UCSD vs. Wash U

[somekevinguy]

Just for curiosity sake....where would my fellow SDNers decide to go bw UCSD and Wash U (cali resident..more interested in clinical medicine than research)....either way..why that one instead of the other?

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[Integra96]

UCSD. It's all about da beach. Other than that, an MD is an MD, right? So, you gotta go with the more entertaining of the two. 😀

 

[jlee9531]

ucsd.

i may not particularly like sd but i can sure as hell appreciate what the city has to offer tho...plus both are great med schools. so might as well pick based on location right?

 

[minter]

hmm...well I'd say wash u, since I think students get a better education there, but I don't know much about UCSD.

Whats the deal with Wash U though? No one seems to know about it! No one has any idea that its such a fantastic school, or that its in St. Louis

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Definitely go to Wash U. It'll open more doors than UCSD. I loved Wash U., and finally flipped a coin between Wash U. & Hopkins.

 

[Brickhouse]

I'm too stupid to get into either of those schools.
Have fun with your smart self!

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Actually, one more thought. I didn't realize that the OP is a CA resident.

I'd seriously look at the cost of each program too. If UCSD is two or three times cheaper, then I would pick the more economical route. If you went to UCSD, rocked the USMLE, and honored in your courses, then you'll be competitive for any residency program.

 

[Jalby]

UCSD. Again, I normally vote against them, but Wash U's biggest advantage is research, and I've heard similar things about student enjoyment of both schools.

 

[markus21]

UCSD in a heart beat

 

[bokermmk]

finally flipped a coin between Wash U. & Hopkins.


You actually did that?

 

[Tezzie]

Look at the financial aid at both places. WashU has a very interesting financial aid package. Sometimes a few private schools can challenge the public schools money offers and you may end up graduating with less debt.

Both schools are solid. And WashUs name can land you a residency in CA if that is what you want ultimately.

I don't know anything about UCSD to be honest, but when i visited San Diego i knew i never wanted to live there. I still think it's an overrated place. But hey that's just me. So if you like SoCal stay there.

Tezzie

PS. I am also having the WashU vs Hopkins dilemma but being involved in a relationship that gets more serious as each day passes by, i may end up in WashU.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by bokermmk
finally flipped a coin between Wash U. & Hopkins.


You actually did that?

I was joking; but, both programs were dead even on my list. Hopkins had a smaller MD-PhD program, and I felt that Baltimore would be a better place than the St. Louis.

 

[Jalby]

Originally posted by Tezzie
Both schools are solid. And WashUs name can land you a residency in CA if that is what you want ultimately.

If this is your goal then by all means you should go to UCSD. Wash U's name can get you a cali residency. UCSD will.

 

[bigbaubdi]

Originally posted by somekevinguy
Just for curiosity sake....where would my fellow SDNers decide to go bw UCSD and Wash U (cali resident..more interested in clinical medicine than research)....either way..why that one instead of the other?

First of all, congrats on the acceptances! UCSD and WashU are great schools and either way you will be going to an outstanding med school.

For academic medicine, I would pick WashU in a heartbeat. Even for clinical medicine, I still would probably pick WashU.

First, UCSD's curriculum doesn't sound too thrilling to me. From what I hear the lecture hours are insane, and even if you don't show up to lecture, you are still responsible for learning the material.

Second, if you are really set on going to Cali for residency, then you might be able to do some rotations in Cali in your 3rd or 4th year. I don't know what WashU's policy is on this matter but you may want to check into this before making your decision. It appears as though quite a few of their students have matched at UCSF.

http://medschool.wustl.edu/admissions/match2003.pdf

Third, doesn't WashU give out substantial scholarship money? Maybe if you got some sort of scholarship, the price b/w UCSD and WashU will be similar.

That said, if you are dead set on spending the rest of your life in California, then by all means go to UCSD. If you are shooting for highly competitive specialties, then you may want to go to WashU.

Of course you could get honors in all of your classes at UCSD and destroy the boards and get one of those hypercompetitive specialties, but you probably would have an easier path at WashU.

 

[Newquagmire]

go to washu so i can have your ucsd spot.

or: just go where you think you'll be happier. both schools are great, both have traditional curriculums, and ultimately med school is just med school.

 

[dalo0228]

Both great schools.

Two things I've heard:

1. Wash U (where I'm probably going) says that students graduate with similar debt to state school students because of their great financial aid office.

2. UCSD supposedly "trains everyone as if we are all going to be researchers". I saw that on AMSA's website about med student satisfaction.

Other than that, UCSD has much better location, and Wash U has better reputation and clinical facilities.

