UCSF vs UOP

Started by pearl50
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pearl50

Full Member
10+ Year Member
I am trying to decide between these two schools.
I am a CA resident. I am pretty sure I want to specialize.
I wanted to know more about UCSF and the clinical side of it and how the budget cuts are affecting the school.
Also I was wondering if it is more difficult to specialize out of UOP in comparison to UCSF.
Thanks so much!
 
pearl50 said:
I am trying to decide between these two schools.
I am a CA resident. I am pretty sure I want to specialize.
I wanted to know more about UCSF and the clinical side of it and how the budget cuts are affecting the school.
Also I was wondering if it is more difficult to specialize out of UOP in comparison to UCSF.
Thanks so much!
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UCSF has smarter students (but balanced with a pass/fail system...). UoP has a harder curriculum.

I'd say its easier to specialize out of UCSF.
 
I would pretty much focus on ANY THING but specializing at this step!
How do you know you are going to specialize so certainly.
For the hundredth time, dont strangle yourself for 4 years for the next step.
Look at the curriculum
Cost
Location
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....

...
...
..

If you turn out to be a good dentist, you will get into residency when the time comes.
 
I have few connections in both UoP and UCSF and the general trend that I observed was that UCSF's curriculum was much more academically intense and challenging compared to UoP's curriculum.

UoP offers good clinical training, but I don't doubt UCSF's clinical training is any worse since they produce many graduates who are confident enough to jump into private practices.

Also.. If you want to practice in the Bay Area after, I think UCSF would be better choice because UCSF network in Bay Area is very tight. Maybe that's why so many graduates get hired as associates right away.

UCSF receives more NIH funding than any other dental school in US, I would say if you are interested in research, UCSF would be better choice..

You give us almost no information about yourself and what you want so it's hard to say 🙂
 
sfoksn said:
I have few connections in both UoP and UCSF and the general trend that I observed was that UCSF's curriculum was much more academically intense and challenging compared to UoP's curriculum.

UoP offers good clinical training, but I don't doubt UCSF's clinical training is any worse since they produce many graduates who are confident enough to jump into private practices.

Also.. If you want to practice in the Bay Area after, I think UCSF would be better choice because UCSF network in Bay Area is very tight. Maybe that's why so many graduates get hired as associates right away.
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Generally some markedly equivocal points.

Whether or not you can enter private practice after graduating is unrelated to the clinical training you get in dental school. Clinical training is subjectively better at Pacific, given that you're almost unlimited in what advanced procedures you can learn as a student.

Additionally, UoP also has an incredibly strong Bay Area alumni network and graduates half again as many students as UC, strengthening it's net. Also, since a relatively high percentage of UC grads specialize as compared to Pacific, finding a Bay Area local GP who's a Pacific grad is likely going to be much easier.

You could also argue that, since UC is P/F, the rigor and intensity of the academic curriculum is reduced. Many people on this forum argue this as a benefit of UCSF.

As far as research, given that research is not a priority of most UoP students, it's remarkably easy to obtain significant roles in research projects taking place at the school.
 
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I don't post much on here but I in regards to UOP's curriculum not being as "academically intense and challenging" to me is complete nonsense, and I would say far from the truth being a current UOP student. I would argue that it is more intense and challenging due to the fact that you are taking significantly more units per quarter than other dental schools. So that alone makes it more challenging and I can guarantee if you are not someone that handles lots of pressure well and can manage his/her time impeccably then by all means go to UCSF because this will big the biggest determinant if you are gunning to specialize. My advice, go with what school you felt the best connection with (trust me only you can answer this), after all you are gonna be spending a lot of time there. As far as specializing, you are gonna hear this again and again, just get through your first year at UOP or two years at UCSF and ask yourself if after taking that kind of punishment academically you still want to specialize or are even competitive too. On a lighter note, congrats on having the choice to select from two great schools and if you head to UOP I look forward to meeting you in a few months and joining the Pacific family.
 
