Does indicating you want to live in state matter for OOS applicants?

[The_TB]

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Hi guys, this is a question I've been wondering for awhile (especially because most Texas schools take very few OOS). Although I'm just an incoming pre-med and won't be applying for some time, I was wondering if indicating on my application that I plan to live in a state after graduation would affect my chances as an OOS applicant.

This is mainly a question about Texas schools, and I thought it might help if I explained my situation a little. I live in Louisiana, but I have visited Texas virtually every summer since I was around 6. My grandparents live there, and I have loved every area I've been too. It would be hard for me to claim strong ties to any particular metropolitan area (closest would be Galveston) but I would say that I definitely plan on living in Texas.

I'm probably getting ahead of myself on all this but it's a question I've been wondering about. I will also apply to my state schools.

 

[terra330]

I doubt it will help significantly, if at all, especially in Texas. If it's going to be a while before you apply and you want to be in Texas, would it be feasible to move and change your address to your grandparents' or something?

 

[adfalcon]

It won't help, not in Texas at least.

 

[Goro]

Not in the least.

Hi guys, this is a question I've been wondering for awhile (especially because most Texas schools take very few OOS). Although I'm just an incoming pre-med and won't be applying for some time, I was wondering if indicating on my application that I plan to live in a state after graduation would affect my chances as an OOS applicant.

This is mainly a question about Texas schools, and I thought it might help if I explained my situation a little. I live in Louisiana, but I have visited Texas virtually every summer since I was around 6. My grandparents live there, and I have loved every area I've been too. It would be hard for me to claim strong ties to any particular metropolitan area (closest would be Galveston) but I would say that I definitely plan on living in Texas.

I'm probably getting ahead of myself on all this but it's a question I've been wondering about. I will also apply to my state schools.

 

[The_TB]

I doubt it will help significantly, if at all, especially in Texas. If it's going to be a while before you apply and you want to be in Texas, would it be feasible to move and change your address to your grandparents' or something?

I have to say I'm kind of surprised this wouldn't help because I thought the main concern of state schools with OOS is that they are less likely to stay (but obviously my statement isn't binding or anything). And I don't think it would be possible to change my address because I will attend college in state and changing my address would cost me quite a bit of scholarship money. Anything else I could to do to boost my chances?

 

[Spector1]

I have to say I'm kind of surprised this wouldn't help because I thought the main concern of state schools with OOS is that they are less likely to stay (but obviously my statement isn't binding or anything). And I don't think it would be possible to change my address because I will attend college in state and changing my address would cost me quite a bit of scholarship money. Anything else I could to do to boost my chances?

of course they want you to stay. The problem is that they won't believe an out of stater with no ties to the state who says they want to come live and practice in their state unless that state is california or new york. Anyone can say that.

 

[piii]

I have to say I'm kind of surprised this wouldn't help because I thought the main concern of state schools with OOS is that they are less likely to stay (but obviously my statement isn't binding or anything). And I don't think it would be possible to change my address because I will attend college in state and changing my address would cost me quite a bit of scholarship money. Anything else I could to do to boost my chances?

Perspective:

Texas has an mandate to accept 90% of its class from IS applicants. You will not be one of those Is applicants. There are going to be thousands of other OOS applicants that are vying for those <10% spots available. MANY of those OOS students will have ties to the state (grandparents, SO, etc). That means your competition is going to be MUCH harder than the average IS student. Your ties will be icing on the cake but they certainly won't matter much in the actual decision because that alone will make you a dime a dozen. Focus on having an extremely competitive app.

 

[The_TB]

of course they want you to stay. The problem is that they won't believe an out of stater with no ties to the state who says they want to come live and practice in their state unless that state is california or new york. Anyone can say that.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at with saying my statement wasn't binding. Guess it would just come down to communicating my interest (among other things) if I can get an interview. So short of moving there now, there isn't much I can do to improve my chances?

