Should I declare myself a resident of CO or MI?

[Wahed]

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I grew up, graduated high school and college in Michigan, but have lived in Colorado the last 4 years (I am 27 years old). As far as I know, I could declare myself a resident of either MI or CO on my AMCAS primary application. I am currently in CO, but am tempted to move back to MI (where I still have family) for purposes of being considered an in-state resident. My reasons for this are:

1. I am very interested in attending Wayne State because of the setting and what I've read about their training (also, my Dad graduated from their medical school and was a clinical professor there. I don't know if that counts for anything.)
2. MI has 5 medical schools that I am competitive for (i.e. not UofM)
3. I worry my stats are not that strong, and getting into the University of Colorado does not seem like a safe bet.

How much of an advantage would moving give me? The move would be expensive, stressful, and I would lose access to some opportunities in CO (potentially paid clinical experience). I'm having a very hard time determining if the move would be worth it. I would be equally happy attending Wayne State or the University of Colorado, but want to do everything I can to maximize my chances of getting in somewhere.

Stats:

• cGPA: 3.43
• sGPA: 3.74
• Post-bacc GPA: 3.87 (notice the large upward trend here, which began in senior year of undergrad)

No MCAT score yet (I know, this makes my profile very incomplete, but I need to make this decision now)

Extra curriculars:

• 200+ hours volunteering in an emergency department
• 80+ hours shadowing with internal medicine MD, neurology MD, neurology DO, neurology PA (may have opportunity to shadow with Psychiatry MD)
• 50+ hours tutoring children at a youth center located in a housing project for agricultural immigrants (of primarily Mexican origin)
• 64 hours assisting direction of a summer program for teenagers at the same housing project. The program focused on environmental education and activism and culminated with an educational overnight trip to the mountains.
• 1 season (~240+ hours) spent as a wildfire dispatcher, coordinating response to wildfire events
• 6 months as accountant of an 18 person housing cooperative that I lived in
• 3 weeks (126 hours) working in a refugee camp on a greek island (working directly with refugees from all over the middle east and north africa)
• 40+ hours digitalizing intake questionnaires for a free HIV clinic in Detroit (although this was back in 2009)

LORs from the researcher I worked under, and my biochemistry professor. Still undecided who else I will ask.

I am interested in working with the underserved inner city population and plan to pick up some experiences that demonstrate this while I study for the MCAT over the next 5 months.

 

[Faha]

Michigan is the better choice. 30% of applicants from Michigan matriculate to an instate school as opposed to only 14% for Colorado.

 

[Wahed]

Michigan is the better choice. 30% of applicants from Michigan matriculate to an instate school as opposed to only 14% for Colorado.

Thanks for that reply. Can I ask how you got those numbers?

 

[Faha]

Thanks for that reply. Can I ask how you got those numbers?

AAMC data Table A-5 Applicants to US Medical Schools by In or Out of State Matriculation Status 2017-2018