UCSF vs. UCSD?

[gruniongal]

So, I applied to UCSF and UCSD and everyone keeps asking me which one I would choose if I am accepted to both schools. I like both, so I'm not sure....

I know that this has been discussed before, but I was hoping to hear some opinions from some of this year's applicants and students.

I like UCSF's pathway curriculum and its reputation. But I like UCSD's campus, small class sizes, and its proximity to pharmaceutical companies, which I am interested in.

Any thoughts?

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[boxdesker]

So, I applied to UCSF and UCSD and everyone keeps asking me which one I would choose if I am accepted to both schools. I like both, so I'm not sure....

I know that this has been discussed before, but I was hoping to hear some opinions from some of this year's applicants and students.

I like UCSF's pathway curriculum and its reputation. But I like UCSD's campus, small class sizes, and its proximity to pharmaceutical companies, which I am interested in.

Any thoughts?

I applied to both, interviewed at both. Let's just hope that we'll be lucky enough to have to make this "difficult" decision. UCSD has classes with medical students (gross anatomy), but UCSF requires a lot of stupid unnecessary classes (physical chemistry). UCSD has a pass/fail system that reduces competition/stress, but then again passing rate is pretty high (you have to get an 80% or 90%)--and if you want to compete for a residency you'd have to show you are capable through other means (i.e. extracurriculars). UCSF you're close to a sweet city, but UCSD you get better weather. UCSF is #1 pharmacy school in the nation, but you can probably get an equally impressive job/residency graduating from UCSD. I'm torn between the two also, and I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope I have to make this tough decision. My poor performance at both interviews makes this highly doubtful though.

 

[Gosondth]

Physical chemistry is also taught winter quarter of the first year at UCSD.

Gross anatomy and histology are taught by the medical school faculty, but the class is only pharmacy students.

The classes where medical students and pharmacy students share a class are: CBB (Cell Biology & Biochemistry), OP (Organ Physiology), ERM (endocrinology, reproduction, & metabolism), POP (Principles of Pharmacology), and microbio.

 

[BMBiology]

i got accepted to UCSD a while back but I chose USC. Not sure if I regreted the decision but I have not heard much inputs from its current students.

 

[mmafan]

Hey BMBiology,

I just want to say you're an asset to the pharmacy profession. I went through the entire HICP thread, and I think you're awesome! 👍

 

[confettiflyer]

I love San Diego as a city, but being from the bay area, I love SF as well. Two totally different styles of city, but they both mirror each other in many ways. Many people say SD is like SF with a Southern California spin (weather, etc...)

Between the two I would choose UCSF for prestige and the fact that I like the big city (even though, to me, SF is small... 49 square miles!). If you're more into beachy/suburb type living...go to UC La Jolla.

 

[gruniongal]

Thanks for the input everyone 🙂

 

[gruniongal]

Now that acceptances are starting to come in...any new thoughts on this issue?

 

[thaliagoo]

This is a touchy subject. We have people here from both schools and each are entitled to their own opinion. I'm obviously biased but I know of two friends, my classmate at UCSF and her sister at UCSD and all three of us have a concurring opinion on which school is better (a very strong opinion at that!).

The best way to put it is: a rich kid with lack of attention from his parents (UCSD) or a poor kid with loving parents (UCSF). UCSD has great facilities, hands down. They brag in their interview that you will take classes with med students like it's a good thing. It's because their school of pharmacy is so understaffed. You will take classes with med students and learn things you don't need to know (ie what region of the brain is associated with so and so disorder) and they won't even have time to talk about the drugs! The profs totally ignore the pharmacy students and talk like "as physicians, you will be ...." Did I mention that UCSD students have to take an extra quarter of classes?

I can't say enough good things about UCSF. The faculty is so nice here. I have opportunities here that I would not have anywhere else. I am very grateful to be where I am!

You mention pharmaceutical companies? There are TONS of biotech companies in the Bay Area: Genentech, Gilead, Exelexis, and tons of small start-ups. You can rotate at Gilead and I've seen Genentech come to recruit PharmD for fellowships. Small class sizes? I'm in my Pharm Sci pathway classes and they range from 13-30 students. I've been matched with an clinical faculty member who serves as my advisor and who I talk to every quarter and gives me career advice. Now that's personal attention.

 

[MRSA Sucks]

I'm a UCSD undergrad and a native San Diegan so if anybody has questions about San Diego, please ask.

Why is it a pro that you get to take classes with the med students at UCSD?

I would definitely choose UCSF if I was in that unbelievable situation. La Jolla is pretty boring and is nothing compared to the city life of S.F. UCSF's program is much more established than UCSD.

