Interviews and Thoughts Thus Far...

My first interview was at Boston University in October. BU was a great place. I really liked and felt like I fit in. The schools is very research oriented and focused. I was surprised that they recommended that every student perform some research while they attend medical school at BU. My interviews went very well and the old Dean of Admissions told me that I would be "a good fit" at BU. I lOVE Boston and definitely could live there, so I wouldn't mind living there for 8 some odd years. The only problem with BU is that I don't receive my stipend all my years of school. I don't want to go into debt, especially when I will be starting my career around age 35.

My second interview was at Tufts University in November. It appears that the Boston schools like me and think I'll fit into their program. Tufts was also a great school. I fell in love with one researcher and his research. He is an up and coming researcher who is proving wrong many of the believed concepts of T cell activation. He would help my career go far. Also, Tufts is very keen on mentoring. They constantly have people checking up on the MD/PhDs and helping them through the long process. Another benefit is that I am funded all of my years of school and I receive a stipend. One problem is the push to finish the program in 7 years. I wonder if moving through the program faster could be a disservice to students.

My last interview was at NYU. I absolutely loved NYU! The school is amazing, the people are amazing, the research is amazing, the immunology department is amazing, the facilities are amazing, and NYC is always amazing. Right now, I would consider NYU my topic choice. I was very impressed with their dedication to infectious disease immunology. They are currently expanding the immunology department, which means a lot of new, up and coming researchers will be at NYU. In this expansion, they are building a brand new research building and it will be completed by the time that I'm starting my graduate school years. Also, I felt a strong sense of belonging at NYU. I was well received by all my interviewers and I made friends quickly with students. I took this as a very good sign. I also made a really good friend at NYU who was also an interviewee.

The first round of acceptances for all of these schools is in January, which leaves me a little more time to hear from them. I hope I hear good news from all of them. I am still waiting to hear back from 7 schools and I have another interview at Mount Sinai at the beginning of February. That means that I have had 4 interviews and 9 rejections. I'm pretty sure that at least half of the schools left will send me a rejection.

Here's to hoping I get in at least one of the schools I have interviewed at!

NYU

I interviewed at NYU back in December. They put me up in a very posh hotel in midtown. I would love for my apartment to look like my hotel room. It definitely fit my decorating style. As promised, here are some pictures of my room.

My lovely bed. Notice the lime green double border on the pillow and the great mixing of colors on the throw blanket and bed stool.

TV/Entry way: LOVE the lamp!

I need a green chair like this...

The lovely bathroom.

Best shower I have EVER had in my life! I want one of these real bad!

I definitely approved of this hotel room and NYU! I could definitely see myself going there!

It's Not Summer Anymore

It’s weird to think that it is no longer summer. I feel like I should be in school soon, but I’m not. I keep thinking it’s August, but it’s not. I want to be preparing for the next swim season, but it’s not my job anymore.

Every morning I’m surprised to see the leaves starting to change color and feel the chilly air. It’s no longer summer. It’s October, and I can scarcely believe it. Summer is over, and I am no longer a student. I tell myself, “welcome to real life” and “this is life with a career.” I’ll eventually get used to a life without school.

It just feels weird not going to school. I want to be buying textbooks and new clothes, running into friends on campus, coaching the swim team, working in Dr. Burton's research laboratory, and so much more. I miss the excitement of taking new courses, having new professors, making new friends, and seeing old friends. It makes me want to be back in school, even though I love my job. I will only be out of school for a year or two, and then I’ll be right back in school for basically the rest of my life, so I guess it’s not so bad.

In other news, I received another rejection from a medical school. I now have had 25% of the schools I applied to reject me. Oh well… There is nothing I can do about that now. Despite another rejection, I received an interview! YAY! It's at Boston University. It's a good school, but it's not MSTP so it's not as prestigious. It is also one of my back-up schools. I'm glad to know at least one of my back-up schools like me. I have an interview there Oct. 28-29 (Mollie, I expect to see you while I'm there). :)

Columbia and Baylor

Last week was my first medical school interview. I headed off to the wonderful city of New York. I stayed there for five days (thank the Lord for a three day weekend) with a good friend who is working for Goldman Sachs, which was nice because my expenses were very low. All that I can say is that I love New York and would love to live in that city. It was magnificent. While I was there, I saw Wicked (amazing), the Financial District, Wall Street, the Wall Street Bull, the Meat Packing District, Chinese New Year in Chinatown, Little Italy, Times Square, the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Art Design, the Museum of Modern Art, and so much more! There was so much to do and I highly doubt I would ever get bored.

I thought that I would be overwhelmed with the city, but I wasn’t. When I first arrived at JFK, I was overwhelmed with getting on a bus to Manhattan and then getting my way to my friend’s apartment. After dropping off my suitcase, I navigated the subways to Columbia all by myself. I was very nervous about that, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I became quickly acclimated to the city.

