Hi everyone! I'm feeling super grateful to have these two options, but am feeling conflicted with the Commit to Enroll deadline coming up. I'm a first-gen and low-income student, thinking anesthesia/ophtho, URM. Just came back from UCSF ASW and absolutely loved the vibes from the other admitted and current students. I feel like I would really regret not going to UCSF but unsure if it's just recency bias from the past weekend 😵‍💫

Stanford

Pros (+)

Full need-based COA scholarship 

Went to undergrad here and familiar with resources and campus

P/F preclinical

Smaller class size (~90) so maybe more individualized attention?

Full funding for research year or Master’s 

More convenient life (parking available, on-campus housing, nearby grocery stores, etc.)

Easier to find pet-friendly housing

Cons (-)

Curriculum emphasizes entrepreneurship, innovation and tech (don’t care for it)

Less diversity in clinical training

Moving back to graded clinicals

Same environment as undergrad, might want a change

Vibes at Discovery Days were okay, felt slightly pretentious

UCSF

Pros (+)

Strong mission alignment in health equity and justice

Love the people (students, faculty) and culture 

More diverse student and patient population (larger affinity groups, felt so much more welcome during ASW, vibes were actually insane)

Located in a city environment

P/F preclinical + clinical

Unmatched clinical training

Cons (-)

Take out loans for living expenses (~$30k/yr)

Renting and parking in SF seems difficult and stressful, harder to find pet-friendly housing

Large class size (~180 students)