UCSF vs UW...

[Bito42]

Hey everyone! congratulations on all your hard efforts througout this crazy process!!

I need some advice:

I got into UCSF, but I have an interview for University of Washington (the WWAMI program) in February. Both of obviously great schools, and I would get in-state tuition at both (because of the WICHE/WWAMI programs). I'm interested in primary care, public health, international work, community clinics, and a diverse patient population. I'm tempted to just skip the UW interview, 'cause I get the sense that UCSF has a better overall reputation. Agree/disagree? Any advice??

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[MedicineBird]

Hey everyone! congratulations on all your hard efforts througout this crazy process!!

I need some advice:

I got into UCSF, but I have an interview for University of Washington (the WWAMI program) in February. Both of obviously great schools, and I would get in-state tuition at both (because of the WICHE/WWAMI programs). I'm interested in primary care, public health, international work, community clinics, and a diverse patient population. I'm tempted to just skip the UW interview, 'cause I get the sense that UCSF has a better overall reputation. Agree/disagree? Any advice??

I am a little biased because I too am a WWAMI applicant buuuttt.. since you already have an acceptance to an amazing school with a wonderfully diverse patient population I would cash in my chips with that -- especially since it seems you already seem to be very happy with a very wonderful acceptance. I would save my money and buy yourself a pat on the back present.

 

[DrDarwin]

Hey everyone! congratulations on all your hard efforts througout this crazy process!!

I need some advice:

I got into UCSF, but I have an interview for University of Washington (the WWAMI program) in February. Both of obviously great schools, and I would get in-state tuition at both (because of the WICHE/WWAMI programs). I'm interested in primary care, public health, international work, community clinics, and a diverse patient population. I'm tempted to just skip the UW interview, 'cause I get the sense that UCSF has a better overall reputation. Agree/disagree? Any advice??

Congratulations 👍. UCSF would undoubtedly be great, but I would probably attend the UW interview unless (1) I were absolutely certain I would attend UCSF or (2) it would cause me extreme financial hardship. If you live/study in the NW, though, you should be able to get to UW quite easily and cheaply. Isn't UW supposedly tops in the nation for primary care? Something to consider... 😉

 

[automaton]

UCSF all the way.

you can't go wrong with san francisco for a diverse patient population. the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor live there. there's a lot of ethnic diversity. public health, especially regarding AIDS and the homeless are basically second to none. it's really a progressive environment, and i think given your interests, you should definitely choose UCSF.

 

[MadameLULU]

UW has an excellent public health program

 

[Sarikate]

Congratulations on UCSF! That's awesome...I wonder if you've already made up your mind, from the tone of your post!? I've got nothing but love for UW, being a fellow WWAMIer, but listen to your gut - you'll make the right decision.

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

I'm interested in primary care, public health, international work, community clinics, and a diverse patient population.

I'm a 1st year at UW, so I'll chime in with my advice.

From the first day you walk into the UW as a medical student, you're gently nudged towards primary care. You can do whatever you want, including high powered resarch, but doing primary care (IMO) is the path of least resistance here. Probably half of your classmates will end up going into primary care, so you'll feel right at home.

The strength of the UW is in its community clinics. When you're doing rotations during your clinical years, you have the option of taking them (basically) anywhere within the WWAMI region. So you can do your family medicine clerkship in rural Alaska, and then come back to do an intense ER clerkship in Seattle. It's your choice.

Regarding international work and more, this page of information might be of interest to you:
UW Service Learning Opportunities

My advice? Unless it is really expensive or time consuming to do so, go to the UW interview. You'll have little to lose and will be able to make a better decision then.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

[bbaek]

go for both if possible. then decide.

if not, ucsf is definitely a great school 😀

and also...

can you tell me what your gpa and mcat scores were when you applied? and also what school you went to? that would be very helpful to those who want to succeed into getting into such a school and so know where to aim for... thanks a lot and congratulations for getting into ucsf! 👍

 

[PhotoMD]

I'd have to say you're not going to find a better school than UW, though I might be a little biased. Still, to do research, UW gets more money than any other public med school, and the travel opportunities truly are unparalleled. They are both tier-1 schools, and UCSF definitely has a better reputation among undergraduates, but, according to unnamed medical school professors, in the medical field they are both at the top.

 

[Shaz]

If you're looking for reputation outside the medical community, you'd be hard pressed to find that at either school. frankly, before this application process, i didn't even know UCSF existed, and all i knew about UW was that neuheisal coached football there. however, it looks to me that uw is pretty well rounded in terms of primary care and research, but i bet that UCSF has a much better faculty.

 

[Uegis]

frankly, before this application process, i didn't even know UCSF existed

For a med school applicant from out of CA, that is not too surprising. But within the medical and academic community, UCSF is known for being a prestigious educational and research institute. When you apply to residency and get a job in the future, people are going to know how top-notch UCSF is. No worries there. UW might have a more mass appeal because of their ugrad institution and div-1 sports teams. If it was up to me, I would not pass up on the chance to go to school in SF and see highly diverse patients at both UCSF and SF General, unless I wanted to do rural medicine or strictly primary care. Then UW might be a better choice.

 

[Bito42]

wow! i'm impressed and grateful for the responses. 🙂 Thank you so much...it's really helpful to hear all the perspectives. i think i may end up choosing UCSF--mostly because of diversity and greater opportunities to stay in california post-med school. but i still have some time so i'll keep an eye out for other advice and listen to my gut over the next month or so.

bbaek, i would love to help in any way--my GPA is 3.8 and my MCAT was 31S. I went to an Ivy League school. So GPA and school-wise, i think that helped, but my MCAT's were not super-high. I also did quite a few extra-curriculars and am working in public health for 1 year between undergrad and med school. hope that helps!

 

[brs23]

Bito--come to UCSF w/ me! I'm outta state too, and interested in all the same things as you. I get the sense that UCSF is less primary care oriented, but still more pc oriented than all the other top "research" schools (they're the only two schools that are in the top 10 or so for both usnews rankings, not that that means much...) I was interested in UW too...but they rejected my out of state a$$ without even a secondary...so I'm biased...but I really think that UCSF is an amazing place...so come

 

[Bito42]

Bito--come to UCSF w/ me! I'm outta state too, and interested in all the same things as you. I get the sense that UCSF is less primary care oriented, but still more pc oriented than all the other top "research" schools (they're the only two schools that are in the top 10 or so for both usnews rankings, not that that means much...) I was interested in UW too...but they rejected my out of state a$$ without even a secondary...so I'm biased...but I really think that UCSF is an amazing place...so come

brs-
Yeah, I think I will! I've put some thought into it--and mostly intuition--and I really think that UCSF if a better place for me overall. I think many the community opportunities are unbeatable (like the infectious disease work, homeless clinics, hospitals, etc.). Are you pretty much set on it, or waiting for other responses?
-bito