Upenn vs. UCSF vs. Harvard

[dental333]

Hey guys,
I've read a few threads on this, but I was wondering if I can get some advice...
I think both Harvard and UCSF are P/F (or H/P/F), and Upenn is letter grade.
I'm thinking about specializing in the future. Is a P/F system really "more" beneficial for specializing? I know extracurriculars (research, volunteer, etc.) are also important, but personally, my grades stand out the most. On the other hand though..... not gonna lie.... the P/F system does relieve some stress.

Cost isn't that big of an issue for me (scholarships).... I just want to find a program that suits me the best. Any advice is appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

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[P0W3RL1FT3R]

If cost isn’t an issue go to Harvard. You can specialize anywhere, especially from Harvard.

 

[Lau Sang]

You feel like you'll kill all the competition if you go to a graded school, and having A's might be better than passing at a school pumping out specialist? Is that your question? The way I see it is if you're working on the A's you're probably not working on the extracurriculars as much as you could. But I just got accepted into dental school lol... I have no clue how specializing works.

May I ask what scholarships you're referring to? I know Penn and UCSF publicly acknowledge their scholarships, but I didn't know Harvard gave scholarships???

 

[iliketeeth13]

Comparing my experience and my boyfriend’s (he goes to PDM), I say go to a P/F school if you can. His workload is huge and he’s constantly stressed... on the other hand, I can get an 85 and feel great. That gives me time to do so many more things, like volunteering, hanging with friends, hobbies. Also, one thing that gets forgotten sometimes is the competition aspect. Gunners are much more of a problem at a graded and ranked school than a P/F one

I have no clue how big UCSF’s class size is, but keep in mind that PDM and HSDM have extremely different class sizes. I love my small class because I know everyone well, while my boyfriend still doesn’t know a handful of people. This is definitely personal preference but really important!

 

[wengerout]

I’d say Harvard


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[ucsfbound2017]

I would say UCSF, but I am biased - that said, I will give you my insight...

UCSF is a bargain once you include in state tuition, scholarships, and grants they give. This year every one of my classmates received a 5k (minimum) grant along with 2.4k housing grant to subsidize housing. Once you tack on the fact that over 50% of my classmates got Medical and Food Stamps (yes, we qualify for them in California)... it becomes one of the cheapest schools to attend.

Research is par none and the ability to reach out and build a legit research project is at your grasp (look up summer research fellowship). In regards to mentorship, you have everything at your grasp

P/F curriculum and (in my biased opinion) the most collaborative and helpful class (and upperclassman), 2.5 months off to study for the CBSE/GRE/Do research/do whatever and this becomes the best school to attend

Again my opinion, but I wouldn't ever want to be anywhere else

P.S- I want to do OMFS, and the mentorship I have received from upperclassmen, residents, and attendings is something I just couldn't find at other schools.

 

[Medin2017]

I would say UCSF, but I am biased - that said, I will give you my insight...

UCSF is a bargain once you include in state tuition, scholarships, and grants they give. This year every one of my classmates received a 5k (minimum) grant along with 2.4k housing grant to subsidize housing. Once you tack on the fact that over 50% of my classmates got Medical and Food Stamps (yes, we qualify for them in California)... it becomes one of the cheapest schools to attend.

Research is par none and the ability to reach out and build a legit research project is at your grasp (look up summer research fellowship). In regards to mentorship, you have everything at your grasp

P/F curriculum and (in my biased opinion) the most collaborative and helpful class (and upperclassman), 2.5 months off to study for the CBSE/GRE/Do research/do whatever and this becomes the best school to attend

Again my opinion, but I wouldn't ever want to be anywhere else

P.S- I want to do OMFS, and the mentorship I have received from upperclassmen, residents, and attendings is something I just couldn't find at other schools.

Jealous of the 2.5 months. My school doesn't really have a dedicated period at all...

 

[ucsfbound2017]

Jealous of the 2.5 months. My school doesn't really have a dedicated period at all...

Where do you go?

 

[Medin2017]

Where do you go?

Would prefer to stay anonymous since some things I say "rock the boat" if you will, but not to an awesome p/f school like you do that's for sure.

 

[0rgansm]

I would say UCSF, but I am biased - that said, I will give you my insight...

UCSF is a bargain once you include in state tuition, scholarships, and grants they give. This year every one of my classmates received a 5k (minimum) grant along with 2.4k housing grant to subsidize housing. Once you tack on the fact that over 50% of my classmates got Medical and Food Stamps (yes, we qualify for them in California)... it becomes one of the cheapest schools to attend.

Research is par none and the ability to reach out and build a legit research project is at your grasp (look up summer research fellowship). In regards to mentorship, you have everything at your grasp

P/F curriculum and (in my biased opinion) the most collaborative and helpful class (and upperclassman), 2.5 months off to study for the CBSE/GRE/Do research/do whatever and this becomes the best school to attend

Again my opinion, but I wouldn't ever want to be anywhere else

P.S- I want to do OMFS, and the mentorship I have received from upperclassmen, residents, and attendings is something I just couldn't find at other schools.

Isn’t UCSF honors/pass/fail?

 

[ucsfbound2017]

Would prefer to stay anonymous since some things I say "rock the boat" if you will, but not to an awesome p/f school like you do that's for sure.

Isn’t UCSF honors/pass/fail?

The last two years, which are your clinic years. It didn't really amount to anything when it comes time for residency matches - the school wants its students to match into top programs and make the most of their professional career. If you have honors, it's highlighted. If not, it isn't brought up. Honors don't have much meaning since it's not really related to coursework.

 

[FanOfCostco]

Depends if you like cheese steaks, chowdah (and live with the most annoying accent in the world), or whatever sf is good for.