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UC San Francisco-CA

UCSF

San Francisco, CA

NRMP
1062080R0 / 1062080A0
ACGME
0800521019

Applicant sentiment — from 150 anonymous posts, 2016–2027

5.5 / 10

What anonymous posters said

Anonymous posters frequently discussed the interview process, including timing of invite calls, rejections, and Step 2 score requirements before rank lists. Several commenters described the program as highly regarded for clinical training and subspecialty exposure, though opinions on workload and culture varied, with some calling it demanding and others disputing negative characterizations. Multiple posts noted few internal candidates remain for residency and suggested California ties may be helpful in admissions.

AI-generated summary of opinions expressed in anonymous, unverified posts. It describes what posters wrote, not verified facts about this program. Based on these 150 posts · Updated Aug 2026 · Contest or respond to this entry · Takedown & right of reply

Match terms
san franciscosan francisco dermuc san franciscoucsf

Fame & Shame

2026-2027 Derm

3 entries

❌1. Elitist (to no one's surprise), and many faculty give preferential treatment to rotating medical students from more prestigious schools. As much as they emphasize being socially attuned and progressive, at the end of the day, they're just another ivory tower institution masquerading as a social justice warrior.

❌1. You don't actually HAVE to be a former pediatrician to apply for this and be considered. Wish I knew this earlier, I would have applied.

❌2. Interviewer made disparaging comments about where I went to school

2025–2026 Derm

4 entries

❌1. You don't actually HAVE to be a former pediatrician to apply for this and be considered. Wish I knew this earlier, I would have applied.

❌1. Elitist (to no one's surprise), and many faculty give preferential treatment to rotating medical students from more prestigious schools. As much as they emphasize being socially attuned and progressive, at the end of the day, they're just another ivory tower institution masquerading as a social justice warrior.

❌2. Interviewer made disparaging comments about where I went to school

💬1. It does say on their website "preferred but not required;" I wonder if they've taken applicants w/o previous peds residency. > guess we will find out soon > this is the first year of the track and it seemed like everybody was an MS4 during the interview +1

Page 17 of 31

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Penn's II is about to fuck ppl caught up in the NW, Hopkins, UCSF, Michigan fiasco...

#15012020-2021 DermMar 22
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What is the best derm program for overall training (academics, diverse patient population, surgery, breadth of pathology)<NYU, UCSF, and Penn. Harvard and stanford are in the top 5 too but dont give you nearly as much diverse patient population or breadth of pathology

#12142020-2021 DermMar 22
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FYI i think UCSF sent out 22 interviews for the person who asked below (based on interview spots)

#9902020-2021 DermMar 22
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How many people does UCSF interview? Anyone know? <they said 6 ppl for 2 at their open house

#9112020-2021 DermMar 22
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UCSF x6

#8852020-2021 DermMar 22
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UCSF zoom happening now: https://ucsf.zoom.us/j/96814039292?pwd=bmlZWllkYXZsYTZ1cFpWelNIMDBSUT09

#1032020-2021 DermMar 22
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To the future applicants. Peds derm is in short supply right now. Gearing an application slightly in that direction may be beneficial.

#28562019-2020 DermMar 23

However, I would discourage lying/making it seem like you want to do peds derm if you don't actually...Programs also seem to be interviewed peds residents completing peds training

Mar 23
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You should be able to do Peds Derm fellowship after a Peds residency just like you can do Dermpath fellowship after Path residency. Who is going to do Derm, then Peds to make significantly less money? That's why there's a shortage plain and simple. -- Peds Derm after peds would be terrible, they would not be adequately prepared for the job, Sorry but you need a derm residency to be equipped for peds derm. - Absolutely false and some programs are now training Peds in Derm due to the shortage

Mar 23
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"Who is going to do Derm, then Peds to make significantly less money?" Someone who isn't in this for money maybe >> then the field needs to stop matching so many ppl who are in it for the money. the i want to do academic derm but promptly join private practice cosmetics right after finishing. to each their own, but it's silly to complain about residents' career choices when you're the gatekeeper to the field and picked them >> also peds EM you can do after both EM and peds so there's precedent that some subspecialties can have multiple pathways << Don't be dumb, Ped and Peds ER actually overlap, Peds and Peds derm are worlds apart. << the person who said some programs are now training peds in derm...what programs are those? i'm just curious bc i have not heard that and just wondering if i'm behind on some changes.

