Consensus on best state to reside in?

[gofer]

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Only from the probability of acceptance point of view (low tuition and other factors not to be considered)

There are a few old threads on this with varied views but no consensus reached as such. I think the problem is AAMC gives info on number of applicants and number matriculated. They actually need to give info on number accepted. I don't think they even compile this information. There are also the D.O. schools to consider, specifically info on number accepted by DO schools. If I had this and other information, some econometric analysis could help find the best state to reside in. But without the data, we're groping in the dark and have to rely on a delphi consensus.

But back to the point, which state do you think is the best to reside in and why.

 

[Evergrey]

Texas, lots of good schools, high in-state bias, low cost of education, schools are less competitive for their quality.

 

[dragon529]

Tx

 

[Dianyla]

Texas. If that's what you're into. 😱

 

[gofer]

Sorry, I forgot to add this: Only from the probability of acceptance point of view. Low tuition and other factors should not be considered. Thanx

 

[gofer]

Note that simple tabulations will make for spurious correlations. An example. Suppose 40% of students from Texas get accepted to an instate medical school and only 30% of students from New York get accepted to an instate medical school. Comparing just these two figures, TX seems better than NY.

BUT if you consider other factors and use a method like empirical Bayes estimation and compute the probabilty of a single student getting accepted into ANY in-state medical school, then New York students actually have higher probabilities of getting accepted into ANY instate medical school.

But to compute such probabilities for all states, you need data on acceptances (and data on D.O. acceptances) which are not available.

Hence this question to flesh out subjective opinions and biases, which could all be incorporated into a mathematical model of some sort.

 

[organdonor]

Texas
You're going to hear that alot. Many schools, good schools, cheap tuition, very high in state bias.

But don't plan on moving there just for med school. I believe their residency requirements are pretty strict. Something along the lines of you must live there for a year without attending school? Someone else may be able to shine some light on that better than I

 

[gofer]

To give another example on why the AAMC data don't make sense by themselves, assume this:

Pennsylvania has 6 students, 50% acceptance rates.
Ohio has 6 students, with only a 33% acceptance rate.

On the surface, PA seems to be a better state than Ohio.

Now for the sake of illustration, let's add one additional factor. Assume that 5 of the PA students are Black females and you are the sixth and only White male. Ohio has no minorities applying and all are White.

Now suddenly the probabilities change. The probability of a White male being accepted in Ohio is much better than the probability of a White male accepted in Pennsylvania.

So far one factor changed the outcome. Now consider another factor: MCAT scores. Suppose the data shows that on average Ohio has much lower MCAT scores than Pennsylvania. Then again, the tabulation from AAMC doesn't really make sense.

If you add many other factors, the equation changes drastically and AAMC data becomes meaningless.

So it doesn't really matter if Texas has more medical schools. The probability of a White person getting accepted to at least one instate medical school will be higher in Mississipi than in Texas.

 

[gofer]

Intuitively eyeballing the data that AAMC provided, I don't think Texas is a good state at all. Neither is West Virginia. I wish I had the actual data on number of acceptances by both allopathic and osteopathic schools for modeling purposes.

 

[organdonor]

To give another example on why the AAMC data don't make sense by themselves, assume this:

Pennsylvania has 6 students, 50% acceptance rates.
Ohio has 6 students, with only a 33% acceptance rate.

On the surface, PA seems to be a better state than Ohio.

Now for the sake of illustration, let's add one additional factor. Assume that 5 of the PA students are Black females and you are the sixth and only White male. Ohio has no minorities applying and all are White.

Now suddenly the probabilities change. The probability of a White male being accepted in Ohio is much better than the probability of a White male accepted in Pennsylvania.

So far one factor changed the outcome.

If you add many other factors, the equation changes drastically and AAMC data becomes meaningless.

Note that simple tabulations will make for spurious correlations.
BUT if you consider other factors and use a method like empirical Bayes estimation and compute the probabilty of a single student getting accepted into ANY in-state medical school, then New York students actually have higher probabilities of getting accepted into ANY instate medical school.

you need data on acceptances (and data on D.O. acceptances) which are not available.

Hence this question to flesh out subjective opinions and biases, which could all be incorporated into a mathematical model of some sort.

If I had this and other information, some econometric analysis could help find the best state to reside in. But without the data, we're groping in the dark and have to rely on a delphi consensus.

But back to the point, which state do you think is the best to reside in and why.

