:: The Headache Diaries (Retired) ::

:: The Headache Diaries (Retired) ::

:: 7.25.2012 ::

BLARRRGGHHH

I just spent the last six hours working on my loan application. AARGGHH!!

Well, I'm glad it's done. Now I just have to wait for approval. I will post the details of the loans at Trinity when I get approved. But for now, they only offer private loans that have adjustable rates. So you need very good credit. Or find someone who does. They have two options, and one of them is EdInvest. They charge, literally, an arm and a leg. EdInvest charges about $65k in fees on a $250k loan. OUCH! So you better read every letter of the agreements (that's why it took me six hours) and make sure you really want to incur this debt.

So if you wind up in Carib school like me, just remember how expensive it is. And if you think that sticking it out is the right answer, think again. There are a million things you can do in life that do not cost as much. Remember this kitty:

Because I am not getting any younger, this is my last attempt at medical school. If it goes well, great! If not, well, I will cut my losses and work on something else. Cheers!

:: Jane Dee 10:50:00 AM [+] ::
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Anticipation

So I have finished alerting my recommenders about writing letters to Trinity. Now I just have to hope they get them in time. I also called AUC and they supposedly sent my transcript to Trinity. I hope so! That one would have took the longest. I am almost set for a decision!

I also got an email about the loans. It seems like one loan is cheaper, but requires monthly payments of at least $100, and the other one is more expensive, but you don't make any payments while in school. I assume that since I have someone who makes an income, I would take the cheaper loan! I have to wait for the link to the webpage to apply. I am sure I will get the cheaper loan. Well, I hope I will!

I guess once I am "accepted" I will start buying the books and supplies. No sense buying them now. I think this time, I am going to get some anatomy flash cards. Those looked really handy!

Today I am going to see if my anatomy book is any good. While I visited, I went to anatomy lab and got a worksheet. I am going to see if my book would be useful. If it is, maybe I can bring that one? I do like the books they recommend however, so I think I would buy the main one they suggest. I think only one person was using Netters in the lab so I am not sure if I want to keep that book or not. It just didn't click with me. Maybe I don't like drawings? I dunno.

My biochem book is totally outdated. I can't use that. I have a molecular biology book, but this school leans towards biochem, so that book won't be as useful. I may just sell it or something. It's a "classic" but not too much modern information in it.

Other than that, I am pretty much set for school. I bought all the odds and ends I think I would need to go there. It helps that the apartments they offer are fully furnished meaning they come with pots and pans and knives and such. That helps out tremendously! It was a pain shipping all those kitchen supplies to AUC. I wish the apartments there were fully equipped, but I guess not everything can be perfect.

So that's the agenda for today. Oh and finishing the laundry. And making bread. Yeah, I need to make a loaf of bread.

:: Jane Dee 9:37:00 AM [+] ::
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Organizing

So with the intent that I will be going to Trinity in September, I have been buying the things I need to live there. I have also been organizing my stuff into "haz", "liquids", and "high value" so I can see if I need to check a bag in. It seems that I will have to. I just have too many liquids that I'd rather not ship. I will just have to check in a full sized suitcase and leave my rolling briefcase for next time.

I seem to have almost everything I need at this point except the phones. I will buy those soon. I learned my lesson in St. Maarten that Nextel phones are NOT GSM phones even though they use sim cards. They are iDEN phones or something like that, which are of no use to 99% of the world. Great. When I upgrade my phone, Im not getting a Nextel phone. I don't work at Fedex anymore, and on top of that, they don't even use Nextel anymore. I think I am the only person left using Nextel. The only problem with upgrading my phone is that I will have to renew my contract if I want to get a "free" phone. I am not sure if I want to do that yet. But it doesn't matter because any phone I choose will be useless in the Caribbean. So I guess I have time to think about it.

I requested my transcript from AUC but they didn't get back to my email saying they got the request. I guess I should call them? Maybe. They supposedly take up to a month to send out transcripts so I hope they don't take the whole 4 weeks.

