Med school & residency in same location?

[anj229]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking into the process of becoming a physician and am curious about how difficult it would be to be restricted to one location for med school and residency. As a nontrad. I don't know if moving would be a realistic option for me due to varying reasons. From what I have gathered, it is easier to get a residency in the region you went to med school than in an area you have no connections to, but what about only considering one city (Chicago area in my case)? Anyone have any information/statistics about this? Thoughts on only applying to med schools in one city?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking into the process of becoming a physician and am curious about how difficult it would be to be restricted to one location for med school and residency. As a nontrad. I don't know if moving would be a realistic option for me due to varying reasons. From what I have gathered, it is easier to get a residency in the region you went to med school than in an area you have no connections to, but what about only considering one city (Chicago area in my case)? Anyone have any information/statistics about this? Thoughts on only applying to med schools in one city?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Your odds of getting into med school are always better if you can apply to more places. So much of the decision is about what the school, not you, decide is a good fit, that you'd hate to have all your eggs in one basket if it can be avoided. Having a nexus with the location you hope to do residency in is helpful, but the nexus doesn't have to be med school. The PD just has to be able to tell from your application that you didn't just pick the location out of the blue. So where you grew up, lived, did undergrad, etc all are adequate connections to a location to allow you to say with a straight face that you hope to come back. Also bear in mind that depending on the field you pick, certain locations may not be an option. There are plenty of fields where the only residencies that see an adequate volume of the kinds of patients you need to learn on are only found in the larger cities, etc. and plenty of fields where there are only 1-2 residency options in a given city. So where you want to end up for residency may depend a lot on what specialty you choose. and that decision is too far off, unless you are okay with circumstances dictating your choices.

 

[blue0rchid]

I also applied to only one school (can't relocate) and got in. It's very important to establish a relationship with an adcom or admission chair of the school. Make yourself seen, known, understood, and do not hesitate to reach out for help and advice from the school admission/advising staff. And of course, steep upward GPA trend and 30+ MCAT is a must.
I'm not sure about residency. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. It really depends on the specialty that I'll choose and program availability. Good luck.

 

[anj229]

Thank you to you both for the input! Inphan, how did you go about first contacting the school/adcom? I believe there are 7 schools in the Chicago area (1 osteo) which is much better than many other locations, but it's still scary to think of going through the pre-reqs and application process and not getting in. Maybe more realistic to think of it as 5 schools since Northwestern and U. Chicago seem to be research oriented. I have no research and it seems getting some as a post-bacc nontrad with little science background would be quite difficult. I guess it just comes down to figuring out how bad I want it and what I would be willing to risk. I will definitely look into contacting the adcoms, just not sure where to start with that. Thanks again!

 

[cabinbuilder]

It's one thing to try for medical school in the same town you live (if you have that luxury) but residency too? Not likely.

1. How do you know what specialty you will be interested in?
2. Most medical students change what they plan to do during school.
3. How do you now the residency you want is offered in your city?
4. If there is a residency you desire in the same area, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted into it. Getting into residency can be just as difficult as getting into medical school.

I just can't even imagine limiting yourself when it's your career that you are trying to build. Wow. Good luck with that.

 

[FiremedicMike]

I also applied to only one school (can't relocate) and got in. It's very important to establish a relationship with an adcom or admission chair of the school. Make yourself seen, known, understood, and do not hesitate to reach out for help and advice from the school admission/advising staff. And of course, steep upward GPA trend and 30+ MCAT is a must.
I'm not sure about residency. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. It really depends on the specialty that I'll choose and program availability. Good luck.

How early did you make contact with the adcom, and what types of things did you do to establish this relationship? Like the OP I am geographically limited but also very lucky to have 1 (2 by the time I am ready to apply) medical schools within 25 minutes of my doorstep. I am also very lucky to live in an area that has any and all residency options available. I would like to start building these relationships as soon as is appropriate, but I still have about 2-3 years before I can matriculate, depending on how quickly I move through my remaining coursework.

Thanks!

 

[Law2Doc]

How early did you make contact with the adcom, and what types of things did you do to establish this relationship? Like the OP I am geographically limited but also very lucky to have 1 (2 by the time I am ready to apply) medical schools within 25 minutes of my doorstep. I am also very lucky to live in an area that has any and all residency options available. I would like to start building these relationships as soon as is appropriate, but I still have about 2-3 years before I can matriculate, depending on how quickly I move through my remaining coursework.

Thanks!

If you have only 1 med school in your area I can almost guaranty that you don't have "any and all residency options available". You might have all the ones that will matter to you but until you get further down the road you really shouldn't be deciding that. Having 1-2 med school options is not ideal. So much of this process depends on what adcoms feel is a "good fit", that hawking your goods to more adcoms will make a big difference -it's always easier to win over one of many than just one of one. If you are truly geographically limited, then you take your shot. By truly geographically limited I mean working spouse with not easily replaceable job, kids in school, shared custody arrangement, or ailing family member in a certain location. Beyond that you kind of have to apply more broadly.

