Tips for Overcoming Regional Bias?

[NinjaStars]

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I live in Washington state and I'm trying to get accepted to PCOM-GA this year. I completed my secondary in early December and haven't heard about an interview yet. I have strong family connections to Atlanta and see myself staying in the area after med school. I emailed and called/left a voicemail early this week for the admissions office to see if I was still under consideration, but haven't heard anything back.

Do you know of any tips for overcoming regional bias? Supplemental letters, making a trip to the school to talk with the admissions office to show how serious I am, etc. While my question is specific to PCOM-GA, I'd appreciate ideas/tips that worked for other schools as well.

My stats are 3.5 cgpa 3.4 sgpa 32 mcat.

 

[as1212559]

I live in Washington state and I'm trying to get accepted to PCOM-GA this year. I completed my secondary in early December and haven't heard about an interview yet. I have strong family connections to Atlanta and see myself staying in the area after med school. I emailed and called/left a voicemail early this week for the admissions office to see if I was still under consideration, but haven't heard anything back.

Do you know of any tips for overcoming regional bias? Supplemental letters, making a trip to the school to talk with the admissions office to show how serious I am, etc. While my question is specific to PCOM-GA, I'd appreciate ideas/tips that worked for other schools as well.

My stats are 3.5 cgpa 3.4 sgpa 32 mcat.

I'm a bit surprised given your stats that they haven't taken an interest to be honest. I think it's a valid idea to send a letter or visit in person to let them know you are still very interested and would really like to attend.

Maybe don't visit in person since you are in WA and that would be a little nuts. Unless you happen to be visiting your family anyhow then I would say stopping in is a good idea. You may have to just send an email or place another phone call. Don't be afraid to just express your interest.

I think one of the most underrated tools in an applicants toolbox is showing genuine interest. Contacting admissions, setting up appointments, etc. It forces them to look at your file again, and it communicates your strong interest. Especially with schools pulling from their region/state, when they look for out-of-staters I imagine they put some focus on finding ones who might actually attend, so giving them the impression that you really want to be there can make or break you.

This is coming from my personal experiences.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

however sometimes you have to take it as it comes. you completed your secondary in december which is ridiculously late and being that you haven't heard anything, I would plan on not hearing anything or at least not having any luck this year. And that isn't based on regional bias, it is based on being extremely late in the game. So apply next year in june and make sure your secondaries cover that you have ties to the area and are very interested in the school. other than that, you have to just cross your fingers. You may want them to overlook a regional bias, but they may not want to overlook a regional bias, so you have to tread lightly and show genuine interest. do it right next time and chalk this year up to "lesson learned." Flying out now would be a waste of money.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

To me, flying out there would make you seem like a desperate level 5 clinger. How about a well thought out, well written physical letter sent to the adcom/dean. Also, why does it have to be regional bias? Maybe they just aren't that into you.

Full disclosure though, I think thank you letters to interviewers are dumb. So I'm just a grumpy old man tired of this game.

 

[Goro]

I could see a state school like TCOM or MSUCOM having a regional bias, but for a private school? I'm really surprised. Best just to see how this year goes. If they didn't want you, my school (somewhere west of St Louis) will gladly take you.

I live in Washington state and I'm trying to get accepted to PCOM-GA this year. I completed my secondary in early December and haven't heard about an interview yet. I have strong family connections to Atlanta and see myself staying in the area after med school. I emailed and called/left a voicemail early this week for the admissions office to see if I was still under consideration, but haven't heard anything back.

Do you know of any tips for overcoming regional bias? Supplemental letters, making a trip to the school to talk with the admissions office to show how serious I am, etc. While my question is specific to PCOM-GA, I'd appreciate ideas/tips that worked for other schools as well.

My stats are 3.5 cgpa 3.4 sgpa 32 mcat.

 

[advair250]

I've always been curious what school you're actually at Goro 😛 Maybe i'll plot all the D.O. schools and see which ones are in the region west of st.louis.

But as for OP, could it be that you applied really late? Secondary in December from my readings of the forum is quite late..

