The Plan ( kind of long)

 
This is my first official post using my format.
 
 School 
 
Not a lot going on here since I won't be able to start until summer, but I did submit my "Re-admit" application since I have been inactive since 2008. 
 
I also turned in my petition for the "acceptable academic progress" to be eligible for financial aide.    I had to do this, since I was going for a second bachelors and had so many hours.
 
Overall, I only have 31 ( science hours) to finish my BS in Biology, and I have to take Calculus and Pre-Cal also.  I am going to do the Pre-Cal and Cal at TCC
 
Work 
 
old job- Monday starts my last week at old job, they are planning on keeping me busy apparently until my last day there.  I had to work on my off day, and probably some more today to get these last models updated.   :(   I also have a half day meeting on Monday that is sure to DRIVE ME CRAZY!!!!
 
new job - I had a couple of pre-employment things I to finish, and should be receiving some pre-work for training soon.  I will have to keep my eye out, because we are tested on it the second day of class.
 
The Plan 
 
My ultimate plan is to re-apply to medical school in May 2014 (16 months).  
Before I can re-apply I need to strengthen my application from when I applied 2008. I will also extend the number of schools I apply to.  I may considering applying to the Early Decision Program** at my local medical school.  I may try and get an appointment with someone in admissions to see what I could do to possible be a good candidate for that option. 
  
Steps to improve my application:

Improve GPA
  - this is a VERY VERY VERY VERY hard thing to do, when I took my pre-requisite courses ( BIO I/II, CHEM I/II, O-Chem I/II, Phys I/II) part time in 2005 - 2007 while working at my "old job" I made B's and A's mostly B's.  These are all well and good, but I had a less than stellar 1st and 2nd year in college that were very hard to over come, so the B's did not do a lot to lift my GPA up. 
- so in this situation, your options are to take undergraduate courses, or graduate courses in an informal or formal program.   I am going with an informal "do it yourself" where I complete my BS in Bio and push to make As in all my classes.

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
This is also another BIGGIE in the app.   My first attempt at this was very lack luster.  I felt very comfortable with the material, but was not up on the "test taking strategy" it was also one of the first years of Computer Based Test (CBT) MCAT.  I did all my practice exams on the paper test, which was a bit different than taking it all on the PC.  

I have to really improve my whole approach for my second attempt.  I am considering a Prep class, but those things average about 2,000 bucks.  But considering this is the ALL OR NOTHING chance, I may go ahead and invest in one of those.  I am shooting for a 35+  and considering my core classes will be 5+ years old I will need a refresh.

Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
 LORs are another big thing to have in your application. 
Some DO (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) medical schools require a DO LOR
- With my first application I only had 2 LORs 
    - 1 from my very nice chemistry professor
    - 1 from my Director at the time ( she is awesome by the way best Manager I ever worked for :) ) 

I don't think this was enough, and it was also the reason I did not apply to any DO schools because I did not have a DO LOR.
- also going to night classes Part time, and working full time with a toddler I didn't really find a good time to try and get more LORs from professors.  It is good to have at least 2 of these.

-- So I plan to be more engaged with my professors early on, and hopefully get on some projects or research which will hopefully lead to some good LORs

-- the school also has a Pre-Health Professional Committee so I may check that out see if I can pass there test to get a LOR from them also.

-- I will also hopefully get a chance to get to work for some pretty cool Drs in the ER that may be willing to give me LORs


Health Care Experience

I actually had a fair amount of hours volunteering in the hospital with my last application but, I don't think it put me anywhere above the rest. 
with successful completion of training at my new job, and working there will be the ULTIMATE in exposure into the health care world without being a board certified health care professional.


Volunteer
I had a good amount of this activity to, with Big Brother Big Sister, and Hospital volunteering, but I will need to continue to grow in this area.  Beyond just my volunteering with Jordyns "stuff"

I was thinking a women's pregnancy center or shelter.  Since I a considering maternal fetal medicine this may fit right in, and since I will be going at this full time I will have more flexibility in my options of where to volunteer


My Rug rat  

So my daughter is currently 10 and will be turning 11 in April.   She has been very supportive of my goals for a while, but I am not sure she totally understand what that means yet.

Up until now I had always maintained my employment so we were able to afford the "extra" things on top of what we needed to survive.

My goal is to impact her "stuff" as little as possible.  She currently goes to a private school and dances in Junior company at a local dance studio.  Those are both significant expenses.  I want to make sure she maintains her dance work, and she will be auditioning for a local Performing Arts school in February which is less expensive than her current school.

I think the biggest impact to her will be my schedule, and the "extra" things she is used to. 

But we will work it out :)



Ok, so I guess I have said enough for today, and plus its time to get my lil one to practice. We have our first competition this weekend... :)


                                   ----------------------------------------------------------

 ** Early Decision Program Explanation
the Early Decision Program (EDP) allows applicants to secure an acceptance from one EDP-participating medical school by October 1 while allowing sufficient time to apply to other schools if not accepted.
Sounds great, right? It can be if you get in, but to apply early decision applicants must agree to the following:
1. They will apply to only one medical school (AMCAS or non-AMCAS) through the Early Decision Program.
2. They will not apply through the EDP if an initial or secondary application has been submitted to a U.S. allopathic (M.D. degree-granting) medical school for the current entering class.
3. They will not submit additional applications until:
    a) receipt of an EDP rejection; or
    b) receipt of a formal release from the EDP commitment; or
    c) the October 1 notification deadline passes.
4. They agree to attend the school if offered an EDP acceptance.