Neglect

Well I'm so bad at keeping up with blogging lately!! Here has been my timeline the past 5 months.

August 11: interviewed at BCOM in New Mexico
August 11: Acceptance letter to BCOM
August 28: interviewed at A.T. Still in Arizona
August 31: interviewed at University of Arizona- Phoenix
September 1- moved back to az
September 15: acceptance letter to AT Still SOMA
October 19: rejection letter from UofA Phoenix

I decided that I will be attending school in Arizona at A.T. Still class of 2020!

Next post will be about why SOMA!

More Good News

I continued with my pursuit of schools in the US.

After all- why not?

I have completed secondaries to:
A.T. Still in Arizona
Burrell at NMSU in New Mexico
George Washington in D.C.

Next step

June 19, 2015

Oh. My. Gosh!! 

Let me start by explaining-

Last Monday we were packing up to go on vacation- we ran into the gas station to get snacks and when I got back to the car I had a voicemail regarding an interview.  I immediately called back and was told that the interview would be held in LA.  Exactly where we were about to go to vacation too!  I was able to interview 2 days later! 

It all just worked out perfectly. 

My interview was held with my regions Senior Associate Director of Admissions.  It was very relaxed and personable.  It was night and day from my interview last season.  I was asked very typical questions such as why medicine, why a doctor, why AUC, etc.  The question that threw me off was what was the thing I was most proud about.  That's a huge statement. 

Today I received the call that I was accepted into the January class to American University of the Caribbean to pursue my MD!! 

It's crazy to think that only a few months ago I was so devastated about my rejection letter and now I have an acceptance letter. 

I can't properly express how much gratitude, disbelief, excitement and fear I'm experiencing all at once but I am ready and thankful for this next step. 

Marie Curie Has It All

I may have just found a legit role model..



"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained."

-Marie Curie


From this Huffington Post article:

Born in 1867, this woman – the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes – had to climb a steep hill in order to pursue her passion for science in a male-dominated world. As a result, there are still so many reasons to look back on Curie's life and to put it forth -- even all these years later -- as a lingering example for girls and young women everywhere.

Although her triumph over a tough childhood in Russian-occupied Poland is the stuff of legends, her real journey began in 1906. That's when her scientist husband, Pierre Curie, was killed instantly after being run over by a horse-drawn wagon on a busy street in Paris. Marie was left alone with two daughters -- Irene, 8, and Eve, 14 months.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Marie carried on the couple's research and was appointed to fill Pierre's position at the Sorbonne, making her the first woman professor there. In 1911, Marie won her second Nobel Prize (she had shared a Nobel Prize with Pierre in 1903). She also put her life on the line for her country. With Irene at her side, she crisscrossed France during World War I, transporting portable X-ray machines to doctors on the battlefield.

For years, women have been going on about whether they can "have it all" -- a blending of marriage and motherhood with a demanding career. And yet women like Marie Curie didn't sit around thinking about such things. She immersed herself in her career because she loved it. Leaving it behind never even crossed her mind.

How was Marie able to do it? One reason is that her widower father raised all of his children -- whether boys or girls -- to believe they were capable of great things.

Once, when Marie was only 11, the headmistress of her school told Marie's father that, although Marie was at the top of her class, she was much more sensitive than her peers. Perhaps, the headmistress suggested, he should consider holding the girl back a year. He did exactly the opposite. He immediately pulled Marie from the school's nurturing environment and enrolled her in a much tougher school that catered to high achievers.

Through the years, Marie's father introduced her to the thrill of physics and chemistry and all subjects with the same enthusiasm he did Marie's brother.

Leaning In

I've created this blog for one reason:

My medical school journey. 

I applied late into the 2015 cycle.  End of September late.

I have a 3.9 GPA in Cell & Molecular Biology but my MCAT was less than stellar- a mediocre 24.

I had one interview to the University of New Mexico in late November but found out in March I was not accepted.

I was crushed.  When I say crushed- I mean a pain almost on the same level as when my mom was dying.

This may sound dramatic to you, but to me it was honestly that painful.  It took about 2 months to get my act together again.  

Last cycle I did not lean into one program.  I spread myself equal amongst all programs.  I didn't care where I went as long as I went.

This year is different.  I am leaning in.  I'm making active choices.  The 2016 cycle is going to be different for me.

I am leaning into a Caribbean Medical School.

I am leaning into the American University of the Caribbean Medical School in St. Maarten.  

I have done more research on this school than I have done in the entire Medical Profession because I was so worried about the lackluster reputation foreign medical schools have.

I attended webinars.

Talked with Admissions counselors.

Talked with Alumni.

Talked with recently matched residents.

Read USMLE stats.

Read matched stats.

Read Benji Ho's endless amounts of wisdom.

Talked to other admissions offices at the SGU, Ross, and Saba. 

With that being said, here are the reasons I have chosen a foreign medical school as my top choice even though I am still applying to US schools:

1. Is ACGME accredited so I can practice in all 50 states.

2. Title IV - can receive US Federal Loans

3. Small class sizes: ~100-200 students.

4. Looks at the applicant as a holistic approach; not just test scores.

5. I will live 2 years in a foreign country learning of different cultures and new ways of life.

6. I will live the last 2 years back in the US during my clinical years.

7. In 40 years when I look back at my life, I do not think I would ever regret exploring.

8. Time scheduled into the semesters to study for USMLE's and their classes are scoring the USMLE's I hope to get as well.

9. Effectively match people into all fields I'm currently interested in.

I've submitted most of my materials to AUC already.  All I am waiting for is my grades to be posted to send in my last transcripts.  

If everything goes the way I am wanting, I would be starting in January.

I opted for January because I wanted a few months to get life together, Cody to be able to walk at his graduation, and spend some time with our family.  

If I get into AUC, that is where we will be going.  If I don't, we will just have to see what else happens.

After a year of not making any really choices or decisions and just waiting for something to come up, I am leaning in.  I'm choosing a path.