UCSF vs. UCSD

[MD2024_HealthAdvocate]

I've been struggling to decide between UCSF and UCSD for the last couple of weeks. I'm so glad I have these two options, but without in-person Second Look events, I can't get as good of a feel of where I can see myself being the most happy as it would be with an in-person visit. I'm an underrepresented, non-traditional student from a small town in New Mexico and I really care for a learning environment that is diverse (in every sense from racial, socioeconomic, personal interests, etc.), close-knit, and provides unique research experiences as well as clinical experiences with underserved, vulnerable populations. I also prioritize learning from faculty and learning with classmates that are passionate about reducing health disparities, as that's my main motivation for choosing to enter the field of medicine.

I'm currently interested in internal medicine and pediatrics and maybe going into an oncology fellowship afterward. I would also like to work as a clinician investigator involved in cancer research (both basic and clinical research).

UCSF
Expected COA for 4 years ~170K (after need-based grant)

Pros

• 1.5 years pre-clinical curriculum
• Prestige in medicine and connections for residency
• Availability of funding for research experiences and global health opportunities
• Enjoyed interview day and I was pleasantly surprised to be contacted post-acceptance by both interviewers and other current medical students
• San Francisco seems like a nice city with good weather (although a bit cooler than I'm used to)
• Multiple clinical training sites throughout the city and Bay area
• True P/F for both pre-clinical and clerkships and focus on clinical problem solving rather than on teaching to the STEP 1 exam during pre-clinical curriculum (a bigger pro now that STEP 1 is becoming P/F)
• Student diversity seems to be quite high compared to other T20 medical schools
• Highly ranked in primary care as well
• Long-term serving school of medicine leadership and staff

Cons

• Housing is expensive, even on-campus housing, which is currently only guaranteed for 2 years.
• Most on-campus housing is a 30-minute shuttle ride from the main campus where the pre-clinical curriculum is largely taught (although shuttle is free)
• Parking is scarce and expensive. I'd probably forgo keeping my car, which would be inconvenient for groceries, road trips, etc.
• Longer distance from home

UCSD
Expected COA for 4 years ~140K (after need-based grant)

Pros

• Closer to home (10 hours versus 15 hours)
• Very large Free Clinic
• Near border with Mexico with a free clinic opportunity in Tijuana, MX.
• Since I live near the US-Mexico border and my intentions are to practice in this region of the country after training, it would be a great learning experience to study medicine in a different city near the US-Mexico border that I'm not familiar with.
• Many new graduate housing buildings and very reasonably priced and within walking distance to both the school and clinical training sites.
• Extensive and free car parking
• Warm and sunny weather year-round
• Opportunities available from being located and connected to an undergraduate campus
• Facilities (academic, research, and clinical) are very nice and modern
• Relatives in the area

Cons

• Not as prestigious in medicine as UCSF
• Recent changes in school of medicine leadership
• Student body does not seem to be as diverse

Your honest input and advice on my choice at hand would be greatly appreciated.

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[marcosma]

I think both schools will give you exposure to underserved populations in medicine. Of the top top schools, UCSF is the most known for that. I don’t think you’d have any issue post UCSF moving to the Mexican-American border and practicing medicine. Ultimately, I think the UCSF name will take you anywhere you’d want to go!

Also, I know students at both and the ones at UCSF seem to LOVE LOVE it and the ones at UCSD gripe about administration not listening to them. Also, I thought UCSD’s interview day was a bit messy and impersonal.

If I were in your position, I’d fork over the extra 30k for UCSF. Also, take into consideration that those numbers for you include cost of living (right?) so you don’t even need to list that as a UCSF con... because that’s the extra 30k or so that you’re paying!

 

[m1redsox]

I would choose UCSF because it is clearly the better program, and it is world-renowned for its social justice work and work with the underserved. It is also more prestigious—which only matters to you because their match list is so incredible. Just because UCSD is a negligible distance closer to home and has a small COL difference does not mean it makes more sense. I think the benefits of UCSF far outweigh its cons. Additionally, I found a current UCSD student who had this to say about it. It’s something to consider.