 

[NinjaStars]

Thanks all for your input! It's very true that they could just not be into me as an applicant. I didn't realize that completing secondaries in early December were deemed ridiculously late - that's good to know. I saw some posts from people who are still applying to new schools now, so I'm glad to have that insight. Also, thanks for talking me down from the flying there cliff - I'm sure you all can understand my nerves so it's good to hear from you all that it might come off as a stage 5 clinger. Haha. Fingers crossed that a letter will help and that I'll hear back soon. Thanks again everyone!

 

[HalfListic]

I skimmed the previous answers, so sorry if this was already suggested, but I think the best way to overcome a "regional bias" from a private school (when you have decent stats like you do) is to simply write a letter of interest (or two).

If you let the school know, in a simple and professional way, that you are interested in their school, and provide some points of why you would be a good fit there, I've heard that this can help get you that interview.

I can't exactly know for sure, but I believe thats what has helped me at a few schools this cycle.

Good Luck

 

[MedPR]

i've always been curious what school you're actually at goro 😛 maybe i'll plot all the d.o. Schools and see which ones are in the region west of st.louis.

But as for op, could it be that you applied really late? Secondary in december from my readings of the forum is quite late..

kcumb

 

[FrkyBgStok]

kcumb

Could be. I would put my money on RVU.

 

[Ochemlover45]

I'd think the best way would be to move.

 

[coolingglasses]

Don't expect PCOM to return your status inquiry. When I emailed them a few months ago, this is the reply I got:

"Once an application is complete there are no updates to be given."

No signature, no letterhead, or any other text.

 

[EmergDoc2B]

Don't expect PCOM to return your status inquiry. When I emailed them a few months ago, this is the reply I got:

"Once an application is complete there are no updates to be given."

No signature, no letterhead, or any other text.

same.

 

[rockorhardplace]

kcumb

Why KCUMB?

 

[Skeeks]

kcumb

Could be. I would put my money on RVU.

Really? I always assumed ATSU-KCOM, but it could be anywhere really.

RVU
ATSU SOMA
ATSU KCOM
TUNCOM
TCOM
TUCOM-CA
AZCOM
KCUMB
WUCOM
PNWU-COM

My thought always was "why list St Louis unless you wanted to draw their attention to MO?" But it's just a theory.

 

[JaBoomDay]

I asked for advice from my pre-med adviser about being on the waitlist at a very heavily regionally biased school and this is what she said:

"They are a state that pays very close attention to state residents and your writing to them to express your strong desire to attend and the rationale for choosing TX as a place you want to explore your education and practice is a good idea."

Regionally biased schools want their graduates to actually stay and practice in that region so a rationale for why you want to be there is helpful.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Really? I always assumed ATSU-KCOM, but it could be anywhere really.

RVU
ATSU SOMA
ATSU KCOM
TUNCOM
TCOM
TUCOM-CA
AZCOM
KCUMB
WUCOM
PNWU-COM

My thought always was "why list St Louis unless you wanted to draw their attention to MO?" But it's just a theory.

Goro has made a couple comments in the past the indicate he/she is likely at only 1 of 4 schools. I won't mention the comments, nor the schools for the anonymity of Goro but I would bet money it isn't KCOM or in Missouri at all.

 

[touchpause13]

Goro has made a couple comments in the past the indicate he/she is likely at only 1 of 4 schools. I won't mention the comments, nor the schools for the anonymity of Goro but I would bet money it isn't KCOM or in Missouri at all.

damn. i always thought it was KCOM

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Moreover, "west of st. louis" is actually a very common phrase west of st. louis. St. Louis is the only major city on the mississippi river that is nationally known, so the phrase is the same as saying "west of the mississippi."

 

[113]

I'm friends with a guy that applied to PCOM-PA with a 3.5 cGPA, 3.8 sGPA, and 32 MCAT. Radio silence since August. And it's his top choice too.

Edit: He's a NV resident. Maybe you're a victim of yield protection? That's what I suggested to my friend. Not sure if this is a real thing though...

 

[MedPR]

Why KCUMB?