Mar 23
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There are 2 on the east coast I am aware of and they are doing it out of desperation. Billing is the same regardless if boarded in Peds Derm or not.

Mar 23
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<great advice! also I want to add that if your home program is not advocating for you by making calls to your number one, they should be! Ask your mentors to advocate for you because everyone else is! Shame on mentors who don't!!!

Mar 23
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<- TBH none of my mentors offered to and didnt make calls when i asked them to either. Its not as common as you would think unfortunately. x3 <Its a sad situation. Mentors should want to advocate and step up for their mentees

Mar 23
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Wish this was the case... my mentors were lazy af, had me write my own LoR, didn't really give any tips or advice, i didn't even feel comfortable talkin to them regarding my progress during the application and interviews, they seems more preoccupied with their lives acting like they are gods gift to this world... x2

Mar 23
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In re: to peds derm advice.. I was told to be cautious in advertising this heavily because some faculty are immediately turned off by this. The reality is that most people who say they want to do peds derm never actually do. x2

Mar 23
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if you decide to state your interest in peds derm, then you better have really strong evidence of a genuine interest in peds derm on your CV (Camp Discovery, multiple research projects, LORs from peds derms)

Mar 23
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Peds residents are not prepared to be peds dermatologists with a 1-year peds derm fellowship... unless you want to make peds derm fellowship 3 years like other peds fellowships. I would also say...dont try and "fake" interest in pediatric dermatology. You'd be serving yourself better by applying with your true career goals in mind. Furthermore, may programs do not have peds derm fellowship or robust peds derm attendings, so knowing you have an "interest" in this subject may indicate that you'd prefer training at other programs with more robust peds derm training.

Mar 23
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Peds actually get a decent amount of derm training. Obviously nothing close to derm-trained, but that means that they already start off with basic information. They know some about/have heard of medical aspect of some genodermatoses. Also, if they are now only doing peds derm, fellowship could only be 2 years since they would still be more focused than general derm, though I suppose you can see mostly anything in kids.

Mar 23
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I also want to reiterate this as someone who is interested in peds derm. heard that there's enough ppl who lie about their interest that now programs are skeptical. i was told this by my home program. i was like wtf. you can't win. you have a genuine interest and now you're gonna get grilled to see if it's genuine bc other bad apples ruined it.x2 it's just like the research requirement for derm. you gotta have research but if you have too much now you're branded a research person and more clinical programs or the non harvard /UCSF /penn places think you're not gonna want to go there. you cannot win so just be real and do the best you can x2

Mar 23
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see comment two boxes left. you're right - it sucks that you're damned if you, damned if you don't in derm. but there are other ways to prove genuine interest on your CV << Oh yeah, I did Camp Discovery, had 2 peds derm LoR, and did rotations at places with peds derm....but I was just saying it's pretty absurd to have to worry that in addition to everything else

Mar 23
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love seeing the class roster of programs programs that passed me up - admittedly butthurt but makes me feel a lot better that i didn't end up there!

#28492019-2020 DermMar 23

this is sarcasm, right? I loved meeting some of the people who are going to ucsf <- sounds like jealousy or unpleasant interactions?

Mar 23
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if we're thinking about the same person, lol i know exactly who you're referring to

Mar 23
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Fill out the Match List!! I want to know who my future co-residents are! x4

Mar 23
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f

Mar 23
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@OP - yikes...i'm as bitter as can be about my application cycle but holy SHIT at being jelly of the other people who matched at programs lmao.

