So yeah, I got my first post-secondary rejection the other day. You can tell what it is before you even open the envelope, so no surprises there. It was from Eastern Virginia, which appropriately enough, was the first secondary I did way back in September. I'm not heartbroken though......like I really wanted to go to Virginia anyways. Oh well. I'm just afraid that it's the first of many more to come. It's hard not to freak out at this point, especially because acceptances have already been going out (to the people who didn't procrastinate). I've already pulled out my MCAT books, and as soon as I put in my last few secondaries I'm going to start studying again, just in case. I guess I've realized that it's a very real possibility that I may not get in this time around. I've done a lot of things right, but I've also done a lot of things wrong lately. I mean really, one of the most common pieces of advice I've heard is APPLY EARLY. And despite my best intentions, I find myself writing essays frantically the night before a deadline. Of course, these mad dashes to the deadline are mostly for the schools I really don't want to go to anyways.
But whether I get in or not this year, it's not the end of the world. I have friends who despair every day that their "whole life will be over" if they don't get into med school right away, but I like to think that I'm a little wiser than that. I'm already 24, a couple years older than most of you will be when you graduate, so whats one more year? As long as I still want to be a doctor, and I stay committed to it, it will happen. Plus I just got a really sweet job that I would have no problem staying at for another year. I'm the new "inventory coordinator" at the Orthopaedic Surgery Center of La Jolla, but so far I feel more like a float tech. I do a little bit of everything, from receiving and stocking supplies, helping out in pre-op and the PACU, to helping with room turnover and depleting patient charts after surgeries. Best of all, I get to wear scrubs and bask in the presence of some of the most celebrated orthopaedic surgeons and anesthesiologists in San Diego. Today, I was able to watch Dr. Pedowitz (I believe he did Inside the Doctor's Lounge several weeks ago) do a shoulder arthroscopy and it was very very cool. Plus, the money's good and its full time/full benefits with lots of little perks. Despite the fact that I have to start at six in the morning, I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far.
So you see, my life will certainly not be over if I don't get into med school this year, and neither will yours. There are always options, and that's really the only healthy outlook you can take.
Ladies and Gentlemen....We have a rejection
EMT....to be or not to be?
Alright, we finally heard from UCSD. I'm on hold for an interview, which is neither bad nor good, but I'll take it. Realistically speaking, I think that it means I'm not one of their top choice candidates, but I'll probably get interviewed somewhere down the line. It is far from the worst case scenario. Statistics are a scary thing if you stop and think about it. First of all, only 40% of the 5000+ applicants receive a secondary. Then, only 25% of those receiving secondaries are eventually interviewed. I'm a little rusty at math, but I believe thats a one in ten chance of getting an interview at UCSD. Furthermore, about half of those interviewed are eventually offered an acceptance, and that gives us a five percent acceptance rate. So for me......I'm still wading around in that 40% somewhere, hoping and praying! And for those of you struggling in similar or worse (please don't take that the wrong way) situations, I feel for you. It all really sucks, doesn't it?
Anyways, I'm glad that several people have brought up the topic of becoming an EMT. You wouldn't believe how many e-mails I get from individuals on the subject! Apparently, it's a hot topic right now. So listen up, cause I don't want to answer anymore e-mails (no I'm just kidding, I don't mind). So the best place in San Diego County to receive EMT training is Miramar College, which offers the semester long class twice a year that I know of. It requires eight classroom hours a week, plus eight hours ambulance experience and eight hours E.R. experience total. At the end, you must pass a final written test plus a practical skills examination. I'll tell you right now, the class is not for wussies especially if you are taking UCSD classes concurrently. Unless you are superhuman like me ( I did it while taking twenty-one units at UCSD along with all the other crap I did), it will probably be pretty painful. By the way, I'm kidding about the superhuman thing (kinda).
However, here is the good news. I absolutley loved the course. It was so fascinating and intellectually stimulating, and in my opinion, gave pre-meds like us a great, practical foundation for beginning a course of study in medicine. It covered basic anatomy and systems, common diseases and injuries, and appropriate treatment for those injuries in the field. There is a difference between the theory and the practice of medicine. More simply, you can understand diabetes or COPD on a molecular level, but can you recognize the signs and symptoms and know exactly what to do if you encounter diabetic ketoacidosis in the field? While I was taking the course, volunteering in the E.R. was suddenly raised to a whole new level. I actually understood what they were talking about, and that made the experience all the more meaningful to me. I was suddenly that much more connected to my co-workers and patients. So seriously, I think it was the best course I ever took, and I learned ten times as much practical knowledge as I ever have in a lecture hall at UCSD.
Yet here is some bad news. If you actually want to work as an EMT, that can be tough around here. Sure you can get a job on some BLS rig, and drive around all day taking grandmas and grandpas back to the nursing home (no offense to grandma and grandpa). But if you're like me, and you want the action (i.e. sucking chest wounds, subdural hematomas, abdominal aortic aneurysms) then its not gonna happen, not as a job anyways. Most EMTs who work hard enough to eventually get on ALS rigs are doing so because they want to become paramedics and firefighters. So I'm talking career stuff here. However, there are EMT positions in emergency rooms (E.R. techs), and although its very competitive, it is possible. Bottom line: The class comes highly recommended by me, whether it's for personal or professional reasons. I chose not to pursue a job as an EMT, and most of the time I don't regret that.
Oh here's something funny: when I went to South Africa to volunteer, I was one of the only pre-meds in my group. Most were 1st and 2nd year med students. Yet when we actually got into the clinic or ambulance, I put them all to shame. From just the practical skills I had gained during the EMT course, I made them all feel like idiots and I found myself teaching them rather than the other way. How cool is that?
On that note, I will bid you good night :)
Newsflash: I am not a patient person
Well, we have no word from UCSD yet. But I am probably jumping the gun, cause its only been four weeks since I turned in my secondary. Hmmmmm. I'm just being extremely impatient (which is not a great characteristic to have during this process, let me tell you). Actually, I'm being a lot more impatient with UCSD because I realized recently that it's really the only school I want to go to. Certainly, it was a shock to me to realize that because only six or so months ago I swore up and down that you couldn't pay me a million dollars to go there. So why the sudden change of heart?
Heart is actually the key word there. My heart is at UCSD. Growing up, I never had a real great family situation, I didn't go to high school for more than a year, and I pursued.....ummmm....the wrong kind of people to be friends with. So I'd have to say that UCSD was my first real home, community, and family. To me, it's the most amazing environment I've ever been in. Some of you would laugh at me for saying that (I hear people whining and bitching all the time because they didn't get into Berkely or UCLA), but really, take a look around and understand how priveleged we all have been to receive our educations right where we are. I know, cause I've been places you wouldn't want to go to in your worst nightmares. Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is that home is where the heart is, and for me thats UCSD all the way.
I had someone tell me that taking the MCAT at SDSU is not necessarily a bad experience for everyone. Duh. I know that, I was just exagerating for the sake of exagerating. But perhaps for me, considering my apparent emotional connection to our school, the lack thereof may have had something to do with it. Who knows? But at this point, it definitely doen't matter.
So anyways, I'm going to run away from you now and go to bed, because I actually have a pretty important interview at Pfizer tomorrow. Wish me luck!
