Random non-MCAT and only peripherally related to the MCAT thread - Part 2

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TypeA said:
Ok, slightly freaking out...went to orientation today for my post-bacc stuff. I am doing it informally b/c I didn't think I had the GPA and because I think it would be a totally stupid move to jump into an intense, formal program after being out of school so long. But, who is the first person I met with? The director of the formal post-bacc. He is trying to convince me to over to that side. Even during the group thingy he was discussing my stuff with me and which classes I should take. It was nice, but I feel totally unready to do that. Not to mention, on a whim, I went to take my math placement exam and bombed it. Needless to say, I am not in a happy mood. I didn 't get my Human Anatomy class that I needed, so I am SOL in that regard. My Stats class didn't transfer (not sure why) so I need to appeal that. I need to blow this semester away!!

I am questioning if I can actually do this...I really need to get my head on straight and not look back. I keep telling myself "one day at a time." Please tell me I am not the only one who feels like this. I want to believe that I am stupid for thinking like this, but hey...with such a low acceptance rate into med school, there is a good chance that I am right. Ugh. I just need to quit thinking. :scared:
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you have a ton of positive support

you need to do things on your schedule, not someone else's. your schedule may have to adjust depending on life circumstances and when classes are available. that's OK. it's all part of problem-solving your way to your goal.

I think most of us are scared to death at some point. we should be.

starting it is the hardest part. once you start classes, things will settle.

J
 
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sorry meg! i guess we were wrong after all. it's hard to try to figure things out when some people haven't posted since day 1.

good luck on the practical! 😀
 
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TypeA said:
Ok, slightly freaking out...went to orientation today for my post-bacc stuff. I am doing it informally b/c I didn't think I had the GPA and because I think it would be a totally stupid move to jump into an intense, formal program after being out of school so long. But, who is the first person I met with? The director of the formal post-bacc. He is trying to convince me to over to that side. Even during the group thingy he was discussing my stuff with me and which classes I should take. It was nice, but I feel totally unready to do that. Not to mention, on a whim, I went to take my math placement exam and bombed it. Needless to say, I am not in a happy mood. I didn 't get my Human Anatomy class that I needed, so I am SOL in that regard. My Stats class didn't transfer (not sure why) so I need to appeal that. I need to blow this semester away!!

I am questioning if I can actually do this...I really need to get my head on straight and not look back. I keep telling myself "one day at a time." Please tell me I am not the only one who feels like this. I want to believe that I am stupid for thinking like this, but hey...with such a low acceptance rate into med school, there is a good chance that I am right. Ugh. I just need to quit thinking. :scared:
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I've gone to the dean before to get put in closed classes and explained my situation. Maybe you can do that with the Anatomy class.

YOU CAN DO THIS. This is your new mantra. Most of us nontrads have been where you are and every year many from SDN have happy endings, and you'll have one, too!

I'm doing an informal post-bacc, and trudging my way through it. Some days are harder than others, and some days are great.

Go have a boat drink.
 
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megboo said:
Holy COW! I thought you were taking the 8-week variety! Good luck with that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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the 8-week version would be Physics I AND II

And thanks, I'm going to need it. My "not a morning person" butt will have to be at school at 7:45am 4 days a week for the 1.5 hour lab. Torture, I tell ya. (only other lab options made it a 9:30-4pm day at school, and that makes working kind of difficult..)
 
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jlw9698 said:
Talk to me in 3 weeks. Physics II condensed into a nice 4-week package, starting July 10. Yikes.
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both organic I & II are 4-week classes here. and omg... the teacher CAN ACTUALLY TEACH!
 
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TypeA said:
Ok, slightly freaking out...went to orientation today for my post-bacc stuff. I am doing it informally b/c I didn't think I had the GPA and because I think it would be a totally stupid move to jump into an intense, formal program after being out of school so long. But, who is the first person I met with? The director of the formal post-bacc. He is trying to convince me to over to that side. Even during the group thingy he was discussing my stuff with me and which classes I should take. It was nice, but I feel totally unready to do that. Not to mention, on a whim, I went to take my math placement exam and bombed it. Needless to say, I am not in a happy mood. I didn 't get my Human Anatomy class that I needed, so I am SOL in that regard. My Stats class didn't transfer (not sure why) so I need to appeal that. I need to blow this semester away!!

