UCSD vs UCI?

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slj

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Hello,

I know there are lots of threads around about these two schools, but I just found out I have to make this decision, and I am confounded because I did a really good job of getting myself psyched up to go to UCI, and I didn't get to go to the UCSD second look. Are UCSD students really miserable because of the work load? Is UCSD better if you want to go into primary care because of its research $ and reputation, or worse because of its physician-scientist bent? Will the reputation of UCSD make an appreciable difference down the road? Do students feel that the laid-back atmosphere of UCI would make choosing that school worthwhile? Why else would you choose one over the other?

ANY thoughts would be MOST APPRECIATED!!!!

thanks!
 
UCSD has a higher reputation both in primary care as well academic medicine/research...

let me just provide u with the link for UCSD's residency matchings....it is really impressive...

if residency matchings matter a lot to u, then ur better off at UCSD, and their USMLE scores are so much higher than UCI...on the other hand...if residency matchings don't mean much to u, then go ahead to UCI...

<a href="http://medschool.ucsd.edu/Catalog/126.html" target="_blank">UCSD</a>
 
UCI is a solid school, but UCSD is stronger across the board in both research and primary care. The clinical training at UCSD is stronger and there are many more research oppournities. UCSD is a top 20 medical school and has a national reputation. It is also very close both physically and academically to the world renowned Salk and Scripps institutes. It is true UCSD students work hard, but according to my friends who go there, most classes are happy and noncompetitive. People are willing to help each other and happy that their hard work will pay off by making them better MDs. So based on everything I've heard, most of UCSDs reputation for being any more stressful than most medical schools is highly exagerrated. Med school is meant to be challenng, but at least at UCSD you get to do it at la Jolla and San Diego which are beautiful.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by WatchaMaCallit:
•UCSD has a higher reputation both in primary care as well academic medicine/research...

let me just provide u with the link for UCSD's residency matchings....it is really impressive...

if residency matchings matter a lot to u, then ur better off at UCSD, and their USMLE scores are so much higher than UCI...on the other hand...if residency matchings don't mean much to u, then go ahead to UCI...

<a href="http://medschool.ucsd.edu/Catalog/126.html" target="_blank">UCSD</a>•••••Sorry watcha, but you are mistaken. UCI has VERY high USMLE scores. One third of its students placed in the top two percentile.

On MCATs, of their matriculating students, the average is 90th percentile.

And their match list is very good. They showed it to us on the revist weekend, and although i don't really have time to type it all in, I can summarize:

There were top schools represented, from Hopkins to Duke, as well as MANY matches in california lots of UCLAs, a couple of UCSFs, and a bunch of UCI's...

One particular guy whom i had a chance to talk to had matched at hopkins and UCSF for OB/GYN, but he also matched at UCI med center and was going to stay there.

But the biggest thing for you to consider, slj, is that the students at UCI are all very happy.

A good friend of mine went to the UCSD revisit, and many of the med student did not know each other, in a class of 122.

At UCI, on the other hand, everyone seems to know each other. They told us that when they throw a birthday party for someone, all 92 students in the class show up.

UCSD has grades and is really competitive, stressful, and the students aren't happy. If you want to be unhappy, stressed, just to live near torrey pines, then by all means go ahead. Because the lifestyle is the biggest difference, as UCI students tend to match where they want to go.

slj, I hope you make the right decision, picking the school that will be the best fit for you.

p.s. my friend who visited UCSD turned them down for irvine, and another friend turned down hopkins for irvine...
 
I'm sure UCI students are happy as well and do decently in the match, but I don't know where he's getting all those ideas of UCSD from. There are no grades are UCSD, all the students I've seen are very happy, and it does not seem to be any more competitve than most medical schools. As I said UCI is a solid school and I'm sure their board scores are in fact good, but the fact is UCSD being a top 20 medical school is undoubtebly in another tier of medical schools than UCI which is not even top 50. I think U.S. News rankings are mostly bogus, but this is a huge and very statistically siginificant rankings difference. UCSD has much more resources for research and also offers better clinical training with bigger hospitals, more hospitals, and most importantly a more diverse patient population. You will do well at either school but don't be deterred from UCSD by all the stereotypes. They simply aren't true.
 
