Med Match ForumMed Match Forum

UC San Diego Med Ctr-CA

UCSD

San Diego, CA

NRMP
1049080A0
ACGME
0800521018

Sentiment score: 5.2 / 10

UCSD is viewed as a highly competitive, prestigious dermatology program with strong research emphasis and excellent location, but applicants report concerns about selectivity favoring Ivy League/top-tier institutions, limited clinical training focus, potentially hostile culture, and lack of diversity initiatives. The program generates significant discussion around interview logistics and ranking decisions, with mixed sentiment about whether the prestige justifies the reported downsides.

Match terms
san diegosan diego dermuc san diegoucsd

Fame & Shame

2025–2026 Derm

1 entry

1. great benefits that cover egg freezing

0

Thoughts on UCSD? Seems the previous spreadsheet had a lot of fame/shame or why didnt rank higher comments deleted.

#562026-2027 DermMar 27

Fantastic program in an ideal location. People anonymously rag on it likely to get others to rank it lower. Amazing benefits and strong UC union (make 90-100k). Great work/life balance. They do get a lot of NIH research funding hence the research reputation, but there is only one required research project for residents. Previous comments recommended doing the gen derm away instead of peds derm

Mar 27
0

the research rep also comes from them matching a lot of MD PhDs but it seems like that trend is going away based of this years list and prior

Mar 27
0

How do you know who they matchd this year?

Mar 27
0

list is up. Last year they matched seemingly research heavy people though (one of them only had basic science pubs, no clinical research whatsoever!!)

Mar 28
0

What about UCLA?

Mar 28
0

my school (MD OOS) has an affilitation disagreement with them so we can't even rotate there

Mar 31
0

googling everyone who matched this year to figure out the secret sauce

Mar 31
0
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I posted on here about how I was sad I didnt match at UCSD and responses were being nice and helpful to read and now someone else crashed out and deleted it thanks a bunch others could have benefitted from the advice shared about not matching at your dream program.

#34702025–2026 DermMar 23

you will be great no matter what! It is UCSD's loss !!

Mar 23
0

I think I responded to that one. I'll bring it back and lock it I'll put it right below yours.

Mar 23
0

was it this one? https://www.medmatchforum.com/2026/3432

Mar 23
0

to that point mentioned, UCSD does seem to like matching certain kind of people or institutions...

Mar 23
0

to that point mentioned, UCSD does seem to like matching certain kind of people or institutions... < That's it! I'll paste and lock here on this spreadsheet too in the row below. < DONE

Mar 23
0
0

I am really heartbroken I didnt match UCSD and I need to vent that into the ether < Don't feel bad. UCSD tends to recruit residents based on what those residents can do for them to get a bigger name. < so painful to not match at a place where you envision yourself < Totally understand. Some of this stuff is "knowing the tea" which you only find out later as a Derm resident. Often it's a function of the faculty at a particular derm program or a chairman. It's ok to feel a little bad because the power dynamic between derm clinical faculty interviewing and you is very much tilted towards them. Don't take it personally. It's not something in your hands to control.

#34782025–2026 DermMar 23

sending virtual hugs

Mar 23
0
0

so to summarize, if the rumor mill is true, at least some ppl get calls from ucsf, harvard, yale, ucsd, usc, penn?

#32712025–2026 DermMar 12

I don't think this is true. The PD at Penn is VERY clear they DO NOT do post II communication. he feels very strongly about it

Mar 14
0

same with UCSF's PD..> the whole thing strikes me as BS especially with the earlier link to an article with a paid mentoring service

Mar 14
0

I know people who got rtm calls from penn pd

Mar 14
4

sure buddy

Mar 14
0

I heard people who got Pen was for tracks and not by PD

Mar 14
0

100% serious that I know schools that do post-ii communications/rtm calls when they tell everyone that they are hellbent on no post-ii communication. Just beacuse a PD says it does not mean they won't do it experiencing this gave me trust issues tbh lol

Mar 14
1

PD's will do anything to get the best of the best, RTM calls happen because programs are selfish

Mar 14
0

well at least i know i'm not the best of the best yeee

Mar 14
0

I matched at one of the programs listed above, no RTM call. This rtm thing was absolute bs

Mar 21
0
0

How many people got calls from UCSD??

