How difficult to match into a residency in California?

[funshine]

I'm from the east coast, but really want to match into a competitive residency in California. I'm hoping that obtaining a residency in Cali for out-of-staters is easier than getting into med school there. I can't tell much from match lists b/c people who match into cali could very likely be from cali to begin with. The general caveat is that you'll have a better chance of matching into 1.) the geographical region where you went to med school and 2.) your home state. So, if I'm not from Cali and not going to med school in Cali, should I just kiss my dreams of living there goodbye?

Another hypothetical scenario. Say I get into OHSU and another slightly higher-ranked school, like Case Western. Should I choose OHSU over Case b/c it's on the west coast and I'll have a better chance of getting a Cali residency there? What if I were to replace Case with Columbia? Still choose OHSU if getting into Cali is my #1 priority? Btw, I'm not as obsessed w/ going to Cali as this post might indicate. Just curious. thanks!

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[CaliforniaBound]

I'm from the east coast, but really want to match into a competitive residency in California. I'm hoping that obtaining a residency in Cali for out-of-staters is easier than getting into med school there. I can't tell much from match lists b/c people who match into cali could very likely be from cali to begin with. The general caveat is that you'll have a better chance of matching into 1.) the geographical region where you went to med school and 2.) your home state. So, if I'm not from Cali and not going to med school in Cali, should I just kiss my dreams of living there goodbye?

I'm only an MS1 at a cali med school. However, after spending some time on the wards...we had to for the first two weeks of school I got a feel for the type of residents that were accepted. It seemed that at least half if not more of the residents were from other medical schools, and most of those were out of state...there were even some from the east coast. I think the thing for Cali...and probably any other competitive residency is too have good scores and a good CV. But don't give up your dream of Cali! There are pleanty of people who go to school here and leave, and pleanty who didn't go to school here and come out! Good luck!

 

[WatchingWaiting]

I'm from the east coast, but really want to match into a competitive residency in California. I'm hoping that obtaining a residency in Cali for out-of-staters is easier than getting into med school there. I can't tell much from match lists b/c people who match into cali could very likely be from cali to begin with. The general caveat is that you'll have a better chance of matching into 1.) the geographical region where you went to med school and 2.) your home state. So, if I'm not from Cali and not going to med school in Cali, should I just kiss my dreams of living there goodbye?

Another hypothetical scenario. Say I get into OHSU and another slightly higher-ranked school, like Case Western. Should I choose OHSU over Case b/c it's on the west coast and I'll have a better chance of getting a Cali residency there? What if I were to replace Case with Columbia? Still choose OHSU if getting into Cali is my #1 priority? Btw, I'm not as obsessed w/ going to Cali as this post might indicate. Just curious. thanks!

I think you're doing a little too much analysis here. Are you talking about securing derm at Stanford or family practice at Kern County? If you do well on Step 1, have a good resume, do well in your clinical years, you should be able to match in Internal medicine or any of the other not-so-competitive fields in Cali from whatever US med school you attend. If you're looking for something competitive at UCSF, then your med school will matter more.

The general idea is go to the best med school that admits you and you feel a good vibe with. Ultimately, it will be your performance at that med school that determines how competitive an applicant you are. I'd recommend doing a google search on Cali residency programs in your favorite field. You'll find that there is generally good diversity in geographic origin of residents in most programs, so don't focus too much on the region of the med school.

 

[funshine]

I think you're doing a little too much analysis here. Are you talking about securing derm at Stanford or family practice at Kern County? If you do well on Step 1, have a good resume, do well in your clinical years, you should be able to match in Internal medicine or any of the other not-so-competitive fields in Cali from whatever US med school you attend. If you're looking for something competitive at UCSF, then your med school will matter more.

The general idea is go to the best med school that admits you and you feel a good vibe with. Ultimately, it will be your performance at that med school that determines how competitive an applicant you are. I'd recommend doing a google search on Cali residency programs in your favorite field. You'll find that there is generally good diversity in geographic origin of residents in most programs, so don't focus too much on the region of the med school.

hmm, you bring up a good point. I wonder, if you're NOT a cali resident, how do you know where the "good residencies" are? I mean, aside from the SF area (I'm almost exclusively interested in northern cali). I guess a google search would do? Do you start looking this stuff up in med school or something?

Also, where is Kern County and why is it such a bad place?

 

[skypilot]

hmm, you bring up a good point. I wonder, if you're NOT a cali resident, how do you know where the "good residencies" are? I mean, aside from the SF area (I'm almost exclusively interested in northern cali). I guess a google search would do? Do you start looking this stuff up in med school or something?

Also, where is Kern County and why is it such a bad place?

First pick what field you want to do your residency in, that will narrow the choices down a lot! The use the following sites to get info on all the programs.

Two great sources for residency info:

http://www.scutwork.com
http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/srch/

 

[funshine]

First pick what field you want to do your residency in, that will narrow the choices down a lot! The use the following sites to get info on all the programs.

Two great sources for residency info:

http://www.scutwork.com
http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/srch/

thanks, skypilot. I'll check those sites out!

 

[Long Dong]

I love california too 👍

 

[DeterminedMD]

I love california too 👍

Yup, me too!! I am in school on east coast but home to do residency back home in Cali.

 

[redgrover]

Also, where is Kern County and why is it such a bad place?

Home of Bakersfield. Not really a terrible place, although a bit from the coast and hot. Definitely a bit smoggy:

1. Los Angeles, California
2. Visalia-Porterville, California
3. Bakersfield, California
4. Fresno, California
5. Houston, Texas

Most Particle Pollution
1. Los Angeles, California
2. Visalia-Porterville, California
3. Bakersfield, California
4. Fresno, California
5. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Being in Imperial County would probably be far worse.

 

[UCSBMed1]

I'm going to echo the responses of the previous posters. I think the easiest way to land a California residency (or any residency for that matter) is to go to a good school, do well on the boards, and most importantly, do an Acting (Sub) Internship at the residency program/hospital of where you want to go. You go there for a month, show them what you got, introduce yourself to important people, and get your face and name seen. A lot of places (mine included) may grant you a interview on the spot while you're there--a lot of times, this is what gets you in.

Just like many professions, the trick to getting a residency is about who you know, and thats not something you truly learn about until you hit the wards third year.