Here's my thoughts based on my own situation:
I set my mind for UCSF when I decided to go into pharmacy many years ago, and I have been working hard towards my goal-- to attend UCSF. Now that I have gone through the entire process and everything is finalized, I strangely hesitate on the decision between UCSF and USC like you do. I thought I would be firm on this, because UCSF has been my dream school for so many years. Why do I hesitate at this moment?
1).I reflected on my career goal and what the schools can offer. I am constantly told how important it is to do internship while in pharmacy school, so my mind is fixed on working during school. Pharmacy is largely about practicing in communities and with diverse patient populations, so IPPE is very important TO ME. UCSF arranges some of the IPPE sites for you, but you have to do the rest by yourself -- finding internship or volunteer. I was told, due to limited internship positions in SF, most students volunteer to get their IPPE hours filled
(Not true. First, you have to separate the difference between IPPE and internships. Here, IPPEs are considered volunteer only and UCSF sets that up. Internships are for your intern hours for you to sit for your boards and most students actually do find internships and complete their hours. USC does integrate their IPPEs into their curriculum and your hours are secure for you to take the boards, but I think an important skill you gain by finding your own internships is how to interview for those companies or hospitals you want to work for in the future.). Even if you get a paid internship, you don't get many hours or you have to drive to somewhere outside of the city, and you don't start interning until the end of first year
(Not true. You can start working during your first year if you so choose, but some people opt not to so they can get adjusted to the curriculum and the lifestyle of pharmacy school. Also, not all internships are in LA the city, you'd have to drive outside of LA the city and go to various cities in LA COUNTY. This is the same if you have to drive outside of SF so I don't really see a difference here.). Whereas USC offers MORE IPPE hours that are build into the curriculum, you get lots of hands-on experiences starting from P1, and getting an internship would be easier with USC's network
(I cannot deny USC's network, but USC is more focused in SoCal and UCSF is definitely dominant up here in the Bay Area so ultimately it is a matter of where you want to work and live). There are simply more positions in the L.A areas (
There are plenty of internships around the area and SoCal is just as saturated if not more saturated than the Bay Area). Also, you don't have to relocate to complete your APPE, 4th year rotations.
(The purpose of the "relocation" is that UCSF is spreading themselves to all parts of California and even abroad to be able to practice pharmacy and try to make great changes (the concept of decentralization). This allows people to network in places they did not think possible and also gives the opportunity for people who want to go home after 3 years. About half of the class will still end up staying in SF so you don't necessarily have to move although its all based on a lottery system and not guaranteed.)
2). SF and LA are very diverse, so they both offer great opportunities to interact with diverse patient groups. Diversity is very important TO ME as well. Looking at healthcare as a whole, being a pharmacist in L.A is very exciting to me, as L.A is an incredibly diverse metropolitan area with a lot more population. There are also many more hospitals (~38) and healthcare facilities in L.A, which opens many more exciting opportunities to intern/work.
3). UCSF prepares students to be excellent researchers and clinicians with very solid knowledge foundation. Clinical pharmacy was "born" in UCSF, and UCSF has some of the best pharmacy pioneers. But I believe USC also has great professors and be in the forefront of the profession. In the end, it all comes down to the individual. Outstanding students will be outstanding wherever they go. Research is not my thing, so clinically, both schools are equally good TO ME. I am interested in health policy and pharmacoeconomics, USC's Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics and Regular Sciences are very attractive TO ME, and it's ranked #4 in the nation with Princeton
(I am not sure how much USC's pharmacy program actually integrates to it's health policy program, but we do have health policy and pharmacoeconomics here. Additionally, UCSF has the HSPR pathway [Health Services and Policy Research] which would potentially gear more towards your interests mentioned above.). USC prepares students to go in retails, community, ambulatory care, hospitals, industry, healthcare executives and business. I like how well-rounded the school is, with programs other than health sciences available. I think USC has more electives as well.
4). L.A culture fits my personalities really well. I like networking and value my social life in the SoCal way
So consider your personalities in parallel with L.A culture and SF culture, they are very different! I don't care about weather much. Cost in both cities and schools would not be much different. There are people who choose Touro instead of UCSF for what private schools have to offer. You get what you pay! California budget cut is concerning, public schools tuition will continue rising. UCSF eliminated its SD APPE site. I don't know if it's because of the budget cut, but financial stability is KEY to operating a great program
(UCSD's dean kicked UCSF out, not because of financial stability, but because UCSD wanted to keep it's rotation sites for itself. UCSF is working to re-establish SD APPE as a site through Scripps Health and other programs around the SD area). USC's NIH funding leaped to #2 in the nation, even if it's a private school. I think UCSF still gets the most. Although ranking is not that important, it's a good reference. USC's upward trend shows a lot of its potential, so does UCSD
When everyone is expressing what a great experience they had at their UCSF interview and SF, I thought that was how I should feel as well, but in reality, I did not. I greatly enjoyed my conversation with current students about the program and life in SF, but I did not feel like living in SF (strangely
USC + LA has convinced me to settle down in SoCal. San Diego and Santa Barbara are only couple hours away
(Honestly it is more about personal preference on where you want to live. I am originally from SoCal and the lifestyles are different so it depends on what you want and where you want to live for the next 3/4 years. Some people will like the adventure of moving to a new city while others will want to stay at home with family and friends. San Jose area has a lot of Asian eateries and that is ~45-60 minutes away [I will say SoCal Asian food is still better...haha]. Tahoe is ~3-3.5 hours away and Reno is ~4-4.5 hours away. There is also Napa Valley for wine tasting and eateries ~1.5-2 hours away)
Just a side note: The legendary Dean Mary Anne at UCSF is stepping down in June. The Chair of Department of Clinical Pharmacy at UCSF graduated from USC. You can always do residency at UCSF.
(It is sad that Mary Anne is retiring, but it has to happen to everyone someday. Dr. Guglielmo did graduate from USC, but I think he's spent more years at UCSF than he has USC now. People come from everywhere and walk all stages of life.)
Again, this is just my personal opinion based on my own situation and preference.
Whew, that was a lot! Hope it helps
