So I didn't decide by the fifteenth. I lost a hundred dollars but I just couldn't do it. I suppose it is very rude of me to continue hanging on to two spots, but given that I was only notified of my USC acceptance on May 1st, it just wasn't enough time.

I'm trying to take actions to get everything sorted out. My main problem with VCU was possible complications obtaining a satisfactory residency. So I wrote to them and requested the match list. After seeing it, I feel a lot better about this concern. Of course many VCU graduates stayed in Virginia but that makes sense considering that many were from Virginia in the first place. I did see (albeit sparingly) some great places on the list including Hopkins, UCSD, UCSF, Yale, Children's of Orange County, etc. I may be so bold as to guess that the people going to California may be the people who came from California in the first place. I know that I will probably want to return to SoCal if I leave. So anyways, it looks like good residency matches from VCU are definitely doable. So that's good......
As far as USC, one of my main concerns is the support network provided by faculty and administration. In my secondary to them, I had mentioned that I was excited about their new department head of psychiatry, Dr. Carlos Pato. He has done some amazing work with the genetics of neoropsychiatric disorders. So just to test the waters a little bit, I have written to Dr. Pato and indicated that I would be thrilled to work with him as a medical student there. So we'll see if even writes back and what he has to say.

That's about all I've done so far, but it's better than nothing. I may cruise up to L.A. some weekend soon and give it all a second look. I know I don't have too much more time to decide. There is a pre-orientation thing at VCU on the 23rd of June, and that would also be the only time I would have to get an apartment.

Meanwhile, I am so frustrated with all this financial aid paperwork. Not only is there the FAFSA, but individual applications for each school, and another horribly long application at needaccess.org that Rochester and Dartmouth use. I also have to send out copies of mine and my parent's tax returns, and even provide a freaking credit report. Uggg. Does this crap ever end? Seriously.......

Hey everyone!

Sorry I've gone AWOL on you. But if I have any readers left among you, here's the latest news from the front lines......

I got accepted to USC just a couple weeks ago ( I was soooooo about to kill them for taking so long), and a couple weeks before that I got placed on the alternate list at Dartmouth. So all the news is finally in, and I can stop checking my mail and e-mail obsessively. So what's the next step?

Well, I suppose I have to choose now between USC and VCU, but to tell you the truth my heart has already made its decision. I LOVE VCU! Unfortunately, my all too analytical, scheming mind is having some trouble with that decision. I obviously know that I'll be happy at VCU, but I have to wonder if choosing the much lower ranked school will affect my future in any adverse ways. For example, and probably most importantly, my ability to obtain the residency that I want. I know I don't want to go into family practice, and I'm seriously thinking along the lines of neurosurgery so........... hhhhmmmmmm. I don't know. This really sucks. I'm barely into medical school and I'm already plotting out how and what I'm going to tackle after that. Does it ever freakin end?

I guess I do have a lot of factors to consider, and this will be a very important decision that I must make soon (May 15th?). Plus what if Dartmouth comes through for me sometime during the summer? Could I honestly say no to Dartmouth?

arrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All this spinning around in my head has got to stop. I really can't remember the last time I had to make a completely life-altering decision. What a bummer, yet a great blessing all at the same time, to even have any choice at all.

I will try to write more often, not that I will have much news to report, but at least for my own sake. However, if you are interested in the twisted inner-workings of my mind as I struggle to come to an endpoint on this, then stop by anytime.