UC San Diego Med Ctr-CA

UCSD

San Diego, CA

NRMP: 1049080A0
ACGME: 0800521018

Applicant sentiment — from 131 anonymous posts, 2017–2027

4.5 / 10

What anonymous posters said

Several posts describe UCSD as strongly research-focused, with some commenters saying clinical training and faculty warmth take a back seat to research output. A number of posts mention a perceived preference for applicants from highly ranked or Ivy League institutions. Multiple posts highlight San Diego's location as a major draw, while some note the program is highly competitive to get an interview and question its diversity of clinical offerings.

AI-generated summary of opinions expressed in anonymous, unverified posts. It describes what posters wrote, not verified facts about this program. Based on these 131 posts · Updated Aug 2026 · Contest or respond to this entry · Takedown & right of reply

Match terms

san diegosan diego dermuc san diegoucsd

Fame & Shame

2025–2026 Derm

2 entries

✅1. great benefits that cover egg freezing

❌1. Chair is obsessed with medical school brand name, loves talking about how many Harvards he gets in a year

By match cycle

What applicants said in 2025· 5.3 / 10 What applicants said in 2022· 5.7 / 10 What applicants said in 2020· 6.2 / 10 What applicants said in 2019· 6.2 / 10 What applicants said in 2018· 4.2 / 10 What applicants said in 2017· 5.3 / 10

Related programs

Also discussed alongside

UCLA Med Ctr-CA· 43 threads UC San Francisco-CA· 30 threads U Southern California· 21 threads Mass General Brigham-MA· 17 threads Stanford Health Care-CA· 17 threads Hosp of the Univ of PA (Dermatology/3 yr)· 16 threads Northwestern McGaw/NMH/VA-IL· 10 threads UC Irvine Med Ctr-CA· 9 threads

Other programs in California

UC San Francisco-CA· San Francisco Stanford Health Care-CA· Stanford UCLA Med Ctr-CA· Los Angeles U Southern California· Los Angeles UC Irvine Med Ctr-CA· Orange UC Davis Med Ctr-CA· Sacramento Kaiser Permanente-Los Angeles-CA· Los Angeles Loma Linda University-CA· Loma Linda

Page 3 of 13

Are all the comments about ucsd not being diverse true? It is my dream program and have a slight in but I keep seeing they only value research and them not being diverse. I am interested in outreach and SOC and would love to do it in San Diego (so cal is home)

#11122025–2026 DermFeb 21

see if you get an interview first and then you can debate this when making your rank list.

Feb 21

they have no SOC clinic or faculty which says a lot.

Feb 21

Lol "slight in", get over yourself pls

Feb 21

no one has a "slight in" in 2025 unless your parent is on faculty tbh

Feb 21

while we're on this note, I'm debating if I like UCSF or Penn more. What do you guys think

Feb 21

lmfao > Y'alls mean girl is really coming out this time of year huh

Feb 21

What counts as a "slight in" is it your home program?

Feb 21

if it's their home program presumably they wouldn't be asking this q lol

Feb 21

no one has a "slight in" in 2025 unless your parent is on faculty tbh

Mar 7

while we're on this note, I'm debating if I like UCSF or Penn more. What do you guys think

Mar 7

lmfao > Y'alls mean girl is really coming out this time of year huh

Mar 7

if it's their home program presumably they wouldn't be asking this q lol

Mar 7

Just had to highlight because I think it's such snake behavior. There's a comment giving actually good research advice to people without a home program on how to engage with research without having to use DLS, and DLS keeps deleting it (around row 70ish at this point). It makes it clear to me that they don't actually want students to have research opportunities like they state, they just want themelves to be the only option to prey on students.

#9812025–2026 DermFeb 21

don't tread on me pwease -KF

Feb 21

Any good tea or thoughts XD?

Feb 21

like what lol

Feb 21

like any good things about UCSD, all I hear is they love Ivy league people but nothing else

Feb 21

like what lol

Mar 7

like any good things about UCSD, all I hear is they love Ivy league people but nothing else

Mar 7

Just logged into ERAS to double check something and saw this message under UCSD derm: The "Dermatology" training is no longer being offered by "University of California (San Diego) Medical Center Program". Anyone know what this is about?? >> I emailed them and they got back to me that this is incorrect and they will update it. You should be good as long as you applied before Sept 25 they said.

