I don't think confuddled is a word, but I feel like it describes this situation. My EC schedule is in a bit of disarray right now. In the past few months I mentioned in a post or two that I'm trying to schedule my first shift with the pilot project clinic at the children's hospital one city over from me.
Long story short, there was a delay since January because they had temporarily put a hold on accepting volunteers into the pilot project. Well earlier today, my volunteer coordinator finally introduced me via email to my volunteer supervisor at the clinic and said I can get started anytime. Great news right? Well the problem lies within my schedule. I had told the volunteer coordinator that I am very flexible due to my courses being online. But since I hadn't heard back from the children's hospital, I went ahead and made some plans to do a calculus course in person, one city over from me this summer in May and June, but in the opposite direction of the children's hospital. So it would take me 1 hour and 35 minutes to get from the children's hospital to my calculus lecture. My calculus lecture is 4 days a week too. And the lecture is in the middle of the day too so I can't go to the children's hospital on on those days. So I'm only available on Fridays during the week and, on weekends.
Anyways I told the supervisor this through email and I said I would be willing to either start the volunteer position once my course is over at the end of June, or I could possibly drop the course if that is the only way of keeping the position. I would really prefer not to drop the course, and in fact I only said I would possibly drop the course, so I am still not sure if I am willing to do that yet. However I can't do anything more until she replies to my email.
The implications are that I would either have to do the calculus course online or do it next summer (as I'm not a fan of taking in-person courses during the busy times of year in the winter, although I suppose I could if I had to). I need to take both semesters of first year calculus as a part of my bachelor's of science degree. I can still get my tuition back for the summer calculus course, but it just means I would have to do the course later. It might not be the worst thing in the world because then I wouldn't have to do calculus and organic chemistry in the same semester.
All in all, I will make my decision once I get an email back.
Wednesday 30 March 2016
Tuesday 15 March 2016
Bad News-But-At-The-Same-Time-Good News
So I have decided not to apply to medical school this summer. I am going to wait until 2017 to apply. The main reason is that I am not ready for the MCAT. I am missing a significant amount of essential science courses that cover MCAT material, and I cannot complete them all by the summer and still have time to review for the MCAT itself.
I've only completed the first half of first year chem and bio, and I've taken cell bio, and I'm currently taking organic chem 1. I've also done first year psych plus more psych classes. Nonetheless that means I'm missing physics, 2nd semester of biology and chemistry, organic chem 2, biochem, and sociology. All in all, I would feel a lot better if I did the courses first, so that I can absolutely destroy the MCAT next summer.
Plus it's not that big of a deal because I had a very low chance of getting in anyways because of my low average. So now I feel a lot better about not rushing my application and applying in 2017 instead of 2016. I am feeling so optimistic and I am hoping I can maintain my momentum and keep up the consistent work ethic from now until 2017 and beyond.
I've only completed the first half of first year chem and bio, and I've taken cell bio, and I'm currently taking organic chem 1. I've also done first year psych plus more psych classes. Nonetheless that means I'm missing physics, 2nd semester of biology and chemistry, organic chem 2, biochem, and sociology. All in all, I would feel a lot better if I did the courses first, so that I can absolutely destroy the MCAT next summer.
Plus it's not that big of a deal because I had a very low chance of getting in anyways because of my low average. So now I feel a lot better about not rushing my application and applying in 2017 instead of 2016. I am feeling so optimistic and I am hoping I can maintain my momentum and keep up the consistent work ethic from now until 2017 and beyond.
Community Volunteering
So I have been in touch with a few different organizations in my community in regards to volunteering. As I mentioned earlier I haven't yet been involved with any organizations since I moved away from Vancouver and back to my hometown so I decided I need to get on this now. I'm actually quite excited about all of the organizations I've contacted. The list goes like this:
1) Alzheimer Fitness and Social Group Volunteer
2) United Way Impact Council Volunteer (is basically a part of a committee that decides how funds should be spent)
3) Recreation Volunteer at First Nations Elderly Assisted Living Facility
4) Hospice Volunteer
These all sound like amazing positions and I think I would get a lot out of these positions but I would also have fun doing them too!
Here is the breakdown for where I am at with actually getting involved with these positions.
For number 1, the coordinator said she already has a volunteer (I guess they only need 1 volunteer), however that volunteer may be resigning and then a spot may open up for me. She said she would know by the first or second week of April.
For number 2, I had seen the position on their website, and I had been trying to get in touch with the office a few times but we hadn't connected yet. I was finally in touch with them today and the director asked me to come in to a group interview that she is having today at 4:30pm. That was definitely good timing on my part! Anyways we will see how that goes. I'll post tonight about where I'm at with them and if I'm able to volunteer with them.
For number 3, I had just left a message with the coordinator today.
