Med school in one area, move to another area for residency?

[TheBiologist]

For those who are in medical school, is it unrealistic to go to school in say, Boston, but then apply to hospitals in San Diego for your residency (for the sole purpose of wanting to live somewhere else)?


Is this unrealistic/difficult/expensive or do people do this often?

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[eteshoe]

The better your step scores (plus clerkship grades+research), the more options you'll have.

 

[md-2020]

Isn't this what happens like the vast majority of the time (I know some schools are exceptions)?

 

[CliveStaples]

Most people match within their own region for residency. Most applicants prefer this, and as a result many programs (who have the goal of trying to invite applicants who will rank them highly) will preferably invite those within their region for interviews.

This distinction starts to disappear among specialties with few spots per program (neurosurgery, dermatology, etc.) but still matters s0me.

 

[Law2Doc]

For those who are in medical school, is it unrealistic to go to school in say, Boston, but then apply to hospitals in San Diego for your residency (for the sole purpose of wanting to live somewhere else)?


Is this unrealistic/difficult/expensive or do people do this often?

It's not unrealistic to be in different locations for med school and residency. When you interview you will be asked about ties to the area though, as places use that to gauge whether you would actually come if accepted/ranked. What might be unrealistic (depending on specialty) is that you expect to end up in these particular very popular destinations.

 

[aalamruad]

For those who are in medical school, is it unrealistic to go to school in say, Boston, but then apply to hospitals in San Diego for your residency (for the sole purpose of wanting to live somewhere else)?


Is this unrealistic/difficult/expensive or do people do this often?

You can just look up schools' match lists to see how often med students relocate for residency (and where they move from/to)