State residency and matching

[Apply Pressure]

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Had a quick question:

Does being a resident of a certain state (including having family/history there) help you match into a residency program of that state/area? Or does this vary based on the specific program and specialty?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Nope.

As long as you are eligible for a state license, state of residence is given very little attention when applications for residency roll in. If it ever comes into play, it will be well after USMLE scores, grades, LORs, interview performance, etc.

 

[Blade28]

Is this regarding your Radiology application?

Just apply VERY broadly when ERAS/NRMP rolls around, as most people do for such a competitive field.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

I dunno... I actually think it can help. If you're applying in something ultra-competitive and you attend med school away from the region you grew up in, your application might be viewed suspiciously if you apply around home.

I'm happy to use myself as an example, even though I'm not applying for residency this year. I'm from the South and go to med school in New York. Our dean of students counsels us repeatedly that most PDs in flyover country toss applications from New York schools in the trash, as they don't believe any of us would ever dare leave the Big Apple. Personally, I'm dying to get back to affordable rents and owning my own car, so I find that mindset hard to believe, but there you are. Anyway, I hope to apply to programs all through the South next year and have been told that my state of residence-- as well as my Southern State U degrees-- will give me a leg up.

 

[Llenroc]

I think it absolutely does. I tried to match outside my region, but at those programs I kept getting questions like, "How could you possibly be interested in living in this city?" I ended up matching closer to home.