You are going to scramble your brain trying to tabulate all the factors that go into a medical school acceptance. Race, interviewing skills, bilingualism, enthusiasm for the mission of the school, fit, wealth, legacy... and New York applicants probably apply to more schools because they don't have a great in state advantage. If I lived in Texas I would pretty much only apply to Tx schools. Even with average stats, seriously why bother applying anywhere else?

Use whatever econometric analysis, mathematical model, or empirical Bayes estimation you like, but its all for nothing. You cannot humanly account for all factors period.

Point is, the answer to your question is Texas. If you are looking for what state to move to in order to gain residency, that is a different question with a (probably) different answer that has been discussed before.

 

[SweetRain]

I believe TX is the consensus here.
In response to one of the replies, TX residency is actually very easy to claim if you're a university student.

You just need to work for one year (continuously) and show it to your school residency advisor. They'll just change your status on the spot. That's how I became a TX resident. I know for example Washington state has a more strict policy.

Don't forget that Texas has one of the best DO schools in the nation, in terms of quality AND tuition! 😉

 

[ruiner]

I would argue Michigan in a couple years could also be considered. Soon to be 6 public MD schools and a very good, large public DO school. Not that many in state applicants comparatively.

That is of course taking out tuition like the OP said. I would take the TX school's tuition over ours any day.

 

[rockaction]

In addition to Texas, North Carolina is pretty good. Three reasons:

1. ECU. Takes only NC residents, low MCAT average, and dirt-cheap tuition.

2. Wake Forest. Great mid-tier private school that suspiciously ends up accepting pretty much every competitive NC applicant that can't get into UNC or Duke.

3. UNC. A top 20 med school with a severe in-state bias? Sign me up! There MCAT is around 33-34, so it's absolutely do-able for a competitive NC resident.

 

[morning]

I would argue Michigan in a couple years could also be considered. Soon to be 6 public MD schools and a very good, large public DO school. Not that many in state applicants comparatively.

That is of course taking out tuition like the OP said. I would take the TX school's tuition over ours any day.

The new schools aren't public. We'll still have only MSU, U of M and Wayne State as our public med schools.

In terms of admissions, Texas DOES NOT have the best percentage. West Virginia does, followed by a bunch of southern states, including TX.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table5-facts09slmat3-web.pdf

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Texas, however you can argue Mississippi has a great acceptance rate. All In-state and only like 200 apply to it for 150 spots or something.

 

[schrizto]

Texas is the obvious one, but Florida should be pretty good in a couple years too.

 

[Narmerguy]

The new schools aren't public. We'll still have only MSU, U of M and Wayne State as our public med schools.

In terms of admissions, Texas DOES NOT have the best percentage. West Virginia does, followed by a bunch of southern states, including TX.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/table5-facts09slmat3-web.pdf

Yep but when one inevitably considers tuition, TX rises above the rest. It's a really great state for medical school residency. Makes us Californians mighty jealous.

 

[jvesco22]

Cali, strictly for the weather, women, and the weed...

 

[thefritz]

Hawaii

But if you're not a HI native, pretty much anyone can get in West Virginia schools if a WV resident.

 

[gofer]

Point is, the answer to your question is Texas.

Like I said, for a Caucasian with average MCAT and GPA, even Mississippi seems to be a better state than Texas.

I am not looking to account for all factors. Just critical factors.

Sometimes even not-so-obvious factors come into play. In Utah, for instance, the probabilty of an ABOVE-average White *female* being accepted into a PhD Psychology program is lower than the acceptance probability of an average White male who has served a 2-year Mormon mission.

 

[morning]

Like I said, for a Caucasian with average MCAT and GPA, even Mississippi seems to be a better state than Texas.

I am not looking to account for all factors. Just critical factors.

Sometimes even not-so-obvious factors come into play. In Utah, for instance, the probabilty of an ABOVE-average White *female* being accepted into a PhD Psychology program is lower than the acceptance probability of an average White male who has served a 2-year Mormon mission.

Tuition is about the same in MS as TX.

TX gets all the fame because they have a lot of universities and ALL of them are mandated for strict OOS controls and low tuition...but Mississippi and Louisiana are very similar.

 

[tiedyeddog]

pretty much anyone can get in West Virginia schools if a WV resident.

+1, there are super low numbers of instate applicants and a HUGE in-state bias.... The GPA and MCAT scores reflect it, especially at Marshall (According to the current MSAR).

