UCSF vs. Mayo

[4563728]

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Hi all!

I was recently pulled off the waitlist at UCSF and I am now trying to decide between two schools: UCSF or Mayo Clinic. Both were outstanding schools in my opinion so I am having some trouble deciding. I would GREATLY appreciate any advice and insight into which program would provide the better medical school education.

Thank you all so much in advance!! 🙂

 

[sunflower18]

Can you list some pros and cons you see to each program? That will help us tailor our answers for your needs and interests specifically! Both are great schools -- the right one for you will depend based on your learning style, what you want to get out of a school, how strongly you feel about location, etc.

 

[4563728]

Sure!

Mayo
Pros: Smaller class size, great opportunities to explore global health (also, selectives), cheaper housing and (hopefully!) much better financial aid, large faculty to student ratio, students all seem happy!
Cons: far from home, freezing cold 😱

UCSF
Pros: Awesome city, close to home, wonderful medical education, students seem really happy
Cons: More expensive (since I am expecting zero financial aid), very familiar (pro or con, see below 🙂 ), not as much funding within the school to pursue medical interests/opportunities

This could be a pro or a con for UCSF, but I have worked/volunteered at UCSF for several years so I know a lot of the faculty pretty well. It's a pro since I will have great mentors and resources to refer to but also a con since it won't be a new place in which I can network and branch out ( if that makes sense! )


Thanks so much, I really appreciate any advice!

 

[sunflower18]

I think that the familiarity is a pro! You'll be able to form deeper connections with the mentors you already have, and they can refer you to other faculty and physicians so that you can continue to network! I do understand the appeal of going to a new place, but I think that some familiarity would be a positive thing in the long run.

I'd wait to see how your financial packages turn out before making a decision since that could really sway you one way or another. If one is way more expensive than the other, I'd say go to the cheaper school. But if they are approximately equal in price, I'd go UCSF. Better location, great education, closer to home, familiarity are all major pros. I don't think you'll have to worry about not having enough funding at UCSF, either. Also, if you want to end up practicing in California, UCSF likely will have better matching opportunities in California than Mayo will.

Really, you can't go wrong either way though!

 

[tenniseagle92]

Congratulations on the awesome opportunities! If I were you, I'd probably choose UCSF in a heartbeat, but I'm biased toward the Bay area weather having just dealt with a Boston winter (and here the winters keep getting worse and worse).

That said, my advice would be to wait out financial aid and determine what the actual cost difference would be for you. Also, try to attend second looks if you can. UCSF shouldn't be hard if you're still working there, and it might be worth your time to meet potential classmates at Mayo (especially given how few of them there will be).

Lastly, I'd consider what you want the next four years to be like. Apart from being amazing institutions, these schools would bring two very different lifestyles. If you're a city person, UCSF could be your place. If you are looking to settle down more, Rochester could be your best option.

 

[breakintheroof]

Thanks for laying out your thinking, @4563728. And congratulations on these choices! Two very different schools, and the one thing they have in common is that each is many people's dream school.

But I strongly agree with @sunflower18 and @tenniseagle92: Finances aside, it's UCSF. The place is just hard to beat. It's got an amazing student body, incredible clinical opportunities at all levels, and a location you know you love. What more do you need?

Sure, it would feel good to branch out by going somewhere new...but is that somewhere Rochester, Minnesota? Now, there are many people who have a real passion for Mayo, with its totally unique structure and culture, plus the sterling Mayo reputation. The individualized attention you would get there, with no risk of feeling like "just a number," is worth a great deal. My opinion is that it's just not enough to trump UCSF.

Unless, of course, you've fallen in love with Mayo. (Or it turns out to be a far smaller financial burden, that could work too.) If that's the case, while you read our posts, you may feel something tugging on your heart, whispering to you, "They're wrong, they don't understand." Have you felt it?

 

[Psai]

sounds like ucsf for you

 

[alpinism]

UCSF

 

[Ash2015]

Based on your pros and cons, UCSF!

 

[4563728]

Thanks everyone, you've been incredibly helpful! I think I am leaning on the side of UCSF but I'll wait to see the financial aid packages. Thanks so much and best of luck to all of you!!

 

[pinkcupcakes98]

Thanks everyone, you've been incredibly helpful! I think I am leaning on the side of UCSF but I'll wait to see the financial aid packages. Thanks so much and best of luck to all of you!!

Based on your pros and cons and everything, UCSF would be awesome for you!!!!

 

[BarneyisBaloney]

I am in your position as well!

All medical things considered, Mayo = UCSF (give or take a little)
All non-medical things considered, UCSF >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mayo

I'll be attending UCSF...hope to see you there!