I used to believe that the UCSD stereotypes weren't true as well, but every resident friend I have will reconfirm this for me, from a DO friend who is way out in Boston for residency to a friend in residency with two UCSD grads (who told him they were miserable). I don't know where these rumors come from. Friends of mine not even IN medicine know about the UCSD rep (before I heard it). It's so widespread ... it's quite troubling, I say, as UCSD had been my first choice! Anyone have any way to substantiate or disprove the rumors 😕 . I am sure that students themselves vary in their view of their school, but when I interviewed, our tour guide was pretty bitter. And if that is the cream of their crop... 🙁 About reputation, I heard that UCI wasn't ranked becuase they didn't participate in the poll and maybe also for other reasons not related to the quality of the education/clinical experience of the medical school. Anyone have imput on this? 😕 I would love to know how UCI ranks if they did participate (if its even true that they didn't!)... :wink:
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by hawkeyes:
•I used to believe that the UCSD stereotypes weren't true as well, but every resident friend I have will reconfirm this for me, from a DO friend who is way out in Boston for residency to a friend in residency with two UCSD grads (who told him they were miserable). I don't know where these rumors come from. Friends of mine not even IN medicine know about the UCSD rep (before I heard it). It's so widespread ... it's quite troubling, I say, as UCSD had been my first choice! Anyone have any way to substantiate or disprove the rumors 😕 . I am sure that students themselves vary in their view of their school, but when I interviewed, our tour guide was pretty bitter. And if that is the cream of their crop... 🙁 About reputation, I heard that UCI wasn't ranked becuase they didn't participate in the poll and maybe also for other reasons not related to the quality of the education/clinical experience of the medical school. Anyone have imput on this? 😕 I would love to know how UCI ranks if they did participate (if its even true that they didn't!)... :wink: •••••the only thing that matters is the education you get and that you are happy there. also not paying too much is a really important thing.

Rankings mean nothing if you can't match where you want to live.
People from UCI match all over cali, so if you want to stay here its cool.
They also match in other parts of the country, but i think the reason that not too many go out east is that they just like to live in california, for obvious reasons.

So if you care about a number in a silly magazine (if you don't think its silly read ANY US news article about science) then go to a place with a higher number. But you should probably print up a big poster of the list and post it on the wall in the cubbyhole you live in at SD or back east and look at it each time you realize that you hate your school.

just my 0.02 cents
 
"the only thing that matters is the education you get and that you are happy there. also not paying too much is a really important thing. Rankings mean nothing if you can't match where you want to live. People from UCI match all over cali, so if you want to stay here its cool." I agree with McEntrye. Rankings don't mean everything and if you're not happy it doesn't even matter if you're at Harvard. My point has always been that most of UCSD's reputation for being cut throat is not true. All medical students work very hard and maybe the ones at UCSD work a bit harder because their curriculum is demanding. But most UCSD students are still very happy and they receive an excellent mediacal education, perhaps even a bit better than UCI because they worked harder. You should not choose UCSD over UCI just because it is ranked higher. But that number does say that all things being equal, UCSD has a more select student body than UCI, UCSD has more educational resources, and the research and clinical reputations are stronger. UCI grads match well, but the fact is, UCSD grads match better. The proof is in the match lists, so be sure to look at them. All things being equal, a UCSD grad will get a better match than a UCI grad, just because UCSD has a stronger repuation, just like UCSF has a stronger reputation over UCSD and will do the same. I for one would be happier and less stressed knowing that my school alrady has a stronger reputation which will help with with the match. At UCI I feel there would be added stress of knowing I need to stand out more, all things being equal to show I'm a top student. If you will be unhappy at UCSD, of course don't go. You will do very well at UCI which I've said all along is a good school. But most students at UCSD are happy, so don't be swayed by myth. If you're not convincned go visit again and ask the students themselves. And yes, some extra hard work I think is worth it just to be at a stronger medical school. Why do think people decide to go to Hopkins even though it has grades?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by WatchaMaCallit:
•UCSD has a higher reputation both in primary care as well academic medicine/research...

let me just provide u with the link for UCSD's residency matchings....it is really impressive...

if residency matchings matter a lot to u, then ur better off at UCSD, and their USMLE scores are so much higher than UCI...on the other hand...if residency matchings don't mean much to u, then go ahead to UCI...

<a href="http://medschool.ucsd.edu/Catalog/126.html" target="_blank">UCSD</a>•••••Sorry watcha, but you are mistaken. UCI has VERY high USMLE scores. One third of its students placed in the top two percentile.

On MCATs, of their matriculating students, the average is 90th percentile.

And their match list is very good. They showed it to us on the revist weekend, and although i don't really have time to type it all in, I can summarize:

There were top schools represented, from Hopkins to Duke, as well as MANY matches in california lots of UCLAs, a couple of UCSFs, and a bunch of UCI's...