For number 4, my local hospice takes in volunteers twice a year because the training is twice a year. I spoke on the phone with the lady at reception and she said she would email me the application package. It seems like a decently extensive application with quite a few questions on things like character and motivation for wanting to be involved with the hospice. I also need two references which I have already secured but not yet received. The application deadline is at the end of April. I'm hoping to get an interview and secure a volunteer position as it is everything I want; both challenging an demanding and helping sick people in a caring environment.
I am looking forward to try to get set up with these positions and determine if they are the right fit for me. My interview with the United Way is only in a few hours so I need to get ready for that - I want to make a good impression as I am very serious about dedicating my time to them. I am hoping it is as much responsibility as it sounds like. I am serious about all of these positions and that is why I'm looking forward to them - because I will likely get a lot out of it if I put a lot into it.
Anyways I will provide updates on these as I hear back from them. I also have some bad news-but-at-the-same-time-good-news about my next two applications to medical school.
1) Alzheimer Fitness and Social Group Volunteer
2) United Way Impact Council Volunteer (is basically a part of a committee that decides how funds should be spent)
3) Recreation Volunteer at First Nations Elderly Assisted Living Facility
4) Hospice Volunteer
These all sound like amazing positions and I think I would get a lot out of these positions but I would also have fun doing them too!
Here is the breakdown for where I am at with actually getting involved with these positions.
For number 1, the coordinator said she already has a volunteer (I guess they only need 1 volunteer), however that volunteer may be resigning and then a spot may open up for me. She said she would know by the first or second week of April.
For number 2, I had seen the position on their website, and I had been trying to get in touch with the office a few times but we hadn't connected yet. I was finally in touch with them today and the director asked me to come in to a group interview that she is having today at 4:30pm. That was definitely good timing on my part! Anyways we will see how that goes. I'll post tonight about where I'm at with them and if I'm able to volunteer with them.
For number 3, I had just left a message with the coordinator today.
For number 4, my local hospice takes in volunteers twice a year because the training is twice a year. I spoke on the phone with the lady at reception and she said she would email me the application package. It seems like a decently extensive application with quite a few questions on things like character and motivation for wanting to be involved with the hospice. I also need two references which I have already secured but not yet received. The application deadline is at the end of April. I'm hoping to get an interview and secure a volunteer position as it is everything I want; both challenging an demanding and helping sick people in a caring environment.
I am looking forward to try to get set up with these positions and determine if they are the right fit for me. My interview with the United Way is only in a few hours so I need to get ready for that - I want to make a good impression as I am very serious about dedicating my time to them. I am hoping it is as much responsibility as it sounds like. I am serious about all of these positions and that is why I'm looking forward to them - because I will likely get a lot out of it if I put a lot into it.
Anyways I will provide updates on these as I hear back from them. I also have some bad news-but-at-the-same-time-good-news about my next two applications to medical school.
Sunday 6 March 2016
No More Backup Anymore But Maybe a New One in the Future
So after much deliberation with my family, I've decided to drop out of the cardiology technology program.
The reason being is that it was taking too much time away from my regular university courses. Remember since the cardiology technology courses are part of a diploma program and non transferable, then they won't be used in the GPA calculation for UBC medicine, thus not helping me in my ultimate goal.
If I stayed in the cardiology tech program, I only would've only been able to complete 1 or maybe 2 university courses per semester - not exactly an efficient use of time.
I know I wrote a long post about it being my backup so that I can get a career and make money to take more classes and pay for them on my own, which would eventually leading me to get into medicine (assuming I get the high marks), but I decided if I'm going to do this, I might as well not do any extra work that won't be helping my medical school applications. So I am using my own savings to pay for my tuition for the rest of my degree. My family was not initially thrilled that I'm dropping it but I just may have finally convinced them that I just might be able to do this whole med school thing (which they didn't think I could do before).
But I might be able to pursue an even better backup. And that is pharmacy. Not only does pharmacy pay a lot more than a cardio tech, but also the vast majority of courses from the pharmacy program at UBC will be used in the GPA calculation for admission into the MD program. And I would get funding from my family to do my pharmacy degree. So as a result, I'd be working on a backup AND improving my chances for medicine at the same time. All in all a very good choice for me right now. Honestly it sounded daunting at first, but I would love to be in school full time for the next 5 years. I would have 280 credits under my belt and if I can perform well consistently, then who knows what my average would be. Plus pharmacy is better than graduate school because with pharmacy I can apply for medicine every year, whereas with graduate school I can only apply in the last year of my master's or PhD.
Before I can apply to pharmacy, I have to complete about 10 half semester courses of science prerequisites first. I'm hoping to finish that by the deadline in January of 2017. But I would have to work at a pretty fast pace. It also brings up the issue because I need to complete labs and I would have to travel to Kamloops this summer to participate in them.
Anyways I'll have more information on what I'm doing this summer after this week. I'm looking to try to focus more on doing my science prerequisites for pharmacy because I don't want to wait until 2018 to apply to pharmacy.
