West Coast Dreaming.....

[Calidreams]

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Hey everyone, had to make a new name just to be safe on this one, internet Sherlocks are everywhere:


I am a JMS at a mid-tier East Coast school, and I really want to do a derm residency in the great state of California. I hate talking about my numbers but I feel they are necessary for this post, Junior AOA, 250+ Step 1, some research experience (hopefully 2 abstracts and 2 pubs by the time interviews roll around, please Lord don't let me have just jinxed it). I imagine in the pool with these numbers, considering my school, -I am probably middle-of-the-pack in terms of all derm candidates. I have nothing to hold me back on the East Coast, no significant other, and it has been my dream since as long as I can remember to live in California, perhaps permanently.


I looked up all the Cali derm residents online (at least the ones I could), obviously alot of them have West Coast ties (undergrad, grad, or med school). However there are a few residents that seem to be totally East Coast, -giving me hope. Numbers-wise, I noticed that perhaps Irvine would be my best bet in terms of sheer chance (15 total residents, 5 slots a year?). Note: I couldn't find a list of UCSF, Stanford, or Harbor residents. But from the numbers perspective (UC Davis-9, UCLA-11, USC-9, Harbor-4, Irvine-15, UCSD-11) it seems wise to apply to these larger programs.


My questions are:
1) Does anyone have any advice about trying to match a derm residency in Cali as an East coast med school grad?
2) Does my numbers approach make sense?
3) Are any programs more "east coast" friendly in particular?
4) Any other advice about perhaps how I should position or exhibit myself in interviews and upcoming rotations next year?


Any help would be appreciated. Obviously, just matching derm would be amazing (and would be an incredible feeling). But I figured I might as well take a shot at the stars too....


Good luck everyone.

 

[N-Surge]

If you are going into academics then I suggest UCSD. If you are able to set up an away rotation there I'd do it. I got an interview from them, w/ my having been at at a midwest school and w/o doing a rotation there. Pretty sure I recieved an interview there because of my strong academic background and the fact that I plan to stay in academics (to give you a feel of what they may be looking for).

 

[Calidreams]

Thanks, this is exactly the kind of information I am looking for. Do you have any other information on the characteristics of the other California programs? Every one the programs is probably a slightly different beast.......

 

[N-Surge]

Thanks, this is exactly the kind of information I am looking for. Do you have any other information on the characteristics of the other California programs? Every one the programs is probably a slightly different beast.......

Can't help there. I didn't recieve any other California interviews. Pretty sure I applied to all of them...

 

[dermRus]

I just sent you a PM...

 

[asmallchild]

1) Does anyone have any advice about trying to match a derm residency in Cali as an East coast med school grad?
2) Does my numbers approach make sense?
3) Are any programs more "east coast" friendly in particular?
4) Any other advice about perhaps how I should position or exhibit myself in interviews and upcoming rotations next year?

1) I chose not to apply to California myself as this does tend to be a fairly regional process with people often going crazy trying to break into California for residency.

2) Your numbers approach definitely makes sense but I'd say just to be safe, you should apply to all programs in California (if your budget allows) if you are serious about ending up there.

3) Sorry, can't answer this myself as I didn't attend an East Coast school. I'd say your approach of taking a look at current residents is smart as programs that have culled outstanding residents from the East Coast may be willing to give it another shot in this match

4) I would definitely be very proactive in completing rotations and research out in California. If you would be willing to take a year off to do research out there, that might boost your standing further. Your numbers are great but again, it's tough just getting into derm and people are crazy about basking in that California sunshine which might make matching in Cali that much tougher (I imagine it might intensify this year with all the reports of blizzards out East! 😛)

 

[kralwok]

Seriously?!
It will be difficult to get a spot ANYWHERE even with your competitive numbers. I'm not saying you can't get into a California residency program, but you don't have that much control over it. You can of course try, and your approach makes sense, but so much of matching is based on where you have connections and the rest is just completely random.
By all means give it your best shot and I hope it goes well, but realize the competition is insane and you don't have as much control over it as you might think.

 

[Long Dong]

Who you know>what you know (scores/aoa), such is life.