Thursday, December 12, 2013

The roadblock in even applying for HPSP

     I met with the Army recruiter and he's on the mission of attempting to get me that GPA waiver.  In order for him to get it I had to give him my transcripts, my acceptance letters, and the GPA page of my AMCAS application.  He told me that usually we hear between one and two weeks after the request is submitted, but with the holidays coming up who knows when I'll actually get an answer.
     I really want to do the Health Professions Scholarship Program with the Army, but I may have to simply try again next year.  Guess we shall see.


Thursday, November 28, 2013

Amazing news!

I GOT INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL!!!!

It's been a journey to be sure.  This is my third time applying to medical school.  But I was/am determined.  I boosted my MCAT score with a Kaplan course, I had my graduate school courses to boost my overall GPA, and I've worked as an EMT for the past two years.  I had a good feeling about this cycle and I was right!  I got (as of today) five medical school interviews.  I interviewed at four schools, two M.D., two D.O., and got accepted into TWO!  The other two I still have yet to hear from so I may have even more choices!

With my acceptances in hand I started talking to the Army medical recruiter in my area.  Since my undergrad GPA is below their minimum (3.2), they have to file a GPA waiver for me to apply for the Health Professions Scholarship Program.  I have an appointment next week to chat and hand over my transcripts, and MCAT scores so my recruiter can get started.

I'll keep you apprised of the situation as it goes.

Last note.  A lot of medical schools seem to want to keep anything relating to their possbily homosexual students under wraps.  I never said I was gay.  They didn't ask or assume.  Don't Ask, Don't Tell, is alive and well in our professional schools.  However one of the medical schools actually brought the issue up in the interview.  The interviewer was gay and I acknowledged that I was as well.  They went on to tell me how the school is making slow and steady progress in celebrating its diversity (of ALL senses).  It was comforting to know that I can exist as a gay person and not just as someone who is asexual until further investigation.

(Nearly) all schools will say they embrace diversity, but it seems at least in the South and midwest, that few actually stand by those words.

Anyways...I am amazingly excited to finally move forward in making my dream of becoming a doctor come true!


Thank you all for reading and supporting this blog!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Writing a Book!

     One of the reasons why I haven't been as caring to this blog, other than studying for the MCAT (which I did awesomely on), or applying to medical school for a third time, or my EMT job, or tending to my lack of love life (ok fine, I'm terminally single), is the fact that I am writing a book.
     This monstrosity is nearly finished and I am all set to publish it as an ebook on at least Amazon, though I'm looking into other formats.
     Now before you guys groan about another boring book being brought into existence, know this.  It's not some weird fantasy or sci fi where young adults overcome adversity and evil people/corporation/government.  I enjoy some of those stories, but I'm following one of the various "rules" of writing.  I am writing what I know, and lately what I know is being an EMT.
      I'm pairing my EMT job with my ability to read people and applying a great deal of sarcasm, wit, and snarkiness.  It's a semi-non-fiction story in which I describe the hundred different partners I have had as an EMT working for my crappy company.
      I'm going to be publishing it under this pseudonym (I can't have my coworkers tying me to my sometimes unkind words) and I already have a blog which is going to be all about the book saved.  I expect to be published hopefully by September, so keep an eye on this blog and the other for details.
     I'm not saying it's going to be the great American novel or even a good book, but hopefully I will succeed in at least making it an interesting read.

    The link to my book blog, Chucking Granny, is here.  Maybe pretty sparse for a bit, but I'll be working on that soon (in addition to all my above activities).

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

So it's been quite a while hasn't it?

Hey guys!

     I just wanted to say that I'm still around, though it's been a long time since I've even looked at this blog.  The blame falls primarily on my EMT job.  Crazy hours, little money, which leads to more crazy hours.  I am applying to med school for the third time.  I take the MCAT (for the third time) next week and once that's done I hope to come back to this.  I won't make any promises, but I have missed writing and the world of blogging.  

So hopefully I'll see you guys sometime next next week!

-E.S.T.