Yale vs. UCSD

[SoCal4LifeMD]

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Thought I'd start a thread of my own.

What're your thoughts on UCSD vs. Yale?

 

[pntgrd]

Tough choice. Both are sort of opposites in terms of curriculum. I don't like Yale's, but SD might be too much in the other direction. I'd probably pick SD. Much much nicer location, a lot cheaper, probably better step 1 prep, similar in ranking, better chance at top CA residencies. But if want a very relaxed curriculum and don't want to deal with any stress, Yale would be better.

 

[notdeadyet]

What're your thoughts on UCSD vs. Yale?

Are you accepted to both schools? And with your user name, are you really on the fence?

 

[SoCal4LifeMD]

ignore the user name.... I love Cali, but I think it might be good for me to leave for a while... do you think my chances of getting a CA residency will be the same if I go to Yale?

 

[notdeadyet]

ignore the user name.... I love Cali, but I think it might be good for me to leave for a while... do you think my chances of getting a CA residency will be the same if I go to Yale?

Both will give you a great education, without a doubt.

If you have your eyes on a NYC or Boston residency, Yale would be tough to beat. If you have your eyes on a California residnecy, UCSD would be tough to beat. Schools tend to funnel many of their graduates into their regional markets. Not because they have to, but this is just where people often end up. Interviewing at residency programs where your school already has placed people is a good thing. So is having faculty who know the residency director personally going to bat for you.

Your call. Either can get you a California residency. All things being equal, UCSD would help you a bit more in that regard. But really, all things are rarely equal. I'd consider the cost difference a much bigger deal.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Is Yale offering you significant financial aid?

I think 220K of debt will restrict your career options more than the choice of any school.

 

[wexy]

I take issue with the above posters. Have you seen our match list? 1/4 of the class matched in California, and 16 or 17 ppl are headed to UCSF alone out of a grad class of 92. We have a great tradition of sending ppl to UCSF. If people here were interested in going to UCLA or UCSD for residency i doubt they would have a problem in most specialties.

I do not know the current cost of tuition at the UCs but I know our graduating student debt is less than the national average for STATE med schools. Thus they subsidize your difference. There has also been a significant change in the financial aide policy for students whose parents make less than $100,000- i think you should check on the website but they plan on giving an extra $1.3M scholarships / yr to help those ppl out.

Good luck. I spent 5 years at Yale (1/2 the class does 5 yrs- if you dont do a joint degree the 5th yr is free or you get paid for research fellowships). I cant speak about UCSD but feel free to view our match list. If you were accepted then youve seen it.

-wexy

Is Yale offering you significant financial aid?

I think 220K of debt will restrict your career options more than the choice of any school.

 

[notdeadyet]

I take issue with the above posters.

Jeeze, what is it with sensitive Yale folks today? This is the second post by someone outraged that anyone could possibly think another school had some strength not exceeded by Yale. This is kinda damaging the image I had of a chll, laid back med school class out in New Haven.

As for your issue with matching in California, what exactly are you taking issue with? The OP was asking about the best school to match a California residency with. Yale matches 1/4 of the class in CA. UCSD matches over 3/4 of the class in CA. No one is pi$$ing in Yale's cheerios. There are great reasons to attend Yale. But UCSD consistently places more people in CA residencies than Yale. Much of that probably has to do with inclination, local connections and familiarity. This is not a judge on the education you'll get at either school. It was just an observation for the OP to keep in mind. Saying that UCSD matches more in California than Yale isn't a slam on Yale. Just a fact.

As for your issue with cost, it's great to know that Yale is loose with scholarship money. I think we're all for that. The average cost of attendance doesn't really mean squat to me, personally, because it factors in folks who have moms and dads who cough up dough, military scholarships, and all sorts of things. The only thing that impacts a schools financial aid policy is how much they give you.

This is why Lord Jeebus asked if Yale was offering financial aid and why I suggested the OP consider costs. This is not a slam on Yale either.

Glad you're happy with your choice of Yale. But there are compelling reasons to select other schools over it. Sorry. Please don't take it personally.

 

[pntgrd]

Here's the way I see it. The only way Yale wins is the fact that the first two years will have a lower stress looser curriculum. However, having half as much debt after you graduate from SD will negate that and more.

 

[Character]

i would choose yale, for personal elitist, esoteric reasons. me=elitist bitch.

 

[wexy]

1. almost all of the students at yale have financial aide so the averages are very accurate. I know because i sat with 95% of my class at the group exit interview. im saying that it may be possible to go to yale and graduate with similiar debt than if you went to ucsd, esp after the new financial aide initiave. it is up to the individual applicant to investigate their financial situation and compare the plans.

2. anyone i know who is from california and wanted to go back there matched there. period. only 10-20% of yale med students are from california, whereas i am sure the percentage at ucsd is >50%. Its not like everyone at yale is trying to get to california and only 16% did. Most ppl are from the east coast and want to stay in the northeast corridor. I was simply pointing out that if you go to Yale and apply in a moderately competitive specialty, i have never heard of it being a problem getting back to california.

 

[lord_jeebus]

I agree that coming back to CA from Yale would not be a problem.

I think the question is if Yale offers something that is worth the likely additional cost (UCSD has excellent aid on top of state tuition and used to have the third lowest student debt on graduation after USUHS [zero] and one other school, I'm not sure what the stats are now but it can't be that different).

If Yale is somehow cheaper, by all means go there.

Even an unsubsidized Stafford means a mandatory exit interview, so all 95% attendance means is that only 5% are getting their parents to pay the whole thing.

 

[stwabewwie]

I think the question is if Yale offers something that is worth the likely additional cost (UCSD has excellent aid on top of state tuition and used to have the third lowest student debt on graduation after USUHS [zero] and one other school, I'm not sure what the stats are now but it can't be that different).

I just wanted to contribute based on my experience. You shouldn't assume that the private school will automotically be waaay more expensive than the state school--especially with regards to UCs (fees are rising every year). I was deciding between UCLA and another private school. I'm a CA resident. Based on SDN, I thought for sure the private school would be more expensive. Lo and behold, it ended up being way cheaper than UCLA.
*Lesson learned: UC tuition is not that low and some private schools have LOADS of $$$ to give.*

OP: Figure out how much Yale is giving you and then decide.