Ucsf?

[cali1]

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Hello all,

This question is for UCSF students or other students who know about UCSF's program. I've heard that UCSF is a relatively good school for specializing, and that they are big into research. However, I've also heard that they are very much a survivial school where the dental students are pretty much thrown into the program without much help. Is this true?
Also, how is the clinical program? I've heard that they might not be the best school if you want to be a great general practioner right out of school. Many students have to do a residency to get enough clinical experience. Is that true also?
Any information would be helpful from anyone who knows a thing or two about UCSF's program.

 

[Henna]

UCSF is a good school if you want to specialize, its one of the best if you are interested in research. Dental program is excellent, some of the prof's here are world renowned .
Clinical exposure is good but slow. The amount of work you do depends on your pt pool, since medi-cal has cut down the amount of treatment you can do on welfare pt's it sometimes becomes tough and stressful. That's where I am at right now & its not fun !

 

[tinker bell]

All the clinical myth about UCSF is not truth.

UCSF is excellent in all aspects. Research is of course no argument about it (#1 in NIH funding for 12 yrs consecutively)

Clinically, UCSF has one of the most busy clinic in the state of CA. We treat about 144,000 medical patients/yr. And that number is second in CA, only after Loma Linda. We have sattelite clinics across the state of CA (from Eureka to San Diego)

Profs here are world renown. And students are cream of the crop. It's one of the most difficult school to get in. In general, any school in CA is hard to get in. And the two state schools are harder than the three private schools because of the education quality and the costs. To verify this, go to the official acceptance thread and see how many people on this board have gotten in so far.

I do not believe that people have to do residency because they are not good after graduation to run their own practice or work as an associate. Usually, a regular number that ppl go into specialty is about 20%. GPR depends on each year. But more than half of the class go out to work in private settings.

UCSF is fun and promote learning. We are very competitive and try hard to stay on the top of the nation. Tests are above the difficulty of NDBE I level for students benefit.

I love it here, as my Fall quarter comes to an end.

Do not worry about the school yet. The first part is to get in. Then, if you have a choice, worry about the decision.

 

[StarGirl]

Originally posted by tinker bell
In general, any school in CA is hard to get in. And the two state schools are harder than the three private schools because of the education quality and the costs. To verify this, go to the official acceptance thread and see how many people on this board have gotten in so far.

this is probably because the two UC schools are also the slowest in the admissions process....

Tinkerbell... i'm curious what's the average board score at ucsf typically? It seems like they don't like to disclose this info...and I'm curious why they wouldn't... so maybe you'll know...

and from what i've heard from multiple people that not many students at SF (ucsf and uop) go onto specializing... maybe you can enlighten us on this w/ numbers/percentages etc.

 

[tinker bell]

I do not know about board scores at UCSF, or I couldn't even care less to find out.

I am the kind of person who knows myself. I just know that I will study and try to get above 90, so not to embarass myself. I do not want to look at other class performances and foretell my performance (Even Wall St advises not to do that). In general, a B at UCSF translate to 90 on NDBE1. I have asked many seniors and juniors, and that's what they told me. (For ex, they got a B in anatomy, and 92 on the board, a B in dental occlusion and 90 on the board----This is referring to the last July NDBE1)

I'm certain that our professors and curricullum prepare us well. Just the matter whether students want to study or not.
If they want to specialize, or there are a lots of pressure on them, they will study. Otherwise, they do not care as long as they pass.

As far as specializing goes, I do not really look into that yet. First, I do not plan to specialize. Second, I think ppl who wants to specialize will get in. The number varies from year to year. For instance, the class of 1987 had 14 ppl went into ortho. This year only 4-5 apply to ortho. If people want to go to specialty, they apply, they will most get in. Because the name UCSF carries a little weight and it works magically. However, some years, we have class that parties and cares more about life than specializing. Nobody really knows the answer to that question.

I guess that my class will have lots of people go into specialty. Because the mean for all of our tests are all in high 80 or 90. Histology, the mean is always above 90. And let me tell you guys, none of our classes are easy. It's tough business here, but my classmates do well any how.

Our school does not use board scores to advertise for ourselves. However, admissions to UCSF is always one of the toughest to get, because ppl know that we are good.

And this year, we are not slow in the admissions process. We have interviewed more than 130 students, and they probably fill half of the class already. I am surprised to see that only one on this board got accepted so far.

 

[StarGirl]

i too don't really care about the averages and such... but am always amazed at people that does extremely well... but it's just fascinating that ucsf of all schools have not released their scores....

"Our school does not use board scores to advertise for ourselves. However, admissions to UCSF is always one of the toughest to get, because ppl know that we are good."
I don't think UCSF needs to use the board scores because most Californians would perfer staying instate NO matter what... and there are plenty of them to fill up all 5 schools. Plus, giving the Name UCSF (if you ever checked it is one of the top Med schools in clinic and research) carries a lot of weight. But at the same time, everyone "seems to claim they're the top" on the board scores...
1. Havard
2. UCLA/UConn
3. UCLA/UConn
4.5. Columbia(i just know we're top 5 just about every yr)/UConn/another school

This was where I became really confused when I interviewed...every school claimed they were at the "top". Just curious as to where UCSF fits in....

i can't imagine getting a 90 on the boards to be too difficult for most students from schools that have already selected from the top of the applicant pool...(ucsf being one of them).

i don't think that any school gives "easy" exams.... even if you were going to the "easiest" school, i'll bet the exams will still be hard and somewhat stressful... we're at the point where all the "easy" stuff should already be drilled into our heads... (and unfortunately it's not true for me...)

 

[tinker bell]

Very truth, when I interviewed at other schools, I remember they talked about their board scores. Here, we never mention about board scores at interview or any official events. I looked briefly at old board exams, they are not that bad. I guess the stress add on.

However, if you ever figure why a B student get 90. It's not hard to do so. Depends on studying style. Lots of students have 3.0 average scores the DAT above 21 (which is 92-94%). So, if your school leaves lots of time for you to prepare for the board, you will do well.

Some schools like ucsf, case western, etc...have clinic until 2 days b4 the exam, and their students don't scores as high as it should be. There is no mystery about the boards, you study a lot, you will score well.
I believe that all schools give hard exams, so, everyone should know all of those materials. If they have time to stuff those in their heads, they will score very, very well.

Does anyone talk about Nova board scores? Yah-E just took the test after his first year, and got a well respected 90. The problem is not the school, it's the time and your study skills.