Hi everyone!
Not sure why I've just stumbled onto this thread after forgetting it for months (I saw it around the time AMCAS became available and then got caught up in the whirlwind of the season!). Maybe it's fate.
😳)
CONGRATS TO EVERYONE! Even if you are still waiting, congrats on making it this far. It takes a completely different level of dedication for us non-trads... you just can't explain it to the 21-year-olds. BTW-- I work for a university and a colleague of mine was explaining to an undergrad in his lab who I was (she saw me working and wondered if I was a grad student or something)... he mentioned how old I was and that I was leaving for med school. Her response was shock, "Why on earth is she applying for med school now? I mean, at her age?" It goes to show you, they just don't get it. They still see med school as a reward for good grades, test scores, and experiences as an undergrad.
🙄
Let me introduce myself since it's my first post: I am a non-trad re-applicant who's been out of full-time school for, er, let me calculate here-- OH MY GOSH! Yep, 11 years. And I've been working in medical research for 10 of those 11... sort of a crazy story how I even ended up here (and way too long to put in this post).
Anyway, I blanketed the nation and the range of schools with applications after an unsuccessful run in 2003 (I only applied to DC, MD, and Philly schools to stay in the area- not one interview!). I tied up loose ends (more clinical exp and lots of post-bac courses) and made a go at it this year with success (applied to 28 schools). I've only gotten one "Ivy League" interview (and that was a freakin' nightmare interview-- the only one where I was made to feel uncomfortable and unworthy-- evil interviewer! makes you wonder why they bothered to interview me), but have a bunch of offers from D.O. schools and a few from M.D. schools. My first acceptance came from a D.O. school back in the end of September (before my MCAT scores were even released!)... so, wow! What a difference it makes to apply to the right schools.
Since then I've been juggling the geography and curriculum preferences as my few acceptances come in... and right now I've narrowed it down to probably Penn State. There is one other M.D. school I will still consider but they aren't sending me a decision until mid-March. Either way, it is like a load off my chest... no, it is like being brought back to life by a quick shock from the paddles! <"CLEAR!"><BZZZT!>
So, now I am reaching for a new goal to be stressed about-- the financial thing. Yeah, in the scheme of things, it's inevitable and it won't make me decide not to do med school (or even consider not doing it!), but for those of you who are used to having an income, man, it's scary. I'm dragging my husband into becoming the sole provider when I used to supply 1/2 the income for our family (and it's modest). Even though I am very debt-conscious, I've given in to the idea of banks being my best friend over the next, oh, 20 years! At least they tend to lend money to physicians... one of the lowest default rates of all professions (if not THE lowest??). Still, after filling out the FAFSA and seeing our EFC, I almost lost my lunch right there. Ew, OK, not really... it's amazing how the feds treat those with an income as if they will still be making that income when school begins... I hope those "financial exception" forms you fill out with schools will change the fin aid picture in our favor. In the meantime, I am beating the streets for scholarships and grants... and finding out there are very few for med students... even fewer for a non-minority. Looks like I should start pimping out my husband or something... hahahaha!
Anyone else freaking out about the money? Maybe it's just because I don't have to freak out about the applications/interviews/acceptances any more. My mind is used to that heightened level of cortisol since last May.
FDoRoML
.....we have those here in teXas, and they're HUGE. To avoid the flying face attack after spraying with roach killer, first trap the bug under a large tupperware or trash can, carefully lift one side and spray the **** out of it and hold the tupperware down tight until it dies! *shiver* creeps me out just writing about them!
to everyone who is applying.
