Texas vs. California

[ixitixl]

Both states have a huge population, both state have many medical schools. Since Cali residents apply to 30, 40, 50 odd schools, I'm guessing they have it quite a bit harder but what's the reason? Do Texas schools only take residents?

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[doctorcynical]

Cali has the governator. Texas has that redneck guy who lives in DC.

 

[fullefect1]

haha

 

[exmike]

more applicants in cali than texas, more spots in texas than in cali.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by ixitixl
Both states have a huge population, both state have many medical schools. Since Cali residents apply to 30, 40, 50 odd schools, I'm guessing they have it quite a bit harder but what's the reason? Do Texas schools only take residents?

There are more applicants from Cali than in Texas. Also I think TX schools are a bit bigger than Cali schools. It seems as if Cali has about 150ish people per class (I just took the US News data and divided the total by 4, if anyone from Cali knows the exact value that would be great) while each TX school has 200 (except for Baylor has 168).

TX is opening up a new med school in El Paso as well.

Unlike Cali, which has an overabundance of doctors (though they are concentrated in nice areas of the state), TX has a chronic shortage of physicians throughout the state, including several medium sized cities.

I used to think Cali had the best public schools for the money with UCSF, UCLA, and UCSD, but since the gobernator and hikes, I think TX has become a better value recently.

 

[celticmists18]

For its population California just doesn't have enough medical schools to fill its needs. To add to the problem, the CA med schools have pretty small classes (100-150) and they are some of the best medical schools in the country (public or private) so LOTS of people apply. Just to give you an idea, the average GPA of someone who was accepted to UCSF, UCSD, UCLA, UCD, or UCI (the 5 state medical schools) was a 3.75 last year and it is projected to go up this year. Since we don't have a "gimme" states school (not like any school is really a gimme school) we have to apply a bunch of schools.

 

[Lochmoor]

TX has 7-8 med schools depending on how you count. (1 is D.O. and Baylor is a quasi-state school)

All TX med schools are required by law to have a class of at least 90% TX residents, 66% for Baylor.

The deal with Baylor is that many years ago it separated from Baylor University in Waco, TX and made a deal with the state to recieve state funding and in return promise to have a class of at least 66% in state residents.

Tuition is incredibly low--only 9k for in state, ~20k for out.

Apparently there are 2 applicants for every 1 medical school spot for TX residents--basically 50% acceptance.

As for the shortage of physicians...I suppose that is quite true, but I dont really understand. On my AMCAS, it says I live in an underserved area....and I live in Austin.

Also, dont forget about the large Asian population in Cali along with the Asian parent mentaility of "You should....will become a doctor"

 

[kito]

Originally posted by doctorcynical
Texas has that redneck guy who lives in DC.

Easy there buttercup. He is the leader of the world.

 

[gschl1234]

Originally posted by ankitovich
Easy there buttercup. He is the leader of the world.

hm. Funny, I thought it was Rove or Cheney.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by gschl1234
hm. Funny, I thought it was Rove or Cheney.

I'd say Rove, Cheney is AWOL.

 

[Raidergate]

I have to say that the attendance numbers for Texas med schools posted above is wrong. Texas Tech accepts 130-140, A&M accepts 65-80, and the new school in El Paso will only take around 100. It's true that Houston, San Antonio, and Southwestern all accept around 200, but there is a large range for the attendance numbers. It may still be true the total attending is higher in Texas, but the acceptance rate we've always been quoted is closer to 40% not 50. Not a big difference, but if you consider about 3000-3500 apply and only 1000-1200 attend, it's still no done deal by any means to get in in Texas.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by Raidergate
I have to say that the attendance numbers for Texas med schools posted above is wrong. Texas Tech accepts 130-140, A&M accepts 65-80, and the new school in El Paso will only take around 100. It's true that Houston, San Antonio, and Southwestern all accept around 200, but there is a large range for the attendance numbers. It may still be true the total attending is higher in Texas, but the acceptance rate we've always been quoted is closer to 40% not 50. Not a big difference, but if you consider about 3000-3500 apply and only 1000-1200 attend, it's still no done deal by any means to get in in Texas.

Oh, I forgot about TT and A&M, and I didnt know that they already knew how big El Paso would be. My bad.

 

[doctorcynical]

Originally posted by ankitovich
Easy there buttercup. He is the leader of the world.

Hey Guy,

No more stupid posts. People don't like wasted space on threads.

 

[TheFlash]

Originally posted by ixitixl
Both states have a huge population, both state have many medical schools.

The difference is that Cali schools have the hardest admission for their state residents, while the Texas schools are some of the easiest.

tf

 

[doctorcynical]

Don't mess with Texas. Hands down the best ladies during spring break. Hook em horns.

Stanford or bust.

 

[Kalel]

For whatever reason, there are a lot of California residents who go on to become pre-med. A common joke among med school admission faculty is that California's second largest export is med students. It's definitely one of the most difficult state med school system to get into despite having so many state med schools. They send a lot of qualifed med students to other state med schools because they can't get into their California system.

 

[Jalby]

1190 spots in texas

1000 in cali

3978 aplicants from Cali

2737 From Texas.

Quite a difference there.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2003/2003slrmat.htm

 

[ixitixl]

Originally posted by Jalby
1190 spots in texas

1000 in cali

3978 aplicants from Cali

2737 From Texas.

Quite a difference there.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2003/2003slrmat.htm

Yikes.

