UCSF vs Stanford

[hurlygrly07]

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Hi,
I have met a lot of people in this same boat. The battle of the bay.
I would love to hear concrete differences and if you're a current student how you made this decision, what were some of the important factors/are you happy with your choice.
or if you're a current admit who has already decided.
i'm very torn for numerous reasons, but excited to have the opportunity to stay in California.
thanks!!!!

oh also, $0 in scholarships from both, so finances a little out of the question.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

I would pick whichever is cheaper, with a bias towards UCSF because of clinical training. Are you in-state? There must be a cost differential.

 

[pachewisc]

Hi,
I have met a lot of people in this same boat. The battle of the bay.
I would love to hear concrete differences and if you're a current student how you made this decision, what were some of the important factors/are you happy with your choice.
or if you're a current admit who has already decided.
i'm very torn for numerous reasons, but excited to have the opportunity to stay in California.
thanks!!!!

oh also, $0 in scholarships from both, so finances a little out of the question.

I'd be willing in giving my $0.02, but all I know about you is that you're accepted to 2 schools without scholarships. Any information you could share about how you view the schools as a whole, their pros and cons, and what you want from the schools and your career would help.

 

[clos27]

I'm in the same Stanford v. UCSF boat and it's such a tough decision! About me - I'm not particularly interested in primary care, thinking maybe something surgical but obviously up in the air still. Went to Stanford undergrad and loved it but am not sure if it would be too much to spend another 4 years in the bubble. I'm more interested in clinical research than basic science and would maybe even want to get an MPH. One of my concerns is that I've heard there's not as much of a community at UCSF since students live all over the city. Here's a very short list of what I think and hear about each school.

Stanford

Pros:
Part of whole university, could take classes in other schools
No AOA, true P/F first two years
More structured research grant opportunities
Stronger support system with advisers, learning specialist, etc.
Better weather

Cons:
Price
Suburban
Weaker clinical experience, more homogeneous patient population (?)
Class 9-5 MWThF

UCSF

Pros:
Lower tuition (IS)
Better clinical experience, more diverse clinical opportunities, start rotations 3 months earlier (?)
City life
Bigger class, more opportunities to meet people (?)

Cons:
Not as much support in finding research or global health opportunities, harder to find funding
Not as nice of weather, but not bad
AOA
Health sciences university only
Very limited university housing, may have to live far from campus

As with OP, would love to hear peoples' opinions who have been through this same decision before and what some other differentiating factors might be.

 

[hurlygrly07]

I'd be willing in giving my $0.02, but all I know about you is that you're accepted to 2 schools without scholarships. Any information you could share about how you view the schools as a whole, their pros and cons, and what you want from the schools and your career would help.

I was aiming for this to be more of a general discussion so it could benefit everyone, not just me in particular.

however I personally am interested in working with underserved populations. No idea what I want to specialize in (or not specialize at all and do primary care? no idea)
I do want to do some work with global health and definitely want to get involved with research. These factors seem to point me towards the better clinical training and more diverse patient population at UCSF, but I am worried that as a public school there is less funding for research/global experiences and that having a bigger class size at a public school can also mean you dont get to know faculty/advisors as well.

any other info welcomed. thanks!

 

[An MD Hopeful]

I was aiming for this to be more of a general discussion so it could benefit everyone, not just me in particular.

however I personally am interested in working with underserved populations. No idea what I want to specialize in (or not specialize at all and do primary care? no idea)
I do want to do some work with global health and definitely want to get involved with research. These factors seem to point me towards the better clinical training and more diverse patient population at UCSF, but I am worried that as a public school there is less funding for research/global experiences and that having a bigger class size at a public school can also mean you dont get to know faculty/advisors as well.

any other info welcomed. thanks!

Not sure if you were at Admit Weekend at Stanford, but it seems that the faculty advising at Stanford is amazing. They have people called Educators-4-Care who are matched to a small group of students and provide great mentorship.