Also, the rumors of UCSD students being sad at UCSD are somewhat true. I have friends who attend Skaggs and wish they went to another school like USC. However, if you don't mine a real antisocial environment in a dead part of town, then you'll be fine at UCSD.

I love San Diego as a city, but being from the bay area, I love SF as well. Two totally different styles of city, but they both mirror each other in many ways. Many people say SD is like SF with a Southern California spin (weather, etc...)

No way. San Diego is one of the most conservative cities while S.F. is probably the most liberal city in the nation. San Diego is a quiet, navy town while S.F. is vibrant and full of life. No similarities between the two for the most part.

 

[Transformer]

UCSF would be my choice.

For me, the best pharmacy school or one of the best pharmacy schools in the nation is hard to pass up on.

good luck on your decisions...

 

[confettiflyer]

No way. San Diego is one of the most conservative cities while S.F. is probably the most liberal city in the nation. San Diego is a quiet, navy town while S.F. is vibrant and full of life. No similarities between the two for the most part.

Oh I know this...politics aside, I've found that SD takes elements from the bay area in how much more laid back and "real" it is vs. the "fakery" of OC (did i just invent a new word?)

I guess what I'm trying to say is...SF and SD are like siblings, not exactly the same...but you can tell they're related in a lot of ways.

This is a bit hard to describe, it's just the "feeling" i get after living/spending lots of time in OC, SD, and SF.

edit: in honor of this thread i'm changing my sig temporarily, haha.

 

[MRSA Sucks]

Oh I know this...politics aside, I've found that SD takes elements from the bay area in how much more laid back and "real" it is vs. the "fakery" of OC (did i just invent a new word?)

I guess what I'm trying to say is...SF and SD are like siblings, not exactly the same...but you can tell they're related in a lot of ways.

This is a bit hard to describe, it's just the "feeling" i get after living/spending lots of time in OC, SD, and SF.

edit: in honor of this thread i'm changing my sig temporarily, haha.

Hi confettiflyer,

I totally understand. My dream is to live in S.F. Are you a Pharm. student at UCSD?

 

[confettiflyer]

Hi confettiflyer,

I totally understand. My dream is to live in S.F. Are you a Pharm. student at UCSD?

Oh no, I had to go out of state...didn't have the GPA to get into the established programs I wanted (and didn't want to deal with the riff-raff at CNCP, and Touro didn't appeal to me).

I was raised in the bay area, went to undergrad in OC, post-graduate randomness at SDSU while working in real estate during the boom years. I've been all over the place.

SF is nice but damn expensive...too much BS to deal with IMO. I would rather live in the suburbs and scoot in via BART if I really wanted to for Giants games or something. Then again, I'm biased toward the suburbs (see post above about La Jolla). It's boring, but I like boring...cuz I'm a boring guy. hahah

 

[MRSA Sucks]

Oh no, I had to go out of state...didn't have the GPA to get into the established programs I wanted (and didn't want to deal with the riff-raff at CNCP, and Touro didn't appeal to me).

I was raised in the bay area, went to undergrad in OC, post-graduate randomness at SDSU while working in real estate during the boom years. I've been all over the place.

SF is nice but damn expensive...too much BS to deal with IMO. I would rather live in the suburbs and scoot in via BART if I really wanted to for Giants games or something. Then again, I'm biased toward the suburbs (see post above about La Jolla). It's boring, but I like boring...cuz I'm a boring guy. hahah

May I ask which pharm. school you're attending? I don't think I will have the GPA for the established institutions as well. Thanks.

 

[confettiflyer]

May I ask which pharm. school you're attending? I don't think I will have the GPA for the established institutions as well. Thanks.

Jefferson in Philadelphia...new program, but I did my research and it'll serve me well. You might have missed the "lower GPA boat" since the # of apps we got this year was double our inaugural year, so understandably standards probably went up.

 

[NocturneGminor]

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[thaliagoo]

Thank you for sharing your thought about UCSF and UCSD. I am sure both schools will produce great doctors of pharmacy.

However, I am very happy to know that an UCSF student, like you are happy, motivated, and satisfied in your current program.

I think it is important to be in an institution that makes their students competent, confident, and passionate! I think I made a right choice!

Yes, there will be great people everywhere and vice versa. I'm sure you can find very smart people at Touro and not so smart people at UCSF (sometimes I think I'm that person, lol) so I never judge a person by where they go to school. Actions speak louder than school reputation.

I actually prefer San Diego area over Bay Area. Maybe when I'm young SF is ok, but I don't really know if I want to live here. I guess I could commute or something if I'm lucky enough to find a job at UCSF after I graduate. I'd love to live in SD tho.