UCSF v.s. UCLA

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ccss

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Can anyone comment on UCLA and UCSF. I would like to hear any opinion such as school's reputation, curriculum, board score, clinical training, competition, grading systems, living enviornment, and socail life....etc. Thanks !!
 
I know more about ucla than ucsf but I'll just add some info about both schools anyways.

UCSf:
- excellent reputation
- very competitive
- normal grading system
- heard that the environment of the school isn't good. some students describe it as a living hell.
- expensive housing
- cheapest CA dental school

UCLA:
- excellent reputation
- very competitive (but probably less than ucsf)
- Pass/No Pass system
- nice location (west l.a.)
- poor patient pool
- limited clincal experience (majority of students say that they don't feel ready coming out)
- top 5 in National Boards Part I
 
Speaking of competitiveness, which one of the them is more competitive in your opinion? I know UCSF has letter graded system. UCLA has pass/fail. However, there are different kind of pass, such as exceptional pass. I have heard from students that it is essentially the same as letter graded system. But i still feel that pass/fail would ease the competition a bit.

Howevr, UCLA did very well on the National Board, ( #2 in the nation). UCSF did not score as high on the National Board which makes me think that UCLA students must study extremely hard as well. So, which school is tougher, and more competitive??
 
Quote:"heard that the environment of the school isn't good. some students describe it as a living hell."

The environment is the class itself. The administrative, prof., faculty members don't create the environment. You'll never know how competitive your class is until you meet and spend a few months with your classmates.

With about a dozen of UMP and few post-bac students entering UCSF this year, I doubt that this year at UCSF will be competitive at all. In fact, I believe that it's gonna be like a big family here. May be even too much fun to study.
I have seen the current D1 class study together in the library, cafeteria, and they're not at all, by any means. They always help me with histo. or anything I ask. I doubt if they are living in hell at all, because they seem to have fun to me.

Most dental schools have class ranking system, and of course, it will be competitive doesn't matter wherever you go. I have never met anyone who wants to be at the bottom ten of the class. So, yes, there will be competitive. How much? Wait until this year Dec. and you will know.

Juan, I have a few classmates at the local university that I'm taking classes and they all will go to UOP next year. And oh, I'm so, so glad that they go to UOP, as I don't think I can breath the same air with them for 4 years. They are the worst kind of competitive and cheaters that I have ever seen, it's even worse than UCD. Sometimes I thought that I'm in law school or they graduated from Slytherin house of Hogwarts. If any of you go to UOP next year and do not want to rub shoulders with the weirdos, pm me.
Good luck to wherever you end up.
🙄
 
Hi....I went to UCLA for my undergrad and volunteered in the student clinics for about a year. From what the students told me and from what I observed myself there is a noticeable shortage of patients. Juan is right, many students don't feel ready for part II of the boards....come last june a lot of fourth years in clinic looked really pissed off. I was flat out told by at least three people that if money wasn't an issue go somewhere private like USC or UOP. On the flip side, the didactic training is top notch and every one agrees that if u want to specialize UCLA is the place to be. One student told me that they only study a couple of weeks for part I of the boards and everyone usually clears above 90. Ive seen the labs and they're not the greatest or most up to date but hey you're not gonna be a quarter of a million in debt so i guess u can't complain right? I hope that helps a little....pm me if you want more specific info.
 
At about this time last year, i was deciding between UCSF and UCLA. As an outsider, I felt that the schools were more similar than different, and based my decision on location, and where i felt more comfortable. However, as a student at UCSF, I now see how incredibly unique my school is, as i'm sure UCLA is as well. I have a couple friends at UCLA, and they agreed that the P/F system doesn't really eliminate competition because of the High Pass thing. Our curriculum is a little different (they take classes in a different order than us), and clinical exposure is different too. We get our first experience in clinic during our first quarter, doing exams on each other, taking impressions, perio probing, prophy cleanings, etc. I'm not sure when UCLA starts their clinical experience. But overall, both are excellent schools. I do believe that UCLA gets more people into specialty programs, so if you are looking to specialize, that may be an important factor to consider. For me, location was the deciding factor, as I am from norther california. I have no regrets, and do not feel that it is a "living hell" here. True, the classes are difficult, but I think you will find the same amount of difficulty at UCLA. I like my classmates, my professors, the campus, and WE DO HAVE TIME FOR A SOCIAL LIFE!!! good luck, hope i added some insight!!
 
ccss-

In my opinion, they're both great schools! Go to the school that offers what you are specifically looking for. To many, UCSF and UCLA seem very alike. But if you take the time to really look deep, you will see that they do have slight differences which may tip the balance for you one way or the other. You might want to re-visit the schools again or talk to some current dental students from both UCLA and UCSF to see their take on their schools. Be sure to ask for both the positives and the negatives to get the best perspective. In any case, you are one of a very few to even have this decision....so you are in very good company to say the least! Best of luck to you.

Hey Tink-

PM me that list will ya! :laugh:
 
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