inoffensivepersona
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- Jan 16, 2022
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So I have received all my financial aid offers and have narrowed it down to two schools. They both have second look the same weekend so I’m probably going to go to UCSF’s since I’m less familiar with San Francisco.
UCSF:
Potentially up to 10k in debt over the course of four years (I received essentially a full CoA for MS1 but the financial aid officer I spoke to said that I may or may not have to pay a little more as an MS3 and MS4 since summer tuition is included).
Pros:
-Super well established and prestigious in the medical community. There is a possibility I will want to go back to NY for residency so I’m assuming UCSF’s name could help with that.
-It seems very social justice oriented, which is a big reason why I wanna be a doctor.
-Impressive match list
-SF is a city I’ve never lived in and it seems like an adventure to live there. I don’t know too much about it though.
-P/F all four years with no rankings and AOA.
-A car isn’t absolutely necessary. I hate driving and loved going to college in Manhattan where the subway was extremely convenient and reliable.
-the Bridges Curriculum is more established than the new UCLA curriculum so there are less kinks to fix.
-I have gotten a great vibe from them so far and I had a sixth sense feeling at the beginning of this cycle that I would end up in SF.
Cons:
-Colder than LA and likely more dreary. Can someone speak to whether the SF weather ever gets people down? I have Seasonal Affective Disorder.
-Don’t really know anyone and don’t have much of a support system yet.
-Housing seems less nice than UCLA’s and things just feel a little more expensive.
-SF just seems very unfamiliar and a bit of a wild card. I’m concerned that I’ll be surrounded by the stress of Silicon Valley tech culture.
UCLA
Geffen Scholarship so full CoA for all four years. While UCSF’s financial aid was very generous, UCLA’s feels a little bit more generous.
Pros:
-LA is a large and great city has absolutely perfect weather, a lot of access to different foods and culture, Venice etc.
-I have family in LA and have lived there before.
-The new curriculum’s discovery year would allow me to get a masters degree too.
-Also super well established but maybe California centric?
-Impressive match list.
-Money wise it seems a little more comfortable.
-P/F preclinical and (maybe) clinical and no AOA. I’m not sure if there’s internal rankings and I’m not sure if clinical grades and AOA are returning.
Cons:
-Driving: I don’t know how I feel about dealing with LA’s traffic and smog on a regular basis, especially when I have rotations at Harbor or Olive View, which I’m excited about working at those hospitals but they’re so far.
-While familiarity is great, I wonder if I should branch out and go somewhere else.
-I’ve gotten a really weird vibe from the school. Like I’m so grateful for the acceptance and the scholarship, but things have felt delayed at times and I’ve felt a bit in the dark at times. It also feels more bureaucratic than UCSF.
-The new curriculum might have some issues.
UCSF:
Potentially up to 10k in debt over the course of four years (I received essentially a full CoA for MS1 but the financial aid officer I spoke to said that I may or may not have to pay a little more as an MS3 and MS4 since summer tuition is included).
Pros:
-Super well established and prestigious in the medical community. There is a possibility I will want to go back to NY for residency so I’m assuming UCSF’s name could help with that.
-It seems very social justice oriented, which is a big reason why I wanna be a doctor.
-Impressive match list
-SF is a city I’ve never lived in and it seems like an adventure to live there. I don’t know too much about it though.
-P/F all four years with no rankings and AOA.
-A car isn’t absolutely necessary. I hate driving and loved going to college in Manhattan where the subway was extremely convenient and reliable.
-the Bridges Curriculum is more established than the new UCLA curriculum so there are less kinks to fix.
-I have gotten a great vibe from them so far and I had a sixth sense feeling at the beginning of this cycle that I would end up in SF.
Cons:
-Colder than LA and likely more dreary. Can someone speak to whether the SF weather ever gets people down? I have Seasonal Affective Disorder.
-Don’t really know anyone and don’t have much of a support system yet.
-Housing seems less nice than UCLA’s and things just feel a little more expensive.
-SF just seems very unfamiliar and a bit of a wild card. I’m concerned that I’ll be surrounded by the stress of Silicon Valley tech culture.
UCLA
Geffen Scholarship so full CoA for all four years. While UCSF’s financial aid was very generous, UCLA’s feels a little bit more generous.
Pros:
-LA is a large and great city has absolutely perfect weather, a lot of access to different foods and culture, Venice etc.
-I have family in LA and have lived there before.
-The new curriculum’s discovery year would allow me to get a masters degree too.
-Also super well established but maybe California centric?
-Impressive match list.
-Money wise it seems a little more comfortable.
-P/F preclinical and (maybe) clinical and no AOA. I’m not sure if there’s internal rankings and I’m not sure if clinical grades and AOA are returning.
Cons:
-Driving: I don’t know how I feel about dealing with LA’s traffic and smog on a regular basis, especially when I have rotations at Harbor or Olive View, which I’m excited about working at those hospitals but they’re so far.
-While familiarity is great, I wonder if I should branch out and go somewhere else.
-I’ve gotten a really weird vibe from the school. Like I’m so grateful for the acceptance and the scholarship, but things have felt delayed at times and I’ve felt a bit in the dark at times. It also feels more bureaucratic than UCSF.
-The new curriculum might have some issues.
