Didn't realize how important geography was for getting interviews

[Poit]

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I'm a pretty strong applicant, but my 6 iis are exclusively from my state or states contiguous to it. I'd ideally like to pick up another 6 interviews. Can I expect that they might trickle in from outside states as interview spots are dropped? I know 6 interviews is fine at this point, but I sort of regret not applying to 3-4 more programs around my area just for some security. Seems like living within a 200 mile radius of a program is worth even more than your step score.

 

[yanks26dmb]

I'm a pretty strong applicant, but my 6 iis are exclusively from my state or states contiguous to it. I'd ideally like to pick up another 6 interviews. Can I expect that they might trickle in from outside states as interview spots are dropped? I know 6 interviews is fine at this point, but I sort of regret not applying to 3-4 more programs around my area just for some security. Seems like living within a 200 mile radius of a program is worth even more than your step score.

Would also consider myself a strong applicant and I have to say my experience couldn't be more different. west coast, midwest, south, northeast so far..

 

[DokterMom]

Woah -- Might the programs you applied to that are close to your current residence have somehow gotten the idea that you liked that region and were predisposed to stay there??

Wonder how that could have happened? /s

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm a pretty strong applicant, but my 6 iis are exclusively from my state or states contiguous to it. I'd ideally like to pick up another 6 interviews. Can I expect that they might trickle in from outside states as interview spots are dropped? I know 6 interviews is fine at this point, but I sort of regret not applying to 3-4 more programs around my area just for some security. Seems like living within a 200 mile radius of a program is worth even more than your step score.

May not be too late to add a couple of places. Also contact places where you have legit interest or ties and be honest.

Would also consider myself a strong applicant and I have to say my experience couldn't be more different. west coast, midwest, south, northeast so far..

There's likely a divide between how long you may have been in a location. I've heard verbatim from a PD that they didn't send me an invite because they thought I was tied to the geographical region of my medical school even though I wrote a nugget in my PS for all schools in another region where I have family and would like to move back to. If you're just in a place for med school and it doesn't look like much else is holding you there, then I can see that not really playing a role in things.

But if you've gone to college, worked, and then gone to med school in the same area then folks are going to ask questions.

Woah -- Might the programs you applied to that are close to your current residence have somehow gotten the idea that you liked that region and were predisposed to stay there??

Wonder how that could have happened? /s

Weird. I thought folks just went wherever they got in. Especially for students going to private schools or for students with OOS addresses for state schools.
It's just a filter to throw in to help make sense of the volume given a limited resource (interviews). It's not going to be perfect, but if you can convince folks that you have legitimate interest, then that's a good way to go.

 

[nitemagi]

Programs can have (not always) a preference for ppl who have a particular reason to be in that area. Such as family, etc. Which should be emphasized in the application if possible. Which can create a regional bias.

 

[yanks26dmb]

There's likely a divide between how long you may have been in a location. I've heard verbatim from a PD that they didn't send me an invite because they thought I was tied to the geographical region of my medical school even though I wrote a nugget in my PS for all schools in another region where I have family and would like to move back to. If you're just in a place for med school and it doesn't look like much else is holding you there, then I can see that not really playing a role in things.

But if you've gone to college, worked, and then gone to med school in the same area then folks are going to ask questions.

I've been in CA for a long time fwiiw.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I'm a pretty strong applicant, but my 6 iis are exclusively from my state or states contiguous to it. I'd ideally like to pick up another 6 interviews. Can I expect that they might trickle in from outside states as interview spots are dropped? I know 6 interviews is fine at this point, but I sort of regret not applying to 3-4 more programs around my area just for some security. Seems like living within a 200 mile radius of a program is worth even more than your step score.

Geography is in general not a factor. While you didn’t provide much info, it is more likely that your application isn’t as competitive as you thought. Adding some safety schools may be worthwhile.

Residency is typically a time where good applicants only apply to regions of interest, so analyzing that is a waste of time for PD’s.

 

[Poit]

Geography is in general not a factor. While you didn’t provide much info, it is more likely that your application isn’t as competitive as you thought. Adding some safety schools may be worthwhile.

Residency is typically a time where good applicants only apply to regions of interest, so analyzing that is a waste of time for PD’s.

I got an interview at a top program so I'm at least fairly competitive. I've read a couple posts by people involved in the selection process that have stated that geography is important.

 

[ridethecliche]

Programs can have (not always) a preference for ppl who have a particular reason to be in that area. Such as family, etc. Which should be emphasized in the application if possible. Which can create a regional bias.

One can also use different personal statements if one is targeting 1-2 areas to put in a ditty for the location.

 

[nitemagi]

Geography is in general not a factor. While you didn’t provide much info, it is more likely that your application isn’t as competitive as you thought. Adding some safety schools may be worthwhile.

Residency is typically a time where good applicants only apply to regions of interest, so analyzing that is a waste of time for PD’s.

I would argue that some people care about geography. I've only been in selection committee of one school, and hear peripherally about another. I've heard some people think about it for the invite phase, others don't. And unfortunately there's no way to know which kind of person is going to read your application.

 

[671002]

What about post-residency commitments to loan for service programs in a particular state? Do these commitments work against applicants? I had heard previously that they do.