I have also heard that teaching during clinical rotations is better at Stanford than at UCSF; not sure how true that claim is.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Does Stanford really have 8 hours of class 4 days a week? 😱

 

[An MD Hopeful]

Does Stanford really have 8 hours of class 4 days a week? 😱

I believe 3-4 of those hours (on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) are recorded lectures, so it isn't really mandatory to attend.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Oh, okay so that includes lab time, etc. I interpreted it as 9-5 lecture time, for some reason haha, my bad 😛

 

[clos27]

I believe 3-4 of those hours (on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) are recorded lectures, so it isn't really mandatory to attend.

Yes, it sounds like the morning classes are all lectures, at which attendance is optional; however, most students will still watch those lectures at some point so it is still essentially 8 hours a day of class that you can rearrange if you like (presumably you get a lunch break at least though haha). Also, I meant to say MTThF originally - I think Wednesday is the "free" day, which is usually filled with elective courses. Not sure if this is the schedule during both preclinical years, anyone know?

 

[tonguetalker]

Yes, it sounds like the morning classes are all lectures, at which attendance is optional; however, most students will still watch those lectures at some point so it is still essentially 8 hours a day of class that you can rearrange if you like (presumably you get a lunch break at least though haha). Also, I meant to say MTThF originally - I think Wednesday is the "free" day, which is usually filled with elective courses. Not sure if this is the schedule during both preclinical years, anyone know?

Yes, I believe during both preclinical years, Wednesdays are free. Some students seem to take electives and others do research during that time as well. I think you can also take other classes at the same time as your med school ones (in the mornings) and watch the med lectures later.

 

[LabRat91]

.

 

[Goobs]

Coming from a public school from California I'd definitely advise you to go private.

 

[OhHey]

As someone from the east coast, I didn't even dream of applying to UCSF due to its being a public institution. But even then (and this is my first impulse), I'd choose Stanford.

 

[LabRat91]

.

 

[prado]

As someone from the east coast, I didn't even dream of applying to UCSF due to its being a public institution. But even then (and this is my first impulse), I'd choose Stanford.

Join date: April 2013
Posts: 1

Sounds legit...

 

[OhHey]

Join date: April 2013
Posts: 1

Sounds legit...

What doesn't sound legit? Rephrase: What makes my opinion any less than those of anyone else on this thread because this is my first post?

 

[leon sandcastle]

ucsf or bust

 

[DrWatt]

UCSF if you like paying $2000/mo (the rent increase that drove me out of SF) for a 1 bedroom apt, $47/class for yoga (the price for one drop in class at the studio where I used to go when I left, started at $10/class when I joined) and $75/parking ticket (which are reallly hard to avoid...not to mention $700/towing).

There is nothing cheap about san francisco right now...!!

Stanford!!!!! Hands down.

 

[alisvolatpropri]

I was aiming for this to be more of a general discussion so it could benefit everyone, not just me in particular.

however I personally am interested in working with underserved populations. No idea what I want to specialize in (or not specialize at all and do primary care? no idea)
I do want to do some work with global health and definitely want to get involved with research. These factors seem to point me towards the better clinical training and more diverse patient population at UCSF, but I am worried that as a public school there is less funding for research/global experiences and that having a bigger class size at a public school can also mean you dont get to know faculty/advisors as well.

any other info welcomed. thanks!

I was in the same boat, but Stanford gave me max funding and UCSF gave me basically nothing. With that said, I was leaning towards Stanford due to a preclinical curriculum that fit me more (basic science/ mechanisms) and for a smaller class size, although I did vibe much better with the UCSF crowd. For all the reasons you listed, I think you can get them at both institutions. At Stanford you have to work to get the underserved populations, through rotations at Santa Clara Valley hospitals. At UCSF, you have to work to have ppl care about you doing research (although they tout numerous research opportunities, Stanford almost expects their students to research versus not that many students end up researching at UCSF despite the amazing facilities). I think you should go to the one that leaves you in less debt, so it sounds like UCSF. With that said, SF is way better place to live than PA, and I hope that I can live there and commute in.

