UC San Diego Med Ctr-CA

Feel like it depends on all of the other factors of your application (Step score, mentors/letters, med school prestige, etc.) ofc having all honors and lots of research would be better than either so it's hard to compare those scenarios without looking at everything else

>the neurotic 270+ step 2, all honors, 20+ research derm applicant is few and far between. Believe in yourself - not all applicants are perfect. theyre average :). Aim for as many honors as you feasibly can, handful of pubs, show people you're likeable. that'll take you farther than grades and research at the end of the day

connections

does med school prestige really matter if youre not planning on going to a t10 derm program? (in terms of MD applicants)

i'd rather have a well balanced app w some honors and some pubs, than all honors 0 pubs but thats me

med school prestige is factored more for certain programs (defintely lower on the list in terms of factors assessed), agree about having a more well-rounded app

personality and fit is huge

is a 270+ strong research applicant really few and far between lol it seems like this is not uncommon?

I've heard of quite a few people with these stats, I think it's also important to consider mentors and who you know since that can influence one's chances of matching

agreed, and connections from away rotations make a huge difference in terms of "networking" as well. the loudest ones are the ones that have the best stats, but dont get into your head about it! > more good thoughts like this please, maybe we're all just delusional

also want to say, I feel on reddit and these spreadsheets, we tend to see people on the extremes in terms of stats and research while the "average" students who match tend to not put a bunch of stuff here making it seem like applicants are extraordinary

scores in 95% of cases, excluding the "top" programs which virtue signal about evaluating applicants holistically (looking at u UCSF). It's hilarious how they say they don't have cutoffs for board scores, but they magically end up matching residents with only the most insane stats >how do you know this info? They don't release stats publically, and UCSF seems to match many students who dont come from T5 programs.

Current R3/R4s come from: UCSD, UC Davis, UMich, UCSF, Hopkins, Emory, UCSF, Vandy, Northwestern, UCSF, Hopkins, UCSF, Penn. Idk seems pretty high ranking for programs (excluding the California bias)

You can also see what they tell their own students about required stats for matching (https://meded.ucsf.edu/student-services/specialty-information-and-advising#Dermatology), for example in their table "How important is each the following for admission to a competitive program?", where honors, AOA, and research are highly recommended

idk seems the case for multiple programs this year, have you heard anything about the rotation? have heard mixed things about whether it's worth it

have heard from past applicants that the program doesn't interview their rotators unless every resident loved them (which doesn't happen often). might hurt your changes of getting an II

have also heard from prior rotators that they interact with the PD and other attendings closely during the rotation and have recieved interviews so I think it really depends on how you make the most of your rotation there

Seems like they love prestige, look at who they match. Anyone has experience with the department itself? I am interested in outreach and I feel I wouldn't resonate with UCSD.

It also has few spots, 4 normal and one research (usually given to an MD/PhD).

so much talk about UCSD on here which is a waste of time. its one of the most competitive derm programs to land given location/prestige combo. Most of the applicants aiming for it won't get an interview. Keep an open mind and be aware at how competitive derm is before focusing so much on one program

I don't think it's a waste of time to shoot your shot/ask questions about UCSD if you're a solid applicant

its no problem but please be realistic

agree on low prestige/competitiveness return on interest lol

even their nonresearch spots are even given to MD/PhDs lol...I swear all they care about is what school you went to and what extra degrees you have even if you're extremely socially awkward

when do they release away offers? They seem to be a very research heavy program. Seem to like students from big name schools. Don't think an away has a high IV turnaround but idk

How diverse is San Diego?

