Getting through to OOS schools

[pazan]

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I'm a CA resident who, very likely, won't be able to make it into a UC med school. But, my app is competitive for privates and I'm planning on apply broadly. I wanted to know if there's a way to tell OOS schools of nearby family? Specifically, I have an aunt + cousins who live right by UIC and a sister in Syracuse (near SUNY-upstate). Does this even matter or do OOS schools select upper tier applicants without regard to which applicants will actually attend their school? I know some schools (like U Hawaii) consider OOS students if they have ties to the state (like family residents)... but, I'm not sure if there's a way of conveying this to schools other than the interview (which i may not get anyway).

 

[DrMidlife]

Secondaries will typically give you a "why us?" essay and you can get into it there. It'll come in handy to have at least something to start with (Aunt May's summer cottage or what have you).

It's pretty common on the west coast to know people in Hawaii. UH alleges to be hardcore about "ties to the area" so if your parents don't live there and you didn't go to Kamehameha schools, you pretty much got nothin on "ties." That said, UH admits more than 10% OOS. Not sure how many of those OOS are former locals. What do they call it, kama'aina, something like that.

Best of luck to you.