UCSF (oos) vs. UW (is)

[giraffelover2]

I was fortunate to receive acceptances from both UCSF and UW. When factoring in that you can become in-state for UCSF after 1 year, the difference in cost of attendance is 20k over four years. While I understand 20k is a sizable chunk of money, I want to consider the difference in the quality of the curriculum and programs before defaulting to just the "cheapest option available".

Based on visiting and researching both schools, I have developed this pros and cons list:

UCSF:
- pf curriculum
- supposedly better at producing specialists? (something I am fairly certain I want to pursue)
- facilities don't seem super modern
- a top research school
- sf is not the safest/expensive city

UW:
- no pf curriculum
- also great research school
- appear to have pretty modern facilities
- unknown how good they are at producing specialists
- close to home, and a city I think I'd enjoy living in more

I was wondering if there were any UCSF or UW students I could ask questions to, or if there were other general information about the programs that I wasn't considering/hadn't looked into.

I also wanted to verify whether UCSF was a true pass/fail school, or a H/P/F school.

Sorry for text overload, and thank you to anyone who helps.

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[Kenshen]

I also wanted to verify whether UCSF was a true pass/fail school, or a H/P/F school.

UCSF is a H/P/F school. Seattle has a lower cost of living than San Francisco, but is still up there if you're downtown. Tacoma is much cheaper to live to save on cost.

You can specialize out of any school as many past dental students have stated before. Granted if the cost is that close for you, go to where you see yourself living for 4 years. Either way, both sound like great schools that I'd love to hear back from soon haha!

 

[macsak]

UCSF is a H/P/F school. Seattle has a lower cost of living than San Francisco, but is still up there if you're downtown. Tacoma is much cheaper to live to save on cost.

You can specialize out of any school as many past dental students have stated before. Granted if the cost is that close for you, go to where you see yourself living for 4 years. Either way, both sound like great schools that I'd love to hear back from soon haha!

UWSOD is not downtown, and Tacoma is pretty far away...

 

[GoDental101]

UW

 

[giraffelover2]

UW

Do you have a reason why UW?

 

[Boat on the Chesapeake]

Difference is $20k in cost of attendance but what about with SF cost of living factored in?

Either would be fine for specializing but UCSF is a little better known for it and pass fail is helpful now that there are only a few specialties with numerical exams to compare candidates.

 

[giraffelover2]

Difference is $20k in cost of attendance but what about with SF cost of living factored in?

Either would be fine for specializing but UCSF is a little better known for it and pass fail is helpful now that there are only a few specialties with numerical exams to compare candidates.

The cost of attendance breakdowns both schools provided includes an estimated average cost of living, so the difference is truly only 20k over 4 years.

That’s so interesting, so some specialties are removing numerical exams basically? Would this mean pf is like worse because you want to be at the top of class?

 

[Boat on the Chesapeake]

Like how OS has the CBSE for a numerical score, not every specialty has something like that anymore. NBDE used to be numerical and if you got 90+ on Part 1 you were competitive for Ortho/OS, but now it’s pass fail. For endo they tried the ADAT but it didn’t really catch on, so you end up having to put more weight on letters of rec, experience, etc.

Some pass-fails schools rank just the top few then everyone else shows up as unranked and has a chance at specializing whether they are in the top third or bottom third.

 

[LFA20]

UCSF

 

[giraffelover2]

UCSF?

Do you have a reasoning for UCSF?

 

[Hopeful678]

I’m also an applicant in the current cycle, so take my opinion with a grain of salt; I would choose UCSF because of P/F and no rank. To me, that alone is worth 20k.

 

[Ivy.ch]

20.Thousand.Dollars.

That’s a lot of hookers and cocaine, and then some leftover. That’s a lot of Index Funds that can grow into hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars with time. That’s about a year of your career when you don’t have to slave for work and can focus on practicing how you want to. That’s a fancy car for your wife or girlfriend, or a decent car for both . That’s a nest egg for your kid’s college tuition when they want to go to dental school one day.

The difference isn’t “just” 20k. Be smart Doc. Good luck!

 

[justadentalstudent]

The cost of attendance breakdowns both schools provided includes an estimated average cost of living, so the difference is truly only 20k over 4 years.

That’s so interesting, so some specialties are removing numerical exams basically? Would this mean pf is like worse because you want to be at the top of class?

Hi. I go to UCSF, wanted to add about the cost of living. You're able to get on calfresh (food stamps) as a student, which nets you 200~ a month on food. For housing, you have the option of doing school housing, fraternity housing, or private housing. The first two options will be cheapest. SF is an expensive city that's not a lie, but you shouldn't be living like a dentist when you're a dental student otherwise you'll be living like a dental student as a dentist. Spend within your means.

 

[giraffelover2]

20.Thousand.Dollars.

That’s a lot of hookers and cocaine, and then some leftover. That’s a lot of Index Funds that can grow into hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars with time. That’s about a year of your career when you don’t have to slave for work and can focus on practicing how you want to. That’s a fancy car for your wife or girlfriend, or a decent car for both . That’s a nest egg for your kid’s college tuition when they want to go to dental school one day.

The difference isn’t “just” 20k. Be smart Doc. Good luck!

Thank you for the response! You are right, 20k will become quite a lot of money and I appreciate the perspective.