MDResidency: TX or CA? + Application Strategy

[Kmdc]

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Dear Nontrads,

Thanks for reading.

I posted my applicant profile in the "What are My Chances" forum, and I have not received any feedback. I hope that some of the public brainstorming I did there does help someone, though.

Here's the post: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/strategy-3-94-res-ca-no-mcat-non-trad-non-urm-thx.1086231/

As I am currently preparing to take the MCAT, the lack of an established score probably suggests I should have started in these forums instead. If I get more feedback here, and the moderators deem it appropriate, please feel free to move the thread to the Nontrad boards.

Basically, the questions I have are:
1) My goal is to attend a US MD program for the least possible total cost. As a current California resident, should I be looking to establish residency in Texas to help accomplish this?

(I went through the numbers at the linked post, and it looks like I would save $50,000-60,000 over four years of medical school in TX vs. CA. In addition, it seems that acceptances at TX schools are significantly more likely for TX residents than CA school acceptances are for CA residents.

The financial savings look tempting, but I am less sure about the potential increased chance of a successful acceptance as a TX resident.)

(And, if you're kind enough to go for a deeper dive into my situation,):

2) Does my application seem strong enough at this point to where the MCAT is the next logical step, or am I missing any gaping holes that should be filled first? I had been timing the MCAT to be one of the last steps before applying, to try to maximize the use of the score before it expires, especially if I need more than one application cycle to get accepted.

The TX vs. CA residency is probably the most urgent and important issue at the moment, since I need to start the process of establishing TX residency by Oct. 1, 2014, if I decide to go this route.

Any feedback you can provide would be very appreciated. Thank you

 

[StBernardsRule]

I think it's going to be really hard to get information on how feasible it is to move to Texas and establish residency and truly be counted as a resident among their committees. I would guess if you just move and establish residency immediately for seemingly no reason the adcoms would know something is up.

You would likely save a lot more than $50-$60k if you go to an in-state Texas school compared to an OOS private school (which is where most Cali applicants are accepted).

What are your practice MCAT scores around? Do you think you'll have a reasonable shot at a UC and are you willing to roll the dice on that? (note even if you get a 35+ you're hardly guaranteed to get into one)

 

[Kmdc]

Thanks for the feedback, St.

Establishing Texas residency does seem challenging, but doable. As I shared in the link, applicants need to start the process by Oct. 1 of the year preceding the deadline for the TX medical school application. This means it's almost a two year process from starting the residency process to starting medical school in TX. The potential cost savings of completing the process, especially when moving from CA, make it pretty compelling, though.

The low percentage of CA students who matriculate in-state, especially when a large number of medical student spots are at CA private schools, does add some additional potential savings. Thanks for pointing that out.

I am still in the content review stages of the MCAT, so I have not hit a practice test yet. I am definitely a "growth mindset" person, though, so I know it's just a matter of putting in the time and effort to get the score I need. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindset#Fixed_mindset_and_growth_mindset)

As you pointed out, I'll make sure my practice MCATs are averaging a competitive number before I attempt the real thing.

I have found Wikipremed to be an excellent, free website for MCAT prep, and so I would highly recommend it for anyone at that stage 🙂

Thanks again for weighing in. Please have a great day 🙂

 

[QofQuimica]

If you're willing to move to TX to establish residency (could be done within one year by buying a house when I was looking into it ten years ago), by all means, do it. Not only is the tuition cheap and the odds of admissions high, but the cost of living is low, and they have no state income tax (not relevant while you're a student, but certainly relevant while you're working beforehand).

 

[Kmdc]

Thanks, Q.

The move and continuous living in Texas for 12 months before the application deadline does seem to be worth it for the potential benefits of applying as a Texas resident, especially when compared to being a California resident.

I will be sure to report back to let people know how things have progressed.

If anyone has any other insight, I would love to hear it. Feedback on the areas of my application that could use strengthening, aside from my non-existent MCAT score, would be fantastic. Thanks in advance for even considering such a request.

My analysis seems to suggest that all areas are relatively strong, and that I may just want to continue strengthening them as evenly as possible, notwithstanding any extremely engaging activity I come across, such as an incredible public health or research project.

Shadowing a primary care doctor would probably be very prudent, as while the clinical research volunteering allowed me to interact with a number of Internal Medicine doctors, it seems that separate, focused shadowing would be valuable to demonstrate my familiarity with the scope of medicine.

Thanks again to all who have participated so far 🙂 Please have a great day.

 

[QofQuimica]

I'm sorry, I don't have the patience and energy to wade through all of your posts in your WAMC thread. But your app looks reasonably competitive from a skim of the first post (and obviously pending MCAT score). GPA is stellar. I don't think you'll have to retake any classes if your prereqs were all taken within the past ten years. Clinical experience is adequate, although I agree with whomever suggested that you should include some ongoing clinical experience. 2 hours/week hospital volunteering is more than adequate, and if you want to shadow a PCP for a a couple of days too, sure, couldn't hurt, especially since you stated that you're interested in primary care. Research experience is absolutely *not* adequate if you're planning to apply MD/PhD or MD/MS, but is fine for MD/DO-only. I think it's reasonable to include the research lectures/CME you attended as an EC on your app, but note that this is not going to be considered research experience per se by adcoms.

 

[Kmdc]

I'm sorry, I don't have the patience and energy to wade through all of your posts in your WAMC thread. But your app looks reasonably competitive from a skim of the first post (and obviously pending MCAT score). <snip>

Thanks again, Q.

I really appreciate the feedback, especially since it helps me to identify how best to go about strengthening my application and, ultimately, my chances at acceptance.

Thanks as well for all that you have done and continue to do to help make SDN the incredible place that it is. I'm sure you have been busy throughout your training, and I sincerely appreciate the time and effort you have consistently devoted to helping out the rest of us. Thanks for setting such a great example 🙂

Please have a wonderful day.