matching in NYC from pritkzer, pitt, case western?

[ExistentialistPhilosopher]

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I recently received my first acceptances from Pritzker, Pitt, and Case Western in the last week. I really enjoyed my interview days at all three schools, so I'm overjoyed and incredibly grateful to be in this position.

That being said, I'm an East Coast girl at heart, originally from northern NJ (right next to New York City). I know it's still early, and I have a few more interviews, as well as schools that I haven't heard from yet, but more and more, I'm strongly considering going to the Midwest for medical school (I know Pittsburgh isn't technically the Midwest, but just humor me for now). But in the long-term, I know I want to settle down and establish a life and career in New York City, close to family and friends.

I realize that the match lists of the 3 aforementioned schools are very "Midwest" heavy, which makes sense, since many of the students match at their schools' affiliated hospitals. But is there any sense that the reputation of any of the above schools might be limited in terms of geography? Or that residencies might favor "local" students (not only at their affiliated institution, but students from another institution in the same city)? Someone I know had been questioned during residency interviews in NYC as to whether she could handle the pace of NYC life, coming from a school located in a small Southern city. It made me wonder about the potential limitations of going to a school in a geographic region where I cannot envision myself long-term. Is it better to go to a school like NYU or Mount Sinai if I eventually want to do my residency and settle down in NYC?

I apologize if this question is a little too pedestrian, but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[VPDcurt]

Don't concentrate too much on the geography or the match lists as a whole from any particular school. People aren't matching into the midwest because they can only match into the midwest. They are probably from that area and wish to stay in that area. In terms of matching, I don't think it matters. Med school is what you make of it. The school is more or less irrelevant - your board scores and your clerkship grades play a much larger role in obtaining the residency of your choice. Go wherever you'll be the happiest and that will lead to the success you need in order to match anywhere.

Match lists are very deceiving because you have no idea, from simply looking at the list, if everyone matched in exactly what they wanted. For example, if a school does not have any neurosurgery matches or radiology matches, that doesn't mean that people from that school were unable to match into those programs. There is a good chance that no one in the graduating class was interested in such programs. Match lists can be tricky, so make sure you take them with a grain of salt.