Mar 23
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How important is it to do research year for derm match?

#28232019-2020 DermMar 23

if you come from lower ranked school or a school without a derm department, I wholeheartedly recommend it. The connections you make are invaluable. << Unless your app is spotless or your home institution wants you, you'll need a research year. It's quickly becoming the new norm x2

Mar 23
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Not necessary if you have AOA-level grades and great letters. I was able to match without a research year x3 << to give another perspective, research is very important if you want to match at top academic programs (Harvard, UCSF, the like).<<got interviews at most of the top 5 without a research year. i dont think its necessary. << did you do any research?

Mar 23
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<< N=1 but I had AOA, 250s/270s, good letters, and here I am unmatched x1

Mar 23
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sorry to hear that. are you soaping? << Had 1 soap interview, had lots of people email/call to support me, no offer<aw im so sorry, what do you think went wrong? << no idea, I think they just interviewed a lot of people and liked them more than me I guess

Mar 23
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maybe personality? I myself am an introvert, and I feel like people in derm treat introversion like a disease << they're missing out. sending you a virtual hug. << thanks. It sucks to get hopes up a 2nd time and fail, but I'll just do my prelim and apply again. Failing that, research fellowship << can't imagine how difficult it must be to have been disappointed a second time. glad you have a plan, and best of luck my friend<<I'm in the same spot as you, interviewed yesterday for a SOAP spot and was really hoping it would work out. As much as I'd love a spot to be open in round 2 I know it's unlikely. Just wanted you to know you're not alone in this process. Best of luck to you!

Mar 23
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Do you guys mind sharing what program you interviewed yesterday? I myself am PGY1 in prelim right now soaping and didn't get a spot in round 1; how do we know if SOAP spots get filled for that specific program?< The list gets updated at the end of each round; each round lasts 2 hours then i guess it gets updated at 2 PM EDT< yes it gets updated at 205

Mar 23
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How many intervieews did you have AOA/ 250/270 are crazy stats. << I had 9 interviews, 2 of them med-derm <<sorry you didnt match. I had 260s+ on steps and didnt match but was able to match to spot during my prelim year

Mar 23
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How many interviews did you have? << 9 total, 2 med-derm, 2 from my aways, 1 from home. So I got only 4 random derm interviews

Mar 23
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Lucky for anyone who put colorado or tufts #1<why, -- because they are gauranteed to match their #1 choice <not if they were unranked!

#27732019-2020 DermMar 23

very few people go unranked, you have to be super shitty, most people aren't super shitty

Mar 23
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<so even new programs like st lukes fully matched but not tufts or colorado? wth

Mar 23
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I bet the new programs interview a ton of people to ensure they don't go unmatched. Like maybe 20:1 vs normally programs are 10:1. CU only had like 4?:1

Mar 23
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feel like that still doesn't make sense tho right? like UNC interviews 5:1 and I think of them similarly to colorado. just a strange ass situation << Sometimes programs overshoot and interview all 260+ AOA from top 10 schools who all end up at Harvard or UCSF. That's probably what happened to DEnver

Mar 23
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yeah also if they did only interview 19 people and have 6 spots then they're closer to 3:1

Mar 23
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wow 3:1!? that's.... not a smart move.

Mar 23
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this situation is just super unlucky and unfortunate because it confirms a program's worst fear and will discourage programs next year from saving everyone time and money by interviewing fewer applicants/spot

Mar 23
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it was an insanely low number of interviews... do 1:5 if you are so confident (which a lot of the ivy leagues do), not 1:3. that's literally idiotic << Not even the top 5 could get away with a 1:3 ratio... Agreed 1:5 is the lowest even the best programs should drop to

Mar 23
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St. Lukes Interviewed 120 people for 2 spots, It was impossible for them not to match

