What I've been up to...

It has been awhile since I've posted, so I thought I'd give you all an update. 

Here is what I have been doing in the past few weeks

• Got my car maintenance done, needed a lot of stuff as it turned over 100k miles about 9 months ago.  
• Got new tires for my car (It needed new tires before the snow starts)
• Got new glasses.  (no back to school is complete withought new glasses, right?)
• Went shopping for new clothes and a few appartment essentials
• Got my car tinted and a hitch added (plan to tow a u-haul trailer up to Erie.)
• Officially quit my teaching job, but let them know that I may be interested in teaching next semester or during the 12 week break.

I have been procrastinating on re-submitting my AACOMAS ap for next year (have to officially apply to lecom to start next fall again after post bac is over).  Not sure why, maybe I am still burnt out from filling out applications from last year.  I am sort of blocked on the essay portion again.  I can't decide if I want to just submit my old one again or else re-write the whole thing or else just update it.  I guess it doesnt matter as long as I go ahead and get it done!  You guys might be interested to read some of my first drafts of my essays for med school.

I'll post them

Crashing Med School

I just learned about this from a current med student.  Apparently, each year there are a few spots in every matriculating class where people simply don't show up to orientation.  If you show up with your pencils sharpened, notebook in hand you can likely go to the admissions office and say "I'm ready to learn".  This puts pressure off the admissions people because they have to fill several slots each time to get a full class, and the tuition associated with it.  This may not work so well with state schools, which are usually filled first, but with private med schools and DO schools this is often the case.

This seems like a good premise for a corny movie/novel ala "wedding crashers" or "weekend at Bernie's".

Just accepted to LECOM

HI all,

I'm sure you're tired of hearing me complain about not hearing back from the LECOM people.  I got my letter in the mail today.  I was accepted to the postbac program.  The criteria for automatic matriculation into next fall's class is for me to get a 3.0 and a 23  or above on the MCAT.  I got a 28 Q already, so really I just have to focus on the GPA part.

Now for some housekeeping, such as cancel plane ticket, find someone to lease my Bahamas appartment, re-sell the items I bought off another student (bike, printer etc...)  Start AACOMAS ap for 2012, etc...

I will have to find a new theme for my website, as I will be in Erie PA (lake effect snow).  Something like just white snow drifts...  Just about as opposite an environment as you could imagine from living on a tropical island.

The Economics of getting into Medical School

First of all, I am totally embarrassed to admit that I have spent this money on getting into medical school.  I was in so much denial that I delayed actually adding up the amount because I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW. However, as a service to those who are applying or thinking of applying I thought I would just put it all out there.  I am still somewhat anonymous (so far) in this blog.  If you are thinking of applying to med schools just know that you will almost certainly be requested to submit a secondary application for each school you apply to.  The only schools that I didn't get offered a secondary to had some sort of state residency requirement.  It all started with me taking a Kaplan MCAT prep course.  All in all about $5k was spent to get me one spot in MERP at ROSS.

