School 1: UOP
Pros:
Pros:
Summary:
Given that both of these schools are in SF, my main focus is the difference in grading systems, 3 year program vs 4, and what will put me in a better spot to specialize.
With regards to differences in cost, it is not something I am super concerned about right now as I don’t want to go to a school just because it is cheaper; however I would still love your input because I haven't looked much into the cost difference between the schools.
Some other things I am considering is that my family is in LA and I am very close with them, so I would like some free time to occasionally see them, which I worry I wouldn’t get if I went with UOP. However, I have taken 2 gap years, so I am a little eager to finish school sooner, which I would get with UOP, so I am very torn on this 3 vs 4 year program.
Pros:
- 3 year program. I plan to specialize so saving a year to reach my end goal sounds appealing.
- The facility is beautiful and very modern
- Extremely supportive and kind faculty. I felt so welcomed by the staff from the moment they called to let me know about my interview, and that continued while I was there for my interview and again when I was told I got in.
- With a 3 year program, I worry that I will be overworked with schoolwork, and lack any sort of work/life balance
- Not the best location when compared to UCSF
- Letter grading and a more competitive environment as students are ranked
Pros:
- Big name school (In my head UCSF seems to have a more prestigious reputation just for the name of UCSF alone. I was told that UCSF is the “Harvard of the West Coast”, but is any of that true?)
- Pass/Fail grading (could be pro or con)
- Better location
- Smaller class size (only 60 according to admissions)
- Better learning environment as students are not ranked amongst each other
- 4 year program
- Facilities seem more dated/less modern compared to UOP*
- Lacking in clinical experience?
- Much less personable compared to UOP— first person I ever spoke to was when I got my acceptance. Everything else was via email and the interview was pre-recorded via Kira Talent
Summary:
Given that both of these schools are in SF, my main focus is the difference in grading systems, 3 year program vs 4, and what will put me in a better spot to specialize.
With regards to differences in cost, it is not something I am super concerned about right now as I don’t want to go to a school just because it is cheaper; however I would still love your input because I haven't looked much into the cost difference between the schools.
Some other things I am considering is that my family is in LA and I am very close with them, so I would like some free time to occasionally see them, which I worry I wouldn’t get if I went with UOP. However, I have taken 2 gap years, so I am a little eager to finish school sooner, which I would get with UOP, so I am very torn on this 3 vs 4 year program.
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