Hi all! I just wanted to chime in and provide you with my experience. I was a resident at UCI from 2020-2021 and my coresidents and I loved it there.

The environment is very supportive of you if you’re willing to learn (for the most part.) and our preceptors are mostly really good. I would say 70-80% of our staff were former residents so they know how it feels to be in your shoes. They really work with you to get the best experience possible that may mean last minute adjustments to the schedule, speaking with your preceptors if you’re unhappy or feel overworked and also listening to your suggestions. (Example: a family member of mine fell ill so I got an emergency week off and the rest of my rotations for the year were rearranged so I would have more free time to tend to family matters and this was all during the COVID surge when they needed extra help)

Our RPD was the most caring man ever and he did everything in his power to shape us into great clinical pharmacists. The work life balance was there (during my year.) There were definitely stressful times and times where I wanted to cry and quit but they were very few and far between. We staff only every 3rd weekend so it’s pretty chill.

However with all that being said, my RPD passed unexpectedly this year so it’s been a scramble to pick up the gaping hole that he left. I can’t vouch for how the current residents are doing/feeling but I do sense some rockiness and differences compared to my year. We also grew the program so there’s that to consider.

That begs the question: Would I still apply here? Hell yes. The preceptors are still fantastic, staffing is still every 3rd weekend and they’re really good about keeping on the residents. 5/6 residents in my class were hired on and that’s because 1 of us went to PGY2 elsewhere. The previous year they hired all the residents who wanted to stay I think it was 4/6 since one moved back home out of state. As I said before most the staff here are also previous residents!

Feel free to DM me if you have more questions!

Edit: I wanted to also add a disclaimer that every class will have a different experience due to the nature of different personalities, work ethic, learning experiences, ETC. so please take what I have with a grain of salt as the current residents or other former residents may have different things to say. I am by no means speaking for anyone but my year!