USC bac/md vs psu/jeff prog?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
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<p>interesting decision; opposite sides of the specturm but my considerations is i can't pass up usc since im from SD and have been there so many times and the campus is awesome along with the people there ( i almost have liek a freakin emotional connection to it cuz i think the school is amazing); weather is a definite plus along with location; it will probably be a little easier to get matchlisted in the west coast; awesome undergrad and med skool (lac hospital is a different experience in my mind - 2nd biggest and a whole new hospital is almost ready and will be ready for when im in med school) the only downside is that its 8 years</p>

<p>penn state undergrad is very similiar to usc - college campus, great spirit and athletics, social scene, wasn't AS comfortable there as I would be at usc but that could be an easy adaption especially with summer courses; jefferson med seems pretty nice especially in downtown philly, solid instituition leaning towards clinical training (maybe more important then research which is better at usc); main attraction is 6 year program and the people in the program seem verry supportive and helpful when needed; right after the weekend visit i got names and contact information of all the first year students (usc's office won't give me one contact information for a bac/md student)</p>

<p>so as of right now im leaning towards penn state b/c its practical and ithink like 2.5 years of undergrad will be enough and great experience for college and since the undergrads of both places are kinda similiar and since the med schools are both good, i don't see how usc can be worth it over 2 years; but then usc is in socal and awesome as well so i really don't know! any suggestions would be appreciated</p>

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<p>wow...great choices</p>

<p>i would probably pick usc because I would love the weather and atmosphere there</p>

<p>but you are right...the best aspect of the psu program is the closeknit network among the progs (although some see it as a disadvantage because they don't want to be lumped into a group of friends)</p>

<p>and just so you know, the weather in psu is absolutely horrible in the winter!!</p>

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<p>rishu, im not telling you this because im going to penn state but because this is what i honestly think.</p>

<p>honestly, this is a REALLY hard decision. i can only imagine what its like since I was kinda in the same deal with UCSD. but think about it. USC is unbelievable in most every way: the people, the campus, the med school, the weather. however, it does have its drawbacks. its pretty expensive to begin with. even with the presidential its undergrad is steep in- state. med school is pretty expensive also. also the cost spans over 8 years, which makes it even worse. and im saying this only because I had a cousin who was in the program for undergrad and later went to UCI cuz med school was tooo steep.</p>

<p>as far as the quality of your experience, i think it would be similar at either place. both USC and PSU have great undergrads as you said. footballs huge, parties are crazy good, you know the deal. both med schools are really good, probably USC' s a little better in research. while USC has LAC hospitals, Jefferson has UPenn's hostpial plus Jefferson plus several others around philly. as far as residencies, both Jefferson and Keck match VERY well, almost to the point that comparing the too is hard. i have a few friends that graduated from PSU/Jeff, and they were saying how they and their friends had incredible residencies (UCLA, Mayo, Cleveland, WashU) consistently. so as far as matching, you'll be fine, even if u want to match on the west coast.</p>

<p>and as u said before, PSU/ Jeff has an amazing network. its extremely tight and your bound to have help ready if u need it. USC' Bac/MD, as far as I have heard, is a guarantee more than a program. the network is almost non- existent. and if ur worried about other stuff like study abroad and time off. it can be done at either place, just like we saw from Prog Weekend. basically, ur not missing out at Penn State nor at USC.</p>

<p>I guess it comes down to the whole 6 yr vs. 8 yr thing then. i thought at first that 2 yrs isn't a big deal, afterall its only 2 out of 70- 80 some years in your life. but 2 years is a big deal. say ur 18 rt now + 8 yrs schooling + 4 yrs residency on average + 1 year fellowship, ur looking at 13 yrs in school, probably even more. by then, ull be like 31, and it would matter to you. 2 years earlier means 2 more years to stay young in your twenties. i don't know i may be idealizing too much, but think about it.</p>

<p>so basically, think about it this way. u have two great programs with great people, just think about it what i said. best of luck with wherever you go, and keep in touch (if u wanna chat, sn: digital288)!</p>

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<p>amarpan- "2 years earlier means 2 more years to stay young in your twenties" What is really the quality of life during these years? I mean by that time one would be working, establishing a practice, paying back loans etc. It doesn't sound as fun as two years in undergrad. The time span between end of med school and residency is a week or two-that's it. Once you start med school you leave a big part of being young behind....</p>

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<p>rishug, i missed prog weekend, but i was just at psu, and all the progs there are really looking foward to you attending, you're not going to get that kind of a welcoming party at usc</p>

<p>amarpan, howd u make the decision between ucsd and psu, i'm facing the same dilemma right now</p>

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<p>bharath2007: by the time someone is 31 and just finished all his training, i bet he is gonna wish he were younger. i mean most people in their early 30s are pretty established by then and have decent lives. someone coming out of medical school is gonna face the troubles of starting up a bit late, especially with a love interest and maybe even kids by then. 2 years can save you a lot. btw, at penn state, in 2 years people have a blast. i have yet to find someone that has said that 2 years restricted how much fun they had in college. </p>