SCHOOL NAME	AP FEE	SECONDARY FEE	MISC
KAPLAN COURSE			$1,599.00
AT STILL	$32.00	$60.00
CHICAGO COM MIDWEST	$32.00	$50.00
DREXEL	$32.00	$75.00
EAST TENNESSEE	$32.00	$50.00
EDWARD VIA	$32.00	$85.00
FSU	$32.00	$     -
GEORGE WASHINGTON	$32.00	$125.00
HOWARD	$32.00	$75.00
IU	$32.00	$50.00
LECOM BRADENTON	$32.00	$50.00
LOUISVILLE	$32.00	$75.00
LINCOLN DE BUSK	$32.00	$50.00
MARSHALL	$32.00	$50.00
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN	$32.00	$70.00
MEHARRY	$32.00	$65.00
MOREHOUSE	$32.00	$50.00
OU-COM	$32.00	$40.00
PACIFIC NORTHWEST	$32.00	$       -
PCOM GEORGIA	$32.00	$ 50.00
PCOM PHILY	$32.00	$50.00
PENN* PB ONLY	$32.00	$50.00
PIKEVILLE	$32.00	$75.00
PONCE	$32.00	$100.00
ROCKY VISTA	$32.00	$50.00
ROSALIND FRANKLIN	$32.00	$100.00
ROSS	$32.00	-
SLU	$32.00	$100.00
THE COMMONWEALTH MEDICAL COLLEGE - SCRANTON	$32.00	$100.00
TULANE	$32.00	$100.00
UK	$32.00	$50.00
UNIVERSIDAD DEL CENTRAL CARIBE	$32.00	$50.00
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI	$32.00	$25.00
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND	$32.00	$55.00
UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO	$32.00	$15.00
VANDERBILT	$32.00	$50.00
VIRGINIA TECH CARILION	$32.00	$        -
WEST VIRGINIA	$32.00	$80.00
WESTERN U	$32.00	$65.00
WRIGHT STATE	$32.00	$50.00
TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS			$       560.00
INTERFOLIO FEES			$       193.00
$                                                                                             4,268.00	$1,280.00	$2,235.00	$       753.00

Good things come to those who wait...

Similar to the place I was with Ross a few months ago, I am waiting to hear back from LECOM.  I have called to find out how much of any of the costs sunk so far into Ross are recoverable.

• The $700 deposit is not. 
• The $2,800 housing deposit can come back to me if they rent out the unit in the next ten days.
• With each day that passes and I do not get an answer back from them, the less likely I think this will be.  I find it unlikely that there is a student out there still who will be going to MERP in August who does not yet have housing nailed down.  I have not mentioned it on the MERP Facebook group yet because if I do end up going to MERP I don't want to be labeled as the person who was on the fence about the program. 

• The $700 plane ticket can be canceled but the airline will give me a credit and I will have to use the credit within one year of the original purchase date, and there will be a $160 rescheduling fee for this.   
• The $350 I paid to a current April MERPER for a bike, color printer, fan, and some electronic books - I think I will have to sell these items to a current MERPER which I do not think will be difficult.

Ultimately LECOM is about ~$100k cheaper than Ross, so loosing ~$5k now (while hard), is not that bad in the long term.

I did talk to Kevin who is the new student coordinator for MERP and he said that I could defer admission until November.  I do not want to do that as I would be gone through all of the holidays.  If I don't hear a positive response from LECOM I will still go to Ross.  This is scary to me because I am set to leave Aug.1 which is about a week and a half from now.  If I am to ship any packages to myself I would need to do it Friday or Saturday.

I have tried to communicate this dilemma with the LECOM admissions personnel, JM.

• I called him Wed Afternoon, and he said that the application would go to the committee.  
• I called him Friday morning and he said that the committee had made a decision but he could not tell me which way it was until the dean signed and approved of all the files.  
• I called back Friday afternoon to see if the dean had done so and he said no; and also communicated to me that the notifications would not come out via phone or email but rather by snail mail.  
• I emailed several current and former LECOM folk and they confirmed that this is so.  I anticipate that if they mailed the notice yesterday, Monday, then I will get it Wed. (I hope).
• A former LECOM person told me of another person to call for and I called and asked for this person Monday morning, only to learn that he no longer worked there and was replaced by JM. 
• I called Monday (yesterday) afternoon to see if the signing of letters had gone on, but got JM's voicemail; his voicemail stated that email is a better means of communication for him and so 
• I sent this email

Hi JM,

As you know, I am in somewhat of a unique situation in that I am due to leave out in two weeks for another academic program on August 1.  I have contacted this program and they would like for me to notify them as soon as possible if I choose not to attend their program.  I would prefer the LECOM program to this other one; and so time is of the essence for me at this point.  When we spoke before on the phone, you said that you could not notify anyone of their admission status until the dean of the college had certified the admission committee's decision. 

Has the dean signed these decisions?  If so, are you able to tell me via email or phone which way my application was decided? 