One particular guy whom i had a chance to talk to had matched at hopkins and UCSF for OB/GYN, but he also matched at UCI med center and was going to stay there.

But the biggest thing for you to consider, slj, is that the students at UCI are all very happy.

A good friend of mine went to the UCSD revisit, and many of the med student did not know each other, in a class of 122.

At UCI, on the other hand, everyone seems to know each other. They told us that when they throw a birthday party for someone, all 92 students in the class show up.

UCSD has grades and is really competitive, stressful, and the students aren't happy. If you want to be unhappy, stressed, just to live near torrey pines, then by all means go ahead. Because the lifestyle is the biggest difference, as UCI students tend to match where they want to go.

slj, I hope you make the right decision, picking the school that will be the best fit for you.

p.s. my friend who visited UCSD turned them down for irvine, and another friend turned down hopkins for irvine...•••••I would pick UCSD over UCI easy. And UCSD doesn't have grades. Also, UCSD knows about the rumors and they are doing everything possible to fix any holes.

The students I saw at UCSD were all pretty happy.

About standings, they really shouldn't matter much, but in all reality, they DO. How would would give up a school ranked 20th in the nation to an unranked school?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by hawkeyes:
•I used to believe that the UCSD stereotypes weren't true as well, but every resident friend I have will reconfirm this for me, from a DO friend who is way out in Boston for residency to a friend in residency with two UCSD grads (who told him they were miserable). I don't know where these rumors come from. Friends of mine not even IN medicine know about the UCSD rep (before I heard it). It's so widespread ... it's quite troubling, I say, as UCSD had been my first choice! Anyone have any way to substantiate or disprove the rumors 😕 . I am sure that students themselves vary in their view of their school, but when I interviewed, our tour guide was pretty bitter. And if that is the cream of their crop... 🙁 About reputation, I heard that UCI wasn't ranked becuase they didn't participate in the poll and maybe also for other reasons not related to the quality of the education/clinical experience of the medical school. Anyone have imput on this? 😕 I would love to know how UCI ranks if they did participate (if its even true that they didn't!)... :wink: •••••the only thing that matters is the education you get and that you are happy there. also not paying too much is a really important thing.

Rankings mean nothing if you can't match where you want to live.
People from UCI match all over cali, so if you want to stay here its cool.
They also match in other parts of the country, but i think the reason that not too many go out east is that they just like to live in california, for obvious reasons.

So if you care about a number in a silly magazine (if you don't think its silly read ANY US news article about science) then go to a place with a higher number. But you should probably print up a big poster of the list and post it on the wall in the cubbyhole you live in at SD or back east and look at it each time you realize that you hate your school.

just my 0.02 cents•••••McEntrye, although ur points are well taken, the fact that u go to UCI...does cause u to be biased...and because you haven't gone to UCSD...you can't base things on "rumors"...you know how many schools have their own rumors...the UCI "fertility, anatomy lab rumors"...the list goes on and on for each school...while UCI students might do very well on the USMLE exam...the fact of the matter is UCSD student's with their preparation DO MUCH better which is shown with their rankings unlike UCI...which isn't even ranked....

I think all in all, all our advices are heresay, and the it is really up tothe person to decide....
 
OK, here's my take: I go to UCI undergrad and have spent so many hours at the UCI medical school and I guarantee you that I am not giving you a biased opinion (then again, aren't all opinions biased? 🙂 )

I have been accepted to UCI and UCSD this year. I have made my decision to go to UCSD. My reasons are:

1) I've been living in Irvine for 4 years and I'm sick of it. Don't get me wrong, Irvine is a great place but it's so damn boring.

2) UCI-SOM's hospital is damn far away. 30 minutes from Irvine to Orange.

3) The students at Irvine might be happy but then again, how can I not be happier at sunny and beachy La Jolla?

4) UCI classes are taught mainly by Ph.D.'s and it's really hard for them to convey the clinical relevance.

5) UCSD has a great track record for being a leader in scientific and medical research (especially with their neuro program).

6) UCSD is fully aware of the circulating rumor about them and they intend to fix that. For this year, they have made some very drastic changes to their curriculum, easing off on the class hours.

7) UCSD's competitiveness varies from year to year. As for this year's medical student, everyone I have met at the revisit weekend seems very laid-back and friendly (these are the ones that are 100% sure that they are going to UCSD). I've even gotten some of their phone numbers so that I can contact them for potential roommates.

