UCSF vs. UCLA

[BearTeeth]

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I know it comes up every year and I'd just like to pose the question to SDN predents again. What are your thoughts wise ones? 🙂 Grazie!

 

[amcmahon]

Well they're both really good schools in cool cities so the question is more like "Do you like nice weather? Or do you like nice facilities?"

 

[hahadino2771]

UCLA has higher specialization rate b/c of stronger didactics
UCSF has more patient pool since UCLA is located in westwood, which is a rich town.
Which school title would you like to have on your diploma in your future clinic, UCSF or UCLA?
Both schools have P/NP system.

I know it comes up every year and I'd just like to pose the question to SDN predents again. What are your thoughts wise ones? 🙂 Grazie!

 

[JBieber]

Have the UC budget cuts affected the dental schools? If so, would it be enough to justify attending a private institution instead or some other state school?

 

[321931]

Have the UC budget cuts affected the dental schools? If so, would it be enough to justify attending a private institution instead or some other state school?

From word of mouth, I believe it may have. Got some friends at UCSF, and they wished they did some "things" that the private institutions did. To be honest, I can't recall what they said, but there are definately differences in a private vrs state education. Both are great schools- no doubt-; however, it is limited by funding.

Sorry for going off topic. To answer to OP question: are you a norcal or socal person? hehe

 

[UCSFDentistry]

This was a previous post recently. I posted this...

I'd Choose UCSF, but I might be biased, hence my tag.....I did do undergrad at UCLA. It was a great school. Always something to do and always GREAT weather. Not sure if that is something that would lure you in, but if your going to spend 4 years at a place no other school is as aesthetically pleasing on the outside. In terms of stats, UCSF placed 50% of their students in specialty programs last year and only one student didn't get the placement they wanted (the admissions office told me). If you take out AEGDs and GPRs then the percent changes to 25% specializing in such things as endo, perio, ortho, etc. Not sure about UCLA stats. If someone else can post those it would be great.
I picked UCSF because I always believed there was just something magical about the school. Cheezy I know. But, it just had a reputation that everyone talked about. Always thought I could change the world if I went there.

Hope this helps....good luck choosing 😀

 

[ucla06]

This was a previous post recently. I posted this...

I'd Choose UCSF, but I might be biased, hence my tag.....I did do undergrad at UCLA. It was a great school. Always something to do and always GREAT weather. Not sure if that is something that would lure you in, but if your going to spend 4 years at a place no other school is as aesthetically pleasing on the outside. In terms of stats, UCSF placed 50% of their students in specialty programs last year and only one student didn't get the placement they wanted (the admissions office told me). If you take out AEGDs and GPRs then the percent changes to 25% specializing in such things as endo, perio, ortho, etc. Not sure about UCLA stats. If someone else can post those it would be great.
I picked UCSF because I always believed there was just something magical about the school. Cheezy I know. But, it just had a reputation that everyone talked about. Always thought I could change the world if I went there.

Hope this helps....good luck choosing 😀

I recently finished at UCLA. Both are great schools with great names and will give you adequate training and opportunity to specialize. For some reason I feel like more people looking to specialize end up at UCLA (50% rate not including GPR/AEGD every year). I'm sure if more at UCSF wanted to specialize they could as well.

UCLA has a bad rep about the patient population but the rumors aren't true. There is no real shortage of patients. People in westwood and most of west LA go to private dentists...just like other places, people with no money come to dental schools for treatment. The clinic runs very efficiently and you will have your own chair to store all your stuff and you will be in that chair 90% of the time. Faculty on the clinic floor are mostly good.

Talking to some of the SF students I knew and those that were at UCLA for various externships I didn't get the best vibe about their school. UCLA is a much more chill environment when it comes to your 3rd and 4th year clinic time (we have plenty of requirements but I think the faculty just trusts you to get it done). I started laughing when the SF students told me they had a production requirement and that they needed to be in clinic everyday even if they didn't have a patient...but I guess it would keep some people from getting lazy.

Good luck on deciding. It really doesn't matter where you go to dental school.

 

[BearTeeth]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm originally from northern california so my family, friends and colleagues are all rooting for ucsf. I know both are great schools, I just don't know what to decide. I appreciate all of your help!

 

[brizlekizle]

In terms of stats, UCSF placed 50% of their students in specialty programs last year and only one student didn't get the placement they wanted (the admissions office told me). If you take out AEGDs and GPRs then the percent changes to 25% specializing in such things as endo, perio, ortho, etc. Not sure about UCLA stats. If someone else can post those it would be great.

When I interviewed at UCLA, adcom told us that around 70% specialize (and to break down that percentage, 40% go into pedo/ortho/endo/etc and 30% do a GPR/AEGD). What a high rate!

 

[PreDental88]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm originally from northern california so my family, friends and colleagues are all rooting for ucsf. I know both are great schools, I just don't know what to decide. I appreciate all of your help!

Have you decided on what school to attend? If so, what did you base your decision on?

Also, since you are from northern california, how is the quality of apartments in the areas surrounding the school?