 

[SweetRain]

3. UNC. A top 20 med school with a severe in-state bias? Sign me up! There MCAT is around 33-34, so it's absolutely do-able for a competitive NC resident.

That can't beat UT Southwestern and Baylor! 😎

 

[alibai3ah]

For med school acceptance - Texas

General Life/Enjoyment- California Baby!

 

[metallica81788]

Texas, Ohio, NC, Florida, and I'll throw in Louisiana.

This thread isn't turning out how you thought, is it OP? Everyone is saying Texas and you were trying to get other responses. 😛

 

[gofer]

Texas, Ohio, NC, Florida, and I'll throw in Louisiana.

This thread isn't turning out how you thought, is it OP? Everyone is saying Texas and you were trying to get other responses. 😛

So let everyone go to Texas.
My objectives are not to prevent anyone from going to Texas. It's mainly only devious White people think like this and I am not White my friend.

 

[metallica81788]

So let everyone go to Texas.
My objectives are not to prevent anyone from going to Texas. It's mainly only devious White people think like this and I am not White my friend.

Why is everything about race with you?

 

[VTBuc]

I'm a little biased, but Virginia has a LOT of schools(five) and isn't overly large. And there's a good range in the schools, from top20 all the way to DO.

 

[gofer]

Why is everything about race with you?

Don't you get it? It's about race for the rest of the world. Look at the census questionnaire - it's all about race. Look at http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/start.htm and tell me how many of those tables are about race.

 

[UNMorBUST]

Ill throw New Mexico in there. High in state bias, low tuition, and few In-state applicants.

 

[MacVA]

Not VA.

I would say Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky or Ohio.

 

[organdonor]

I would say Indiana,

Negative lol. there's only one school here? and no D.O. programs yet. IU has a pretty good in state preference but they allow OOS. I would like to know what prompted you to say Indiana.

 

[MacVA]

To poster above:

A). One of the biggest schools in the country
B). Many different medical school sites
C). Only school I know that guarantees people interviews with a 25 MCAT score.

Look at the percentage of IS that apply vs. the IS accepted....

 

[manraj76]

California is the best state. We have a song about our girls.

But honestly residing in Cali isn't that great because our schools are still hella competitive.

 

[organdonor]

To poster above:

A). One of the biggest schools in the country
B). Many different medical school sites
C). Only school I know that guarantees people interviews with a 25 MCAT score.

Look at the percentage of IS that apply vs. the IS accepted....

Yes IU is the second largest school in the nation. Still, it has relatively few spots per capita than a state such as, say, pennsylvania (I know that most of the Pennsylvania schools are difficult, I'm just saying) or possibly Virginia. I don't have an MSAR in front of me so I may be wrong on that one.

There are 8-9 satellite campuses of IU, but that doesn't help admissions any. All admissions/interviews are handled through Indianapolis. I am actually sitting about 3 minutes from a satellite campus right now, but I had to drive 4 hours for my interview.

I know applicants that got those guaranteed >25 MCAT interviews (there is also a ridiculously low GPA requirement) but literally haven't heard a peep out of IU in 8 months.

If you are going to hedge your bets by moving to gain residency, don't do it in a state with only one medical school. One bad interview and your entire premise for the move is gone. If you don't fit that one schools mission your chances are shot. I have lived in Indiana my entire life and had my entire pre-med education here. I don't view it as especially friendly (or unfriendly I suppose) to medical school acceptance, but I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

 

[organdonor]

but I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

Unless you are Katy Perry and are so fond of Cali. She obviously never applied to medical school haha. Man I hate that song.

 

[ronaldo23]

NYS kind of sucks IMO. In-state schools (public and private) barely give us any advantage compared with out of staters.

 

[texasm]

What do pre-medical advisors say about the best state to have residency in?

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

I'd say it's something like:
TX >>> PA = NY > PR = WWAMI > all except CA >>>>> CA

 

[dicer]

California is the best state. We have a song about our girls.

But honestly residing in Cali isn't that great because our schools are still hella competitive.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you're from SoCal.

 

[texasm]

I'd say it's something like:
TX >>> PA = NY > PR = WWAMI > all except CA >>>>> CA

I have a fair idea of what people on this forum think but what is the general view of pre-medical advisors, now that many new medical colleges (DO included) have sprouted up everywhere.