I am questioning if I can actually do this...I really need to get my head on straight and not look back. I keep telling myself "one day at a time." Please tell me I am not the only one who feels like this. I want to believe that I am stupid for thinking like this, but hey...with such a low acceptance rate into med school, there is a good chance that I am right. Ugh. I just need to quit thinking. :scared:
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PW, you *can* do this. Why do you need a human anatomy class, for your major? Isn't there some other course you can substitute?
 
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lilithny said:
both organic I & II are 4-week classes here. and omg... the teacher CAN ACTUALLY TEACH!
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That's quite a coup! that was an option for me, too, but my school's kind of screwy. OC I was in the evenings, then turn around over a weekend, and OC II was in the mornings. again, not conducive to a work schedule. 🙁

I'm taking organic I in the fall. last rumor I heard (in May) was that the guy teaching it is kind of inept, but that the school was planning on firing him, and no one knew who was ACTUALLY going to be teaching it come fall. there's one guy who's apparently a great professor, but he'll be teaching II in the fall, and waiting to take him next Spring/Fall for I/II pushes my application back a year..... so I'm taking my chances.
 
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jlw9698 said:
June 7-10, 2007

it'll be fun. we'll make it so.
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I'd love to meet you girls. The only non-trad randomite I know so far is my partner in crime and chocolate alcoholic drinks, MM. I'll see what I can do. Even if I can't come the whole time, I might be able to come for some of it. 🙂
 
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QofQuimica said:
I'd love to meet you girls. The only non-trad randomite I know so far is my partner in crime and chocolate alcoholic drinks, MM. I'll see what I can do. Even if I can't come the whole time, I might be able to come for some of it. 🙂
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:laugh:
There is a very nice hotel with a very lovely bar in Downtown Chicago which is the home to my own (and a friend's) "chocolate alcoholic drinks" story. Just my luck if that's where we wind up. :scared:
 
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i'd like to go to the conference as well...we shall see how much money i have left after the application cycle this year! 😀
 
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megboo and PW - I have heard the term "post-bacc" but am totally ignorant about what it is. And what is the difference between a formal one and an informal one?
 
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CHOCOLATE martinis, lili. lots of them. dang that was a good night. and a bad next morning.

although I recently had a pineapple cosmo (okay, 2) at a martini bar in STL which was really quite delightful. (plus someone else was paying, so that made it even better! 😀 )
 
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beary said:
MSTPs will usually pay for you to come out. 👍
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ooh, good to know 🙂

When do MSTPs usually have their second look weekends? (Is that usually before or after that May 15 deadline? I would guess before...but I have no idea)
 
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jlw9698 said:
CHOCOLATE martinis, lili. lots of them. dang that was a good night. and a bad next morning.

although I recently had a pineapple cosmo (okay, 2) at a martini bar in STL which was really quite delightful. (plus someone else was paying, so that made it even better! 😀 )
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for the life of me... i cannot drink martinis. it just seems wrong.

anyone who drinks gin is bad. cause EVERYONE knows you're drinking gin. yeech. (this coming from an ol' gin drinka)

*yay wireless keyboard!*
 
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scentimint said:
When do MSTPs usually have their second look weekends? (Is that usually before or after that May 15 deadline? I would guess before...but I have no idea)
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I don't know. At Iowa we didn't have official second look weekends but occasionally people came out for a second look and we would talk with them, show them around more, etc.
 
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lilithny said:
okay, i just calcuated my grades... and now i'm thinking about not applying anymore.
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Dude, quit that! Stop it! You can do it. Anyone who takes a spoon to a lobster and wins can do it. Go Beavis!
 
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lilithny said:
for the life of me... i cannot drink martinis. it just seems wrong.

anyone who drinks gin is bad. cause EVERYONE knows you're drinking gin. yeech. (this coming from an ol' gin drinka)

*yay wireless keyboard!*
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I believe that these were more of the vodka martini persuasion.... vanilla vodka. And Godiva liqueur. And creme de cacao. Drizzled with Hershey's chocolate syrup.

As you can see, they're evil.

And just a note: If at any point your friend gets up to go to the bathroom, is already starting to fall over and says, "You know, I'm pretty drunk, but if there was another one of those things sitting on the table when I got back, I'd probably drink it.", you know it's a good night.
 
