It's Not About the Money... But Damn I Want the Money

Yuppie

          I spent New Year's Eve partying it up in New York City with some friends from Cornell who are all employed people who have started "real life."  It's an odd feeling for me talking to them about work and life and everything, because I don't really feel like I have started "real life" yet.

          This gap year I'm taking is a weird limbo; I'm kind of working, but it's not full time and not at a long-term job, and I choose my own hours.  What's more, I have no idea where I'll be for the next four years, so I'm not really settling my roots in anywhere.  Plus, I'm staying at Cornell living close to campus.  Honestly, my life hasn't changed that much from how it was as an undergrad, except that schoolwork has been traded out for some work work.

Book Review: In Stitches

          I got In Stitches by Anthony Youn for Christmas.  Up until now, any reading I have done related to medical school has been aimed at getting in.  Now that I have an acceptance, I want to get an idea of what the hell I'm getting myself into.

          In that regard, I actually feel like I am well behind most other pre-meds.  It seems like all other pre-meds either have a parent who is a doctor or a long line of relatives who are doctors, and these students have some idea of what the whole process is like.  In my family, it'll just be me, and I have no idea what the hell is coming next.

          I have mixed feelings about the book.  I thought the first half was pretty disappointing.  Literally the first hundred pages were concerned with his troubles with girls, and I have to say... I just didn't care.  Also, his thoughts on his jaw surgery were remarkably brief, which was disappointing.  As a doctor who would go on to become a plastic surgeon, I had hoped he would share more thoughts on his own time under the knife.

MCAT Tips and Tricks... or, How I Studied for the MCAT

WE HAVE MOVED TO: A Theory of Living  

  As I mentioned in this article, I earned a very high score on the MCAT (R).  I took a very active role in managing my own MCAT prep, and I think some of the strategies I employed could be very helpful for others.  The MCAT is one of the most feared and dreaded parts of the entire medical school application process, so, I thought I would write a guide about how I prepared so others could benefit from it.

          I definitely recommend you take a prep course.  For most people the techniques and strategies they teach you are helpful.  Also, the review of the basic sciences in the courses is critical.  Many students haven't looked back at gen chem or bio 101 in three or even four years... some even longer.  It is important to have a knowledgeable person review those subjects with you.  These reviews are also helpful, because they tell you what is NOT going to be tested on the MCAT.  Guess what?  75% of the crap you drilled into your skull during organic chemistry won't be tested on the MCAT.

Okay, Fine, I Want an iPad

          Fine.  I admit it.  I want an iPad.  In fact, I want one really badly, even though I know it's irrational.  If you know me, you'll know how hypocritical this sounds.  I have always thought iPads are useless.  I have an iPhone and a laptop - although wow this thing is old - so why the heck would I ever need an iPad?  Can't I use either my laptop or iPhone to do anything an iPad can do or more?  If that's the case, the iPad is a useless indulgence, a waste of close to a thousand dollars.

          Most people, when pressed, have to admit that their iPad is pretty unnecessary.  One of my closest friends worked really hard to justify his when I asked about it.  The final answer he came to is that he likes typing on it, because he doesn't like a traditional keyboard.  What?  Come on.  My own father has one for work, and I almost never see him use it.  To a man, though, everyone loves the darn thing.

Anatomy 101

And then you make the first incision....

          A critical part of medical school for first year students is anatomy lab. Although the specifics of how the course is constructed may vary from school to school, one thing is the same: this is where medical students must dissect a cadaver. That's a dead human being.

          I cannot describe how excited I am for medical school. I will finally get to study the things I have been interested in for years. The waiting game will be over. I won't have to force myself to memorize the intricacies of general chemistry. Instead, I will finally learn human biochemistry, disease, and diagnosis. As excited as I am, though, I have to admit to having a lot of apprehension about dissecting a cadaver.  While I have to admit they make it look really cool - and somehow weirdly sexy - on NCIS, I don't think that's quite how it's going to be.

Application Update - Where I Am Today

          Unfortunately I started this blog in December, which is pretty deep into this year's med school application cycle.  I wish I had started it a year ago.  Then you could have enjoyed the journey with me as I struggled to pull great senior year grades, graduated, and went on to take the MCAT.  You could have seen my frustration with secondary applications and the waiting game since finishing those applications.  But, I started a few days ago, and that's just the way it is.  I will, however, update you on the process, in what will undoubtedly prove to be a long post.