Does it look bad if all of my experiences are from the same institution?

[snoozyk]

I moved to my current city 10 years ago to start undergrad for University X. About a week after graduating, I started working at UX’s affiliated health system, and have held that same position for 5 years.


Pretty much everything I have to show for myself is through UX. All of my clinical experience, research, and shadowing has been done here. Most, if not all, of my LOR’s will have a UX letterhead, from physicians and supervisors. I have great connections here that I’ve worked hard to make over the years.


The only thing I’ve really done outside of the university is non-clinical volunteering, which I’ve done out in the community.


Unsurprisingly, my top choice medical school is at University X. I love this city, the hospital, the patient population, and own a house just a few miles away.


My question is: am I doing myself a disservice by having almost all of my experiences at the same institution? Do I need to branch out, and if so, how?

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[Moko]

I moved to my current city 10 years ago to start undergrad for University X. About a week after graduating, I started working at UX’s affiliated health system, and have held that same position for 5 years.


Pretty much everything I have to show for myself is through UX. All of my clinical experience, research, and shadowing has been done here. Most, if not all, of my LOR’s will have a UX letterhead, from physicians and supervisors. I have great connections here that I’ve worked hard to make over the years.


The only thing I’ve really done outside of the university is non-clinical volunteering, which I’ve done out in the community.


Unsurprisingly, my top choice medical school is at University X. I love this city, the hospital, the patient population, and own a house just a few miles away.


My question is: am I doing myself a disservice by having almost all of my experiences at the same institution? Do I need to branch out, and if so, how?

Many students (particularly traditional applicants) will be in this same situation. You've already branched out of the academic bubble through your non-clinical activities, so I don't think this will be held against you. Of course, if you have two or more non-UX-related volunteering experiences, all the better. Your Hobbies will also serve as another non-UX experience. Just my thoughts.

 

[nerdy512]

I wouldn't worry about this. I did all of my undergrad and post-grad experiences at one institution, and I have had IIs from other institutions on the opposite coast. I think the quality of the experiences matters more than where you did them.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

Not a huge deal. You're fine. I had a single activity at one institution serving in a single position that accounted for all of my clinical and volunteering hours and was fine too!

 

[Med Ed]

You seriously need to find something else to worry about.