#32702025–2026 DermMar 12

I did 2/18 phone call from the chiefs

Mar 14
0

doxxing yourself huh

Mar 14
0

I am the PD of UCSD and I know who this applicant is. NRMP has been notified of this individual and they have been banned from our program now. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Mar 14
0

why would a PD ban someone for saying they got a post-ii communication lol

Mar 14
0

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER

Mar 14
0

lmfao

Mar 14
0

Harvard does not do RTM calls they are very strict about comms with applicants and try to be fair to everyone across the board

Mar 15
0

good to know we love to see it

Mar 15
0
0

You others ranking UCSD better present yourselves.

#32462025–2026 DermMar 11

why

Mar 14
0

???

Mar 14
0

People are breaking at the seams in this thread lol

Mar 14
0

the obsession with UCSD is kinda out of hand like i have only seen negative things about attitudes in the program yet some of you are losing your minds over this program like why

Mar 14
0

at the end you'll be a dermatologist, even if you go to UCSD. However, it seems they only care about research and clinical training may be lacking. I am going to residency to become a clinician, not a researcher...

Mar 14
0

Because beaches with hot chicks. Why else would anybody apply for dermatology at UCSD!?!

Mar 14
0

beaches with hot guys

Mar 14
0

Yessss King ;)

Mar 14
0
0

Am I really the only person ranking UC San Diego as number 1?? Nope

#32272025–2026 DermMar 9

at BEST, you can roughly extrapolate survey results as a distribution for all applicants ranking, n=3 is def not all applicants but you can try to extrapolate distribution from there lol >def not, not every derm applicant uses this sheet, and the vast majority that do don't comment

Mar 14
0
0

UCSD dropping jump scare emails today, I guess

#31002025–2026 DermFeb 25

what happened??>they just sent the NRMP code

Mar 7
0

derm resident - these questions are hard to answer without knowing the specific programs

Mar 7
0

what happened??

Mar 26
0

they just sent the NRMP code

Mar 26
0
0

Anyone who hated their away thinking it would be your #1 and now ranking it low?

#30352025–2026 DermFeb 21

yes and i'm sad :( it was close to family but the vibes were inferior. It dropped down to 4

Feb 21
0

Def had an away that i thought i would really love but ended up hating

Feb 21
0

same but also grateful I went now because I wouldn't have known if I didn't go in person

Feb 21
1

same but also grateful I went now because I wouldn't have known if I didn't go in person

Mar 7
0

I have being saying this a lot because it's true. I did my rotation at UCSD thinking it would be my number 1 only to hate the culture/vibes. Has moved down to 6 on my list.

Mar 7
0
0

so do we think the scripps TY is actually hard / not chill now ugh

#29882025–2026 DermFeb 21

this was always the case lol, San Diego is beautiful though

Feb 21
0

exactly, that TY has always been a grind with lots of wards/ICU/etc and has always started orientation in early June but people still go cuz san diego

Feb 21
0
0

Do most programs have moonlighting? Specifically UW (Seattle) and Northwestwern

#29542025–2026 DermFeb 21

what about UCSD and Michigan??

Feb 21
0

you can look this up on ResidencyExplorer as well as other useful metrics like average # hours worked, etc.

Feb 21
0

didn't know RE had moon information! Thank you!!

Feb 21
0

pretty sure no moonlighting at UCSD

Feb 21
0

didn't know RE had moon information! Thank you!!

Mar 7
0

pretty sure no moonlighting at UCSD

Mar 7
0
0

Can less of you rank my number 1 as number 1? Thank you!!< sure which is it<yes < perfect! Arkansas, UCSF, and UCSD! Thank you again!

#28632025–2026 DermFeb 21
0

Anyone know programs that have good fertility coverage in their insurance :D?

#27862025–2026 DermFeb 21

Whered u interview is the real question for this

Feb 21
0

UCSF has 30k!

Feb 21
0

Penn, Columbia >Mayo has tons of support, UCSD also has robust fertility benefits (I think 20-30k)

Feb 21
0

are fertility benefits mainly egg freezing or do they are include IVF?

Feb 21
0

i think both

Feb 21
0

a handful of programs ive interviewed at have had this. so nice to see!