Mar 23
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LOL WHAT << They thought they would get approved for 4 spots, so they did 120 which is 30:1, then a month ago they sent an email saying "sike" we just have 2 spots <- interviewed there and got such bad vibes from the program. DNR. <- just curious what your bad vibes were, as I also interviewed there but didn't see any red flags except for them being brand new

Mar 23
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Looking at the survey tab was a horrible mistake. Lots of people ranking my top programs highly as well :(

#27112019-2020 DermMar 23

it's derm. i've made peace with going anywhere on my list

Mar 23
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< same :( / same as well, everyone loves the same 15 to 20 programs :( there goes my match to somewhere I care about

Mar 23
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on the opposite end, looking at the list stressed me out because places I ranked high others didn't and places I ranked low others ranked high. Makes me wonder if I messed up my ROL x2

Mar 23
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Its not really a surprise that people are ranking places like Harvard, Penn, Stanford, UCSF, etc. highly...

Mar 23
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mrw no one is ranking my #1 as #1 or #2, which means i might match there and i would be very happy :))

Mar 23
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Ugh omg can we please be adults and not randomly add 100 on the rank list tab

#27032019-2020 DermMar 23

I know at least 104 other friends that ranked KCUMB-GME Consortium #1 with me / y'all are the worst sometimes // thank you to whoever fixed it

Mar 23
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< someone deleted the #1 ranks for UCSF. What was it last? <I think it was the same as Stanford, so I made it 5

Mar 23
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agreed

Mar 23
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<Get it together people!

Mar 23
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Yeah can we please stop being so uncool now that ranks are in and any of your motivations to be a troll are gone! honestly, it's probably not us. more likely to be the program itself...<why would they even care, I'm sure they have more important things to do

Mar 23
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um, we live for this juicy shit too

Mar 23
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LOL @ a program being petty enough to come in and change it to 100 ppl ranked it 1

Mar 23
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not that one

Mar 23
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<hilarious how there are 20 more 1st ranks than 2nd and 3rd. I guess its all those people that only got one interview and it happened to be Stanfrod, Harvard or another top program. smh. I'm losing faith in my future colleagues...

Mar 23
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I highly doubt that. People are probably just not filling in their top 2 and 3 bc they're mostly concerned with getting their number 1. I initially only filled out 1 and 2 out of laziness. Not sure if your comment was a joke or not... but most of those people have more than 3 interviews. <it was sarcasm

Mar 23
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ah, very dry.

Mar 23
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Radonc applicant here. I just wanted to say thank you for cleaning up our dumpster fire of a rank order list. So many people would just go there and troll. TBH I did some trolling as well since I figured it was just peeing in an ocean of piss. Who told you about our awful spreadsheet?

#26682019-2020 DermMar 23

piggybacking here... the interview impressions tab says UCSF does RTM calls, but I think this is last year's info, because they explicitly said they would not be doing it this year. Can anyone confirm yes or no?

Mar 23
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all I can confirm is that we got an email explicitly saying they weren't going to. whether or not they did I have no idea but I know I didnt get a call haha

Mar 23
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A few have but I think we don’t want to say

Mar 23
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< I don't understand this post? x4// There was a lot of trolling on our rank order list, and someone from here posted a message saying they fixed it and they were from here. That's all. -- Oh well thanks, congrats kind derm friend for helping our Rad Onc Friends!!! Happy Ending!!!

Mar 23
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why not..?

Mar 23
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too much gamma ray exposure I think << it became malignant

Mar 23
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Any other programs offer a diversity second look other than UCSF?

#25722019-2020 DermMar 23

Yale; MCW; stanford

Mar 23
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Wash U

Mar 23
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<we're all these through the derm departments?

Mar 23
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Thoughts on a separate RTM tab? with info on RTM calls in past years?

#25672019-2020 DermMar 23

way too many tabs already <- noone asked you. kidding

Mar 23
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this is on the interview invite page in post communication

Mar 23
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it just says no everywhere on the post-communcation except UCSF, not exactly the most useful info

Mar 23
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