Geographic Loyalty

[laxman310]

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Does anyone know if programs have preference for people from their geographic area, like medical schools?

When applying for medical schools I was under the impression that schools had to admit a certain number of applicants who were residents of their state. I am pretty sure that dermatology residency programs do not have a requirement to admit people from their state.

Are programs encouraged, or do they have preference for people from their region?

 

[Dermguy]

It tends to be very regional but not in the same way applying to medical schools is. There are certainly no "in-state" requirements the way there are for medical schools.

 

[asmallchild]

Agree with the regional thing. Most of my interviews were within driving distance! (Although I tend to drive rather fast and consider anything within 3-4 hours "driving distance")

 

[N-Surge]

Of the small handful of interviews I was blessed with, I only had to fly once (which was also a blessing on my bank account...).

 

[medstudderm]

I would say programs are regional. The program directors know each other in regions so it seems they are regional but at the same time I got interviews randomly at some places that I didnt think I would get. So I think most of it is regional but also some random and luck added in.

 

[Cheebs09]

mine were decidedly not regional - actually I was disappointed to NOT get some interviews at nearby programs, though they were smaller and more clinical, and I was more of a research candidate. I found myself with interviews with departments that had strong research programs.

That being said, I would suggest not limiting the programs you apply to by region - you might be surprised where you get invited!

 

[N-Surge]

If you really want to become a Dermatologist, and with the field being as competitive as it is, I think region should be a small issue. In 4 years you will have a better chance to place yourself where you want to be, imo. I could not be to picky about this regional thing, that's for sure. 🙂

As was recently said in this forum, apply broadly and rank all programs you interview at. Do not skimp on how much money you throw at ERAS/NRMP. You will only increase your chances of fulfilling your dream of becoming a Dermatologist by investing in it.

 

[asmallchild]

Excellent advice. I applied across the entire country and put myself further into debt only to match at the same place I go to school

Still well worth the ERAS fees

 

[laxman310]

The reason I originally asked was for the purpose of my away rotations. I was trying to optimize using them for a program that has preference for people either originally from their area or who go to medical school in the area.

 

[kralwok]

just from observation... people from the south and midwest tend to interview and match in their respective regions. not sure about the east. i am from the west and had a really hard time getting interviews out west (only interviews were from home program and program i rotated at). mine were scattered all over the country (2 west, 2 south, 3 midwest, 2 east) and i did not end up matching.

 

[N-Surge]

The reason I originally asked was for the purpose of my away rotations. I was trying to optimize using them for a program that has preference for people either originally from their area or who go to medical school in the area.

I would definitely do a few away rotations at programs you would like to go too for reasons mentioned elsewhere in this forum as well, inbreeding. Check the credentials of the residents in those programs. Is it a diverse group? Or were they all classmates a few years back? Either way, I think the away rotation can be a big factor. It was for me, perhaps others as well.

 

[N-Surge]

Excellent advice. I applied across the entire country and put myself further into debt only to match at the same place I go to school

Still well worth the ERAS fees

LOL! I did the same thing and only ended up 2 hours away from my medical school. 🙂

 

[asmallchild]

The reason I originally asked was for the purpose of my away rotations. I was trying to optimize using them for a program that has preference for people either originally from their area or who go to medical school in the area.

There are 2 ways to play it:

1) You can pick rotations based on places that are more likely to select local students

2) Conversely, if you're interested in moving to a more competitive locale, you really need to rotate there to get on the board: California, NYC, and Texas come to mind as states that really look to in-state students to fill spots (unless, of course, you make a large positive impact on an away or happen to be a superstar)