 

[uclacrewdude]

Originally posted by Kalel
For whatever reason, there are a lot of California residents who go on to become pre-med. A common joke among med school admission faculty is that California's second largest export is med students. It's definitely one of the most difficult state med school system to get into despite having so many state med schools. They send a lot of qualifed med students to other state med schools because they can't get into their California system.

smarter kids.

 

[Gleevec]

Also, states with a shortage of physicians (like Texas) try to keep their tuitions low to keep in-staters around. Schools like Baylor and UTSW for $6550 tuition attract a lot of people, all all the TX schools are actually quite well off financially for the most part (to the point that a new one is to be opened in El Paso, strictly for border medicine).

If Cali had a physician shortage, which it does not, its likely the state govt would cut funds or raise taxes/rates elsewhere rather and keep the tuition lower to attract students.

So I guess there is also a bit of supply and demand going on as well.

 

[UCSBMed1]

Originally posted by Gleevec
Also, states with a shortage of physicians (like Texas) try to keep their tuitions low to keep in-staters around. Schools like Baylor and UTSW for $6550 tuition attract a lot of people, all all the TX schools are actually quite well off financially for the most part (to the point that a new one is to be opened in El Paso, strictly for border medicine).

If Cali had a physician shortage, which it does not, its likely the state govt would cut funds or raise taxes/rates elsewhere rather and keep the tuition lower to attract students.

So I guess there is also a bit of supply and demand going on as well.

Maybe the Bay Area and Southern California (LA, Orange, and San Diego Counties) don't have a physician shortage, but the rest of the state does, or will in the next few years.

Remember, there are other parts of the state besides these areas, and they need good physicians just as much as their more affluent coastal neighbors.

Despite this fact, California still raised our tuition 40% for next year...hmm...

Go Arnold! 🙄

 

[HollyJ]

Originally posted by uclacrewdude
smarter kids.

Oh, I don't know about that. We chose to live in a state where we had a great chance of getting into med school and a great chance of getting out of med school with very little debt. I think we're pretty smart.

 

[Jalby]

Originally posted by UCSBPre-Med1
Maybe the Bay Area and Southern California (LA, Orange, and San Diego Counties) don't have a physician shortage, but the rest of the state does, or will in the next few years.

Remember, there are other parts of the state besides these areas.......

WHAT?!?!?!?!? I'm shocked😱

 

[UCSBMed1]

Originally posted by HollyJ
Oh, I don't know about that. We chose to live in a state where we had a great chance of getting into med school and a great chance of getting out of med school with very little debt. I think we're pretty smart.

Smarter? Give me a break. No offense, but their is a reason why there is such a shortage of docs in Texas, and I don't have to say what it is. 🙄

I was born and raised in California, way before I was even a twinkle in my parents' eye and decided to go to med school. I know we're not smarter than anyone else, but don't act like Californians *chose* to live in California and go to med school.

Besides, the benefits of the Golden State far outweigh any disadvantages it might have.

 

[HollyJ]

Originally posted by UCSBPre-Med1
Smarter? Give me a break. No offense, but their is a reason why there is such a shortage of docs in Texas, and I don't have to say what it is. 🙄

I was born and raised in California, way before I was even a twinkle in my parents' eye and decided to go to med school. I know we're not smarter than anyone else, but don't act like Californians *chose* to live in California and go to med school.

Besides, the benefits of the Golden State far outweigh any disadvantages it might have.

Oh lord, UCSB, it was a joke. And actually, I didn't say we were smarter -- I just disagreed that all of you were smarter.

Also, if you're going to bag on how stupid Texans are, you might want to get your their/there/they're confusion sorted out first.

 

[jlee9531]

oh no. a texas v. cali standoff.

the two superpowers finally face off. 😀

 

[sunkists]

all i have to say is...



"hookem horns and texas fight."

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by UCSBPre-Med1
Smarter? Give me a break. No offense, but their is a reason why there is such a shortage of docs in Texas, and I don't have to say what it is. 🙄

Please, enlighten me UCSB Pre-Med1, I am sure their [sic] are others wanting to know what this reason is as well. 🙄

 

[LoneCoyote]

Originally posted by UCSBPre-Med1
Maybe the Bay Area and Southern California (LA, Orange, and San Diego Counties) don't have a physician shortage, but the rest of the state does, or will in the next few years.

Remember, there are other parts of the state besides these areas, and they need good physicians just as much as their more affluent coastal neighbors.

Despite this fact, California still raised our tuition 40% for next year...hmm...

Go Arnold! 🙄

There is definitely a shortage in the Central Valley and the counties up north. And I was very surprised when AMCAS designated my home county, San Francisco County, as underserved as well. I know certain neighborhoods in SF are but I was surprised.

 

[G_Eagle]

I'm from Dallas, and AMCAS deemed Dallas county underserved too...

 

[celticmists18]

Oh no! The civil war is resurfacing. Being an authentic California girl raised by confederate parents (meaning I can whistle Dixie and sing the Beach Boys) I have to say that both states have their pros and cons (medical school-wise and otherwise), and more to the point this thread really isn't about which state is better but why both are so dang hard to get into when it comes to medical school! (which I think was answered many posts ago)