Verified, What does (U) mean?

[Tenacious T]

Maybe a silly question, but I was verified today, and have a (U) beside my current city and birthplace... what does this mean?

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[jochi1543]

Underserved?

 

[Smctbone]

Maybe a silly question, but I was verified today, and have a (U) beside my current city and birthplace... what does this mean?

hmm...that's a good question...I never even noticed that. There's a U next to my birthplace, as well as my current and permanent residences. I wouldnt classify Atlanta as underserved (though it obviously has its problems)... 😕

 

[mdc1027]

Underserved?

yup. means you are in a medically underserved county. not sure how accurate this is though cause I'm marked as underserved and we definitely don't have a shortage of healthcare in my county.

 

[Tenacious T]

Thanks, I just read the last page of the printout and found that 🙂 Sorry guys

 

[jochi1543]

hmm...that's a good question...I never even noticed that. There's a U next to my birthplace, as well as my current and permanent residences. I wouldnt classify Atlanta as underserved (though it obviously has its problems)... 😕

...Ugly?



😛

 

[Tenacious T]

I expected mine to have an (R). I am pretty sure I am from a rural area based on population per square mile.

On one of my secondaries it asks if I consider myself a rural applicant.. and I said yes. Does this mean I should change that? My town has way less than 1000 peeps per square mile

 

[doinmybest5840]

The U stands for underserved, and it is used in reference to your city's ratio of citizens to physicians. Even though it may seem like your area is not underserved, according to this ratio, it very well could be. I don't know the cut-off ratio, though, so I can't help you there. My application had U's on it as well.

 

[JimT30]

Wow Im a "U" and an "R"!

Do these classifications have any relevance?

 

[doinmybest5840]

Wow Im a "U" and an "R"!

Do these classifications have any relevance?

Perhaps that if you're from an area that is U or R, you will be more likely to return to that area to practice. This is something schools look for, especially public schools. If you look on the school websites or in the MSAR, there are multiple schools that mention wanting to train doctors to practice in their state, or in rural areas. So I guess it only matters to certain schools.

 

[wryandwatchful]

Gosh. I've been trying so hard to use school to escape from the town of my upbringing and now they want me to go back. I have a "U" as well.

 

[dazlindz]

wow i completely didn't notice it... i have a U too... i wonder what percentage of the US is considered underserved?

and i guess they don't rank international, b/c i'm pretty sure where i was born is underserved... 😀

 

[NFiasco]

What if U meant "Urban" ?

 

[mvenus929]

What if U meant "Urban" ?

The place where I live is definitely not urban. It's 5 miles to the closest grocery store and gas station, and we have the choice of Walmart or Safeway, plus a few restaurants (10 miles to the post office too, and that's not even the one that delivers our mail). There are two lots behind my back right now that are empty, and I live on an acre of land and a dirt road.

Needless to say, my permanent residence and my birthplace are both labeled as underserved. Though we have too many mid sized cities in the county to be considered Rural as well.

 

[Napoleown]

i thought it meant county, lol

 

[NFiasco]

Oops, I didn't scroll all the way to the bottom. Here, it describes the meaning.

"1. Next to County Names, you may see an indicator (R),(U). AMCAS maintains federal data on areas considered Rural or Medically Underserved that are reported to
your designated medical schools along with your application. An indicator of (R) next to a County indicates that the county is considered Rural. An indicator of (U)
indicates that the County is considered Medically Underserved. An indicator of (R)(U) indicates the County is both Rural and Medically Underserved."