 

[piii]

Yeah, that's what I was getting at with saying my statement wasn't binding. Guess it would just come down to communicating my interest (among other things) if I can get an interview. So short of moving there now, there isn't much I can do to improve my chances?

Being the best applicant you can be.

 

[Doug Underhill]

It absolutely matters for schools with a stated mission to serve the population of that region. Try to be more specific than just "Texas", and have credible reasons as to why.

 

[DokterMom]

Yeah, that's what I was getting at with saying my statement wasn't binding. Guess it would just come down to communicating my interest (among other things) if I can get an interview. So short of moving there now, there isn't much I can do to improve my chances?

Beast the MCAT --

 

[ridethecliche]

It absolutely matters for schools with a stated mission to serve the population of that region. Try to be more specific than just "Texas", and have credible reasons as to why.

No Doug, no!

Yeah, credible reasons can help (family ties etc), but realistically most schools realize that you'll say whatever you can to get in so that's a thing.

 

[Goro]

Believe it or not, people lie in LOI.

I have to say I'm kind of surprised this wouldn't help because I thought the main concern of state schools with OOS is that they are less likely to stay (but obviously my statement isn't binding or anything). And I don't think it would be possible to change my address because I will attend college in state and changing my address would cost me quite a bit of scholarship money. Anything else I could to do to boost my chances?

 

[Doug Underhill]

Now, hold on a minute, I got an interview to a state school with a fairly strong IS bias that I was OOS at. They seemed to really like the idea that I was raised in that area and would like to live and practice there.

 

[ridethecliche]

Now, hold on a minute, I got an interview to a state school with a fairly strong IS bias that I was OOS at. They seemed to really like the idea that I was raised in that area and would like to live and practice there.

That's what I would call significant ties to a state. It's different than saying that you vacationed there for a summer and liked it.

 

[DrayDaze]

That's what I would call significant ties to a state. It's different than saying that you vacationed there for a summer and liked it.

He didn't vacation there for just a summer, though.

I have visited Texas virtually every summer since I was around 6. My grandparents live there

 

[The_TB]

Believe it or not, people lie in LOI.

Again, that's what I meant by saying that my statement isn't binding.

So I guess the question is back down to what constitutes "strong ties"? I've read some of the threads about it, and it seems that it kind of depends on the school. Is that right? As I said, I've never lived in Texas, but I have spent a month out of every summer with my grandparents since I was around 6. And to be more specific, they live near Galveston.

 

[Goro]

Strongs for me equates to
having grown up in a state
having spent significant time in the state, like going to college there.

TX schools have a mandate to seat lots of Texans....so spending summers with the grandparents might or might not fly. Sometimes you have to take your chances.

I know of a few non-trads with tons (like 1000s) hrs of clinical contact who got into a few TX schools, like UT-SA or UT-G

Again, that's what I meant by saying that my statement isn't binding.

So I guess the question is back down to what constitutes "strong ties"? I've read some of the threads about it, and it seems that it kind of depends on the school. Is that right? As I said, I've never lived in Texas, but I have spent a month out of every summer with my grandparents since I was around 6. And to be more specific, they live near Galveston.

 

[Efflorescence]

having spent significant time in the state, like going to college there.

I think there might be something to this. This is an n=1, but I have a good friend (CA resident) who applied to all the TX schools. ~31 MCAT, good GPA, good EC's. She has had 4 TX interviews (3 "low" tier, 1 mid/upper), 2 acceptances. Honestly, we were both surprised when she started getting all of the TX interviews because of the 90/10 rule. I'd always heard that you must have high stats for TX schools as an OOS applicant. I think one thing that made a difference is that she went to undergrad in TX and is spending her gap year there too.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

Yeah the TX thing is a bummer... I got 4 IIs there as an OOS applicant with no ties, so I thought that would mean I'd get one acceptance (hopefully). So far that has not been the case 🙁
Don't get your hopes up. If you have time to move to Texas and become a resident, DO IT. I very much wish I had.