Matching to California

[A None Mouse]

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So I'm currently an M3 and I would like to match to California for what ever speciality I end up choosing. I know that California is considered difficult to get into, so would anyone mind giving feedback on what factors would be most important?

I've honored my M2 classes (if that even matters) and got a 247 on STEP 1. I'm interested in Internal Medicine (currently).

Here's the catch, I'm really not that interested in research. I haven't done any yet (though not for lack of trying) and I feel like I would want to focus and do really well on my boards/STEP2/clinical evaluations above everything else.

How out of reach would something like UCSF be? Or really any UC school? Would research be a factor that holds me back, even if I do well on everything else?

 

[AORiverContra]

Are you from California?

 

[A None Mouse]

Are you from California?

Nope

 

[aprilfools]

Would research be a factor that holds me back, even if I do well on everything else?

Yes. UCSF has one of the highest research outputs in the country.

 

[A None Mouse]

Yes. UCSF has one of the highest research outputs in the country.

Would other UC schools be as picky as SF?

I'd really just like to be in California, I don't need to go to SF.

 

[CharlieBillings]

.

 

[yaka]

Maybe try and do an away rotation in California during fourth year. A good letter from a well known faculty would probably open some doors to the region, but not being from the area or not having any ties might hurt your chances a bit. Not a resident yet, but it seems like residency admission is less region locked in general than medical school admission was.

Research can only help at this point, but I don't think not having any will sink you with your solid step score.
You might also try and look into the many non-university affiliated residency programs that would probably not value research as heavily.

 

[aprilfools]

Would other UC schools be as picky as SF?

I'd really just like to be in California, I don't need to go to SF.

I don't really think its about "picky"-ness.

It just so happens that a lot of the programs in CA are big academic institutions, and as such research is virtually a requirement.


I don't actually know a ton about trying to match in CA. I'm sure there are some places that aren't super academically inclined, but I do know that a lot of the state school-affiliated programs are.

 

[trobinsonmd]

I'm from CA, but I live in NYC and I'm not sure if I'm going to be moving back to CA. Have you ever lived in CA? From the perspective of a visitor, it is super nice and lots to, but I can't imagine living in SF/LA/SD on a resident's salary. In SF, $100k is considered below the poverty line.

That being said, if you absolutely must match to CA, you should do an away rotation there to both show programs you are willing to move to CA (since you have not previously went to school/lived there), and you will also be able to get some letters and hopefully a courtesy residency interview. Also depends a lot on what you are interested in. If you want to match dermatology or neurosurgery without any research, it is basically impossible to do anywhere, let alone in CA... if you want to do family medicine or peds, your odds are astronomically higher, although I would say UCSF is a reach with minimal research... I would consider the kaiser programs and things of that caliber to be more attainable with minimal research, UCSF/LA/SD are pretty research intensive programs

 

[Scrubb]

In SF, $100k is considered below the poverty line.

Sorry, but this simply isn't true. If you're making $100k in SF you won't be living in poverty (I've lived there). I think what you're referring to is that "the federal government now classifies a family of four [living in SF] earning up to $117,400 as low-income" (see source below). This is significantly different than living below the poverty line, and is also for a family of four.

San Francisco Is So Expensive, You Can Make Six Figures and Still Be ‘Low Income’

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Gonna regret it when california secedes from the US like they keep threatening to... haha


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[Raney Schauer]

Gonna regret it when california secedes from the US like they keep threatening to... haha


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And then break up into three separate countries/feifdoms.

 

[Raney Schauer]

SF:
You just need to find an incubator and claim squatter's rights.

 

[21Rush12]

I’m also similarly situated, current M3 not from CA but set on going there for residency. Can anyone comment on successfully matching at an academic program as an OOS with no formal ties to California?

 

[gyngyn]

In contrast to PD's in the midwest or east coast, CA PD's are quite sure that applicants want to relocate to CA.
Almost most twice as many Californians had to leave the state in order to attend medical school. They all want to return.
The way to get a spot is to be a strong applicant and be ready to go to a "community" program, even if you have "academic" credentials.

 

[IMGASMD]

In contrast to PD's in the midwest or east coast, CA PD's are quite sure that applicants want to relocate to CA.
Almost most twice as many Californians had to leave the state in order to attend medical school. They all want to return.
The way to get a spot is to be a strong applicant and be ready to go to a "community" program, even if you have "academic" credentials.

Know someone who wanted to go back so bad, basically applied to every speciality he remotely interest in.

 

[trobinsonmd]

Sorry, but this simply isn't true. If you're making $100k in SF you won't be living in poverty (I've lived there). I think what you're referring to is that "the federal government now classifies a family of four [living in SF] earning up to $117,400 as low-income" (see source below). This is significantly different than living below the poverty line, and is also for a family of four.

San Francisco Is So Expensive, You Can Make Six Figures and Still Be ‘Low Income’

that's what i meant, my bad... point is, you still will not have a very high quality of life

 

[Bancrofti]

I’m also similarly situated, current M3 not from CA but set on going there for residency. Can anyone comment on successfully matching at an academic program as an OOS with no formal ties to California?

I did, from the complete opposite side of the country, in a competitive field at an academic program. It wasn't that difficult, you just need to make sure you're a competitive applicant and if you really want to go to CA then also apply to all the programs and be willing to take your interviews at the smaller programs. Rotating is also helpful if you're in a field that normally warrants doing aways (I had a friend do an away at my program in a primary care field who ended up not even getting an interview, but n=1). So at this point since Step 1 is over, just honor your rotations this year and if you're in a field that requires doing aways, make sure you have all your stuff ready for VSAS as soon as it opens early next year.

 

[21Rush12]

I did, from the complete opposite side of the country, in a competitive field at an academic program. It wasn't that difficult, you just need to make sure you're a competitive applicant and if you really want to go to CA then also apply to all the programs and be willing to take your interviews at the smaller programs. Rotating is also helpful if you're in a field that normally warrants doing aways (I had a friend do an away at my program in a primary care field who ended up not even getting an interview, but n=1). So at this point since Step 1 is over, just honor your rotations this year and if you're in a field that requires doing aways, make sure you have all your stuff ready for VSAS as soon as it opens early next year.

Thank you! I sent you a PM with other specific questions, I appreciate the response.

 

[solitarius]

Why do you want to match to California? Is it because you think it would be a "cool" experience with a great QoL? The cost of living totally sucks, and the people are generally not as cool as you think. Another thing that totally sucks about CA is the absurd number of rules and regulations in all aspects of life there.

If you want to apply, then apply. But generally, the top programs there are UCSF > Stanford > UCLA. All the UCs and USC will be hard to match into, but the big coastal city programs will be the hardest. Your best bet is going to be the community programs like Kaiser.

I'm going to speculate that they pick either solid candidates or homers who had to leave the state for medical school and are willing to under-shoot just to try to return there.

If I were you, I would go to the best program you can get into regardless of location. You will have no time in residency to enjoy your locale. And being paid a resident's salary in Florida >>>>>> being paid that same salary in San Francisco.

 

[21Rush12]

@solitarius I can’t speak for OP but I’m from NY, where the taxes are just as high and the COL already sucks, except sometimes when I wake up in the morning my car doors are frozen shut and the air hurts my face.

 

[A None Mouse]

Why do you want to match to California? Is it because you think it would be a "cool" experience with a great QoL? The cost of living totally sucks, and the people are generally not as cool as you think. Another thing that totally sucks about CA is the absurd number of rules and regulations in all aspects of life there.

My fiance will be moving there soon, so I'd rather not spend 3+ years of residency in a different state if possible.