"Strong Ties"

[smmossey]

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Can anyone define "strong ties" as many schools put it. I have "strong ties" to Florida as my dad has lived there for eight years now and I visit quite frequently, but I am not a resident. Should I apply to Florida schools?

I wasn't sure what this meant as many schools list this as a deciding factor in admissions.

Also does anyone know if we should include contact information for our EC's and activities? I didn't see a spot for phone numbers or addresses just names on the application.

 

[kavorca]

I think it varies school to school. I would just apply and let them decide if you have strong ties or not.

 

[morning]

Can anyone define "strong ties" as many schools put it. I have "strong ties" to Florida as my dad has lived there for eight years now and I visit quite frequently, but I am not a resident. Should I apply to Florida schools?

I wasn't sure what this meant as many schools list this as a deciding factor in admissions.

Also does anyone know if we should include contact information for our EC's and activities? I didn't see a spot for phone numbers or addresses just names on the application.

I would. What they are looking for in "strong ties" is something that will tie you to the state after school, so they don't waste public money on you if you're just going to get the education and bail out of the state. Make it clear you want to practice in Florida, even if you're not entirely sure that's true.

 

[smmossey]

Thanks guys. I will apply and make it clear I want to practice there afterward as you guys said...hey it's gotta make make me at least a bit more competitive cause my Dad lives there.

 

[lstone13]

I would. What they are looking for in "strong ties" is something that will tie you to the state after school, so they don't waste public money on you if you're just going to get the education and bail out of the state. Make it clear you want to practice in Florida, even if you're not entirely sure that's true.

I agree with this. You definitely have a compelling reason for going to school in and possibly staying in Florida after your education.

 

[MossPoh]

"Strong ties" is often a way of saying, "We won't look at someone with no ties, despite their MCAT and GPA, but since you have some kind of relationship, we will make an exception."

You are often held to a higher standard than the state applicants. My school is really big on that. I grew up in Indiana and called them to find out what "strong ties" were for their standards. My family owns one of the largest family owned/ran farms in Indiana, my dad was a doctor there for 20 years and still works there 3 months a year and I lived my entire life there. Oh, and my sister and nephew lived in the unpopular town that I actually wanted to go to.

I was point blank told that I would not stand a shot at an interview unless I had a 3.8+ AND a 32+ on MCAT. (I had neither)

It is hard because most of these schools want physicians who will stay in the state if they are state funded, BUT they want the best class possible as well and frankly, many people with strong ties are more likely to stay than people with state residency (me in Florida). They usually deter by freakishly high tuition.

My school in Florida is the example of that. We had a tuition hike, so I will pay just over 20k this year in tuition. My OOS friend will pay closer to 55k.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Strong Ties= Something on campus is named after your family

 

[radiodoc99]

It may mean, once you are done with your training will you come back to the region or state to practice medicine because you have family there.

 

[ThaliaNox]

They usually deter by freakishly high tuition.

My school in Florida is the example of that. We had a tuition hike, so I will pay just over 20k this year in tuition. My OOS friend will pay closer to 55k.

At least people OOS LIKE to live in Florida. Every year my school in Michigan has tons of Californians paying over twice as much as in state folks to attend med school in the north! (29k as oppossed to 69k)