8) I was really impressed with UCSD anatomy lab course. The ratio of student to cadaver is 3:1 (that's really impressive compared to UCI). The Will-Body program at UCSD is very successful.

9) And lastly, if you go to UCSD, you will meet people like me, who are so burned out by our premed programs that we are just cruising through medical school. Cruise control and barely passing baby!!!!
 
Ok, I have two close friends who both go to UCSD medical school now, and I can say that I would never wish that kind of torture for attending that kind of medical school on anyone.

Everytime I hear their complaints, I am just appalled. Examples: students don't go to a particular class because the lecturers are terrible and students don't feel they are learning anything. Result: the class coordinator specifically picks questions that are not in the syllabus and only talked about in class. Well, that's supporting your students for you!!

Example: Everyone who goes to medical school knows that clinical rotation grades are a bunch of BS--completely subjective, and resident/attending dependent. Well, UCSD does this on their 3 month medicine rotation: each of your attendings from each month writes an evaluation. Then the course coordinator, who has very little clue on who you are, picks and chooses phrases from each of these evaluations to include on your final evaluation form. What the hell is that crap? Just add some more subjectivity to already subjective grades.

Example: UCSD requires students to take USMLE Step 2 at the end of September of their 4th year. In other words, it counts and residencies will see the grade. Most other schools in the US allow you to take Step 2 after, when residencies don't see it, making it much less stressful. Of course, you can still take it before September if you want at those schools. Lack of flexibility at UCSD.

Example: UCSD requires you to do research. Well, shouldn't you have a choice? What if you despise research and never want to do it? Well, you will then be wasting your time... time that could be spent taking a useful rotation or vacation.

Example: Complaints from students--no support from administration, freakish students within the class, cutthroat competition (it's true!), high stress, lack of flexibility, just a poor school.

Now who would want to subject themselves to that?

Believe the rumors!
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by beezar:
[QB]Ok, I have two close friends who both go to UCSD medical school now, and I can say that I would never wish that kind of torture for attending that kind of medical school on anyone.

Everytime I hear their complaints, I am just appalled. Examples: students don't go to a particular class because the lecturers are terrible and students don't feel they are learning anything. Result: the class coordinator specifically picks questions that are not in the syllabus and only talked about in class. Well, that's supporting your students for you!!

Example: Everyone who goes to medical school knows that clinical rotation grades are a bunch of BS--completely subjective, and resident/attending dependent. Well, UCSD does this on their 3 month medicine rotation: each of your attendings from each month writes an evaluation. Then the course coordinator, who has very little clue on who you are, picks and chooses phrases from each of these evaluations to include on your final evaluation form. What the hell is that crap? Just add some more subjectivity to already subjective grades.

Example: UCSD requires students to take USMLE Step 2 at the end of September of their 4th year. In other words, it counts and residencies will see the grade. Most other schools in the US allow you to take Step 2 after, when residencies don't see it, making it much less stressful. Of course, you can still take it before September if you want at those schools. Lack of flexibility at UCSD.

Example: Complaints from students--no support from administration, freakish students within the class, cutthroat competition (it's true!), high stress, lack of flexibility, just a poor school.

Now who would want to subject themselves to that?

QB]••••I have three friends that are going to UCSD right now, and they are EXTREMELY happy..I don't know so how you can judge a whole school by that?
 
I love UCI to death, but really, I don't think it's even a contest.

UCSD bests UCI in every single category from academic prowess to matchlists to location.

Except for the nagging rumors that UCSD students get grilled. My belief is that those rumors were formed from years past when UCSD indeed was a grinder. But they've made so many changes recently that it's not like that anymore. I hear nothing except for happy students. I tend to weigh reports more heavily of students currently @ UCSD that are happy than former UCSD students or UCSD students that are in years3/4 that were studying under a much more rigorous curriculum.

For those reasons, UCSD has always been my #2 choice, right behind UCLA, and I will most likely matriculate there next year. Cambrian, I, and every1 else on SDN going there will report back and tell you if we're happy or not! 😀
 
I just want to address a couple of points;

a) Watcha, UCI does have higher boards than UCSD
b) I'm not yet a student at UCI, i just put in my profile for fun. I did get accepted there, and am wailisted elsewhere (guess where matthew).
c) I think the bottom line is that SD and irvine are both very good schools. Perhaps SD has a better reputation for some things, and a worse for others. At both schools, the students are more or less the same( in terms of MCATS or whatever), because a lot of people turn SD down for irvine and vice versa.

