residency issues

[longshot]

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I've got a little problem. I'm currently working in California and will be here for another year due to job commitments. I also want to make a run at med school and I hear its incredibly difficult to get into a school in California. I'd like to just go to any med school in any state but I'm already building a case for California residency every day I spend here. I don't have competitive credentials right now but the recs from my current boss are definetely going to be a bonus. My boss is expecting me to stay for 1.5-2 yrs in the position but I think after a year I just may have to cut out and leave back to TX where I'm originally from. Either that or I'll have to get into a post-bacc prog in a state where its not as difficult to get into med school. I'd love to stay in Cali and take post-bacc/grad coursework out here but I don't know if its feasible. Any suggestions?

 

[Ypo.]

Try applying to private schools that don't place bias on in-state applicants and are within your GPA and MCAT range-there are books you can purchase that tell you their stats.
Obviously, if you want to get accepted to an allopathic medical school in Cali, you will need to make yourself more competitive. If your undergrad GPA is low, take additional undergrad classes, if your undergrad GPA is OK, take a class to prepare you for the MCAT and really kick butt.
If your main goal is just to get accepted somewhere and your stats are good enough for other schools-then maybe you should just go for that. The people that get into california schools do have exceptional stats-they're very bright or else work very hard to make up for it.

Good luck. 👍

 

[Ypo.]

Also be aware that most medical schools require you to live there for one full year without taking classes at a university in order to be considered a resident for tuition and acceptance purposes.

 

[junebuguf]

First off, Texas and California are two polar opposites in terms of how difficult it is to get into med school. California, as you said, is one of the toughest states in which to get into med school. Some might argue (myself included) that Florida is the tougher because we're the fourth largest state in terms of population but have less than 400 in-state seats to offer. But thats neither here nor there....

Texas is one of the easiest states to get into med school if you're a resident. Have you looked at some of the numbers from their schools? They're (comparatively) so low they are only a few steps above some Carribbean schools. If, as you say, you'll go to any med school you get accepted to, definetely DO NOT LOSE TEXAS RESIDENCY. One of the reasons the numbers in TX are so low is that schools are obligated to admit in-state kids because theyre funded by the state legislature, only the number of well qualified in-state applicants in TX is not enough to fill every seat, which is why the average MCATs at many schools is in the low 9's.

I myself once contemplated moving out to TX to get residency before deciding that I just couldnt live in any state with weird service lanes all over their highways.

And if you need any more assurance about keeping your TX residency, get a copy of MSAR or USNEWS and look up the numbers of CA schools and then compare them to the numbers at TX schools. I'll give you a running start...

Texas A&M:
Avg MCAT: 8.9
Avg GPA: 3.65

U of Texas-Galveston:
Avg MCAT: 9.1
Avg GPA: 3.67

Of the seven allopathic medical schools in TX, only two--Southwestern and Baylor--have avg MCATs above 10. Of the seven medical school in CA reporting MCAT scores in usnews, *all* have avg MCAT's above 10. Many have averages close to 11.

You claim to not have competitive credentials. In CA that probably wont cut it, but in TX, where the avg MCAT is relatively low (~27 composite at some schools), if you study for the MCAT and get a 33 you'll be in excellent position. With a lowish gpa and unremarkable extracurriculars, a 33 wont raise many eyebrows in CA.

 

[junebuguf]

PS I dont know how bad your noncompetitive credentials are, but if you need yet another reason to keep TX residency, go to mdapplicants.com and look up the number of kids with really low gpas from CA who get ridiculous scores on the MCAT (think > 36) and still end up going to school out of state...

 

[LoneCoyote]

Well, you've hit the nail on the head. California is a tough state to get into med school. The UCs are tough and the privates, Stanford and USC, are not exactly easy either. There is Loma Linda if you find their philosophy to be compatible with what you want in a school. There are also 2 DO schools, COMP in Pomona and Trouro in Vallejo.

Anyway, I went through the UC admissions game last year with a pretty strong application... very strong GPA, letters, research (including a summer at a UC) and activities, and a mediocre MCAT. It was tough, and I consider myself very fortunate to be getting to stay home for med school, as I know many people with very strong applications who did not get in. I think you have to decide what is the most important thing for you: getting into any medical school or location. TX definitely seems like an awesome state to be from, with strong schools that are easier to get into. So if your goal is simply to get in as easily as possible, I would probably try to apply as a TX resident.

If you do decide to go for CA be careful of what you do because they are strict about residency. Make sure you have lived here, severed all ties to your past state, changed your car, voting, taxes, etc to CA, for ONE full year before you take ANY classes in CA. If you do before that, they will claim you are here for "educational purposes" and not give you residency. Good luck.

 

[longshot]

this is pretty much the situation i thought that i was in right now. thanks for the input guys! i almost forgot that i posted this topic. anyways...i've got some thinking to do about what i'm gonna do after this job. the position is a pretty good one as far as building my resume for med school since its a research position where I'll definetely get impressive pubs and a very strong letter of recommendation if i stick with it. unfortunately it seems to be excluding any plans of doing post-baccaulareate work also. we'll see how this year goes but i think i will definetely have to start planning on moving back to TX.