Is it worth applying to UW as an OOS and poor applicant?

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quirkybric2040

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Washington has been my dream place to reside and work in for the longest time. I had the opportunity to live there for a few years. It was the most amazing experience, and I loved the population.

I currently live in Ohio, and I'll be applying in state obviously, but I know that I want to end up back in Washington. I wanted to go there for medical school, do residency there, and live there, but I'm OOR and very very very poor (think pell grant <40K a year for a family of 5 poor). UW's tuition is 90K for OOS students. And with the new OBBB, the loans are capped at 50k.

So, should I just give up my dream honestly?
 
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If you have the money to apply, have ties and a reason to want UW (you obviously do), and have the time to write the secondary I don't see why not. If that money for UW would be better spent at a school you know you could afford is up to you to decide.
UW provides need based aid so if this is your dream, this does not need to be the deciding point yet. Apply and see if you even get in. If you do, then its the time to compare COA and financial aide packets. Some schools if they want you bad enough will also be willing to match aide, especially if you show you have the need for it.
 
quirkybric2040 said:
Washington has been my dream place to reside and work in for the longest time. I had the opportunity to live there for a few years as my family was in the military and stationed there (8 years ago). It was the most amazing experience, and I loved the population.

I currently live in Ohio, and I'll be applying in state obviously, but I know that I want to end up back in Washington. I wanted to go there for medical school, do residency there, and live there, but I'm OOR and very very very poor (think pell grant <40K a year for a family of 5 poor). UW's tuition is 90K for OOS students. And with the new OBBB, the loans are capped at 50k.

So, should I just give up my dream honestly?
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Whatever you do, apply to all of the state schools in Ohio including Toledo, NEOCOM, Cincinnati, OSU and Wright State. Make no mention in your primary of any desire to live outside Ohio. If your MCAT is below 512 you should also apply to the Ohio U DO school. You are lucky to be an Ohio resident. The Ohio DO school is well regarded.

If you are really poor, you need to understand that Seattle is obscenely expensive. Medical residents in Seattle bemoan the cost of living there. Living there as a student would drive up your loans through the roof. You can always move to Washington after residency.
 
quirkybric2040 said:
Even with some slight ties to the state? I have the FAP, so I get 20 schools, but I just don't know if it will be a waste of time and heartache
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I know I'm butting in, but I can't help myself. Let's say you get an interview in Seattle or Spokane. How are you going to pay for that? You're probably going to spend at least $1,200 on airfare and hotels. You should also know that applicants from Idaho, Alaska, Wyoming and Montana get preference at UW over applicants from other states. See what you're up against if you apply to WSU in Spokane.

Sign up for MSAR or mooch it off someone else. Apply to the 20 MD med schools where you have the best statistical shot and where you can offer a spiel that's in line with their mission statement. Again, include the five state schools in Ohio plus all of the RELATIVELY low stat private schools like MCW, Loyola, Creighton, Rush, Case, Rosalind Franklin and others within a relatively short drive from Ohio. You have to allocate your interviewing resources wisely.
 
Obnoxious Dad said:
I know I'm butting in, but I can't help myself. Let's say you get an interview in Seattle or Spokane. How are you going to pay for that? You're probably going to spend at least $1,200 on airfare and hotels. You should also know that applicants from Idaho, Alaska, Wyoming and Montana get preference at UW over applicants from other states. See what you're up against if you apply to WSU in Spokane.

Sign up for MSAR or mooch it off someone else. Apply to the 20 MD med schools where you have the best statistical shot and where you can offer a spiel that's in line with their mission statement. Again, include the five state schools in Ohio plus all of the RELATIVELY low stat private schools like MCW, Loyola, Creighton, Rush, Case, Rosalind Franklin and others within a relatively short drive from Ohio. You have to allocate your interviewing resources wisely.
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Aren't UW's interviews virtual nowadays?
 
beepbeepboopbop02 said:
Aren't UW's interviews virtual nowadays?
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I believe so. I have a 72 LM with a 513. I moved to the U.S. at a young age, so a lot of my ECs have to do with working with certain populations through a lens of public policy and advocacy, and my major reflects that too. Idk their mission (at least to me) seems like a perfect fit, but it sucks that financials matter so much.
 
Goro said:
Slight ties don't count. You need to be a WWAMI state resident
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Wait I'm sorry for arguing. But on their website, they state that if not a WWAMI resident (on a case by case basis ofc) "Out-of-Region applicants are considered if they have ties to a WWAMI state AND come from either economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and/or who have demonstrated a commitment to serving underserved populations."

I did live there for several years and have been both economically and educationally disadvantaged (ESL and LI immigrant), along with work in advocacy. I believe they only send out secondaries to a few people, so I guess I would be *donating* $47 for the primary.
 
quirkybric2040 said:
Wait I'm sorry for arguing. But on their website, they state that if not a WWAMI resident (on a case by case basis ofc) "Out-of-Region applicants are considered if they have ties to a WWAMI state AND come from either economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and/or who have demonstrated a commitment to serving underserved populations."

I did live there for several years and have been both economically and educationally disadvantaged (ESL and LI immigrant), along with work in advocacy. I believe they only send out secondaries to a few people, so I guess I would be *donating* $47 for the primary.
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I've given you my advice, as have others, along with rationales.

Making good choices is a required competency for medical students.

/thread
 
Goro said:
I've given you my advice, as have others, along with rationales.

Making good choices is a required competency for medical students.

/thread
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thank you! i appreciate your advice and others! I think life is too short to not try (even if that means 1 donation to UW). I'll make good choices for the rest of the time...!
 
If I were in the admissions office at UWashington, knowing you have so many more in-state options in Ohio, I would presume that if you were an Ohio resident, your chances would be much better staying in-state there. Seriously, the number of available seats helps your chances with in-state preferences in Ohio plus OU-HCOM. Sure, I guess you can always apply; you never know. But the probabilities really favor you to stay in Ohio and do an away rotation at UW later.
 
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