It is ALL complete! My application was submitted Sunday. I recieved notification that AMCAS has processed my application. All of my recommendation letters are in and being submitted as we speak. Thank you to those who wrote them for me! I was editing that crazy essay until the minute before I submitted it. It was a relief to have it done, no more going back and editing little picky words. I am quite proud of it too, it really speaks to who I am. It is kind of weird letting someone read it because it seems so personal to me. I think it may be because I am not used to sharing information of who I am, and that really got there.

Another part of the process is my job. I now have patient experience. I see them, I perform a procedure (however simple it may be). I get to talk to them and see the other side of the workings of a laboratory. I am enjoying my new position! There are a few struggles here and there, patients who are tough pokes, and adjusting to a new schedule and new set of people. All in all things are going well. I am excited for the next part of the application process. I am really looking forward to the interview, I hope that I will be able to show my true colors there, and I know that this really is the career for me!

It is finally sunny out today, and warm enough to hang out outdoors. It is also NOT raining for the first time in a week. Portland has recieved 4 inches of rain in the month of June, so far. The rain never seems to end!

Essay time

I forgot how much an essay can be edited. I read it over and over until I have it memorized. Of course I have found several duplicated sentences. Maybe I have been working on it too long since they were almost word for word. I kept one of each and removed the duplicates, the admissions committees probably don't want to read the same thing over and over. I decided to send my essay to a professional editing service. This is worth too much to skimp on the essay. I still have the essay done to my best ability and have gone over it word by word with my boyfriend.

I am ready for this experience. (by the way, that is the key word in my essay) I am excited to move on to my next stage. I am ready for the road trip next summer after I quit my job. I can't wait to begin the school experience. I know it will be hard, but I am sure it will be worth it!

I am stuck waiting for the essay to be edited. I still have a bit more work on some details. I am hoping to turn the thing in by next week! Oh yeah! Time to celebrate with some wine and ice cream.

Uplifting Meetings

I went to a pre-med meeting this week, of course it was about the essay. I got a lot of advice and heard some very good essays written by others. I also got a confidence boost. Having experiences after college seems to enrich my story and give me more ammunition to fire at the committees. The best part is that everything I have done is genuine, and I feel good about where I have come from and where I am going.

I went to another meeting this morning at work. Grand Rounds, a talk about IBS by an MD. This was wonderful to compare with recent talks I have been to by an ND. I learned a lot from both, but I understand the MD reasoning better. I really appreciate the backing of studies behind statements. This talk hit close to home since I am so involved in the gluten free group. The talk got me excited about the path that I am embarking on. I found some time to write down more thoughts on my essay. I am constantly working on it or thinking about it. Luckilly, the thing is taking shape and is now ready for its many revisions.

So much excitement! Plus, this is my last week at my job! Change all around, and all positive!

Getting into the groove

The application is moving along. I have entered the schools that I am applying to. I have all my undergraduate classes from UP entered – and whew, that was a big task! It is strange reliving those semesters. I worked hard all 4 years, I can tell the semesters that I overloaded myself. Not just class work, but 4 labs, crew, a college social life, and a full schedule. I definitely came out of that semester a stronger woman.

Kind of a look back and a look forward. Back was what I mastered in college, the experiences I had, the struggles and the fun. I am looking forward to dreams of surviving med school in an unknown city. Of exploring, of living minimally again and meeting new friends.

I'm also keeping up with my mentor program emails. Procrastinating is becoming more overwhelming to me than actually doing the task. I sent out a couple emails today which turned out to be super easy. I still have small projects ahead, but I'm realizing that keeping up on my emails will make my life significantly more simple. I even made cookies with my adopted celiac today. The sugar cookies turned into snickerdoodles, but they are my most successful cookie yet. Of course, snickerdoodles have been my favorite the past few months.

This weekend is amazingly productive. Lots of paperwork tasks accomplished, and time for ice cream with cookies to finish off the night!

The application is open!

