How to be competitive for primary care residencies in CA

[chewy2008]

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So I just finished my first year of med school in the East Coast. I'm currently doing research this summer in what I would call public health (i.e. working for the city). Does the type of research matter if I want to ultimately go back to CA for residency? I'm interested in primary care and maybe even preventive medicine which seems most relevant to what I'm doing right now.

What other things would you recommend to be competitive for primary care residencies in CA? UCSF, UCLA, and UCSD would be the dream programs because of location. I know Step 1 is very important. In my free time (other than exercising, making videos and hanging out with friends) I read through First Aid to get more familiar with it and I want to preview some pharma and micro stuff so that I get some kind of knowledge when second year starts. Thanks guys and please don't troll.

 

[Lee Ik-jun MD]

So I just finished my first year of med school in the East Coast. I'm currently doing research this summer in what I would call public health (i.e. working for the city). Does the type of research matter if I want to ultimately go back to CA for residency? I'm interested in primary care and maybe even preventive medicine which seems most relevant to what I'm doing right now.

What other things would you recommend to be competitive for primary care residencies in CA? UCSF, UCLA, and UCSD would be the dream programs because of location. I know Step 1 is very important. In my free time (other than exercising, making videos and hanging out with friends) I read through First Aid to get more familiar with it and I want to preview some pharma and micro stuff so that I get some kind of knowledge when second year starts. Thanks guys and please don't troll.

i graduated from the East Coast and i'm doing my Family Medicine residency in one of the programs you just mentioned.
Competitive scores is a given.
(i have scores that can get me a Dermatology interview if i wanted to.)

You need to demonstrate to the California Program director that your intention is to stay in California after your training.
Having ties in the city where you're applying will help.
looking back from my interview experience, i know i didn't match to my 1st choice because of the above reason.

Research? i don't have any substantial one where i'm the primary author.