<p>docontheroc: i actuallly had to make my decision whether to go to Prog Weekend or the UCSD interview. I ended up cacelling interviews for both UCSD and Rice/ Baylor among several others (TCNJ, RPI, Union, Temple, Ohio State) that I knew I wouldn't go to over Penn State. For UCSD at least, I have a friend whos currently in the program there and was in between PSU and UCSD last year. He says its alrite since its unorganized and not very program- like. Its a guarantee more than anything. plus since 8 years cannot be compressed at all, hes gonna finish a year early and he literallly has nothing to do. he might travel somewhere, but its gonna be hard to get back into the rhythm once medical school comes. As far as undergrad, I felt as though Penn State definitely outweighed UCSD as far as campus culture and activities. Even though UCSD is on the beach, I know very few people at UCSD that use it on a normal basis other than in the summer, but even then. Plus UCSD doesn't have a football team among other things. Penn State's colder, but football is huge (even though they were alrite this year), parties are big, and there's much to do on campus at least. Bost honestly, both choices are solid, you'll be fine anywhere. Good luck!</p>

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<p>ehhh...psu is much colder than cali</p>

<p>and you guys are lucky because the football program is on the rebound (they've really sucked it up the last 2 years)</p>

<p>the parties are fairly large but I wouldn't say there's that much to do on campus...it is, after all, in the middle of pa (aka middle of nowhere!)</p>

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<p>amarpan, my brother-in-law, a specialist in anesthesia, suggested a 8-year program. You wrote "most in 30s are pretty established". Please define "established". I cannot see graduating 2 years earlier can have such a huge lead for a career that will last easily 30 years or more . Your mileage certainly varies. But I know for sure that if I can turn back the clock, I would want to return to the undergraduate days. I do not want to cut those days any shorter than they were. Besides, I have stayed in Midwest and Upstate NY for 7 years. It is cold brrrrrrrr and gloomy in winter and humid and steamy in the summer.</p>

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<p>ya i was leaning heavily towards psu but im kind of rethinking the situation; in the short run going 2 years earlier is awesome but after that i think its a moot point and staying longer as an undergraduate would be desired, but then agian its like im graduating as a sophomore....</p>

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<p>ceetee, i meant other people in other professions, not medicine. like your friends will be established when ur in residency still. sorry for the confusion.</p>

<p>rishu, you'll be fine anywhere. once again, its a tough decision either way. just think it through...</p>

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<p>If it were I, I'd take USC because they consider the program one huge learning experience; that is, they want you to explore all your options. Plus, you don't have to maintain a certain GPA; I guess that's because of the 'learning experience.' I thought of 6-year programs too, and I may apply to some next year (yeah, I’m currently a junior), but then I realized that college is probably going to be one of the best times of my life, so why make it shorter? Also, Keck School of Medicine is probably a better med school in terms of research.</p>

<p>But that’s just my two cents…
Whatever you choose, good luck; both schools are excellent.</p>

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<p>usc you have to maintain a 3.3 gpa and get 9's on the 3 sections of the mcat. </p>

<p>rishug87-when did you have your interview?
i interviewed this year and got in this year as well
I might have run into you at the interviews or so.</p>

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<p>i interviewed the second session i was the guy from san diego if you were from the second session i bet i met you, wat's ur name? i changed my mind and proly will go to usc, are you going as well?</p>

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<p>omggggg! You're the indian guy right, ahh i don't remember your name, but I was at the second interview as well. I was that loud asian girl ahaha (Christine) remember we were making fun of the guy with the business card? Hum I think I remember who you are, but there were many people from san diego as well.</p>

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<p>i've heard things about the 6-7 year programs where they just cram everything in and you really don't get a chance to mature and grow up outside of the classroom and all you do is study during your time during college, congrats btw ;]</p>

<p>besides you're a socal kid, we don't know what on earth snow in december is and we haven't really experienced 4 seasons!</p>

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<p>OMG YES U GOT IN?!?! THE ONE TALKIGN ABOUT THE WAFFLES?! HAHAH THATS AWESOME .... and we thought we were gonna get rejected cuz we were so freakin loud and fanny told us to shut up a million times</p>

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<p>LOL YES i'm the waffle one! AHHA i know I seriously thought we were gunna get kicked off the bus and outta the program for being so loud! ahaha what's your email or aim? we can catch up over aim or email</p>

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<p>rishug -- are u the dude that had the interview with the panel that was hardcore? I was the indian guy (yeah that narrows it down) who went in after you. I also made it.</p>

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<p>oh yeah rishug you were the one who got the business cards from the mean guy?
brownjigga-hum I'm not so sure I rememeber you =&lt;/p>

<p>haha I was the one who talked about the waffles!</p>

<p>have you guys heard news about any other bac med kids?</p>

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<p>ya that was me that harrrrrrrd interviewre, the one who like told us that we came from an affluent background based on our high school? didn't u say that u liek told them ur mom got laid off from work or something or had liek 3 jobs and that kinda shut him up? u were the one with the backpack rite?</p>

<p>yup i was the guy honored with the business card, i still have i keep it as a treasur</p>

<p>rishugupta is Sn
<a href="mailto:rishug87@yahoo.com">rishug87@yahoo.com</a></p>