applying to schools outside of Texas? (dual residency)

[mxis512]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I'm in a unique situation as far as residency goes. I graduated from a Texas high school but my parents live in California. For medical school, it seems that I will be able to claim either state for residency. Because Tmdsas and amcas are separate, I could technically be in-state for both the texas and california public schools. The only problem is Baylor College of Medicine, as it is part of the amcas. Baylor is an amazing school and instate tution there is incredibly cheap. Which brings me to another point, the Texas medical schools, average out to about 20k a year for instate while the california schools average out to around 36k (48k oos) a year for instate.

My question are the following
1. is it worth applying as a california resident in order to get instate tution for the UC's? I have heard that cali schools are notoriously difficult to get into (more so than baylor?). Is it worth giving up the instate discount for baylor?
2. Are california schools worth the 16k per year premium? (e.x UCSD vs UTSW)?
3. should i even bother applying anywhere outside of Texas? I've got a solid range of schools, even a brand new one this cycle (UT Austin)
4. this is incredibly hard to find online, are texas/california public schools generous with aid/merit scholarships?

I appreciate all the help, thanks!

for reference here are my stats
36 MCAT
3.7 GPA (top 20 school)
1 year of research, 200 hours clinical volunteering, 100 shadowing, various other EC's
additionally, I have a 7500 per year scholarship for 4 years for any medical school i decide to go to. this makes schools such as baylor/utsw/uth around 13k a year which is incredibly cheap.

 

[gyngyn]

Less than 200 TX residents matriculated outside of TX last year.
CA residents only get a boost at UCR ( if you have a demonstrated commitment to the IE) and UCD (mostly for commitment to the SJV)
There is no advantage to being a CA resident (unless you fall into one of the above) .
There is a huge advantage to being a TX resident.
Only one residence appears on your AMCAS ap.

 

[mxis512]

Less than 200 TX residents matriculated outside of TX last year.
CA residents only get a boost at UCR ( if you have a demonstrated commitment to the IE) and UCD (mostly for commitment to the SJV)
There is no advantage to being a CA resident (unless you fall into one of the above) .
There is a huge advantage to being a TX resident.
Only one residence appears on your AMCAS ap.

I understand that there is little to no advantage (admissions wise) for california schools so I am focused completely on the financial discount for in state versus oos. I understand that only one residency appears on AMCAS which is why I am asking about making the choice between california for the UC's or Texas for Baylor.

 

[breakintheroof]

1. is it worth applying as a california resident in order to get instate tution for the UC's? I have heard that cali schools are notoriously difficult to get into (more so than baylor?). Is it worth giving up the instate discount for baylor?

Are you sure this will work? Which state to do you live in? I thought that both generally require you to actually live in the state for a year prior to the application deadline in order to qualify for residency (see this for Texas). Or maybe there is some leeway if you are a dependent of your parents on their taxes?

2. Are california schools worth the 16k per year premium? (e.x UCSD vs UTSW)?

I think the OOS tuition penalty generally only lasts one year at the UC schools, after which you can establish state residency. Here's UCSF's information on it.

As gyngyn went over, you are choosing between perhaps the best state to be a resident of in terms of admissions and one of the worst. When in doubt, I'd go all-in on getting that Texas residency.

 

[mxis512]

Are you sure this will work? Which state to do you live in? I thought that both generally require you to actually live in the state for a year prior to the application deadline in order to qualify for residency (see this for Texas). Or maybe there is some leeway if you are a dependent of your parents on their taxes?

I think the OOS tuition penalty generally only lasts one year at the UC schools, after which you can establish state residency. Here's UCSF's information on it.

As gyngyn went over, you are choosing between perhaps the best state to be a resident of in terms of admissions and one of the worst. When in doubt, I'd go all-in on getting that Texas residency.

As mentioned in your link, I will be using option 1 to establish residency in Texas (graduated from a Texas high school)
My permanent address is in California (my parent's address), so I am fairly certain that I will be able to have both residencies should I choose to do so.

Also, I saw you were replying to my worry about the 16k premium for UC schools. That is comparing instate for both Texas and Cali, without any oos tuition penalty(since I would be instate for both schools).

Why do you say that Cali is the worst state to be a resident of?

 

[breakintheroof]

As mentioned in your link, I will be using option 1 to establish residency in Texas (graduated from a Texas high school)
My permanent address is in California (my parent's address), so I am fairly certain that I will be able to have both residencies should I choose to do so.

Also, I saw you were replying to my worry about the 16k premium for UC schools. That is comparing instate for both Texas and Cali, without any oos tuition penalty(since I would be instate for both schools).

Why do you say that Cali is the worst state to be a resident of?

