Aways and Regional Bias

[givesmegas]

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Another 3rd year starting to prepare for aways. I was wondering how much of a regional bias there is for anesthesiology residencies. I'm from the west coast (but not CA) and currently go to a mid/lower tier med school on the east coast. Right now I am pretty much open to moving anywhere for a good program. I'm an average anesthesia applicant in most regards except a high Step 2 score and a fair amount of anesthesia and non-anesthesia research. I'm interested in some midwest and mid-atlantic programs such as Vandy, UAB, UVA, the Chicago and NC schools, etc. and was wondering if there is a noticeable regional bias for interview offers. Would doing an away in the area be necessary/benedficial to show interest for people that have no connection to the area?

 

[geogil]

Another 3rd year starting to prepare for aways. I was wondering how much of a regional bias there is for anesthesiology residencies. I'm from the west coast (but not CA) and currently go to a mid/lower tier med school on the east coast. Right now I am pretty much open to moving anywhere for a good program. I'm an average anesthesia applicant in most regards except a high Step 2 score and a fair amount of anesthesia and non-anesthesia research. I'm interested in some midwest and mid-atlantic programs such as Vandy, UAB, UVA, the Chicago and NC schools, etc. and was wondering if there is a noticeable regional bias for interview offers. Would doing an away in the area be necessary/benedficial to show interest for people that have no connection to the area?

Wait, how are you an MS3 but have a step 2 score? Which are the midwest programs you're interested in?

 

[xbulletin]

The worst regional bias is going from east coast to west coast (NYC applicant applying to cali, and vice versa). Being from the west coast and now living on the east coast, this should affect you less.

From people I know who applied broadly, there isn't much of a bias between NE, SE, and midwest.

 

[givesmegas]

Wait, how are you an MS3 but have a step 2 score? Which are the midwest programs you're interested in?

I don't really have a specific list of schools in mind since I don't really know too much about the specific programs. I'm more going off location right now and will hopefully get the interviews to assess the programs. Of course, the usual suspects of reach schools come to mind like Northwestern, U of C, Wash U, etc and the other ones I mentioned earlier (I'm not a 100% sure where the line between the midwest, south and atlantic is....)

 

[sunset823]

I received a year-long research grant/scholarship that I didn't mention (didn't want to turn my post into a "what are my chances" sort of thread) so I'm technically in between 3rd and 4th year. I just usually go with "I'm a 3rd year" student for the simplicity of it. I did my Step 2 CK and CS prior to starting research.

I don't really have a specific list of schools in mind since I don't really know too much about the specific programs. I'm more going off location right now and will hopefully get the interviews to assess the programs. Of course, the usual suspects of reach schools come to mind like Northwestern, U of C, Wash U, etc and the other ones I mentioned earlier (I'm not a 100% sure where the line between the midwest, south and atlantic is....)

I like to consider myself an expert in demarcating regions, based on the culture of the places, because I've lived in a lot of places within this vicinity (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, DC). Ohio and west up to the Dakotas down to Kansas = Midwest; Pennsylvania/DC (including its VA suburbs)/Maryland and East/North = Atlantic (though Pittsburgh is more of a midwestern city to me, so I personally demarcate Atlantic as starting in Philly); Oklahoma/Arkansas/Kentucky/West Virginia/Virginia and south = South

Since I've lived in most parts of the country (Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, New England, mid-South) I would consider applying to, the only place I'd be concerned about is the west coast, which, though I've been there a lot, I've never actually lived. But I know from my (midwestern) school quite a few people are able to get aways in the west coast, and this is what I'm planning as well.