 

[Goobs]

I was in the same boat, but Stanford gave me max funding and UCSF gave me basically nothing. With that said, I was leaning towards Stanford due to a preclinical curriculum that fit me more (basic science/ mechanisms) and for a smaller class size, although I did vibe much better with the UCSF crowd. For all the reasons you listed, I think you can get them at both institutions. At Stanford you have to work to get the underserved populations, through rotations at Santa Clara Valley hospitals. At UCSF, you have to work to have ppl care about you doing research (although they tout numerous research opportunities, Stanford almost expects their students to research versus not that many students end up researching at UCSF despite the amazing facilities). I think you should go to the one that leaves you in less debt, so it sounds like UCSF. With that said, SF is way better place to live than PA, and I hope that I can live there and commute in.

What makes you say that SF is a way better place to live than PA? I jive with the whole suburban feel so I really like Palo Alto compared to the city. Granted I live in Palo Alto so maybe I'm a bit biased 😛

 

[wangers5270]

ucsf <3 😍😍😍😍

 

[doppelganger]

I would echo what others have expressed and say that clinical training is probably the key strength of UCSF if you compared it to Stanford. As a current student, I chose UCSF partly because I knew of how strong its residency programs were, and that come third year I would be learning from some of the very best interns/residents in the country. Add to that the greater patient diversity and easier access to the underserved, and you will have a clinical training experience that's pretty hard to beat. Research here is also phenomenal and is readily afforded to you if you want it, but the clinical strength + location is really what brought me here.

 

[An MD Hopeful]

I would echo what others have expressed and say that clinical training is probably the key strength of UCSF if you compared it to Stanford. As a current student, I chose UCSF partly because I knew of how strong its residency programs were, and that come third year I would be learning from some of the very best interns/residents in the country. Add to that the greater patient diversity and easier access to the underserved, and you will have a clinical training experience that's pretty hard to beat. Research here is also phenomenal and is readily afforded to you if you want it, but the clinical strength + location is really what brought me here.

What year are you in at UCSF? I'm just wondering if you have started clinical rotations yet.

 

[doppelganger]

What year are you in at UCSF? I'm just wondering if you have started clinical rotations yet.

First year, so nope, haven't started rotations yet. But I will add that my limited experience with residents so far through homeless clinic and shadowing has been amazing. Fourth years also say they've been very happy with the teaching on the wards.

 

[FACS444]

If finances/instate tuition aren't an issue, I think Stanford's the obvious choice. Having AOA/internal rankings at UCSF makes for a competitive environment and I've heard from numerous students at other schools how important it is to have a true P/F system. The resources and attention you'd get from a private school are just so much better than what you'd get from a public institution, especially considering the status of California's budget.

I'm still an MS-0 in the process of deciding, but was lucky enough to be accepted to both schools (although I probably won't attend either). If you want to discuss more feel free to PM me.

I'm currently a first year at UCSF, and we do NOT have internal rankings. The first two years are true P/F. The environment is, if anything, anti-competitive. Please don't say things unless you know they are true. Yes we have AOA, but this is entirely determined by your performance in third year. Additionally, the fact that UCSF is a public institution has no bearing whatsoever on mentoring opportunities or "attention" you will receive. I would argue we get even MORE mentoring because we are a purely health professions university. There are no undergrads, the entire focus is on training medical students.

 

[JJMrK]

Either will set you up nicely for a residency in CA in the specialty of your choice, should you perform well. I'd choose based on other factors: Where do you want to live for the next 4 years? Which students did you get along better with? If you had the option, which would you choose for residency?

Also, although this should be pretty low on your list, not having AOA is a disadvantage if you are interested in something competitive. Although it probably doesn't matter much either way.