I see three requirements on the TMDSAS link:

1. Graduated from a Texas high school or receive a GED in Texas;
and
2. Lived in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation;
and
3. Lived in Texas continuously for the 12 months immediately preceding the application deadline, October 1

Do you fulfill 2 and 3?

My California comment is regarding the minimal benefit to admission chances. Plus that being OOS there is only a one-time tuition penalty compared to IS.

 

[mxis512]

I see three requirements on the TMDSAS link:

1. Graduated from a Texas high school or receive a GED in Texas;
and
2. Lived in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation;
and
3. Lived in Texas continuously for the 12 months immediately preceding the application deadline, October 1

Do you fulfill 2 and 3?

My California comment is regarding the minimal benefit to admission chances. Plus that being OOS there is only a one-time tuition penalty compared to IS.

Yes, I most definetely fulfill 2, and 3 most likely as my undergrad is in Texas and I live here for a majority of the year excluding breaks.

Ah I understand now, so basically since there is negligible admission benefit, the only benefit whatsoever is a 12k savings on the first year of tuition. I did not know about that, and that makes being a Texas resident for the purpose of being in-state on the AMCAS for Baylor much more appealing. Thank you.

Going off of that note, is it even worth applying to California medical schools? They are far more expensive, and I'm not sure that they are that much better academically that Southwestern/Baylor to be worth the extra money.

 

[breakintheroof]

Yes, I most definetely fulfill 2, and 3 most likely as my undergrad is in Texas and I live here for a majority of the year excluding breaks.

Ah I understand now, so basically since there is negligible admission benefit, the only benefit whatsoever is a 12k savings on the first year of tuition. I did not know about that, and that makes being a Texas resident for the purpose of being in-state on the AMCAS for Baylor much more appealing. Thank you.

Going off of that note, is it even worth applying to California medical schools? They are far more expensive, and I'm not sure that they are that much better academically that Southwestern/Baylor to be worth the extra money.

As an undergrad in Texas I'd think you're good to go for residency there but I'd make super sure given how important it is. (I took an interest in this because of a friend who has a TX high school diploma but no recent time living there, might not help them.)

Not sure about the California schools being worth it, but they are amazing! I'm considering UCSF and am OOS, hence my familiarity with their workings. There's also USC, Stanford, Loma Linda.

 

[gyngyn]

We know that TX applicants overwhelmingly choose TX medical schools.
Over time we have become much more selective regarding which TX applicants we choose to interview.

 

[DokterMom]

Definitely Texas. (Ignoring all the other TX schools for now, for which you have an excellent chance of success...) You've got a great shot at Baylor IF AND ONLY IF you are an 'official' TX resident, as state law requires Baylor to accept 75% in state. For the vast majority of CA schools, state residency doesn't matter much at all. That said, if you DO choose a CA school, you may be able to qualify for in-state residency after acceptance anyway, since apparently, you meet the requirements. So forgo the CA residency for application purposes since it won't do you much, if any, good, and will hurt your shot at Baylor. (Perhaps note that you are technically a CA resident on your CA secondaries, so AdComs will discount the 's/he won't go here anyway since TX is so much cheaper...' mindset.)

Secondly, don't ignore the other Texas schools. You've got great numbers and strong activities, so your odds of acceptance in-state are strong. Consider all of the mid-tier TX schools your safeties --

 

[ErbB1]

Deleted

 

[mxis512]

Definitely Texas. (Ignoring all the other TX schools for now, for which you have an excellent chance of success...) You've got a great shot at Baylor IF AND ONLY IF you are an 'official' TX resident, as state law requires Baylor to accept 75% in state. For the vast majority of CA schools, state residency doesn't matter much at all. That said, if you DO choose a CA school, you may be able to qualify for in-state residency after acceptance anyway, since apparently, you meet the requirements. So forgo the CA residency for application purposes since it won't do you much, if any, good, and will hurt your shot at Baylor. (Perhaps note that you are technically a CA resident on your CA secondaries, so AdComs will discount the 's/he won't go here anyway since TX is so much cheaper...' mindset.)

Secondly, don't ignore the other Texas schools. You've got great numbers and strong activities, so your odds of acceptance in-state are strong. Consider all of the mid-tier TX schools your safeties --

Oh definetely, I will be applying to every single school on the tmdsas. And yep after thinking it through, the edge that I would get for baylor for being in state is something I can't give up for one year of cheaper tuition in cali.
On that note, should I even bother applying anywhere else in the country? All the tmdsas schools+baylor mean like around 8 dirt cheap medical schools that I have a good shot of getting into. I can't imagine very many oos publics or privates would be able to match their price with scholarships? Is that a fair conclusion to come to, or should I still apply oos

 

[DokterMom]

Oh definetely, I will be applying to every single school on the tmdsas. And yep after thinking it through, the edge that I would get for baylor for being in state is something I can't give up for one year of cheaper tuition in cali.
On that note, should I even bother applying anywhere else in the country? All the tmdsas schools+baylor mean like around 8 dirt cheap medical schools that I have a good shot of getting into. I can't imagine very many oos publics or privates would be able to match their price with scholarships? Is that a fair conclusion to come to, or should I still apply oos

That is THE fair and reasonable conclusion --
Really, under what circumstances would you go elsewhere?

