Getting a Job for Residency or Focusing on Application Stats? (serious thread)

[GallbLad]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm going to a university in Texas, but I'm not a resident. If I were to work for twelve consecutive months, four hours a day, Monday through Friday, then I would become a resident and subsequently greatly increase my chances of matriculating to one of the the seven Texas Medical Schools since they accept >90% applicants as in-states (mandated via state legislation), and are well known for their cheap tuitions (~$15k/yr). However, working twelve months, four hours a day will inhibit my ability to study, volunteer, shadow, and research. Without working the four hours a day, I'd say I'd have a good shot of reaching a 3.8+ and 35+ MCAT and commensurate extracurriculars. Thus, I'd say I have a fair shot at going to one of the top 20 medical schools (tuition: ~$40k/yr), or at the least getting a decent scholarship somewhere, which would offset the cheap tuitions that I would forgo at a Texas school.

In short, I'm conflicted with the choice of perfecting my application or working for a year. To me, working the twelve months and taking a hit on my GPA and extracurriculars so that I have the *safeties* of the in-state schools appears to be the most prudent course of action.

Is my reasoning correct? And to my understanding I have to establish residency before I apply to the medical schoolsl; so, I would have had to have worked twelve months before the end of my junior year, thus compounding the toll it would have on my GPA, MCAT, and extracurriculars.



*Overstated/repeated some things to prevent ambiguities.

 

[Nymphicus]

Get a good application (as you say, 3.8+, 35+) rather than working just for state residency. You can still apply to the TMDSAS schools as well. Also, Baylor is on AMCAS.

 

[JBruin]

Can you get a job somewhere within the university? Many work study options like library posts are set up so that you can study on the job and kill two birds with one stone.

 

[GallbLad]

Can you get a job somewhere within the university? Many work study options like library posts are set up so that you can study on the job and kill two birds with one stone.

The requirements to establish residency specifically outline that the job has to not be related to the university including work-study and even tutoring.