How do school/residency affect where I practice?

[redgrover]

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I realize this may a bit off topic, but I'm looking for some knowledge from people with perspective (as opposed to the pre-meds who are often right but sometimes waaay off).

I am asking for some perspective because I am leaving law school to go to med school (probably a source of my disorientation). Law is extremely geographically-centered. You had better be a resident of a certain state if you want to practice in that state (particularly for non-international business centers). If you're not a resident, you had better go to school in that state or go to a VERY highly ranked school (and usually that doesn't help that much for some areas) to stand a chance to practice in a region (e.g. if I wanted to practice law in Charleston, I, by all means, should go to the University of South Carolina). Is medicine like this?

That is, how much will the school affect where I will be able to obtain my residency and how much will my residency affect where I will practice medicine some day? Is there a degree of latitude where people can move from place to place with freedom or no?

I am looking at a career in pediatrics, where obtaining a residency is less competitive than other specialities. I absolutely love kids, enjoyed shadowing peds doctors, etc... How would this affect my decisions down the road? if I chose a "more competitive" residency program in another field?

I'm trying to get a feel for how much geographic freedom I'll have. Will I be disadvantaged by going to a TN school if I want to live in Charleston? live in California?

Or if those are my goals, would I be better off moving to South Carolina and esablishing residency (SC and TN state schools are about equally competitive--3.6 28 or 29, similar acceptance rate)?

I think this whole law school experience messed with my mind.

Thanks!

 

[FunnyLookingKid]

where you grew up has 100% absolutely no bearing on where you can work.

From rading your post, it's nothing like law.

I myself, grew up in Ft Worth Texas
did residency in Michigan
fellowship in Houston

interviewed for attending jobs ( neonatology )in
San Diego
Ft Worth
Ft Lauderdale
Cleveland
Cincinatti
Detroit

I was offered a position everywhere I inteviewed. I decided I wanted to move back to Michigan, and am now working in Michigan.

to make s short story long, you can live and work anywhere as a doctor. ( it's based on the availability of jobs in a particular area, not where the applicants are from )

that is one of the best things about medicine;
great job security and the ability to work and live about anywhere you desire.

the only hassle, is that you need a state medical license in any particular state, but that's not too difficult. pay some money, send in transcripts, etc ( and in Texas take a stupid jurisprudence exam )