WWAMI: does the length you have been residing in the state count in your application?

[lockedinphdjail]

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Hi! I am about to relocate to a WWAMI state because of SO's job. I should be eligible to apply next year by August since we'll have been there for 12 months. This is absolutely my #1 choice and we are planning to stay there in the future so it would be ideal to not go back and forth to another state for med school, and much less disrupting to my family. However, I am wondering how having been there only a year will be perceived? We are rushing this move so I can apply, especially in the middle of a pandemic, but if my file will be thrown in the trash anyway because I am perceived as a newcomer, I will feel guilty about putting my family through this. We are really not happy with the housing situation so far. Anyone is WWAMI has classmates that were somewhat recent relocations? The plan then would be to apply OOS next year (probably wouldn't get in) and reapply in state the following year.

 

[collegestud2013]

As long as you list one of the WWAMI states on your AMCAS application, you'll be treated as an in-region/state applicant at the time of application even if you recently moved there. However, you'll be required to prove legal residency in one of their states later and after being accepted (at most schools if you fail to prove in-state residency, your acceptance gets withdrawn and re-reviewed as an OOS applicant.

However, even if you're a strong applicant you should still have back-up plans since UW is a very competitive medical school to get into, even for top applicants. As usual, plan to apply broadly to at least 20-30 med schools around the country, with most the schools having an ACCEPTED average GPA or MCAT near your GPA and MCAT and focusing on mostly private OOS schools (that have no or minimal in-state preference).

Eligibility as WWAMI or Out of Region | UW Medicine

www.uwmedicine.org

 

[lockedinphdjail]

As long as you list one of the WWAMI states on your AMCAS application, you'll be treated as an in-region/state applicant at the time of application even if you recently moved there. However, you'll be required to prove legal residency in one of their states later and after being accepted (at most schools if you fail to prove in-state residency, your acceptance gets withdrawn and re-reviewed as an OOS applicant.

However, even if you're a strong applicant you should still have back-up plans since UW is a very competitive medical school to get into, even for top applicants. As usual, plan to apply broadly to at least 20-30 med schools around the country, with most the schools having an ACCEPTED average GPA or MCAT near your GPA and MCAT and focusing on mostly private OOS schools (that have no or minimal in-state preference).

Eligibility as WWAMI or Out of Region | UW Medicine

www.uwmedicine.org

Makes sense. I mean, you never know what your personal odds are. I am sure the 28% admission rate is deceptive, because depending of your profile it could be either 50% or 5% depending what they are looking for. Did you go through the program?

 

[oldgruntedbiochemist]

As long as you list one of the WWAMI states on your AMCAS application, you'll be treated as an in-region/state applicant at the time of application even if you recently moved there. However, you'll be required to prove legal residency in one of their states later and after being accepted (at most schools if you fail to prove in-state residency, your acceptance gets withdrawn and re-reviewed as an OOS applicant.

However, even if you're a strong applicant you should still have back-up plans since UW is a very competitive medical school to get into, even for top applicants. As usual, plan to apply broadly to at least 20-30 med schools around the country, with most the schools having an ACCEPTED average GPA or MCAT near your GPA and MCAT and focusing on mostly private OOS schools (that have no or minimal in-state preference).

Eligibility as WWAMI or Out of Region | UW Medicine

www.uwmedicine.org

Hello,
excuse grammar please. Do you know if the same applies to the Anchorage/Alaska track since they don’t get many applicants or where I could find stats on the Alaska track specifically? I’m moving to Anchorage and hoping to work rurally. They require a 2 year residency, not a 1. How would I prove legal residency as well/when I arrived in Anchorage?
Thank you!

 

[oldgruntedbiochemist]

Makes sense. I mean, you never know what your personal odds are. I am sure the 28% admission rate is deceptive, because depending of your profile it could be either 50% or 5% depending what they are looking for. Did you go through the program?

This was something I was wondering- if the stats were off; in favor of residents of Alaska.