Columbia is a beautiful place (I’m a sucker for huge hospitals). There was so much going on there that I loved. I loved the curriculum, the service opportunities, the free homeless shelter/clinic, the school, the people, the diversity, and again, much more. My interview was probably subpar. The reason for this was because the first question the interviewer asked me was why I wanted to become a doctor. I told him about my desires to help others, but I also told him about my desire to earn an MD/PhD. He then looked me straight in the face and asked me, “Why are you here then?” The reason he asked me is that an MD/PhD has a different application and interview than an MD. I told him about how my desire to earn a PhD recently developed. I then felt like I was fighting my way back from the grave for the rest of the interview. He was always questioning my motives of being there. I think that I had a decent interview, but not an amazing one. I hope that it works out so that I could go to Columbia, because I loved the school and the city.

I just barely returned from my trip to Baylor. I didn’t spend much time in Houston, but from what I saw, it reminded me a lot of Salt Lake City. This isn’t a bad thing, but I much prefer a bigger city and I prefer something that wouldn’t remind me of home. Don’t get me wrong. I do love Utah, but I am ready for a new place and a new adventure. Houston, being the fourth largest city in the US, didn’t seem like a big city. I still had a good time.

The interview was yesterday and I felt like I rocked the two I had. The first one was with a doctor. She was an amazing, strong woman from Germany (I’m a sucker for strong women). She and I had a lot in common and so the interview flowed very naturally. I had a great time talking to her and she seemed to enjoy our conversation. At the end of the interview, she told me that she was planning on giving me a very strong recommendation to the admissions committee. I’m really stoked for this! The second interview also went well. This time it was with a fourth year student. He asked me some ethical questions and my opinion on health care reform. He agreed what I said in my responses and told me that I gave a good strong response, whereas other interviewees gave lackluster comments. This made me extremely happy. After the seven hour long interview session, full of interviews and tours, most of the applicants headed to an Irish Pub paid for by Baylor. We had free food and some good times. I enjoyed my time there, but I was surprised how many people were getting hammered and smashed. I thought that people in the medical profession would know better, but I guess the socialization of the norms for my age group is still there. It made me uncomfortable so I left, especially because all of the people that I made friends with during the interview session were completely drunk.

I really loved Baylor too! The school was amazing and beautiful! It had basically everything the same as Columbia, except it was in Houston. I really like both Columbia and Baylor. I’m not sure how things are going to work out, but I’m not sure if I would go to Baylor because of Houston. If it were between Columbia and Baylor, I would definitely go to Columbia. I would be happy at either place, but I would be happier at Columbia. I still have one more interview at The Ohio State, so things might change. I still haven’t heard back from the NIH either and that will definitely change what direction I go. If I get into the NIH, I will definitely reapply as an MD/PhD, which I am currently working on.

What happens next year still scares me because my future is still a mystery. I can’t make long-term goals to achieve because I don’t know where I’ll be, but wherever I end up will be the best for me and it will be the best route for me to take in life.

Second Interview

On Sunday, I received another interview at Baylor for February 19th. I'm very excited about this one because I would like to go to Baylor more so than The Ohio State (the interview is on March 17th). I don't know if I will get in so I've started cementing my back up plans.

Currently, I am working on my primary medical school application again. This includes writing another personal statement and boosting my resume with more activities, research, service, leadership, shadowing, etc. This will hopefully make me stand out as a candidate. I am also working on an application to do a post-baccalaureate at the NIH (National Institute of Health) in Bethesda, MD (near Washington D.C.) this upcoming year. My research professor believes that I have a good chance of getting into their post-baccalaureate program since I have a lot of research experience and good grades. We will see what happens. If I do get into this program and by some miracle get into medical school too, I will postpone my matriculation to medical school and do my post-baccalaureate at the NIH. This might give me the chance to for sure decide if I want to only be a M.D. or a M.D./Ph.D. I've seriously been considering doing a M.D./Ph.D again and if I receive the post-baccalaureate, I will probably head the M.D./Ph.D route.

Anyways, there is a quick update on my life. It's good! :)

Interview #1

I got invited for an interview at The Ohio State! I'm so excited! It's on March 17. It's not one of my first choices, but it is school that I could definitely attend without regrets. They have a great program and great facilities... I will see what happens and if they like me during my interview. Now it's time to prepare for the interview that is a couple of months away.

I'm hoping for more interviews coming up soon, since I have my first one.

I feel like I can breath a little now...

Waiting...

I am getting even more antsy as the days go by. Whenever there is an unknown number calling me on my phone, I secretly hope and pray that it is a medical school, but alas, it isn't. I have had that happen to me five times in the past week. Seriously, five times! It's pure torture! I really hope I get a call soon. It's driving me nuts! I just want an interview, that's all. Well, that and then an acceptance letter, but I'll take an interview anytime soon!

In other news, the first Timpview swim meet is on Wednesday... you all should come and cheer on the team! It starts at 3:30 at the Provo Rec Center!

Six Weeks

It has almost been six weeks since I turned in my first medical school applications. I am getting very nervous. I need to receive a call in the next little while or I might freak out! Oh wait, I am. That means I might go insane! I need to get interviews! UGH! I am hoping that I will get a call or email this week because it will make my week so much better. My week has been horrible and it's only Wednesday! Double ugh!