The reason being is that it was taking too much time away from my regular university courses. Remember since the cardiology technology courses are part of a diploma program and non transferable, then they won't be used in the GPA calculation for UBC medicine, thus not helping me in my ultimate goal.
If I stayed in the cardiology tech program, I only would've only been able to complete 1 or maybe 2 university courses per semester - not exactly an efficient use of time.
I know I wrote a long post about it being my backup so that I can get a career and make money to take more classes and pay for them on my own, which would eventually leading me to get into medicine (assuming I get the high marks), but I decided if I'm going to do this, I might as well not do any extra work that won't be helping my medical school applications. So I am using my own savings to pay for my tuition for the rest of my degree. My family was not initially thrilled that I'm dropping it but I just may have finally convinced them that I just might be able to do this whole med school thing (which they didn't think I could do before).
But I might be able to pursue an even better backup. And that is pharmacy. Not only does pharmacy pay a lot more than a cardio tech, but also the vast majority of courses from the pharmacy program at UBC will be used in the GPA calculation for admission into the MD program. And I would get funding from my family to do my pharmacy degree. So as a result, I'd be working on a backup AND improving my chances for medicine at the same time. All in all a very good choice for me right now. Honestly it sounded daunting at first, but I would love to be in school full time for the next 5 years. I would have 280 credits under my belt and if I can perform well consistently, then who knows what my average would be. Plus pharmacy is better than graduate school because with pharmacy I can apply for medicine every year, whereas with graduate school I can only apply in the last year of my master's or PhD.
Before I can apply to pharmacy, I have to complete about 10 half semester courses of science prerequisites first. I'm hoping to finish that by the deadline in January of 2017. But I would have to work at a pretty fast pace. It also brings up the issue because I need to complete labs and I would have to travel to Kamloops this summer to participate in them.
Anyways I'll have more information on what I'm doing this summer after this week. I'm looking to try to focus more on doing my science prerequisites for pharmacy because I don't want to wait until 2018 to apply to pharmacy.
Study, Walk, Gym, Eat
So last week I spent my entire days doing one of the 4 things in the title: studying, going for a brisk walk, lifting weights at the gym with a friend, and eating my 3 meals a day.
I was putting in some serious work to learn organic chemistry. I haven't got any marks back yet or finished an assignment, but I've completed about 15% of the entire course, so I think progress is being made. One thing I'm concerned about is whether my pace in this first unit can be applied to future units, because a lot of what I've learned has been review from 1st year chemistry or chemistry 12. Although it was been 5 and 7 years respectively since I did those courses too.
I was spending at least 10 hours a day studying last week. I didn't study for the whole week but I got in a few good days there. Yesterday on Saturday I took a little break and spent some time researching my chances for admission into Canadian medical schools. There are a lot of schools where I won't meet the cutoffs or requirements this summer, but in 2 years I will be eligble for a lot more schools. Although I do have a strong preference for McMaster or UBC.
I'm in full gear now. The days are longer but I am learning so much more. I also got my sleep schedule back on track which was bothering me before too. All in all, things are good, but the road is going to be so long. I've done two years at 73%. That means I need to do 2 more years at 93% to get up to a respectable 83% average.
My next goals are to write at least 3 exams in April. If I get 80% in all 3 courses and then I finish organic chemistry at the end of April and get an "A" in it, then I will have met the 75% cutoff.
BUT, if everything goes right for me, then I'm expecting to have something more like an 83% as opposed to a flat 80 average for my ocean science and health psych courses. It could go even higher than that, but I guess we will just have to wait and see.
I was putting in some serious work to learn organic chemistry. I haven't got any marks back yet or finished an assignment, but I've completed about 15% of the entire course, so I think progress is being made. One thing I'm concerned about is whether my pace in this first unit can be applied to future units, because a lot of what I've learned has been review from 1st year chemistry or chemistry 12. Although it was been 5 and 7 years respectively since I did those courses too.
I was spending at least 10 hours a day studying last week. I didn't study for the whole week but I got in a few good days there. Yesterday on Saturday I took a little break and spent some time researching my chances for admission into Canadian medical schools. There are a lot of schools where I won't meet the cutoffs or requirements this summer, but in 2 years I will be eligble for a lot more schools. Although I do have a strong preference for McMaster or UBC.
I'm in full gear now. The days are longer but I am learning so much more. I also got my sleep schedule back on track which was bothering me before too. All in all, things are good, but the road is going to be so long. I've done two years at 73%. That means I need to do 2 more years at 93% to get up to a respectable 83% average.
My next goals are to write at least 3 exams in April. If I get 80% in all 3 courses and then I finish organic chemistry at the end of April and get an "A" in it, then I will have met the 75% cutoff.
BUT, if everything goes right for me, then I'm expecting to have something more like an 83% as opposed to a flat 80 average for my ocean science and health psych courses. It could go even higher than that, but I guess we will just have to wait and see.
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