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QofQuimica said:
PW, you *can* do this. Why do you need a human anatomy class, for your major? Isn't there some other course you can substitute?
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That WAS my substitution. I already took General Bio, but it was so long ago that it was not smart to go into Bio II. It's ok. I'm not all that upset about not getting it. There is always next semester. I can wait to see decapitated noggins. 😱
 
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jlw9698 said:
June 7-10, 2007

it'll be fun. we'll make it so.
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Yes, we rock...and people watch. Unless you are jlw...then you fraternize with the off shore schools! Oh JLW! I just realized who you were sitting next to at dinner on Saturday! No wonder you got sick! 😀
 
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TypeA said:
That WAS my substitution. I already took General Bio, but it was so long ago that it was not smart to go into Bio II. It's ok. I'm not all that upset about not getting it. There is always next semester. I can wait to see decapitated noggins. 😱
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what about re-taking general bio? things have changed dramatically since the early 90s when I first took it. last year's class had a lot of info that just wasn't known back then, esp regarding micro and cell structure and function.
 
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beary said:
megboo and PW - I have heard the term "post-bacc" but am totally ignorant about what it is. And what is the difference between a formal one and an informal one?
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One is a structured program and it guarantees that you get the classes, etc. It is usually all the pre-reqs packed into 1-2 years. (1 at my school) That's intense when you are trying to bring up a pitiful GPA.

The informal program is simply taking the same classes, you have to fend for yourself as far as scheduling goes.
 
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jlw9698 said:
what about re-taking general bio? things have changed dramatically since the early 90s when I first took it. last year's class had a lot of info that just wasn't known back then, esp regarding micro and cell structure and function.
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I thought that was good idea too...but the big, head dude had just said "DO NOT REPEAT CLASSES YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN." I am considering doing it anyway. Hey, DO schools take the replacement grade...besides, it will be averaged in regardless if I DO or MD and I could use the refresher.
 
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TypeA said:
I thought that was good idea too...but the big, head dude had just said "DO NOT REPEAT CLASSES YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN." I am considering doing it anyway. Hey, DO schools take the replacement grade...besides, it will be averaged in regardless if I DO or MD and I could use the refresher.
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I look at it as mastering new content rather than trying to improve your grade. Bio ('92) used the 2nd edition of the same book I had for Bio ('05)- 7th edition- and they were just worlds apart.
 
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jlw9698 said:
I look at it as mastering new content rather than trying to improve your grade. Bio ('92) used the 2nd edition of the same book I had for Bio ('05)- 7th edition- and they were just worlds apart.
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I totally agree. I think I will ignore what the big dude said.

...hey Mushy... your MySpace comments thingy is still not working! 😎 😡
 
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hello guys! 😍

its been almost 2 weeks since i've posted here! t-minus 36 hours until i take on step 1!!!!

just wanted to say hi! I took my last NBME official practice test today, got the best score of all my practice tests! i had saved this one for last too since everyone in the usmle forum says its the most accurate predictor of all of them.

Now I just hope to boost that up a few more points with last minute flash card review until tomorrow afternoon but i cant wait to get this thing overwith. regardless of what score i get, i just want to be able to put away all things step 1 already. i'm done with qbank and practice tests though, the next time i answer a step 1 related question will be on the real thing.
 
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Can I just say how much I despise moving? We have all the paperwork from the insurance company declaring the car totaled, but I can't find the title! The day before we moved, I could put my hands on it...today, nope.

Hummm. So, they will hold the check until I hand over the title. Hummm. Where is it???

Title...where are you?
 
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Arsenic said:
hello guys! 😍

its been almost 2 weeks since i've posted here! t-minus 36 hours until i take on step 1!!!!

just wanted to say hi! I took my last NBME official practice test today, got the best score of all my practice tests! i had saved this one for last too since everyone in the usmle forum says its the most accurate predictor of all of them.

Now I just hope to boost that up a few more points with last minute flash card review until tomorrow afternoon but i cant wait to get this thing overwith. regardless of what score i get, i just want to be able to put away all things step 1 already. i'm done with qbank and practice tests though, the next time i answer a step 1 related question will be on the real thing.
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ROCK IT A-MAN!! 👍
 
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Why is filipino listed as Asian?

Asian would designate a country on the Asian continent... like China and Korea. but the philippines is hanging out there in the pacific... and its thousands of islands...

so. country on the asian continent? no.

island out in the pacific? yes.

hmmm... do you think that might hold up my application?
 
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