#9582025–2026 DermFeb 21

Does anyone know if any interviews are in person this year?

#5112025–2026 DermFeb 21

there def will be some - probably similar to last year maybe a few more

Feb 21

can we start listing them in the cell beside pls

Feb 21

should we make an interveiw detials tab????????

Feb 21

Anyone know when Mississippi is releasing?

Feb 21

Confirmed virtual : UC Davis, UCLA-harbor, UCSD, Penn State

Feb 21

Thoughts on UCSD? Program sounds nice but it seems they only want prestige? I heard back about an away there but wondering if its even worth it if I am coming from a mid tier or lower. Seems they love their Harvard people... --> a friend who matched there affirmed that most of her interview cohort was from top programs, do with that what you will

#4722025–2026 DermFeb 21

seems like it could be true but also could be a self-fulfilling prophecy. but also coming from a low tier i didn't get an interview while i got interviews from several more prestigious names. i also had no geo connection tho

Feb 21

Thoughts on UCLA?

Feb 21

Anyone hear from UCSD for Sept?

#4502025–2026 DermFeb 21

wondering the same... i think they release their acceptances on a rolling basis block by block. i would anticipate September acceptances will be rolled out soon.

Feb 21

Has anyone heard back positively from aways at UCSD or Harvard for July or September?

#4132025–2026 DermFeb 21

I am doing a UCSD Peds Derm Away in July. They told me adult derm is basically full from home students every month. For UCSD?

Feb 21

Yeah

Feb 21

Yeah

Mar 7

What is up with the "ivy league or cali" for UCSD and UCLA name and shame? Is this bs?

#4122025–2026 DermFeb 21

no, it's not BS. Look at who is matching there lol. UCSD Chair specifically looks for and prefers people from "top" institutions. They don't even match people from their own school.

Feb 21

Is it necessary to geo pref cali programs (stanford, ucsf, ucsd, etc) if you want an interview? Or is signaling + ties enough?

#4042025–2026 DermFeb 21

didn't geo signal, had no ties, got a couple of Cali interviews (but most of them I didn't get and this was noticeable compared to my interview rate in other regions). Likely valuable but strictly speaking not necessary

Feb 21

i think it depends stats? not sure tho

Feb 21

Any tea on UCSD?

#3612025–2026 DermFeb 21

super elitist, great research, SD is gorgeous, kinda chill residency (residents seem genuinely happy), department head and PD LOVE elite universities, not great outreach/diversity (no skin of color clinic), well respected amog derm programs

Feb 21

if we're from mid-tier schools, do we have a chance? < Unlikely

Feb 21

Anyone hear back from UCSD for fall dates??

#3512025–2026 DermFeb 21

nope

Feb 21

Thoughts on UCSD?

#3352025–2026 DermFeb 21

did anyone hear back for nov?

Feb 21

I have no ties to Cali aside from some non immediate family in the Silicon valley area. I really wanted to do an away on the west coast to establish ties and signal I want to go there. I applied to UCSD on time and a few other programs later (OHSU, UCSF, Kaiser, Loma Linda) but haven’t heard anything… is there like no chance I get an away out west at this point? Is there anywhere else I can add an app to at this point where I might have a chance? I emailed UCSD coordinator once a month ago, is it too much to email again… I got rejected from the peds derm dates but haven’t heard ab the clinical derm

#2542025–2026 DermFeb 21

I was also rejected from peds derm dates and ghosted on adult derm so far from UCSD

Feb 21

Wanted to see if anyone did an away at the following institutions and has heard anything about them: UCSD, Brown, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, UTSW

#2072025–2026 DermFeb 21

dang 5 offers?>ppl have heard from Minnesota??> They didnt say they got accepted lol

Feb 21

Has anyone been accepted for UCSD? or are they also not offering aways this year?

#1982025–2026 DermFeb 21

radio silence

Feb 21

My friend got an acceptance from them, I haven't heard back yet either

Feb 21

for what month and when did they hear?

Feb 21

different person than above comment, but i got accepted to Peds Derm (July)

Feb 21

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