I am a current 3rd year medical student at UCSD and my advice is to RUN! DO NOT GO to UCSD Medical School. The administration had a complete turnover two years ago and the new administration is incredibly incompetent. Communication with students is poor and all online systems such as course sites and enrollment are buggy. The only information I received regarding taking Step 1 was from a third party company the school brought in for a lunch talk trying to sell me a learning package. It also has some of the most malignant residencies and most of the residents I've worked with here are miserable.

 

[Engrailed]

UCSF!

 

[MD2024_HealthAdvocate]

UCSF!

Thanks for your input. Any specific reasons that make you lean more toward UCSF than UCSD? I appreciate it.

 

[MD2024_HealthAdvocate]

I think both schools will give you exposure to underserved populations in medicine. Of the top top schools, UCSF is the most known for that. I don’t think you’d have any issue post UCSF moving to the Mexican-American border and practicing medicine. Ultimately, I think the UCSF name will take you anywhere you’d want to go!

Also, I know students at both and the ones at UCSF seem to LOVE LOVE it and the ones at UCSD gripe about administration not listening to them. Also, I thought UCSD’s interview day was a bit messy and impersonal.

If I were in your position, I’d fork over the extra 30k for UCSF. Also, take into consideration that those numbers for you include cost of living (right?) so you don’t even need to list that as a UCSF con... because that’s the extra 30k or so that you’re paying!

Thanks for your input.

Yes, the dollar figures include cost of living. Believe me, I've been comparing the budgets of both schools on a spreadsheet, lol.

 

[Engrailed]

Thanks for your input. Any specific reasons that make you lean more toward UCSF than UCSD? I appreciate it.

UCSF is a renowned med school. Both are in cali so neither has a regional advantage for where you’d want to match/be closer to family-type reasons. In medicine, UCSF will be able to open many doors for you.

The cost difference is negligible here. Unless you have a burning desire to go to UCSD for some reason, take UCSF and dont look back. Congrats on your As!

 

[deleted894256]

I’d take a look at some of the clinical electives at UCSF—they have sooo many options. They have some serving migrant farm workers in Fresno, doing mobile rural prenatal care in the Central Valley, rotating in Yosemite doing wilderness medicine etc. There are going to be tons of opportunities to work with rural populations and recent immigrants, in resource-limited settings at UCSF, which while different than working on the border, will definitely give you an idea of what it’s like to be a doctor in a rural area. Most at UCSF do some clerkships in Fresno or at SFGH (safety net hospital).

UCSD itself is in kind of a swanky area— I’m not super familiar with the hospitals but I do think you may have less of a culture of activism at UCSD. That SD weather is amazing tho...probably more like what you’re used to in NM, and SD (although not really La Jolla $$$) will be cheaper and more car friendly! Your happiness outside of school is important too, and SD is arguably an easier place to live. 🙂 good luck!

 

[deleted688779]

UCSF will open so many doors for you, I’d argue even doors that you didn’t know exist.

 

[EnterpriseStar]

Both UCSF and UCSD will get you anywhere you want to go, esp. if you're leaning towards IM atm.

"Since I live near the US-Mexico border and my intentions are to practice in this region of the country after training, it would be a great learning experience to study medicine in a different city near the US-Mexico border that I'm not familiar with."

--> studying in an area with demographics similar to where you ultimately would want to practice would weigh extremely high in my personal ranking, tbh. For this reason alone, if I were you, I'd lean towards UCSD.

Additionally, don't discount the value of a local family support network!

Ultimately, medical school is a means towards an end. Choose the place where you would be happiest and thrive 🙂

 

[imbesrs]

SF

 

[MD2024_HealthAdvocate]

Thanks for your feedback. After much deliberation, and waiting until the last day to make a decision, I've chosen UCSF. I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life and inching toward my ultimate goal of being able to make a difference in reducing health disparities by becoming a doctor.