I remember Goro saying his school's cutoff once and it was identical to KCUMB's. I tried to do a search for the post, but I could not find it. Search function on SDN kind of sucks.

Moreover, "west of st. louis" is actually a very common phrase west of st. louis. St. Louis is the only major city on the mississippi river that is nationally known, so the phrase is the same as saying "west of the mississippi."

👍 Not to mention the STL Arch being called the gateway to the west.

 

[coolingglasses]

I remember Goro saying his school's cutoff once and it was identical to KCUMB's. I tried to do a search for the post, but I could not find it. Search function on SDN kind of sucks.



👍 Not to mention the STL Arch being called the gateway to the west.

I think he's a KCUMB guy as well.

And lol, the Arch has one of the worst views for a national landmark. Thanks, East St. Louis. I guess the muddy river doesn't help either...

 

[goldsummer]

for schools that have a regional bias, I appreciate when they reject you pre-interview if it means that much to them.

One school I applied to has a regional bias, but they offered me an interview. I accepted and was super excited, prepared myself thoroughly, etc...but 20 minutes of the 30 minute interview was them interogating me why I wanted to go there when there are med schools in my state and closer med schools. They didn't ask about any of my EC's and didn't seem too interested with anything else. The other typical interview questions they asked came back around to the question of why I wanted to go there.

I wanted to say something like "if my residence mattered to you that much, you didnt have to invite me here" but i just answered honestly and went home 1,000$ poorer than my already poor self. waitlisted...

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I remember Goro saying his school's cutoff once and it was identical to KCUMB's. I tried to do a search for the post, but I could not find it. Search function on SDN kind of sucks.

yes but goro made a comment at one point where the only possible way they could be at KCUMB would be if they were about 120 years old, which i doubt. i used to think KCUMB as well.

 

[MedPR]

I think he's a KCUMB guy as well.

And lol, the Arch has one of the worst views for a national landmark. Thanks, East St. Louis. I guess the muddy river doesn't help either...

👍

yes but goro made a comment at one point where the only possible way they could be at KCUMB would be if they were about 120 years old, which i doubt. i used to think KCUMB as well.

Damn 🙁

 

[DrBumblebee]

Really? I always assumed ATSU-KCOM, but it could be anywhere really.

RVU
ATSU SOMA
ATSU KCOM
TUNCOM
TCOM
TUCOM-CA
AZCOM
KCUMB
WUCOM
PNWU-COM

My thought always was "why list St Louis unless you wanted to draw their attention to MO?" But it's just a theory.

I'm from FL, but I've received interviews from all bolded schools, as well as from others not listed including WesternU/COMP and GA-PCOM. I don't think that they've regional bias, at all.

From what I'd assume, however, according to some of the results in this cycle, RVU rejects many applicants who otherwise have many options and would probably turn down their acceptance later. Makes sense, though.

 

[MedPR]

I'm from FL, but I've received interviews from all bolded schools, as well as from others not listed including WesternU/COMP and GA-PCOM. I don't think that they've regional bias, at all.

From what I'd assume, however, according to some of the results in this cycle, RVU rejects many applicants who otherwise have many options and would probably turn down their acceptance later. Makes sense, though.

Your reading comprehension is terrible. Those were guesses as to where Goro is, not a list of schools with regional bias.

 

[Skeeks]

Your reading comprehension is terrible. Those were guesses as to where Goro is, not a list of schools with regional bias.

A little harsh, but along the same lines as what I was thinking.

I am guessing the comment that Frky was referring to would be something like Goro is older than the school he is an adcom at? In that case I would say it must either be RVU, WU-COMP or PNWU-COM right?

 

[MedPR]

A little harsh, but along the same lines as what I was thinking.

I am guessing the comment that Frky was referring to would be something like Goro is older than the school he is an adcom at? In that case I would say it must either be RVU, WU-COMP or PNWU-COM right?

Yea I was thinking it meant that Goro once said something like "I've been on this adcom since a few years after it was eatablished".

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[Skeeks]

Yea I was thinking it meant that Goro once said something like "I've been on this adcom since a few years after it was eatablished".

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

Got ya, that would make a lot of sense.