University of Spoiled Children (Keck)

[Tropicana100]

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I was browsing through Keck USC's website and found this blurb about their vision:

By 2010, the Keck School of Medicine will rank among the top private research medical schools. This will be achieved through groundbreaking discoveries in basic science and clinical research targeted to prevent and relieve human suffering and enrich the human mind and spirit. Excellence in the School’s education of the next generation of academic clinicians and basic scientists. The delivery of advanced university-level patient care, measured by breakthroughs that fundamentally change the practice of medicine, will be the fruit of success in the School’s patient care mission and will secure its reputation for excellence. Many see the 21st Century as the golden age of biomedical research. The Keck School will position USC for leadership at the dawn of this new era.

Is it really true that Keck will top the rankings in a few years?

 

[Mbekweni]

So long as their football team keeps playing well.

USC has a lot of money throughout the school, and is really growing in a lot of departments. I don't see them catching Harvard any time soon, but who knows? Stanford wasn't so much of a top school 50 years ago, and has come a long way since, so there's always room for improvements.

 

[armybound]

it's their vision. doesn't always work out that way.

 

[Davjc2009]

it's their vision. doesn't always work out that way.

My vision is a 42 on my MCAT... but i'm dyslexic so it'll probably end up a 24....

 

[caprisun]

My vision is a 42 on my MCAT... but i'm dyslexic so it'll probably end up a 24....

hahahaha that's a good one.

 

[Tropicana100]

Seems like they're making a big effort to expand. they're boasting about awards, rankings, and changing the med school curriculum. Is it just me or do they seem kinda braggy?

 

[armybound]

Seems like they're making a big effort to expand. they're boasting about awards, rankings, and changing the med school curriculum. Is it just me or do they seem kinda braggy?

everyone at USC is braggy 🙂

 

[trichomoniasis]

Is it really true that Keck will top the rankings in a few years?

that's a pretty silly question, like anyone here could have an answer for you.

what I can tell you, though, is that if you ever visit Keck and speak to any deans or other administrators, you'll see very clearly they believe every word of what they say. They really believe in what they're doing, and as a prospective student you can either be part of that or not.

fwiw, I'm completely sold 👍

 

[Tropicana100]

that's a pretty silly question, like anyone here could have an answer for you.

what I can tell you, though, is that if you ever visit Keck and speak to any deans or other administrators, you'll see very clearly they believe every word of what they say. They really believe in what they're doing, and as a prospective student you can either be part of that or not.

fwiw, I'm completely sold 👍

Have you talked to them? What are they doing exactly to get their rankings up?

p.s. prospective students can't do much to help their rankings. unless they attract the most qualified candidates into med school and somehow keep them around long enough through residency/fellowships.

 

[newmedstudent]

USC will not be anywhere near the top 20 in a few years. They will Always live in UCLA's shadow.

 

[notdeadyet]

Is it really true that Keck will top the rankings in a few years?

The best indicator for where a school will be in 10 years is to look back on what they've done the last 10. If they're rocketing up in the rankings over the past 10 years, it may continue. If they've stayed in neutral in the middle somewhere, they'll probably stay in the neutral for 10 more.

 

[trichomoniasis]

USC will not be anywhere near the top 20 in a few years.

this is probably true. US News rankings are fairly solid and any major movement takes time. The main components of the USNews ranking are research money, stats, and reputation. Keck is definitely growing in terms of research funding every year, so that helps. Keck's stats (mcat/gpa) increase every year and they can be more selective every year. Their step 1 scores have increased dramatically in the past few years, which could be for a number of reasons, and it's not really factored in to the US News rankings, but it's still a good indicator that the caliber of students is strong. Graduating strong students builds the reputation by impressing residency programs. Keck is known in CA at least for producing students with outstanding hands on skills/experience because of training at LA County hospital.

so in the grand scheme of things, no, Keck won't be knocking down Hopkins' door any time soon, but expect to see them gain steady ground as they make a name for themselves.

They will Always live in UCLA's shadow.

as time goes by I think we'll see both evolve to fit into LA's medical world in their own way. USC will always have County, which, while not as glamorous as Ronald Reagan Medical Center, is a fantastic teaching tool.

My personal guess is that Keck wants to be to UCLA what Stanford is to UCSF. It doesn't matter so much who's on top of the US News rankings, so long as ALL OF THEM are top notch institutions.

To put it another way, Keck is certainly gaining momentum, and it's not from going downhill 👍

 

[trichomoniasis]

The best indicator for where a school will be in 10 years is to look back on what they've done the last 10. If they're rocketing up in the rankings over the past 10 years, it may continue. If they've stayed in neutral in the middle somewhere, they'll probably stay in the neutral for 10 more.

that's not necessarily true, there always has to be a turning point.

 

[notdeadyet]

that's not necessarily true, there always has to be a turning point.

Absolutely. I'm just saying that you can take more stock in a school's aspirations if they're already starting to deliver, than one who talk's a big game but hasn't accomplished everything. Talk is cheap.

 

[GeorgeFoster]

Well, I am speaking from the experience of someone who attended an undergraduate university that sought a dramatic upswing in terms of ranking and reputation. My college was known as a rich boy party school in the 70's, but when I attended was seeking to establish itself as a serious liberal arts institution, and was somewhat succeeding (its boosted SAT numbers and fellowship and other numbers significantly, and hell, I went there).

It wasn't a great time, however. It takes a long time to change, and factors like faculty, library and facility resources and research opportunities had their feet on both sides of the divide. Classes were taken extremely seriously (some visitors from neighboring institutions with better reputations were amazed at some of the work we did) but few appreciated the new academic orientation of our school outside of our school. In the end, I probably won't see any benefit in their upswing in reputation because it won't be fully realized until my own reputation if firmly established with grad school and working world experience. Whoop de doo is my judgement.