Residency Loophole

[junkct]

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Hi, I am an out-of-state student at a large public university. I want to go to medical school at this university, but given that it is a state university (and a strong medical school at that), my chances are slim to none. I'm looking for any way in which I could skate by this heavy residential preference and actually have a decent shot at the school. One faculty member suggested applying for the MSTP program because they do not consider your state residency, but I'm not all that interested in pursuing an MD/PhD, nor do I think I have enough research experience to qualify for such a program. But I was wondering if an MD/MPH program operates in the same fashion (no residency consideration)? I'm actually a bit interested in an MD/MPH, so if this will make a difference I think I would apply. Has anyone been in this situation before? What did you do? Thanks!

P.S. changing my residency is NOT an option

 

[NotAndrew]

How do you expect to change your residency when changing your residency is not an option?

 

[phospho]

How do you expect to change your residency when changing your residency is not an option?

true...

OP, just so you know, it's very difficult to get into an MSTP program. Go take a look at the MD/PhD forum to see what I mean. Getting accepted into an MSTP program is much much (much!!) more difficult than getting into a straight MD program as an out of state applicant.

And, no, the MD/MPH does not operate in the same fashion - it operates just like a straight MD program. MSTP programs are funded by the NIH (unlike the MD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA, etc...), which is why some schools don't care if you're a resident or not, since they're getting their money from the government anyways.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[Ashers]

Hi, I am an out-of-state student at a large public university. I want to go to medical school at this university, but given that it is a state university (and a strong medical school at that), my chances are slim to none. I'm looking for any way in which I could skate by this heavy residential preference and actually have a decent shot at the school. One faculty member suggested applying for the MSTP program because they do not consider your state residency, but I'm not all that interested in pursuing an MD/PhD, nor do I think I have enough research experience to qualify for such a program. But I was wondering if an MD/MPH program operates in the same fashion (no residency consideration)? I'm actually a bit interested in an MD/MPH, so if this will make a difference I think I would apply. Has anyone been in this situation before? What did you do? Thanks!

P.S. changing my residency is NOT an option

Why is changing your residency not an option? Is it because its one of the states that doesn't allow you to change while you're in school? Or you don't want to change?

I was in the situation where I couldn't change my residency while I was in school. I thought about staying in the state after graduation and getting residency, but that would've taken 2 years. Based on the state's general requirements for residency, I could've been a resident my last year in college, BUT they have the if you're a student taking more than "x" number of credits/semester, you cannot be considered for residency. I even went to the administration just to check on it.

I ended up going home and working after graduation for only 1 year and applying for med schools in a job that was conducive to me interviewing. I applied to a bunch of schools but not to the schools that only take residents.

 

[junkct]

How do you expect to change your residency when changing your residency is not an option?

hmm maybe I wasn't clear enough in my post. I don't want to change my residency. I want to find a way around/over/under/through the residency barrier. I guess I might as well just flat out dish the dirty... I'm a UCLA student, but not a CA resident. I'm from a state with 2 medical schools, both of which give extremely heavy in-state preference, but neither of which I want to attend. However, they are excellent back-up options, but if I were to become CA resident (which is hard to do, for obvious reasons), I would lose my chances at those schools, and my parents will not stand for that (and I'm not going to argue with the 'rents cuz they're dishing the $$)

and to respond to phospho, yes, I do realize that MSTP program is extremely difficult, hence my post. A faculty member thought I'd get in, but I think otherwise. But it's one option at bypassing the residency barrier. I would like to know of other ways to do this, besides MSTP. I'd also like to try my hand at UCSD SOM, so if anyone knows about getting in there without CA residency, I'd like to learn more about that as well!

 

[glamqueen]

Umm...why do you think you are entitled to be above the rules of residency? The rest of us had to follow them...

 

[Ashers]

Don't think it's going to work... I was born in CA lived there over half of my life; my parents gave money and were members of a special donors' club at one of the UCs, and they still wouldn't consider me or my sister (who's got stellar grades and MCAT) since we were OOS.

Just apply to your state schools as a resident... you're lucky your state schools are good, and you have more than 1.

 

[junkct]

Umm...why do you think you are entitled to be above the rules of residency? The rest of us had to follow them...

yes, thank you, I understand that. In no way did I imply that I'm "above the rules of residency." I'm simply wondering if there are programs out there (and more particularly, in these schools) that would not fault me for being OOS. MSTP is one of them, but I guess that's about it. I understand the whole residency issue, I really do. But I love CA and I would love to live here in the future. But unfortunately it would take me 2 years to convince CA, not to mention declaring myself financially independent, picking up a job with a $15k salary, and purchasing a house/apt/condo, and unfortunately I really only have a few months before I apply. It would've been nice if you had actually read the post before assuming I believe I'm better than everyone else.

 

[Arzt67]

I was in a similar situation, being OOS at a large public school in Florida but being from Louisiana (although not really living there anymore being displaced since katrina). I decided it was too big a risk to make the transition to being a Florida resident so I applied to the Louisiana schools. The only other option I considered and that I think might help your case if you don't change your residency is to make the case (in the secondary apps, etc) for your ties to CA and desire to practice medicine there.

The other option I can think of for ending up in CA is, if you don't get in to any CA schools, that you can always apply to residency programs there afterwards.