tennisrocker said:
I don't post much on here but I in regards to UOP's curriculum not being as "academically intense and challenging" to me is complete nonsense, and I would say far from the truth being a current UOP student. I would argue that it is more intense and challenging due to the fact that you are taking significantly more units per quarter than other dental schools. So that alone makes it more challenging and I can guarantee if you are not someone that handles lots of pressure well and can manage his/her time impeccably then by all means go to UCSF because this will big the biggest determinant if you are gunning to specialize. My advice, go with what school you felt the best connection with (trust me only you can answer this), after all you are gonna be spending a lot of time there. As far as specializing, you are gonna hear this again and again, just get through your first year at UOP or two years at UCSF and ask yourself if after taking that kind of punishment academically you still want to specialize or are even competitive too. On a lighter note, congrats on having the choice to select from two great schools and if you head to UOP I look forward to meeting you in a few months and joining the Pacific family.
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That's definitely not me.....I can handle pressure well but I am TERRIBLE at managing time after school. I am the type that NEED break here and there in order to keep my brain functioning.
 
handles lots of pressure well and can manage his/her time impeccably
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+1 It really is hugely important. If you can't manage your time effectively you're going to fall behind in either lab or didactics.
 
OP, where did you end up going? UOP? If so, can you tell me why?

I also wanted to bump this thread because no one answered as to how UCSF budget cuts have been/might have been affecting the program.

I'm currently debating UOP and UCSF in case I get off the UOP waitlist and into the program (currently accepted into UCSF, waitlisted at UOP in the top quartile). I think both schools are great, but from personal experience at the interviews, I felt I was treated much better at UOP--and that's a big reason as to why I'm still keeping my options open in case I get off UOP's waitlist. I could go into more detail if anyone's curious about why I feel that way.
 
dailygood said:
OP, where did you end up going? UOP? If so, can you tell me why?

I also wanted to bump this thread because no one answered as to how UCSF budget cuts have been/might have been affecting the program.

I'm currently debating UOP and UCSF in case I get off the UOP waitlist and into the program (currently accepted into UCSF, waitlisted at UOP in the top quartile). I think both schools are great, but from personal experience at the interviews, I felt I was treated much better at UOP--and that's a big reason as to why I'm still keeping my options open in case I get off UOP's waitlist. I could go into more detail if anyone's curious about why I feel that way.
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u do realize applicants are treated much better on interview days because they want you to go to their school, right? Schools put on a front to look at all nice to persuade applicants to choose their school. Don't choose a school based on what experience u have had on your interview day....

I have heard UOP has students that doesn't seem happy so take that into consideration... (if u researched on this forum)
 
dailygood said:
OP, where did you end up going? UOP? If so, can you tell me why?

I also wanted to bump this thread because no one answered as to how UCSF budget cuts have been/might have been affecting the program.

I'm currently debating UOP and UCSF in case I get off the UOP waitlist and into the program (currently accepted into UCSF, waitlisted at UOP in the top quartile). I think both schools are great, but from personal experience at the interviews, I felt I was treated much better at UOP--and that's a big reason as to why I'm still keeping my options open in case I get off UOP's waitlist. I could go into more detail if anyone's curious about why I feel that way.
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I don't know. I was less concerned about how the school treated me, which was very pleasant by the way, and more concerned about how much I aligned with the school's value of and achievements in both research and service. As you could probably tell from their facebook group, your classmates are extremely accomplished and are likely to be very passionate about dentistry. I would try to be more rational about this decision and de-emphasize feelings by looking at things you can measure like cost-of-attendance and program strengths. I really wanted to pursue interests beyond the clinical setting and I was really hoping to get involved in activities ranging from their unique, one-of-a-kind research (I really mean "unique" because you can't find some the same projects belonging to UCSF at other schools) to their student newspaper. Unfortunately, I underestimated the significance of costs when I sent my deposit and I ultimately chose my state school instead. It was going to be over a $140,000 difference. If I were you, I would first determine what monetary threshold I would have for choosing the more expensive school and then calculate the difference between UCSF and UoP. If the difference is more than this threshold, you pick the more affordable school, vice-versa.

I think cost-of-attendance should be your number one concern. Your tuition is very likely going to go up but I think the chancellor is trying to secure funds to offset the tuition hikes. Only 1% of UCSF's revenue comes from tuition. Another 5% comes from state funding. That's very small compared to many other schools.

http://www.jdentaled.org/content/72/12/1516.long

http://www.jdentaled.org/content/66/8/918.full.pdf

Good luck! If I were in your position, I'd choose UCSF. Don't expect the OP to respond because this thread is relatively old.
 

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