USC - very large (mostly) county based program. I truly believe if you train at a place like this, you will come out prepared for anything. However, some of the drawbacks for me are: instability of admin/PDs (some residents were quite unhappy about this on my interview day); no inpatient unit (have to drive to off-site IP unit); lower pay than other area programs; (plus or minus depending on your interests), but definite move to churn out more research. If you are interested in forensics, prison psych, public/community psych, there are worse places you can go.
Cedars - smaller program; no LPS for now, so no training in involuntary admissions (which also greatly impacts the psychopathology you see on the unit and in OP f/u clinics); less diverse pt population; residents traditionally known for being unhappy/overworked, but I suspect that is changing with reduction of IP beds by half, no more invol admits. I got the impression you would get good experience w substance abuse, possibly reflective of the more affluent patient pool. If you are interested in private practice, you will obviously be better prepared for that training here.
UCLA/SFV - as you say, tons of driving; lots of VA (duh!); based on my interview day, this is the type of place where you can either hide away and coast by for 4 years, or have your hand held the entire way (but not really in between); seems like increased focus on psychotherapy training, perhaps as an adjunct to the very heavy biological basis of training sites (VA, Olive-View, etc.).
Obviously it's most important what you want what you thought of these places. What is it you are looking for in a program? Career plans? Impressions of these places? Feel free to PM me if you want.