I thought I was busy before. This week is just a little overwhelming. I am so excited to be able to dig around the applications, but I'm having to pull my organization skills back up. I finally got my transcript requests ready to go tomorrow. I am replying to requests of people who are writing my recommendation letters. The list goes on. I am applying to both allopathic and osteopathic schools, which means I get to fill out 2 separate applications. I am trying to manage the parts together so that when I have information for one topic out, I complete the same section in both.

Of course it wouldn't be fair for me to have just one thing happen this week. Last Saturday was the food fair for the local Gluten Intolerance group. I have a lot of small projects staring at me here too. I know how important communication is from the view of the one being communicated to. From the other side, it is a lot of work – not only the email note itself but deciding how much people want to hear and how often. So far, it seems like I am under communicating. This is another area for me to figure out a good system of organization and keep it going.

The most talked about topic of the application is the essay. Now I know why. I wrote a strong application for a nursing program a couple years ago. I did get accepted into the program, but that essay is missing so much of my story that I have decided to start fresh. So far, I am trying to go backwards into the essay. I can picture what I want it to be like and I wish I had something to proof. How do I write an essay that stands out, but talks about ME. I don't usually talk myself up, which makes this essay all the more difficult. I am still in the brainstorming and writing phase. Talking with both my boyfriend and mom this week has helped. Simply talking about the subject brings out ideas and themes for me to try out. My question of the day is: how does one put into words, that emotion and desire for wanting to be a physician?

Quick note.

I am continuing to feel successful about this process. Everyone I talk to lately is enthusiastic about my medical school application process. I have officially asked one person for a letter, 5 to go. I also have some pretty packets prepared for 3, I am quite proud of them (thanks for the help, Jarrett). Maybe asking one person a day will be best for me so I don't get overwhelmed.


Of course, I'm writing this from Starbucks, working on my "second job" of my mentor program. I have a never ending amount of work and emails to send to keep things going. I really wish I had another day in my week to devote to this program. It is exciting that I do have positive feedback from several people, that the program is working. It is so wonderful that I am able to make some impact in this area before I get a medical degree.

Things are moving, not much to report, but it feels like it is moving faster than I am ready for.

Sitting here at work, half working - half continuing my break. It has been a rough night - actually day. I got here at 9:30 to get a latte before I started my "late" shift. I got a random text along with my latte notifying me that a co-worker called in sick again. I told my boss that I would cover this shift if she did again. So, here I am 10Pm and tired as can be. My morning between 9:30 and 3pm was productive, however. I got started reading my phlebotomy text. The first step to my new position! (The new position that won't require these odd shifts with notification after I'm already here).

I am getting all the paperwork and leg work done for professors and co-workers to write my letters of recomendation. I just got the details worked out with UP advisors and will get the packets ready to go for next week. That will give my references 1 and a half months to write my letters and get them to UP.

I also did some research into the schools I plan to apply to. Looks like about 20 total, although a few still need more website investigations before they are for sure. I'll post that list sometime soon. In that I also came across details information for the upcoming application that opens May 3rd.

I can feel my adrenaline pumping harder these last few days. This is really happening, the applications aren't available to fill out yet, but I am preparing for everything that I can. I like to be prepared, and look back at where I was in this process a year ago. I was studying for the MCAT and had no idea where I was going to apply. Good thing I waited. This year, my grades and numbers are the same, but my resume and confidence are dramatically stronger. I don't just have the regular education and volunteer experience. I have more, a long-term job in a lab, (will have direct patient care with Phlebotomy), gained leadership and much more with my mentor program... and the list goes on.

After days like today, I look forward to being a physician. I know the long days will become more common, but the problems (or at least paths to the solution) will be different. When I make I call, I will actually have the authority to get my point across. Hopefully I will actually be paid appropriately for the work I do as well. I am currently working on a project that a supervisor should be doing, I like these kind of projects and know I will get a successuful outcome, but the project is larger than the expectations of my position.