 

[dindjarin87]

Hi! I am about to relocate to a WWAMI state because of SO's job. I should be eligible to apply next year by August since we'll have been there for 12 months. This is absolutely my #1 choice and we are planning to stay there in the future so it would be ideal to not go back and forth to another state for med school, and much less disrupting to my family. However, I am wondering how having been there only a year will be perceived? We are rushing this move so I can apply, especially in the middle of a pandemic, but if my file will be thrown in the trash anyway because I am perceived as a newcomer, I will feel guilty about putting my family through this. We are really not happy with the housing situation so far. Anyone is WWAMI has classmates that were somewhat recent relocations? The plan then would be to apply OOS next year (probably wouldn't get in) and reapply in state the following year.

I think this may differ per state, but for WA, you must have evidence of living in WA state for 12 months prior to matriculation. If you are a new resident to WA, you will be asked to complete residency verification prior to your secondary being accepted. The residency verification process is VERY thorough, I recommend submitting your residency verification packet as soon as possible. I am a reapplicant and last year I underestimated how long the verification process takes. My MCAT was returned on October 6th, I "submitted" my secondary as soon as received, but I was not verified as a resident until December 14th. One day before their deadline. I would recommend taking a gap year to build some strong experiences in the state, also. Their mission is to serve the state, if you don't have experiences that speak to that, you are in a tough spot (even if you have very high stats).

Hello,
excuse grammar please. Do you know if the same applies to the Anchorage/Alaska track since they don’t get many applicants or where I could find stats on the Alaska track specifically? I’m moving to Anchorage and hoping to work rurally. They require a 2 year residency, not a 1. How would I prove legal residency as well/when I arrived in Anchorage?
Thank you!

Acceptance Statistics | UW Medicine

Learn more about UW School of Medicine acceptance rates. Applied: 7,572. Admitted: 358 (4.73%). 96% of our class on average are residents of WA, WY, AK, MO or ID.

www.uwmedicine.org

For Alaska students, 20 seats and had 81 applications for E2019 class.

 

[oldgruntedbiochemist]

I think this may differ per state, but for WA, you must have evidence of living in WA state for 12 months prior to matriculation. If you are a new resident to WA, you will be asked to complete residency verification prior to your secondary being accepted. The residency verification process is VERY thorough, I recommend submitting your residency verification packet as soon as possible. I am a reapplicant and last year I underestimated how long the verification process takes. My MCAT was returned on October 6th, I "submitted" my secondary as soon as received, but I was not verified as a resident until December 14th. One day before their deadline. I would recommend taking a gap year to build some strong experiences in the state, also. Their mission is to serve the state, if you don't have experiences that speak to that, you are in a tough spot (even if you have very high stats).

Acceptance Statistics | UW Medicine

Learn more about UW School of Medicine acceptance rates. Applied: 7,572. Admitted: 358 (4.73%). 96% of our class on average are residents of WA, WY, AK, MO or ID.

www.uwmedicine.org

For Alaska students, 20 seats and had 81 applications for E2019 class.

What kind of things could you think of that would attest to this? I’m guessing primarily community service?

 

[dindjarin87]

What kind of things could you think of that would attest to this? I’m guessing primarily community service?

Community service, sure, but more than just that, they want evidence that you understands some of the challenges your respective state faces. That can mean healthcare delivery, public health infrastructure, tax structures/systemic issues related to equity, access to services, exposure to harms, economics, etc. The EXCOM wants to see more than words about how you care about your state because of your SO, they want to see experiences that support an understanding of your state’s ecosystem and a desire to contribute to long term solutions. Really, most of this is available on their website. UWSOM’s website is the benchmark. Other schools direct to UW’s site to reference interview advice, how to strengthen an application, and a site dedicated to hot topics in bioethics that may appear in theirs or other interviews.

 

[annad_700]

What kind of things could you think of that would attest to this? I’m guessing primarily community service?

I live in Anchorage and have for several years… Since you mentioned moving to Alaska, there are many organizations here that benefit the state/the native population, etc. If you are looking for a job I suggest looking into the native corporations and the openings they have available. In the healthcare field, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is a grant run health organization that serves the native population. It is also related to Southcentral Foundation (also health organization serving native population), and the actual hospital itself is Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC). In addition to some of these we have a LOT of not-for-profits aimed with a local mission at assisting the communities of Alaska. If you're looking for volunteer work then you could look into volunteer opportunities at ANMC, or the other two local hospitals (not completely local but still serve the community).