 

[LChristmas]

Oh definetely, I will be applying to every single school on the tmdsas. And yep after thinking it through, the edge that I would get for baylor for being in state is something I can't give up for one year of cheaper tuition in cali.
On that note, should I even bother applying anywhere else in the country? All the tmdsas schools+baylor mean like around 8 dirt cheap medical schools that I have a good shot of getting into. I can't imagine very many oos publics or privates would be able to match their price with scholarships? Is that a fair conclusion to come to, or should I still apply oos

IS or OOS, I still think you have a great shot at matriculating in TX with your stats. When I was going through the app process, I found that the staff in the TMDSAS office were great at helping one determine their residency for the purposes of TMDSAS. Given that you're living in TX for your undergrad, I don't see why you would have trouble being considered an IS applicant.

Oh and like others have said, definitely take TX residency over CA!

 

[mxis512]

That is THE fair and reasonable conclusion --
Really, under what circumstances would you go elsewhere?

Personally, in a situation where I did not get into Baylor or Southwestern which are my top 2 choices, and got into a school like a UC or a top 20ish private school, but even then I would probably rather go to UT Houston or UT San Antonio due to the insane difference in tuition costs.

 

[Thangbill]

You can't go wrong in Texas.

 

[Lucca]

We know that TX applicants overwhelmingly choose TX medical schools.
Over time we have become much more selective regarding which TX applicants we choose to interview.

This is interesting because almost every pre-med I know here wants to leave Texas. However, opinions are quick to change when finances come into play...

Some people really hate it here and it is regrettable that going somewhere they would be happier is so financially prohibitive.

 

[Thangbill]

Personally, in a situation where I did not get into Baylor or Southwestern which are my top 2 choices, and got into a school like a UC or a top 20ish private school, but even then I would probably rather go to UT Houston or UT San Antonio due to the insane difference in tuition costs.

By the way, the two Texas Tech schools are great too, despite their locations. Lubbock is the original TT and has the friendliest student body I've ever seen, and will make sure you succeed. El Paso, despite being relatively new, has top 10 curriculum in the nation.

 

[Thangbill]

This is interesting because almost every pre-med I know here wants to leave Texas. However, opinions are quick to change when finances come into play...

Some people really hate it here and it is regrettable that going somewhere they would be happier is so financially prohibitive.

My school is the opposite. Everybody wanted to stay in Texas, and the competitive kids desired Baylor and utsw.

 

[Lucca]

My school is the opposite. Everybody wanted to stay in Texas, and the competitive kids desired Baylor and utsw.

People still want Baylor + UTSW here and it's not like people would rather not become physicians than go to school here but the typical personality of a student here does not align well with most Texas environments (that is, not urban Dallas, Houston, Austin).

 

[gyngyn]

Above posters have mentioned a bias against TX applicants. I wonder if there is a bias among TX schools for those applying out of state? You will have to put that down on your TMDSAS application the OOS schools you are applying to. I applied as a resident for a lot of Texas schools and generally was overlooked by all except UTSW and TT Lubbock (rejected at UTSW, accepted at Lubbock). I got a lot of interviews out of state.

I was even asked about this at Lubbock. "So you're applying to [pretty much every OOS research-heavy school], why do you want to come to Lubbock?"

If they see that you are applying heavily in CA, I wonder if that would influence their view of your application?

This is amazing! AMCAS will not allow this type of prying for exactly this reason.
This explains a lot.

 

[Thangbill]

Above posters have mentioned a bias against TX applicants. I wonder if there is a bias among TX schools against those applying out of state? You will have to put down on your TMDSAS application the OOS schools to which you are applying. I applied as a resident for a lot of Texas schools and was overlooked by all except UTSW and TT Lubbock (rejected at UTSW, accepted at Lubbock). I got a lot of interviews out of state.

I was even asked about this at Lubbock. "So you're applying to [pretty much every OOS research-heavy school], why do you want to come to Lubbock?"

If they see that you are applying heavily in CA, I wonder if that would influence their view of your application?

It is competitive for out-of-state students to get in Texas schools. It's not that the schools are biased, but that the state mandates the schools to accept Texas residents as the majority of their classes (75% at Baylor, 90% at utsw). In return, the schools receive money from the state. This is to ensure the supply of good physicians in Texas.
Logically, out-of-state applications should not affect chances to get in Texas schools, but stats do. I'm in-state, and I got asked the same. It just depends on your interviewer.