I apologize again for the multiple follow-ups in this matter and understand that you have a busy schedule, however as the time for me to leave is quickly approaching each day sooner where I can get confirmation is critical at this point.

Thanks in advance,



I feel that this email was polite and explains the situation and why I am requesting to be told sooner than is their policy.  I hope that I seemed respectful and polite.  I am starting to worry that my trying to get this information may be jeopardizing my chances, so I decided to just cool it and wait.  I don't want to get a reputation of being too Type A already.  I have yet to get an answer to this email.

If I do not get notice soon, I will still go to MERP and to Ross, and it will be even harder because I will be scrambling at the last minute to get things ready.  I think I can do it, but it will not be the easiest.

So, I'm just waiting and trying to be cool....

I think this is procrastination

So, with three weeks remaining, well two and a half now, before I would leave for MERP (If I go to MERP) I have been feeling the crunch.  Before I left I wanted to do a lot of projects

1. Scan old photos of family and friends to have them on my computer for when I am gone
2. List things on eBay to finance my medical education
3. Get the back yard in a state so it is not too difficult for my husband to care for
4. Box up some of my belongings that will not be used for the duration of MERP/ROSS so they are out of my husband's way
5. Backup my laptop on the external hard drive in case it dies while I'm gone.

I want to get done with these projects soon and would rather just work on them now and hopefully get done with them early and have the remaining weeks to play around.  However, I can't tell if I am using these to actively procrastinate instead of doing worthwhile activities such as pre-study for MERP.

The fact that I "might" not go to MERP has given me a bit of leeway to think that I can sort of waste time on these projects, although I think that they do have some value. 

What do you think?  Time wasting procrastination, or Making my final preparations and getting my affairs in order before a long absence?

MERP / ROSS vs. LECOM POSTBAC

A list of the positive attributes as I currently see them for both programs.  Ignoring the negative attributes.  I am assuming that I will be successfully completing either one of these programs.  I am not taking into account failure at either one of these.  I really think I will do fine and be successful in either one.

MERP / ROSS

1. Leads to MD degree which is more widely understood as "doctor".  
• While most of the civilized educated populace understand what a DO is, there may be some cases where an explanation is in order.  I would imagine that it might get tedious after awhile.
2. Could matriculate Med School in Jan rather than next September.
3. Being in total isolation from everyone and everything I now know may be a good thing.  Driving down to see people may be tempting at times and may take time away from my studies.  Not being able to do this might be a blessing in disguise.
4. Climate / location - I would much rather live on a tropical island than in an industrial city where in December it snows on average 23 inches.  I am also intrigued about possibly being able to experience a hurricane.  I LOVE Indiana rain storms and would like to compare the two.  Is that silly?  Also, when I would get to Dominica  I am excited to explore some of the natural resources/ nature trails, volcanos and scuba opportunities.
5. The opportunity to experience a new culture/ be out side of the US for awhile.  This is a unique opportunity to explore another country(ies).  One that I may not have again in my lifetime.
6. If you pass MERP, you start med school, with no need to re-apply or retake the MCAT. 
• With LECOM you are 'guaranteed' admission if you BOTH pass the program with a 3.0 (3.1?) GPA and a 23 on an MCAT you take within 2 years of matriculation.  ( I would need to retake the MCAT).  But, it has to be BOTH, one or the other won't cut it.  Overall, there is a slight risk that with LECOM I could not be offered acceptance to their DO program.