Most people i met at the Irvine revisit (current and prospective students) had acceptances from at least one other UC (SD mostly) and many were waitlisted at LA or SF.

in the end its a personal choice about which school is best for you.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:
•I just want to address a couple of points;

a) Watcha, UCI does have higher boards than UCSD
b) I'm not yet a student at UCI, i just put in my profile for fun. I did get accepted there, and am wailisted elsewhere (guess where matthew).
c) I think the bottom line is that SD and irvine are both very good schools. Perhaps SD has a better reputation for some things, and a worse for others. At both schools, the students are more or less the same( in terms of MCATS or whatever), because a lot of people turn SD down for irvine and vice versa.

Most people i met at the Irvine revisit (current and prospective students) had acceptances from at least one other UC (SD mostly) and many were waitlisted at LA or SF.

in the end its a personal choice about which school is best for you.•••••can you please post the link that shows the scores of UCI and UCSD students? I am really curious on where you read that UCI students score higher? because I haven't been able to find it...can you also please give me the link for UCI's matchlist? I have found UCSD's

on <a href="http://www.mcwmd.com," target="_blank">www.mcwmd.com,</a> but UCI hasn't even been listed...

thanks alot and I agree with ur poitns...
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by matthew0126:
•I love UCI to death, but really, I don't think it's even a contest.

UCSD bests UCI in every single category from academic prowess to matchlists to location.

Except for the nagging rumors that UCSD students get grilled. My belief is that those rumors were formed from years past when UCSD indeed was a grinder. But they've made so many changes recently that it's not like that anymore. I hear nothing except for happy students. I tend to weigh reports more heavily of students currently @ UCSD that are happy than former UCSD students or UCSD students that are in years3/4 that were studying under a much more rigorous curriculum.

For those reasons, UCSD has always been my #2 choice, right behind UCLA, and I will most likely matriculate there next year. Cambrian, I, and every1 else on SDN going there will report back and tell you if we're happy or not! 😀 •••••You know I'm a big defender of UCSD...

that being said, I think there is some truth to the unhappiness rumors. When I interviewed there last year, there were a lot of very unhappy students, enough so that it completely diminished any interest I had in the school. And, it wasn't because of Saturday classes or anything like that -- that's been gone for several years now. I know that you and some other posters have talked about "radical curriculum changes," but I think the ones you have in mind have been in place for a while.

I can't really figure it out -- but I think UCSD is a great school.
 
hey slj,

so it is the end of the week? just curious...so which school did u end up deciding?

I think both choices are equally good, and I wish you an eternity of happiness with either choice u make 😀

so which one u picked?
 
bump! I need to decide too.. I am SO torn. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />
 
wait u've got michigan which is closer to DC by the way :wink: in terms of public policy, which is world renowned, top notch academic and research facilities ranked in the top 15th?

over irvine, which has weather and costs?

wait, isn't michigan cheaper for instate residents? so after the first year, you become a resident and cost shouldn't even be an issue right?

ok which one do you want to into more, academic/public policy medicine/research or just become a primary care physician?

if so I think ur choices are clear :wink: it's not like ur deciding between UCSF and michigan...whatever u decide hawkeyes I wish you the best 🙂 who knows maybe ucsd ur first choice comes along later and u can grab that :wink:
 
The cost is quite significant. Even if you are instate at Michigan, it would never be close to a UC tuition. And correct me if I am wrong, but I Was told that you cannot get residency status while a student there. I do want to be involved in health policy and reform as well as clinical practice, but not too interested in research or academics as full time. So.. it is not so clear cut. I think for me, the cost is a huge factor. Also, I am starting to realize how much I would miss home! Thanks for remembering, Watcha,.. I'm impressed that you remember all that about me! :wink: Keep posting!
 
My brother was a California resident that went to Michigan for medical school. He COULD NOT establish in-state residency at all. Basically, he paid out-of-state for all 4 years.

hawkeyes, how long do you have until you choose between UCI, UCSD, and Michigan?
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by hawkeyes:
•The cost is quite significant. Even if you are instate at Michigan, it would never be close to a UC tuition. And correct me if I am wrong, but I Was told that you cannot get residency status while a student there. I do want to be involved in health policy and reform as well as clinical practice, but not too interested in research or academics as full time. So.. it is not so clear cut. I think for me, the cost is a huge factor. Also, I am starting to realize how much I would miss home! Thanks for remembering, Watcha,.. I'm impressed that you remember all that about me! :wink: Keep posting!•••••I thought u were going to go to georgetown, and me to GWU for the reunion...but I guess ur staying put in california, and I'm going to nashville :wink: haha..wanna do a reunion in memphis?
 
thanks for all the posts about these schools! very very helpful. i think it will be ucsd for me! hawkeyes, i sent you a personal message...
 
