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
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seems like a lot of programs aren't sending rejections compared to last year, probably ghosting us but would be nice to get the rejection so I don't have any false hope
hoping for an interview as a christmas gift from someone who cancels/reschedules>
We should get a bunch after 1/1/26 (per APD guidelines)
POOP
Thoughts on UCSD as a program?
> Very strong basic science research, probably one of the most research heavy programs in CA other than UCSF, lacking in SOC
how is the cultlure? between residents and attendings and residents amongst themselves? seems like they aren't the most cohesive group
POOP
how is the cultlure? between residents and attendings and residents amongst themselves? seems like they aren't the most cohesive group
What do ppl talk abt during online socials? Got my first derm one tmrw idk what to expect, and apparently the faculty will also be there
> at ours they did 3 breakout rooms with different years of residents, we rotated between the rooms and usually introduced ourselves and then it was an open Q and A - super chill!
is this UCSF
sometimes they'll do little icebreakers or games! It's very chill
OP: why's faculty there thoooi
haha idk if that will make this less chill, maybe they're hip faculty lol
some of the new grad attendings on my rotations have been some of the coolest ppl I've ever met, so chill and fun to be around
is this UCSF
sometimes they'll do little icebreakers or games! It's very chill
OP: why's faculty there thoooi
haha idk if that will make this less chill, maybe they're hip faculty lol
some of the new grad attendings on my rotations have been some of the coolest ppl I've ever met, so chill and fun to be around
What programs are volume madhouses that give residents the most autonomy / early independence?
no
yes
inside you there are two wolves
POOP
UCSF 100%< NYU < most community programs are known for having better volume than academic but have less or no specialty clinics
UTMB gives very early autonomy
Wake Forest is crazy high volume with lots of autonomy.
Lol this is absolutely not true; WF has their PGY3 derms presenting all their cases to their attendings like a med student. Saw a senior last year beg to sneak an extra excision
yes
inside you there are two wolves
UTMB gives very early autonomy
Lol this is absolutely not true; WF has their PGY3 derms presenting all their cases to their attendings like a med student. Saw a senior last year beg to sneak an extra excision
anyone have any info on St. Mary's UCSF prelim, both interview and the program itself/schedule?
POOP
Why is Hopkins derm program relatively less stronger than their peer institutes like Harvard, UCSF, Penn? Never really understood why this is the case
Hopkins derm is fine and great education - splitting hairs at this point tbh.
Rankings are basically equivalent to research funding amounts so they probably have less derm research relative to the others
how are the research opportunities for hopkins med students?
Shhhh no one let them in on the Hopkins and Baltimore charm, keep out the competition < < Hopkins is a gem
POOP
Can someone answer UCSF vs Stanford derm aside from prestige please? What's overall quality of life like based on hours and where you live
mbn
brother theres maybe fewer than 10 ppl that can explain this difference for you >agree you need to reach out to residents instead of a spreadsheet of anons if you want reliable answers
Should I reach out to residents for questions after interview day (vs before)?
before may help you in your interview but idk. I also think after makes more sense in terms of making a rank list depending on what the interview was like (aka maybe the social/interview will give you more answers)
POOP
before may help you in your interview but idk. I also think after makes more sense in terms of making a rank list depending on what the interview was like (aka maybe the social/interview will give you more answers)
Anyone schedule Vandy yet?
yes now its open
get it while it's hot> it wasn't as bad as I thought lol
UCSF release was more brutal! Lol
Stanford vs UCSF, UCLA vs USC? Thoughts?
UCSF all the way
based on what qualities?
UCSF
Stanford >>>> USC
UCLA
why is ucsf better?
Stanford >>>> USC
UCLA
why is ucsf better?
Does anyone know the competitiveness of the peds derm track at UCSF? Was it super competitive this year? Regretted applying when I saw that they preferred applicants w/ peds residency after the fact. One of my biggest regrets of this whole process.
it's new this year. About as competitive as the regular track
my friend who did not do a peds residency got an interview.
Oh I just sucked then that's ok was just cope
How many people do they interview for one spot?
also, if we chose peds derm track were we considered for the regular program?
also, if we chose peds derm track were we considered for the regular program?
Does anybody know how many interviews UCSF sends out?
like 22 rip
Damn, that reality fucking stings lol
Does the 22 include all the special tracks too?
Their website just says 22-24 for clinical track interviews, 8-10 physician scientists
Also found this on UCSF website "We strongly urge applicants to seek rigorous internship training in preliminary internal medicine or pediatrics programs that are highly academic. Our experience has been that trainees who select the certain transitional year (TY) internships or internships in community hospitals that are not closely tied to an academic medical center struggle during their first year of dermatology residency. If you rank UCSF Dermatology, we expect you to apply for, interview with and seek to match at a rigorous, academic preliminary internship program. " >bruh
lol they can't enforce that tho
lol they can't enforce that tho
Did anyone here apply for the UCSF Peds Derm focus track? Do you have to be a former Pediatrician to apply?
"Completion of pediatric residency by start of dermatology training preferred but not required."
yes, did everyone get the email this week about their separate interview date?
yes i did, and no you dont have to be a former pediatrician to apply
Has anyone heard from UCSF St Mary prelim?x2-> does this mean you have or are you also asking the same question? / asking same question
Does anyone know when UCSF, Henry Ford, Kaiser SCAL, Hackensack or New York Medical College are set to release IIs?
UCSF is 11/17
echoing the henry ford question <3
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)
see if you get an interview first and then you can debate this when making your rank list.
they have no SOC clinic or faculty which says a lot.
Lol "slight in", get over yourself pls
no one has a "slight in" in 2025 unless your parent is on faculty tbh
while we're on this note, I'm debating if I like UCSF or Penn more. What do you guys think
lmfao > Y'alls mean girl is really coming out this time of year huh
What counts as a "slight in" is it your home program?
if it's their home program presumably they wouldn't be asking this q lol
no one has a "slight in" in 2025 unless your parent is on faculty tbh
while we're on this note, I'm debating if I like UCSF or Penn more. What do you guys think
lmfao > Y'alls mean girl is really coming out this time of year huh
if it's their home program presumably they wouldn't be asking this q lol
Some posts are shown because their comments mention this program.
UCSF please :(