Changing residency mid cycle

[fareedn]

I'm moving from TX to CA in the middle of the cycle, and wanted to get some advice if I should update my state residency on amcas or directly with schools?
How does it affect my chances for CA schools? I applied mid August and have not received any IIs so far (LM 75). I have not applied to any TX schools!

Thanks!

 

[ecobio]

You should change your address on AMCAS. I cant recall if you are able to change your state residency.

It will be unlikely to move the needle at CA schools which are notoriously difficult for their in state students to be accepted into.

 

[polymerization]

I can't imagine why someone would want to do this. If anything, you're going from the best state for premeds to the worst state for premeds.

The number of medical schools in Texas and the closed nature of TMDSAS means that you are facing a much smaller competitive pool relative to AMCAS and AACOMAS. TX schools, to my knowledge, are also much less costly paths to the MD than OOS schools.

Conversely, CA has several esteemed medical schools that view themselves primarily as national resources due to their relative strength as institutions compared to flagship schools in many other states, so there is fierce competition, not only from CA students who would like to stay there, but also from students all across the country that would love to live and train there.

Even if you could change your residency status mid-cycle, I can only see downsides. If you plan on applying TMDSAS, it will probably cause downstream problems there. If you don't, I suspect you'll probably be considered a TX resident anyway (and thus assumed to be applying TMDSAS by OOS schools), where you'll probably experience some bias as well. There's a reason why TX students only apply to AMCAS for a handful of strong mission-fit schools they hope will overcome that bias.

In other words, this seems like the worst of both worlds.

 

[TMDSASSY]

CA schools which are notoriously difficult for their in state students to be accepted into.

Is that true? I keep seeing that mentioned but a quick look on MSARS shows:

UCSF
In-State | 4262 applicants | 134 matriculated | 3.14%
OOS | 5179 applicants | 40 matriculated | 0.77%

UCLA
In-State | 4783 applicants | 104 matriculated | 2.17%
OOS | 5843 applicants | 60 matriculated | 1.03%

UC Irvine
In-State | 4923 applicants | 95 matriculated | 1.93%
OOS | 1954 applicants | 18 matriculated | 0.92%

UC Davis
In-State | 4963 applicants | 132 matriculated | 2.66%
OOS | 2369 applicants | 5 matriculated | 0.21%

USC
In-State | 4330 applicants | 99 matriculated | 2.29%
OOS | 4045 applicants | 20 matriculated | 0.49%

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I am not a lawyer, but I don't quite know if domicility is measured from the day you move or the day you matriculate. You should look up each University's policies (registrar office, usually). I think you need to live in the state for a certain period of time. I'm not sure future residency is advantageous by itself.

 

[chilly_md]

Is that true? I keep seeing that mentioned but a quick look on MSARS shows:

Those CA applicants are already a strong pool. Those with multiple acceptances are also more likely to decline OOS ones so they can remain in CA. UCI, UCR, UCD and CUSM are the ones where the class is principally IS, but it is certainly not easy to end up at any of them. Perhaps the only helpful thing would have been to attend UCR in undergrad and get accepted to the med school through their special program.

 

[TMDSASSY]

Those CA applicants are already a strong pool. Those with multiple acceptances are also more likely to decline OOS ones so they can remain in CA. UCI, UCR, UCD and CUSM are the ones where the class is principally IS, but it is certainly not easy to end up at any of them. Perhaps the only helpful thing would have been to attend UCR in undergrad and get accepted to the med school through their special program.

I'm not saying that getting into any of the UC schools are easy. 2-3% matriculant rate means you're competing against the best. But the original statement that California schools are notoriously hard to get into insinuates that is easier as an OOS applicant and that is clearly not true.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm moving from TX to CA in the middle of the cycle, and wanted to get some advice if I should update my state residency on amcas or directly with schools?
How does it affect my chances for CA schools? I applied mid August and have not received any IIs so far (LM 75). I have not applied to any TX schools!

Thanks!

Not applying to any TX schools was error #1 as a TX resident.
Putting all your eggs in the OOS basket is ballsy, particularly as a TX resident given that many schools will yield-protect figuring that anyone with a choice between OOS school and In-state TX will choose TX.

AMCAS will let you change your mailing address (s) but I'm unclear how state of residence is determined by AMCAS...

"Your preferred address is the address where any physical mail from medical schools will be sent. If your preferred address changes after you submit your application, you can update and save the changes by officially updating your application by selecting the Resubmit Application button. Be sure to keep both your email address and your preferred address current."

"If your permanent address changes after you submit your application to the AMCAS program, you may update the address and then save the change by officially updating your application by selecting the Resubmit Application button."

It might be worth notifying each school with the message that you've changed your address and are now a California resident.

 

[chilly_md]

I'm not saying that getting into any of the UC schools are easy. 2-3% matriculant rate means you're competing against the best. But the original statement that California schools are notoriously hard to get into insinuates that is easier as an OOS applicant and that is clearly not true.

No that statement was that becoming a CA resident will not really help their chances, which is true.

 

[fareedn]

Not applying to any TX schools was error #1 as a TX resident.
Putting all your eggs in the OOS basket is ballsy, particularly as a TX resident given that many schools will yield-protect figuring that anyone with a choice between OOS school and In-state TX will choose TX.

AMCAS will let you change your mailing address (s) but I'm unclear how state of residence is determined by AMCAS...

"Your preferred address is the address where any physical mail from medical schools will be sent. If your preferred address changes after you submit your application, you can update and save the changes by officially updating your application by selecting the Resubmit Application button. Be sure to keep both your email address and your preferred address current."

"If your permanent address changes after you submit your application to the AMCAS program, you may update the address and then save the change by officially updating your application by selecting the Resubmit Application button."

It might be worth notifying each school with the message that you've changed your address and are now a California resident.

Both preferred and permanent address is our CA address, however, I still had my TX job and DL at the time of application so I had to enter TX as my legal residency state. I'm not sure what schools use to determine IS or OOS, so to help with yield protection, I was thinking to update my state residency now that I have completely moved to CA.

 

[Goro]

Both preferred and permanent address is our CA address, however, I still had my TX job and DL at the time of application so I had to enter TX as my legal residency state. I'm not sure what schools use to determine IS or OOS, so to help with yield protection, I was thinking to update my state residency now that I have completely moved to CA.

A California residency is not going to help you, except maybe at UC Davis if you have a lot of service towards the area called the central valley.

Otherwise, prepare a strategic application list, and be prepared to move out of state for medical school.