Good article...

So I had this plan to update my blog with some lessons learned over my 4 days off.

However my charger stopped working on my laptop, so I couldn't type it up. :(


However at work today I found this pretty good article on SDN that I thought I would share.

The 10 Lessons Every Pre-Med Must Learn


I plan to stop by Best Buy today between jobs today to get my charger replaced.
I think I have a 3 year warranty, but I don't have my box ( its in storage somewhere)


This was also a good response on the forms to the question.
"Is anyone on SDN actually happy with their decision to go to medical school?"

Response to question : Is anyone on SDN actually happy with their decision to go to medical school?

Thoughts...

Here we are and its almost a new year.

My mind is going a bit crazy.

I had my annual review today.  And my manager asked how things were going and if I was applying to anything this year.

I got ready to explain how I was going to just stick with the PA route and I couldn't wrap my head around it.

I still cant shake my need to apply to medical school.

I cant shake the fear that I am going to be unsatisfied with a PA degree.

I started thinking about that dang MCAT again.

How did I end up here again.

As I sit here stressed out over the holiday season and next to nothing finances I just cant get my mind to go in the right direction.

I think PA school is the smart choice
- lower cost
- shorter program
- great job outlook
- decent pay for the amount of training

I just want to scream. 

I can still work on both at this time.  I am just going to have to beat this freaking test.

I need an MCAT study partner.

Post holiday drags...

So after a long weekend and over indulging on pecan pie, we are back to the grind.

I shadowed two additional PA's the Tuesday before the holidays. I really enjoyed the experience.  I like how much time they get to spend with the patients and both ladies were totally different but equally great. 

I registered for AP I at the community college.    I was going to do Pre-Cal so I can get my Bio degree, but unfortunately could only afford the AP class at this time.  Maybe if there is some space later in the month I can look into it.  

I am not looking forward to heading to Job 2 today. I am so freaking sleeping from getting up early to make it to the gym.  I am already planning on how quick I can get in the bed when I get home tonight. :)

Well that's about it.   Slow progress, but progress non the less. 

PA option still in play

I'm shadowing a PA today.  He is very nice and super informative.  He seems to have similar input and pros/cons about the profession that I have heard before.  

I am going to go by the community college tomorrow since I am off my studio work for a week.  Hopefully I can register and get on a payment plan for classes.  I have not even considered the price for books (ugh).   This will definitely be a rental situation where applicable.  The lab books may not have that option. 

 I am going to try and do the math today to see if it's worth re-doing o-Chem.  

For PA school they average the two scores.  For DO application I think they replace one grade.    

Not a lot else going on...

Work is the same.  My doc is out of office for a week so my days are going to be long, but Tuesday I will be busy shadowing again so that will help.  

Been working out, but have to do it like 4:30 on the morning, which makes for sleepy evenings.  

That's about it.  I am just ready to start making progress.   I am coming up on my second anniversary of the journey and unfortunately I am a bit behind of my goals.  But I can still succeed in some capacity I just have to stay diligent and resist complacency.  

Driving fast and getting no where...

I cant believe its almost December.  This year has flown by.

Its been almost 2 years since I started this journey.

I sometimes feel like I have stalled especially since I did not get into that post bacc program, and I did not apply this year.

anywho...

My progress.

school.
- my local community college has open registration 11/22/14. 
Probablly going to register on  payday 11/28/14, hope there are some classes left.  I am going to have to take AP I all day Saturday or Monday & Wednesday night.

I started to toss around the idea of retaking O-chem because I got a C in the lecture and A in the lab, but for some reason they don't combine those grades like most, so I have C in one my pre-reqs.  So it could be replaced by the time I apply next year if I retake it in the fall.  Not sure about this option yet. There are fewer evening options, and no Saturday options.

The plan.
I did not take the MCAT last week,  I ended up breaking out in hives AGAIN the weekend before that lasted most of the week.  My allergist thinks I may have an allergy to ASA & NSAIDs exacerbated by stress.   The first time I had it I had been taking BC powder and this last time I had been taking Aleve.

I think my extreme aversion to that test combined with my stress to try and fit in studying on top of dealing with 3 pre-teens and dance stuff over the weekend just made for a bad recipe.

I went to a PA open house out my local school.  It was very informative and interesting.  I will shadow a PA next week at work. I am really trying to make that a viable option.   I think I could have a decent chance of getting into a program.  But its pretty competitive as well.   My local PA school had like 5000 applicants with only 75 seats to fill. 

I have to get the GRE done by December 2015, so I have a year to get on that...  I am thinking once I get back into school mode in the spring I can start the GRE study plan.

Work
about the same.  I subbed for another scribe and this Dr.  let me stay in the room for exams.  So I got my fair share of old man junk for the year..  lol   It was pretty interesting though I got to see some post op incisions and the dreaded DRE...  (digital rectal exam)

Life
blah...

Kid
doing pretty decent.
made "crew" at the convention
not working my nerves as much ( it comes in waves) lol.

thats about it...   If anyone happens to read this... I wish you a Happy Holiday Season!