 

[mmz6]

um dalo, how do u know you are going to wash u ? I thought you hadn't heard anything yet...

confused,
mmz6

(to the OP: UCSD over Wash U for 2 reasons: weather and giving me your Wash U spot)

 

[CalBeE]

I don't think the cost will differ too much between the two schools, especially with the potential 40% hike in fee for UC med schools. Also, someone mentioned that WashU has good financial aid office that lowers your debts.

San Diego is probably a nicer city to live in, but it's not my type of city, to be honest. So knowing that will sorta rule out location in my decision if I were you.

I'd go for WashU just for a change from the California environment.

 

[Newquagmire]

Originally posted by mmz6
(to the OP: UCSD over Wash U for 2 reasons: weather and giving me your Wash U spot)

looks like everybody wants your spots meng.

 

[somekevinguy]

it seems like there is a pretty decent split on this issue....

I suppose I will have to wait and see what financial aid looks like and then also think a bit more (i do want to be in cali for residency though for sure...)....

 

[dalo0228]

Hehe, good question. I liked the school, and I guess I'm just confident!

 

[adesua]

Originally posted by Andrew_Doan
both programs were dead even on my list. Hopkins had a smaller MD-PhD program, .

Hello Andrew_Doan,
So what in your opinion is the advantage of a smaller MD/PhD program. For larger MD/PhD program I've heard 1 advantage is that the MD/PhD students form a more significant proportion of the med school class than at other schools with fewer MD/PhD students so they are taken into consideration when decisions are being made in the school. You seem to prefer a smaller MD/PhD program - could you elaborate?

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by adesua
Hello Andrew_Doan,
So what in your opinion is the advantage of a smaller MD/PhD program. For larger MD/PhD program I've heard 1 advantage is that the MD/PhD students form a more significant proportion of the med school class than at other schools with fewer MD/PhD students so they are taken into consideration when decisions are being made in the school. You seem to prefer a smaller MD/PhD program - could you elaborate?

I found that graduates from a smaller MD-PhD group did better in regards to matching for residency. When residency programs receive applications, they must select a couple or a few students from a particular school. If you graduate with 25 MD-PhD students and 5 are applying for derm or ophtho, then not all 5 are going to receive interviews to the most prestigious programs. However, if you graduate from Hopkins with only 6 MD-PhD per year, then you may be the only MSTP candidate applying for a particular specialty. This is the main advantage I find for attending a smaller MD-PhD program.

 

[dalo0228]

Originally posted by mmz6
um dalo, how do u know you are going to wash u ? I thought you hadn't heard anything yet...

Originally posted by dalo0228
Hehe, good question. I liked the school, and I guess I'm just confident!

mmz6,

Well, your suspicion was well founded, and it turns out that my confidence was equally (if not more!) well founded. I got an acceptance phone call from my interviewer at Wash U yesterday afternoon!

It's not cool to gloat, but I have the excuse of some insecurity after you called me on that presumption that I stated as fact.

 

[adesua]

Originally posted by Andrew_Doan
I found that graduates from a smaller MD-PhD group did better in regards to matching for residency. When residency programs receive applications, they must select a couple or a few students from a particular school. If you graduate with 25 MD-PhD students and 5 are applying for derm or ophtho, then not all 5 are going to receive interviews to the most prestigious programs. However, if you graduate from Hopkins with only 6 MD-PhD per year, then you may be the only MSTP candidate applying for a particular specialty. This is the main advantage I find for attending a smaller MD-PhD program.

Interesting. Thanks for the response.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by somekevinguy
Just for curiosity sake....where would my fellow SDNers decide to go bw UCSD and Wash U (cali resident..more interested in clinical medicine than research)....either way..why that one instead of the other?

UCSD for the love of god. Its a great school in a great climate AND its much cheaper since you're in state. Plus its always good to be near home.

 

[celticmists18]

even though have been rejected from UCSD I would like to speak up for it. First, the campus is great, I know, I was an undergrad there. Second, its a great school-despite what others are saying about washington open doors, graduates match very well and it is a highly respected school when it comes to residencies (I know my dad is in charge of the OBGYN residency at his hospital). Plus, since you are a CA resident (like me) it sooooooooo cheap. In the end, it really doesn't matter which school you go to, just how well you do there, so go where YOU want! (at least that is what my dad's residents have been telling me).

 

[u2psalm40]

for the OP- at WashU they teach tertiary care medicine (so if you're looking to do primary care, that would be a concern for you); if you're into the specialties you can't go wrong with WashU.

I was thinking about the same decision; every stage of our careers will come to this applying/interviewing process and you would not believe how much brand names count in getting a foot in the door. Though this doesn't increase/decrease one's inherent value, it's something to think about if you want to go into academic medicine.

UCSD has the location vote though (however great or small this factor is); and also has some great people there as well if you're into research.

I'd compare them based on the specialties you're even remotely interested in... that might be a good way to look at it from a career point of view. in the end- go with your gut feeling.