UC San Francisco-CA

UCSF

San Francisco, CA

Website: www.dermatology.ucsf.edu/
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

2025–2026 Derm

4 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

💬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

By match cycle

What applicants said in 2027· 5.4 / 10 What applicants said in 2025· 5.6 / 10 What applicants said in 2019· 4.2 / 10

Related programs

Also discussed alongside

Stanford Health Care-CA· 118 threads Mass General Brigham-MA· 116 threads Hosp of the Univ of PA (Dermatology/3 yr)· 107 threads NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY· 76 threads UC San Diego Med Ctr-CA· 30 threads Yale-New Haven Hosp-CT· 30 threads Johns Hopkins Hosp-MD· 24 threads Northwestern McGaw/NMH/VA-IL· 22 threads

Other programs in California

Stanford Health Care-CA· Stanford UCLA Med Ctr-CA· Los Angeles UC San Diego Med Ctr-CA· San Diego 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 29 of 30

Any prelim program invites go out yet?

#14512016-2017 DermMar 22

anyone have thoughts on California schools?

Mar 22

expensive living AF

Mar 22

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

Mar 22

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

Mar 22

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!

Mar 22

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

Mar 22

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.

Mar 22

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/preliminary-transitional-year-interview-thread-2016-2017.1222021/

Mar 22

Thoughts on UCSF vs ? Ignoring the obvious of location

#12952016-2017 DermMar 22

People heard from UCSF?

#12722016-2017 DermMar 22

so did UCSF really give out invites or nah?

#12642016-2017 DermMar 22

So UCSF has sent out 2 invites (per ^)?| Yes, not sure if all went out though!

#12582016-2017 DermMar 22

Is UCSF still calling or are they done sending out invites?

#12342016-2017 DermMar 22

Has anyone recieved confirmation with logistic info, etc. for UCSF or ? no for UCSF

#12312016-2017 DermMar 22

Rejection from UCSF x2 (x 1 billion and one)

#12052016-2017 DermMar 22

Any idea how many interivews UCSF gives out?

#11932016-2017 DermMar 22

If anyone has flexibility with UCSF date, please check switcheroo! Would be much appreciated :) Yeah guys please check the switcheroo tab!

#8512016-2017 DermMar 22

Would any of you pick UCSF/MGH categorical IM over a non-brand-name derm program in a not-so-amazing area?

#6792016-2017 DermMar 22

For UCSF's interview impression post-interview communication, it just says "Call." Does that mean that they called people already? I really feel like one of the reforms in this process should be completely banning all R2M calls because it's pointless and continues to engender anxiety in an already anxiety-ridden process.| Maybe the person that received this call doesnt want to expound any more on this, as they don't know how many people got called and so they don't want to "out" themselves yet

#6712016-2017 DermMar 22

Can someone confirm UCSF RTM - 3 year or 2 applicant?

#6252016-2017 DermMar 22

Does anyone know how competitve those 1-year fellowships in complex medical derm and derm-rheum are for those of us who end up at non-top-tier programs? I'm only asking because these fellowships are located at Harvard/UCSF/Penn/NYU and am wondering if they usually just take their own

#6232016-2017 DermMar 22

Anyone know how serious UCSF is about doing a prelim versus transitional year? The TY I'd be doing is not an easy or cushy one by a long shot.

#6032016-2017 DermMar 22

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