I *was* thinking about going to Georgetown!~ I can't deny that I loved that school probably the most of all, but then I started counting my money. It is hard to turn down a UC. I was really looking forward to meeting up in DC! 😀 If you end up in Tenessee, I think that doing a reunion in Oklahoma may be a bit more equidistant! Lookin' forward to it!
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:

One particular guy whom i had a chance to talk to had matched at hopkins and UCSF for OB/GYN, but he also matched at UCI med center and was going to stay there.

[QB]••••What!! How do you match at two places?? Isn't the whole point of the MATCH to MATCH at one place? sounds like bs
 
Hawkeyes,

I got in late on this conversation -- did you choose UCI over Georgetown? That was my final choice last year, and it was a tough one! I had the best feeling about Georgetown too. Let me know if you will be a fellow Anteater next fall!
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by Hendooneh:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:

One particular guy whom i had a chance to talk to had matched at hopkins and UCSF for OB/GYN, but he also matched at UCI med center and was going to stay there.

[QB]••••What!! How do you match at two places?? Isn't the whole point of the MATCH to MATCH at one place? sounds like bs•••••Little Hen,

You are a newbie so I will cut you some slack.

Basically the match is a process by which the residency programs and the graduating medical students are matched together to provide the best arraingement for everyone.

So the students apply to a bunch of schools, write stupid essays, go interview, and then they RANK their top THREE choices based upon the top three schools/programs they are interested in. At the same time, each school you apply to gives you some sort of ranking based upon how much they like you. Then a computer sorts it all out and matches students and schools based upon their relative preference.

When a student ranks his/her preference, they must go to the school they ranked highest and got into. So if the guy I met ranked UCI first then UCSF then hopkins, and he got into all three, then he would have to go to UCI. And that is what happened.

In the future, I would advise thinking before posting.
 
•••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by Hendooneh:
• •••quote:•••Originally posted by McEntrye:

One particular guy whom i had a chance to talk to had matched at hopkins and UCSF for OB/GYN, but he also matched at UCI med center and was going to stay there.

[QB]••••What!! How do you match at two places?? Isn't the whole point of the MATCH to MATCH at one place? sounds like bs•••••Little Hen,

You are a newbie so I will cut you some slack.

Basically the match is a process by which the residency programs and the graduating medical students are matched together to provide the best arraingement for everyone.

So the students apply to a bunch of schools, write stupid essays, go interview, and then they RANK their top THREE choices based upon the top three schools/programs they are interested in. At the same time, each school you apply to gives you some sort of ranking based upon how much they like you. Then a computer sorts it all out and matches students and schools based upon their relative preference.

When a student ranks his/her preference, they must go to the school they ranked highest and got into. So if the guy I met ranked UCI first then UCSF then hopkins, and he got into all three, then he would have to go to UCI. And that is what happened.

In the future, I would advise thinking before posting.•••••McEntrye,
I am sorry to say, you are wrong. If he ranked UCI first, then UCSF, then Hopkins.... then on match-day... he would open his envelope and it would say UCI. It would not mention any other school and there is no choice to be made. The computer automatically chooses the best combination... but does not tell you where else you would have matched. He will never know if UCSF or Hopkins matched him.... unless he calls to ask. Before you attack other people based on heresay.... make sure your source is correct. I am sure he is wrong because my brother is sitting next to me and he has gone through the match process.
 
I apologize if i had some of my facts wrong. I should have confirmed my sources.

The point of my post was that the person had ranked UCI as his number one, after doing his med degree there. So if he never knew about getting into the other two, then he never knew. But UCI med center was his top choice.
 
Scully,
I did end up choosing UCI over Georgetown. Right now, I have 2 more days to decide between UCI and UCSD. Any thoughts?
 
hawkeyes,

That really is a tough decision! I don't know too much about UCSD -- I didn't apply there because of the rumors I heard about the unhappy, super-competitive environment. Also, San Diego seemed a bit too out of the way for me. I am sure it is beautiful, but coming from the other coast, I wanted to stay closer to a major city (LA). But these are just my personal opinions, and I am not from California, so I don't know how much nicer San Diego might be.

UCI was my top choice in CA, and I am glad I chose it. I am sure that you can't go wrong with either school! If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a personal message.
 
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