 

[FiremedicMike]

If you have only 1 med school in your area I can almost guaranty that you don't have "any and all residency options available". You might have all the ones that will matter to you but until you get further down the road you really shouldn't be deciding that. Having 1-2 med school options is not ideal. So much of this process depends on what adcoms feel is a "good fit", that hawking your goods to more adcoms will make a big difference -it's always easier to win over one of many than just one of one. If you are truly geographically limited, then you take your shot. By truly geographically limited I mean working spouse with not easily replaceable job, kids in school, shared custody arrangement, or ailing family member in a certain location. Beyond that you kind of have to apply more broadly.

I am 15 miles from Columbus Ohio, you're welcome to check it out, but there is a residency in every field, most with several different residencies, spread amongst the 8 hospitals in the area.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking into the process of becoming a physician and am curious about how difficult it would be to be restricted to one location for med school and residency. As a nontrad. I don't know if moving would be a realistic option for me due to varying reasons. From what I have gathered, it is easier to get a residency in the region you went to med school than in an area you have no connections to, but what about only considering one city (Chicago area in my case)? Anyone have any information/statistics about this? Thoughts on only applying to med schools in one city?

Thanks in advance for any help!

How realistic it is depends on many things, from your competitiveness to the schools' mission to your fit with the schools. So, here's what you need to do.

First, make your app as competitive as possible. There are already plenty of posts about how to do that, but in general, you want a GPA of 3.8+ and an MCAT of 35+ to be in the most competitive echelon of applicants. Not that you can't successfully apply if your stats are lower than that, and not that high stats guarantee an acceptance. But those stats will at least open the door to get your app looked at by any med school. Also, you should have substantial clinical experience (shadowing, volunteering, work), community service, and possibly research if you plan to apply to research-intensive schools. You will need to obtain 3+ stellar LORs, write a strong PS, apply early, etc.

Second, apply to as many schools as you realistically can. There are other schools in Illinois that aren't in Chicago, so, say, would Urbana-Champaign or Peoria be a realistic option for you? What about schools in neighboring states where you could drive home every weekend? Ideally, you want to apply to at least 10 schools, and more like 15 to be safe, and that is even more true if you're not a top-echelon applicant.

Third, jump off the residency bridge when you get there. As others have already said, you have no idea what specialty you'll end up doing, and you can't predict where you'll end up right now. It may be possible for you to stay in IL, and it may not. But this whole discussion is moot if you never even get into med school in the first place. So focus on that goal now, and let the rest take care of itself when the time comes.

 

[GenusTide]

Like you, I have many concerns about moving, as I have a family (wife who basically supports our household right now, kids in top rated schools) and I really do not want to move either. But...... the reality is you probably will at some point in time or another through this process. I just got done interviewing with my #1 choice which is less than ten minutes away. Almost the whole interview was spent making sure that I am willing to be flexable and chances are that even if I get accepted to this close school, that clinical rotations might warrant me to be away from the area for 1 to 2 months at a time. So be PREPARED and fully understand that the more restrictions to present to the ADCOM, the more that other applicant who is open to anything looks better.

 

[mauberley]

Second, apply to as many schools as you realistically can. There are other schools in Illinois that aren't in Chicago, so, say, would Urbana-Champaign or Peoria be a realistic option for you?

Champaign, Peoria, Rockford, and Chicago are all under the same admissions umbrella, if I'm not mistaken.

Other nearby schools for the OP to consider would be the Medical College of Wisconsin and possibly UW-Madison. I don't think there's anything in Indiana that's within reasonable driving distance.

 

[dmf2682]

Champaign, Peoria, Rockford, and Chicago are all under the same admissions umbrella, if I'm not mistaken.

Other nearby schools for the OP to consider would be the Medical College of Wisconsin and possibly UW-Madison. I don't think there's anything in Indiana that's within reasonable driving distance.

I believe there is a MASH tent in Gary, IN, the op could look at 🙂

 

[anj229]

Thanks for all of the responses and for shedding some light on how (un)realistic it would be to try and stay in one place and get into medical school when applying in a limited area.

I would be extremely happy even if I had to choose a specialty that's not near the top of my list in order to not have to move, especially if it would be between that and choosing between other career possibilities or moving to get into a program for my top choice of specialty. I guess as a nontrad who has seen some of the other options out there for me, I am willing to sacrifice more in that respect than most who go straight from undergrad to med school and who have fewer obligations. Of course all of this would hinge on sacrificing getting into a school in the first place if I restricted my search.

GenusTide's story about flexibility being a focal point is very discouraging though. Moving around for some rotations would be fine, but for the full length of school/residency is a bit different. On a more positive note, after looking at some match lists from schools in the area, I have seen a very high number of people being able to remain here, especially in less competitive specialties. I know everyone says your thoughts on specialty will change, but all of the ones I have looked up that I have an interest in now have multiple programs in the area. Good luck to all of you who are in similar situations!