I also have to send out requests for my letters. I have to get back to my manager with the information. I should do that today. I also want to go over the book list for Trinity and see if I should order them and ship them or order them from the bookstore. Hmm.

Anyways, I am behind in what I need to do, so off I go!

:: Jane Dee 8:34:00 AM [+] ::
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What A Great Weekend!

These last few weeks have been particularly annoying for me. First, I still hadn't gotten my Netter's book back from the Post Office. Second, I couldn't reach any of my professors to write me a recommendation letter. Third, I was running out of time to finish my application to Trinity to make it for September.

Well, Friday the 13th turned out to be a great day! I received responses from two of my letter writers! They agreed to write me new letters! Hoo-ray! I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders!

Then the Saturday after, the 14th, I had more great news! I got a call back from math professor and he agreed to write me a letter too! I was so worried that I wouldn't catch him in time before he left for his break. I am going to send him the information today and he should be able to send it out before he goes on his break! Yeah!

Then yesterday, I check my mailbox, expecting nothing but junk, and I see this large package in there. Could it be? IT WAS MY NETTER'S BOOK! THEY FOUND IT! Two days prior, I was thinking that the 90 days was coming to a close and that I was never going to see that book again. WELL! I am so relived to have that book back! Not that I want to use it, I just want to sell it! This time however, I am going to use the online code for myself. And I am NOT going to use the notorious BROWN WRAPPING PAPER to ship it! It seems like brown paper is the bane of all book shipments. So note to self: DO NOT USE BROWN PAPER EVER AGAIN. Okay I got it.

So my application to Trinity is almost complete. I even ordered my AUC transcript. Cost me $30 AND it takes a month! Sheesh! Well, at least I won't have to deal with them for a while. The only thing I have left is to get all of my letters in and then my physical exam. I have one physical exam available on my insurance so I can use that to get that done. I want to see if my old Russian doctor is available, I don't like that stupid doctor in Phoenix. What a pain in the arse.

So today, I am mostly trying to finish up buying the things I will need to go to Trinity. I am almost done, I just need to buy some plug adapters and some things. Then I have to see what I can bring with me on the plane and whatnot. That is probably going to cause me the most trouble. Oh yeah and I have to buy bleach.

:: Jane Dee 9:42:00 AM [+] ::
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Now They Tell Me

So I finally got the news from Meharry. It seems a gentle rejection. I think they could have told me this months ago. Maybe they think if they reject people, the applicants will kill themselves. Or maybe shoot at the school? In any case, here is the final email:

Dear Student:

Thank you for your interest in the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College. The demand for admission into the School of Medicine far exceeds the available positions. Please know that every possible consideration was given to your application.

I am writing to report that all candidates have been selected for the 2012 entering class.

Therefore, it is my responsibility to inform you that as of this date, your application will no longer be considered for the 2012 entering class.

If attaining the requisite training to enter the medical profession is still your goal (as I hope it is), I suggest that you schedule a meeting with your pre-medical advisor to discuss methods you may employ to improve you academic profile and strengthen your medical school application. If you decide to reapply to the School of Medicine at Meharry Medical College, understand that you must submit a new application with all required supportive documents as requested, inclusive of any new course work and new MCAT scores. Additionally, this new application will be evaluated and compared to other applicants making application for the class.

It is my hope, however, that you view this information as a hurdle that must be negotiated as you travel down the road toward the fulfillment of your dream to become a physician. Work hard to make your dream a reality. Best wishes.

Sincerely,

Karen A. Lewis, M.S., Associate Vice President

Student Services and Enrollment Management

Meharry Medical College

And there you have it.

So as my quest for American medical school comes to a close, I will celebrate with song. Particularly this one:

The Bar-kays - Freakshow On The Dancefloor.1984 from DOGGYRAY on Vimeo.

Ohhh ohh ohh ohh, whoa whoa ohhh, whoa ohh ohh, shake your body!

:: Jane Dee 7:18:00 PM [+] ::
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