Feb 21
0

Is there a way to see the fertility specific coverage in a plan or did the programs specifically highlight it as a benefit? would love to know which programs have coverage!

Feb 21
1
0

🏆 **Derm Residency Superlatives (Unhinged Yearbook Edition)** 🏆 🔥 **Most Overhyped (aka program of the year lmao):** UConn 😇 💀 **Hardest to Get Into (For Character Development):** Penn 🧠 🎓 **Prestige Flex (Casual Name-Drop Energy):** Harvard 🥂 🌴 **Best Lifestyle (Residents Have Hobbies??):** UC Davis 🧘‍♀️ 🔪 **Procedural/Mohs Factory (Elite or Emotionally Exfoliated):** Mayo Clinic 🩸 💅 **Cosmetic Derm Influencer Pipeline:** UCLA 📸 🌱 **Best Location (Touching Grass Illegally):** UC San Diego 🏖️ 🧨 **Low-Key Malignant Reputation (Era-Dependent):** NYU 😬 💎 **Hidden Gem (Elite but Not Loud About It):** Wake Forest 🫶 🏙️ **Best Location + Training Combo:** UCSF 🌉 😈 **Cosmetics + Chaos + Vibes:** Miami 🔥 🧑‍⚕️ **Grind Now, Brag Later Energy:** UT Southwestern 🏋️

#26362025–2026 DermFeb 21

lmfao @ wakeforest

Feb 21
0

im still not over the wake forest rejection >:( yeah i'm pretty sure markdown syntax doesn't render properly in google sheets. ugh not more gpt jokes , oh no chatgpt is back in the chat 🙄 >> There is zero vibes in Miami , a bunch of ego inflated attendings and weirdo residents that do not fit the extroverted / Miami energy of the city whatsoever.

Feb 21
1

do the residents at davis have hobbies?? lol and i do agree with the mohs factory being mayo

Feb 21
0

hated every second of reading this

Feb 21
1

did not know WF was such a golden program

Feb 21
0

im still not over the wake forest rejection >:( yeah i'm pretty sure markdown syntax doesn't render properly in google sheets. ugh not more gpt jokes , oh no chatgpt is back in the chat 🙄 >> There is zero vibes in Miami , a bunch of ego inflated attendings and weirdo residents that do not fit the extroverted / Miami energy of the city whatsoever.

Mar 7
1

do the residents at davis have hobbies?? lol and i do agree with the mohs factory being mayo

Mar 7
0

hated every second of reading this

Mar 7
1

im still not over the wake forest rejection >:( yeah i'm pretty sure markdown syntax doesn't render properly in google sheets. ugh not more gpt jokes , oh no chatgpt is back in the chat 🙄 >>

2d ago
0
0

With respect to the cell below, can you help me rank the best programs for cosmetics: NW, UW, UCSD, UM, Vanderbilt

#26052025–2026 DermFeb 21

Definitely not UW. I feel like programs with most cosmetic exposure (and demand) are in larger cities than Madison WI. I'd guess UCSD probably has a decent amount

Feb 21
0

UW is in Seattle

Feb 21
0

I hear NW has a lot of cosmetics but i didnt apply there

Feb 21
0

lol there are 2 UWs

Feb 21
0

definitely not UMich, in the interview they specifically cited their lack of cosmetics

Feb 21
0

NW or Mich probs

Feb 21
0

for exposure to cosmetics?

Feb 21
0

UW madison or UW washington? washington literally said during interviews not to go there if you want to do cosmetics, they're very strong in the med-derm arena tho

Feb 21
0

Vanderbilt interview day said they have increasing cosmetic exposure and the ability to do 3-4 weeks working with someone who does alot of cosmetics.

Feb 21
0

NW also mentioned strong cosmetics

Feb 21
0

UW is in Seattle

Mar 7
0

I hear NW has a lot of cosmetics but i didnt apply there

Mar 7
0

lol there are 2 UWs

Mar 7
0

definitely not UMich, in the interview they specifically cited their lack of cosmetics

Mar 7
0

NW or Mich probs

Mar 7
0

for exposure to cosmetics?

Mar 7
0

UW madison or UW washington? washington literally said during interviews not to go there if you want to do cosmetics, they're very strong in the med-derm arena tho

Mar 7
0

NW also mentioned strong cosmetics

Mar 7
0

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