused, protected time) and the EHarmony Research Program that matches you with mentors who want to work with you and for you. Seems very easy to get research.
• NIH-funded Summer Research Program during summer M1 - generous stipend of $6k (will ask on second-look if this gets cut due to NIH cuts)
• Uses both NBME-style and in-house exams

Cons:

• Chicago weather – Coming from California, this is definitely a factor. I like to walk everywhere to get my steps in everyday. Don’t know if seasonal affective disorder will hit me during Fall-Winter.
• Safety concerns – South Side Chicago has its challenges (violent crimes, most segregated city in US, etc.). Can hear gunshots from campus housing.
• Distance- Far from family and SO in California
• Costly away rotations- Will most likely have to fly to CA a lot. Higher expenses for travel and stay. More difficult to network with CA program directors if I’m based in Chicago.
• Weaker 2024 Match - 3 ortho (none in CA) and 0 integrated plastics
• AOA

Extra consideration:

COA: $418,000. Full tuition for up to 50% of entering medical school students granted based on need and a candidate’s potential to succeed in a redesigned curriculum. (I am unsure currently if I meet the need part)

1.5 Year P/F Preclinical. H/HP/P/F Graded Clerkships

The Big Question​

If finances and name recognition weren’t factors, which school would you choose given my priorities? I understand both schools are similarly respected in medicine. I’d love to hear from anyone familiar with these programs, especially if you have similar career goals or know mentors at either school I could reach out to. I’ll update this post when I get my financial aid offers. Thanks in advance for your advice!

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[MercifulCamper]

UCSD. They’re both equivalent. I wouldn’t get worried about in house exams. My school has them and I’ve been fine.

Also UCSD is gonna make it more likely to match to Cali

 

[JungleTrouble]

UCSD is a great school, increases the cali match exponentially, great weather, and you are close to home.

 

[newkungfukenny]

I wouldn’t judge the match lists between these two schools because they’re self selecting. Students at Uchicago could match those specialties just as equally as SD students, they just tend to lean toward more community health/primary care specialties. Both are t20s with equal capability in matching. Still sounds like SD is what you have more in mind though and you can match back into Cali pretty easily

 

[jvquarterback]

UCSD without a question if you want to match in California. Especially if they match aid packages.

 

[neymarpluto]

Well they are similar in terms of ranking and general prestige (maybe uchicago would have an edge but it is not that significant). As a fellow CA resident, my pick would be SD because it is a powerhouse on the west coast. They do have great research opportunities which is very important for matching into any residency particularly the ones you are interested in. It will also make matching into west coast programs easier. As you said also quality of life in SD is unbeatable and you will have a solid 4 year experience there.

 

[TonysJourney]

UCSD and it's not even close. (biased as Im also admitted there but will likely have to turn it down for another school) I went to school in SoCal and am on the East Coast rn and words cannot describe how much better the weather and quality of life (imo) is in SoCal. Despite what the ultra-neurotic will tell you, UCSD will not close any doors for you vs any other t20. UCSD also has many student clinics (one of your chicago pros) and, from what I've heard, getting research as a med student is very easy (unlike undergrad lol)