 

[blue0rchid]

I was living in texas when i thought about going to med school. That was in 2008. In summer 2009 I moved to NY and decided that I wanted to get into Upstate (20min from my house). So I made an appointment (call or email) to see an admission counselor (upstate has an advising session at the beginning of every month), explained my situation: non-trad, really want to get in, what do I need to do. I asked a lot of questions, and got wonderful advice (OK, it's sneaky of me, but I didn't ask ALL the questions at the same time. I asked questions of immediate concern first, and save others for later, so that I could maintain contact 🙂 ). And I pretty much kept up this line of contact for 2 years (with the same person), sending update emails and going to openhouses or any event at the school, even when I already knew the info. My goal was to show my dedication and effort. And I found out about these events through their website, under special opportunities or outreach program. I pretty much got involved in whatever I could get my hands on.

I kinda do the same thing with my professors. I took their class in 2009 and 2010, but applied to med school in 2011. So in 2 years, I kept in touch via emails (every semester) and occasionally just stop by their offices to say hi (even when i don't go to school anymore) so that they remember me. It was a lot of work.

Good luck!

 

[Law2Doc]

Thanks for all of the responses and for shedding some light on how (un)realistic it would be to try and stay in one place and get into medical school when applying in a limited area.

I would be extremely happy even if I had to choose a specialty that's not near the top of my list in order to not have to move, especially if it would be between that and choosing between other career possibilities or moving to get into a program for my top choice of specialty. I guess as a nontrad who has seen some of the other options out there for me, I am willing to sacrifice more in that respect than most who go straight from undergrad to med school and who have fewer obligations. Of course all of this would hinge on sacrificing getting into a school in the first place if I restricted my search.

GenusTide's story about flexibility being a focal point is very discouraging though. Moving around for some rotations would be fine, but for the full length of school/residency is a bit different. On a more positive note, after looking at some match lists from schools in the area, I have seen a very high number of people being able to remain here, especially in less competitive specialties. I know everyone says your thoughts on specialty will change, but all of the ones I have looked up that I have an interest in now have multiple programs in the area. Good luck to all of you who are in similar situations!

1. You are too far out to even pretend to know what specialties you will like/hate. What seems cool now might actually be miserable for you when you hit the wards, and vice versa. At least 80% of all med students will change their mind at least once.
2. What you are willing to sacrifice now, and what you may be willing to sacrifice once you are 3 years into med school may be very different. Dangerous to try to make those decisions now.
3. "multiple programs in the area" isn't always enough if you choose a more competitive field. Many people on certain competitive paths will apply to eg 30 places and go on a dozen interviews just to have a shot. There was a NYT story a couple of years back about a Harvard med couple that were trying to couples match into derm and ended up doing 90 interviews. That's the extreme, but you get the point. Sometimes you have to cast a wider net to catch a tuna from amongst a sea full of dolphins.
4. Match lists IMHO are of questionable utility because they only show the end results, not the thought process. Basically looking at a single frame at the end of a movie and trying to extrapolate what the movie was about. It may reflect a high number of people able to remain where they wanted, or it may reflect a high number of people in specialties or programs that were not their first choice -- you really cannot tell. Which is why many of us caution against putting much stock in them.

 

[Dzerzhinsky]

OP, I am applying next cycle to exactly two schools, precisely because I don't want to move. One is a state school, the other is a school where due to its competitiveness my chances approximate zero, so I'm basically in the one-school boat.

I made this decision because it's very important to me to stay where I am. Tried going elsewhere, got the T-shirt, didn't like it. I know that I may wind up having to reapply, and given what I've read about the relatively minimal stigma associated with reapplicants, I'm OK with that (particularly since another year will give me application improvement.)

With that said, if I don't get in this upcoming cycle? When I reapply, I will be doing so broadly. Do I want to stay in my area? Yes. Is it worth an extra year (during which I can continue working at my current gig and save more money) to try and do so? Yes. Is being a physician worth moving to me, if I try and fail this coming year? Yes. So if I have to reapply, I will be doing the 30ish school thing much beloved by SDN. As a bonus, perhaps my app will improve enough that I'll get into one of those schools on the second try--but if it doesn't, I'll be OK, because I'll get in somewhere.

Now, take that concept and apply it to residency. But here, instead of a relatively minimal reapplicant penalty, make it huge. Add on that you'll have by that point paid a boatload of money, your skills in your old field won't be current (so your income potential during that potential gap year will be minimal at best), and your doctorate will be essentially useless without securing a residency, and here's what I decided--despite wanting to stay local--for when it comes to residency:

I will apply to my dream program, which happens to be local as well. If I get in, it will be super and awesome and stuff. But I will also apply to 20+ other programs, and if on match day I match at #19 and have to pick up and move to a place I don't really want to live for three years, I will smile, know that I can always come back after I'm done, and be glad I'm not scrambling or stuck with nothing to do but put my life and training on hold for a year and then reapply from a position of "damaged goods." ("Why didn't you match the first time around?")

Different calculus.

 

[FiremedicMike]

nvm

 

[anj229]

.

 

[anj229]

.

 

[anj229]

Thank you very much for sharing Inphan! Congratulations as well!