"Where everybody is rich and white the way god intended" - Daniel Tosh

UCSD doesn't even have a skin of color clinic, that should answer that

they've been pretty minimally responsive in general

looking at who they took this year, seems like a small chance. nothing is impossible but you really have to know yourself and if you will stand out or not.

first come first serve

anyone get an offer for UCSD away or just rejections today?

would love to know if UCSD is one of those programs where if you get an away it truly means they are considering you - I know other programs (wake forest, northwestern, penn) are rotation mills

UCSD would be so cool to rotate at but ik it's an investment so also wondering if it's worth rotating there>>> only do an away if you are from a prestigous school for them to consider you

Look at who they matched/prior matches, that should tell you everything (they love prestige)

would you consider coming from Sinai to be prestigious or nah

the prestige thing is super true for UCSD. I II'd there from a mid-tier school and I was the only one not from like a top 20 lol

groosssssss

they matched someone from Einstein this year and that was the "lowest" rank school they matched

seemed like they did an away there so maybe an away is worth doing if you aren't from a "top" school?

, also interested to hear if you need a connection to CA to match into the UC's

apparently the chair unpleasant and elitist, so that's why lol

unpleasant how? care to elaborate?

surprisingly their chair has been nice/normal in my short interactions but i could be not getting the full picture

yes you usually need some connection to CA to match in UCs. you can make your own connection by doing aways, getting a letter from ca program, then signaling that region and the programs. most people i know who got in grew up there, did an away/ry, went to med school there. there are a lot of exceptions including if you are just a stellar candidate from a top med school

UCSD loves academia and research

have heard lots of comments about UCSD not having as great clinical trainining and faculty being cold and only caring about research

UCSD is probably not worth rotating at for an away unless you think you have something that can help UCSD Derm go further in their research: prestigious medical school, being an MD/PhD, etc.

seriously don't bother with UCSD, there are better programs in California

bro they went 10/13 this year at crazy institutions. yeah their derm deparment is weaker but they matched incredibly well. also hopkins r

Two people in T5s, two more in T10s...pretty solid if u ask me

Also, people have higher priorities than matching at the “top” programs. Who wants to go to Harvard work-horse and live in miserable Boston

Bruh, in what world is UCSF, Northwestern, UCSD, NYU, Southwestern not impressive. I also think it’s impressive that everyone was able to match at other institutions besides Hopkins. It’s prob more impressive than say, CWRU where a bunch of internals stayed

Plus being able to match at some of these CA / NYC programs without aways, crackedd

Lmao Hopkins really catching strays this cycle

bro they went 10/12 this year at crazy institutions. yeah their derm deparment is weaker but they matched incredibly well. also hopkins r

Agreed, some folks want to prioritize happiness

prestige and there's nothing wrong with that. Also matching 10 people from a single institution is a huge accomplishment.

Agree, CWRU tends to just match their internals

Hopkins as a med school is very good so the name prob carries despite the derm dpt being not as strong >Also, people have higher priorities than matching at the “top” programs. Who wants to go to Harvard work-horse and live in miserable Boston

Agreed, some folks want to prioritize happiness over prestige and there's nothing wrong with that. Also matching 10 people from a single institution is a huge accomplishment.

some ppl like boston tho

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.

sending virtual hugs

Bring it back plz

It was mostly positive toward Hopkins, idk why they would be the ones to delete it

what is the tea about them

there's no tea, it was actually just a bunch of people defending Hopkins. idk why someone was so pressed to delete it

[COPIED FROM PRIOR VERS] Is it just me or do Hopkins students not match all that well compared to other peer schools?

bro they went 10/12 this year at crazy institutions. yeah their derm deparment is weaker but they matched incredibly well. also hopkins r

Two people in T5s, two more in T10s...pretty solid if u ask me

Hopkins as a med school is very good so the name prob carries despite the derm dpt being not as strong >Also, people have higher priorities than matching at the “top” programs. Who wants to go to Harvard work-horse and live in miserable Boston

Agreed, some folks want to prioritize happiness over prestige and there's nothing wrong with that. Also matching 10 people from a single institution is a huge accomplishment.

some ppl like boston tho

[COPIED FROM PRIOR VERS] Bruh, in what world is UCSF, Northwestern, UCSD, NYU, Southwestern not impressive. I also think it’s impressive that everyone was able to match at other institutions besides Hopkins. It’s prob more impressive than say, CWRU where a bunch of internals stayed

Agree, CWRU tends to just match their internals

Plus being able to match at some of these CA / NYC programs without aways, crackedd