LECOM POSTBAC

1. Is a US medical school and thus would be easier to earn a residency spot.
2. Is a 7 hour drive from my family instead of a half day to a day plane ride.  Much easier to see people during breaks/ weekends.  
3. My family would rather I go here.
4. I feel more attracted to the DO model of medicine.  Namely patient centered medicine not just focusing on disease as an aberrant biological or neuro-physical manifestation but as a result of a lifetime of socio-cultural influence.  How can one expect to treat a diabetic patient when they go back to their community and are faced with a culture that promotes fatty and sugary foods?  How can a doctor effectively treat and medicate a patient suffering from Bipolar disorder when the patient's family view psychiatric medicine as not adequately tested and thus counsel the patient not to take it?  How does a doctor induce a patient to take a full course of antibiotics when the local culture advocates medication hoarding?  A disease does not form in a vacuum.  I would say that it is a minority of diseases that do not have a socio-cultural cause or influence. 
5. Abundance of the things we take for granted in the US such as clean drinking water out of the faucet, cheap food, cheap electricity, ready access to high speed internet, a car, (relatively) save streets and transportation to and from school..
6. A more organized, 'well kept ship'.  
• I have heard horror stories of sylabi being changed immediately before finals at Ross.  Recently, the current April MERPERs have said that they have been locked out of the study cubicles and student lounge area because of a construction project.  This is happening 2 weeks prior to their MINI exam 3, when studying in a quiet environment would be crucial. 
7. As mentioned before, LECOM being a US med school I could join the Navy to repay my student loans.
8. The Post Bac program is eligible for US student loans while MERP is not.  Ross is, but MERP is not.
9. Not sure if this should be an addendum to point #5, but I will be able to load up my car with all the things I will need for the semester and just drive up.  No need to finagle a printer from former student, no need to worry about being able to ship in printer ink.  I can bring with me much more of my familiar items. 
10. Access to doctors more readily
11. Cost, I can expect to be about only $250k in debt from LECOM rather than $350+ from Ross
12. As I understand it, they have a state of the art fitness facility. 
13. Another student who has attended both has said that the LECOM program prepares you the best to become a good doctor.  (I think this is probably the best point because isn't the ultimate goal to become a good doctor?)
14. The Post Bac program is a certificate granting program. So, even if the worst happened, I would have more initials to tack to the end of my name on a business card.
• MERP Is not a PostBac program.  MERP offers no certificate.  

***WILL BE UPDATING THIS LIST LATER AS MORE ITEMS COME TO ME***

Just accepted to MERP

Hi all,

I got a phone call from my admissions representative that I was offered a spot in the MERP.  That stands for Medical Education Review Program.  Essentially, it is a semester prior to admission for first year classes.  The course is held at Freeport, Bahamas.  As I understand it, the course costs $25k and you cannot get government student loans for it.  I asked my admission officer how do people typically finance this and she said to check with Sallie Mae.  I did my Sallie Mae application and was declined.  I am not sure if it will be possible for me to afford this program.  My new student coordinator said that I have been mailed a packet with all sorts of valuable information.  If I want to reserve a spot I need to submit a $700 deposit.  In addition to this, there are a few more costs in order to get this plane off the runway.

Here is a summary of what I have found as of now...

Deposit $700
Plane ticket (one way) $350
Books $400
First month's rent and deposit ~$900?  (can't check on this yet because I can't log on to the Ross housing website until I pay the deposit)
Passport $170
=$2,520

I would like to add to this... Start of a medical school education Priceless.... (???)

IN addition to this, I read this blog post just yesterday.  It is posted by a supposed person who dropped out of MERP due to an environment of harassment by the locals in Freeport. There have also been a slew of replies to this post to the contrary.  As a teacher, I know that in every class there are disgruntled students.  There can be many factors affecting student satisfaction some of which a school / professor can control and some that cannot be controlled. 

I first must find out if I can even afford or get loans for this.
Next, I need to get together the money for deposit and start the passport process.

I am thankful to not be rejected and I do have an option now.  I am thankful for this opportunity.  I need to figure out the logistics of this first or whether or not this is even a possibility for me.

Has anyone out there done MERP?  Has anyone gotten private loans for education recently?  There used to be 'my rich uncle' but they do not seem to exist anymore.

Still no news....

I've been waiting about 5 weeks since my interview.  I emailed my admissions representative and she said that due to the semester/quarter break that the admissions committee had 2 weeks off, so I should be waiting an additional 2 weeks. 

