San Francisco, CA
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
❌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
❌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 29 of 31
So did UCSF do RTM calls or not? Can't tell from all the trolling earlier.
<--how do you know? | Per coordinator, UCSF does not make RTM calls.| UCSF did RTM for research 2 applicants
Why would they do a RTM call only for the 2 applicants? That doesn't make sense.
I've noticed that many internal candidates don't stay on at UCSF. Is there a reason for this? I think there's only 1 UCSF resident who did med school there of all 20+ residents which I find very odd. Is the culture malignant so internal folks don't want to stay for residency?
<--- First, completely untrue. Second, someone has a vendetta against UCSF.
OR really wants to match there lmao
If you look at the list of residents you will see at least 3 internals. UCSF typically has very few internal applicants ranging from 1-3 per year. Therefore there is not a large pool of internal candidates typically. As I've met UCSF graduates on the trail now in derm residencies throughout the country they have told me that they left UCSF b/c they wanted to...for family, partners, cheaper rent, different scene, specific clinical/research interests. I didn't get the sense it was b/c they felt UCSF was malignant. x2
That is untrue. Who are the "at least 3 internals"? The website only has 1 resident listed from UCSF (Wesley Yu). This just strikes me as very odd especially since UCSF is considered the #1 program in the country.
UCSF is one of the most well rounded programs. I don't think the med students not staying on means anything. They only take very competitive folks, so maybe not everyone applying from UCSF is competitive enough.
| bruh https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2593714?redirect=true
Yeah that link above is to an article written by the current PD at UCSF.
That article is pure propaganda, like they are actually going to abandon step 1 and AOA
"Considered the #1 program in the country" by who? It's a top tier program, certainly, but what makes any program "#1"? | by Doximity
So did UCSF send any RTM calls to any non-research track folks?
not to my knowledge| yes, they have at this point.
b
Got a RTM call from UCSF today. Non 2 candidate. x2
Congrats! When did you get the call? What did they say?| Are you an internal or external applicant?
External
I thought someone posted and said that their PC said they wont be making RTM calls?
That information was incorrect. UCSF did RTM calls for 2 candidates 2 weeks ago did do RTM calls for non 2 candidates this week.
Any RTM calls/emails recently?
As far as I know, the only programs who have done it are: UCSF, Yale, NYU, UPenn, NW. Am I missing any?| I thought NYU didn't?
Stanford RTM call
I'm pretty sure this said UCSF ranked-to-match earlier?
No it said Stanford. That troll (anonymous gopher) changed it to other things like UCSF and BU and I kept changing it back. I'm the OP.
This same troll has been doing that for weeks. He changed one of my posts from "UCSF" to "Kentucky" a few weeks ago.
A user claimed that he/she received a RTM call from Stanford. You can choose to believe it or not believe it. OP will refrain from commenting further due to vicious attacks from the first time it was posted.
Why are positive comments about NYU and Stanford being deleted?
dont act dumb. people are gunners. shit is getting changed in an attempt to manipulate people. It has happened every year and it is hapening again this year. get over it. dont make decisions based on those comments. it is out of our control.
Someone is also deleting positive comments for UCSF and Northwestern...
Anyone know what programs absolutely require STEP 2 in order for application to be reviewed?
only one I'm aware of on the website is Tufts.
UCSF, Cleveland Clinic...
FYI I got an interview at Tufts without taking either Step 2 yet
UCSF? I remember they want something special for Step 2
i think they require step 2 to be RANKED
That's what I understood from their official website, as well. Said need Step 2 scores to be ranked
Any prelim program invites go out yet?
anyone have thoughts on California schools?
expensive living AF
regardless of reputation, a lot of them are super desirable because of their location (and many of them are really good, too) and will be ranked highly by many applicants based on geography alone. Though all relatively highly competitive, UCSF and Stanford are some of the top programs in the nation (in many respects). USC is also a well-respected program with excellent clinical diversity given its county hospital and is a program that is known to give residents great autonomy
Are there any "weak" derm programs in CA? Maybe Loma Linda. Doesn't matter, everyone wants to live in California so they'll all be competitive for that reason alone.| The UC programs are all considered very competitive and strong programs. UCSF is considered a top 5 but has the reputation of being very malignant
From speaking to UCSF residents it actually sounded to me like changes have been made to address some of the issues residents were having - did not get the impression that it was a malignant environment but if someone has some inside info please share!
what was making the program malignant? just the sheer amount of work or interpersonal conflicts? I'm not concerned about the amount of work, but interpersonal conflicts would influence my ranking
Definitely hours and work volume. In the past, on previous spreadsheets, UCSF derm residents seemed pretty exhausted & a little late by the time they got to the applicant pre-interview dinner & it was quite noticeable. I don't believe any of it was interpersonal conflict related. I mean it's UCSF so maybe people just accepted it as is.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/preliminary-transitional-year-interview-thread-2016-2017.1222021/
Thoughts on UCSF vs ? Ignoring the obvious of location
People heard from UCSF?
so did UCSF really give out invites or nah?
So UCSF has sent out 2 invites (per ^)?| Yes, not sure if all went out though!
Is UCSF still calling or are they done sending out invites?
Has anyone recieved confirmation with logistic info, etc. for UCSF or ? no for UCSF
Some posts are shown because their comments mention this program.
No