purple_hydrangea
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- Sep 9, 2021
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Hi y’all! I’m interested in psych, neuro, and endocrinology right now. I also really want to specialize in urban underserved populations and am considering academic medicine. I’m from the southeast and SO and I ultimately want to end up on the east coast. I’m truly torn between my options at this point and would love other opinions/things I should consider.
USC Keck (4 - year COA w/ scholarship: $320K)
Pros
Cons
UCLA/Drew (4 – year COA: $330K – Includes OOS tuition for MS1 + IS tuition for MS2-MS4)
Pros
Cons
It’s the battle between familiarity and social support vs. marginally better research opportunities and stronger mission. Both schools are not open to further negotiation on financial aid. I’m also on waitlists for 3 east coast schools, one of which is my dream school and would attend in a heartbeat. Thanks for any feedback/opinions!
USC Keck (4 - year COA w/ scholarship: $320K)
Pros
- Social support: My SO is a MS4, and I live near campus, so I’m very familiar with the school and the area. I wouldn’t need to move (at least for MS1) since I live close to the school and could live with my SO. SO is also aiming for IM and has a very good chance of matching back to Keck for residency (like 50% of the IM matches seem to be Keck).
- Ease of research: From what I’ve seen faculty are very welcoming of students helping them with research projects or supporting them with independent projects (like, respond to a request in like 48 hours, lol). I also work in research here, and the research culture here is very open and collaborative (at least in my department). Research is important to me, and I think I could hit the ground running here.
- Clinical training: Apparently the clinical training is amazing because of LAC+USC. I also volunteer at LAC+USC, so I’m also familiar with the hospital and its patient population, which is very much in my wheelhouse. Also has Keck Hospital (that serves wealthier patients), CHLA, and various community clinics as rotation sites. I like variety.
- Class size/Class vibe: Large class, which is slightly overwhelming, but means a higher chance of finding my people. Students are generally very chill. Also, more nerdy/geeky people (based on my interactions with current students), which I like (I am a very nerdy/geeky URiM human).
- Preclinical grading: True P/F
Cons
- Clinicals are H/HP/P/F: I know this is the norm, but I dislike the extra stress and subjectivity introduced with this grading system. I just want to learn and work hard.
- Scandals and Community Relationship: Keck has had its share of scandals, and its historical relationship to the community LAC+USC serves hasn’t been the best. From what I’ve gathered, the administration is so-so, but the faculty are amazingly supportive. Things are improving, however.
- Not as prestigious: Will need to do more networking to match in the region I want to match
UCLA/Drew (4 – year COA: $330K – Includes OOS tuition for MS1 + IS tuition for MS2-MS4)
Pros
- Stronger mission: CDU is super committed to the underserved and cultivating physicians that work with these groups. I’d definitely get to work with the groups I want.
- Preclinical is P/F (Clinical grading is TBD): Clinical is currently P/F grading, but not sure if it will be reverted back to H/HP/P/F. If this stays true for my year, this would be a huge stress relief.
- More research available: There’s more research going on in my fields of interest so far at UCLA
- Wide range of training sites: Seems like students have access to the normal UCLA rotations + ones offered by CDU in areas that serve under resourced communities. I’m interested in both inpatient and outpatient and would also like exposure to patients across the socioeconomic spectrum, so variety of locations is important to me
- Provides more discovery/differentiation time: Because of the new curriculum, the 1-year preclinical phase means about 1 year to differentiate after MS2 clerkships before residency apps – whether through research, electives, or community service
- Cohort vibe: Drew students seem very cool, chill, and fun
- Somewhat higher prestige: Could help with matching, but looking at the match list for the past few years, I’ve seen somewhat similar residency matches for East Coast between both schools
Cons
- Competition for Research: Research is plentiful, but I may be competing with the research-oriented med students (and undergrads) for a chance to do research in these amazing labs. Also, very unfamiliar with the research climate here.
- Smaller Cohort: The smaller Drew cohort means likely a closer-knit cohort, but fewer chances to find nerdy/geeky people I have stuff in common with. Seems like I could find friends in the main Geffen cohort as well though.
- Less social support + higher living costs: Would have to move away from SO but could visit often since we’re at least in the same city. Also, would have to give up relatively affordable place where I currently am for more expensive Westwood.
- Have good mentoring programs
- Have a research component built into their curriculum
- Have had few people match back to my region (likely selection bias)
- Both focus on social justice and social determinants of health in different ways
It’s the battle between familiarity and social support vs. marginally better research opportunities and stronger mission. Both schools are not open to further negotiation on financial aid. I’m also on waitlists for 3 east coast schools, one of which is my dream school and would attend in a heartbeat. Thanks for any feedback/opinions!