I have to admit that I have been reading a lot of blogs online that caution against Ross.  Some say that they have a high failure rate (60%?), and some cite safety on campus.  It makes me caution possibly leaving my quiet suburban life with a somewhat cushy (although low paying) job to seek out my dream.  Should I just accept that I am not going to be a doctor and seek a Ph.D. and then become a 'real' professor and not just one at a local career college?  Should I look into a counseling degree?  I understand that things published online must be taken with a grain of salt and could be completely fictitious. 

Besides these blogs/websites I have had a less than ideal experience from Ross so far just in my application process.  First, when I submitted my application the office staff wanted a court order as proof of my name change due to marriage.  No other school (or employer) has asked for this and it seems to me that most organizations take it for granted that a female would change her last name at some point.  I don't have a court order per se, just a marriage license.  I suppose someone could pay someone with the same first name (and social security number???) to provide transcripts to get in to school but how would that help you in the classroom? 

The next strange thing to me was that one of my letters of recommendation was submitted directly to interfolio via word document and was not on official letter head.  They said that the admissions committee could not look at that LOR without it being on a letter head.  I have submitted 5 LORs to the committee (separate because my undergrad institution does not have a pre med committee).  I am just going to assume that they can use the other 4 for official LORs. 

The third thing that has upset me about the school is the long wait time for the committee to make a decision. 

These ARE minor things, but I have heard things like Ross changing the syllabus for a class the day before a final.  I have heard that Ross accepts way too many students with the intention that most will drop out.  I want to go to med school, not Seal training school.  If I make this big break with my day to day life and incur lots of debt I want to have somewhat of an assurance that if I do my part (study, dedication, etc...) that the school will be honest and not throw up a bunch of technicality hurdles.  If they are so hinky about name change / letterheads what else might they be hinky about?  If I don't dot my "I" on the final exam will they throw it out?  Will the syllabus for a class change last minute meaning that I might fail a class? 

These are just a few things I am considering now.

Interview was yesterday

I had my med school interview with Ross University yesterday.  

 I am torn between becoming a Med student and continuing the teaching career.  Going to Med school is something I have wanted to do since high school.  It is the reason I went to Midway and became a Bio major.  Upon graduation it is not something that I pursued because I thought my GPA was too low.  As I progressed in my career I always wondered ‘what if???’.  Finally, after being laid off from Lilly I decided to begin the process and took a Kaplan class to prep for the MCAT, took the test, and started the ap process.  I have applied to more schools than I care to mention, but it was a LOT.  I have now had my interview with Ross University.  One would think that this would be clearly exciting, but I look at this upcoming interview with a bit of trepidation.   My first concern is that Ross is a Caribbean med school.  It is probably the best Caribbean med school, but in the US students who went to these schools are often looked at differently.  In the hierarchy of med schools first is MD then DO then Caribbean then all other foreign med schools.  As I am typing this I realize that my decision on this is sort of based on ‘what will others think’?  My second concern about Ross is that I will be separated from my family for 18 months while on the island.  This isn’t a whole long time and certainly military families do this sort of thing all the time.  Finally, for once in my life I have a pretty cushy career in teaching college classes via an online environment.  I had an interview last Tuesday with Western Governors University.  While I have seen first-hand the ups and downs that come with corporate bubbles, and I think that these for profit institutions are now in a  bubble situation.   I don’t think that they would last more than 10 years or so.  Part of the reason I’m wanting to do Med School is to get away from the cycle of ups and downs related with the market.  I feel that med school is going to keep me away from these cycles.  

While in my interview and discussing possible start dates, my admissions officer  said that all I would really need is my books and clothes and personal effects.  Reflecting on this later, I pictured med school as a sort of vacation.  I am possibly going med school on an island and bringing my clothes to go to a resort like area and study.  While there is still the possibility that I won't get into med school or I won't go to Ross, it is still similar to a vacation.  First of all, I have been out of school and in the working world for about 10 years.  I will be 'taking a break' from working to go into med school.  Most likely, I will be away from my family, and so this is also an aspect of vacation-dom, and so, I begin this blog with the title of "My Med School Vacation".  I will be also reflecting on different aspects of my life outside of med school.  Stay tuned!