:: The Headache Diaries (Retired) ::

:: The Headache Diaries (Retired) ::

:: 5.31.2010 ::

Thirteen Hours Until Class

IEEE!!!

:: Jane Dee 9:46:00 PM [+] ::
...

Done With Chapter 2!

Ive got through chapters 1 and 2 already and I am finding that I am not too shabby at this organic stuff! Hurray! I should be leaps and bounds ahead of the class by the time it starts. I have one more week to get through maybe two more chapters and I should be one chapter away from the test as I calculated from the old online tests and syllabi that the teacher posted online.

Things are looking better!!

:: Jane Dee 8:49:00 PM [+] ::
...

It's A Racket... Or Is It A Riot?

Today I officially start studying in earnest from my textbook. Why? Because I went to SCC today and looked at the book for my organic class on reserve (which is the previous edition) and saw that it matched my book (4th ed) almost exactly. The only thing different was a new question was added here and there. Then I went to the bookstore and saw that the book for my class is $210 new and $160 USED.

WHAT??

Yeah thats right, over $200 for a book that is almost exactly the same as the older edition. The book is Organic Chemistry by L.G. Wade. After checking again on Amazon, my edition is gone and all the older editions are very expensive. Including shipping, I paid $10.88 for my 4th edition textbook and solutions manual. In fFact, I didnt even pay that because my credit card gave me a gift certificate to Amazon because I have one of those credit cards that gives you points to buy stuff. So unless my professor is going to have beef with me using an older manual (which SAYS the same stuff just the problems are numbered different), I should have no problem using this textbook.

So today, after I eat something, I start my traditional study methods on organic chemistry with a two week head start. Im almost thorugh chapter one, so another run through wont hurt. I just have to buy a bag of ice to make my iced coffee and we are all good. WHOO HOO!

:: Jane Dee 2:10:00 PM [+] ::
...

Only Two Weeks To Go!

What's funny is that I thought today was the 20th! I was freaking out because class was coming so fast! And I had to check my cell phone, the computer, and two calendars to make sure it really IS the 14th! Hallelujah! I have two weeks to study!

Anyway, I spent all day going over nomenclature from my old chem textbook (not the organic one). I am worried about what I should know already but I guess I cant go wrong by knowing this stuff. We had barely touched on organic stuff ten years ago when I took chemistry in a summer class. So after spending all week on chapter one only (and still not finished) I decided to go backwards a bit and refresh (or is it learn??) naming and stuff like that. Im not sure if Im doing enough because I get enough things right that I am thinking it shouldn't be this easy. Tomorrow I hope to finish the chapter then move back to chapter one and my video on stereochemistry, which I think is chapetr 3 in my organic book.

Saturday, TJ and I are to go to his brother's wedding "reception." I put it in quotes because they got married in February and it's more like a bbq or something. Anyway, I would like to wake up early to study, then go there for a bit, then come back and study some more. I would like to get through chapter 2 by Monday. The ultimate goal was to get through all the videos, which is still possible, but I also want to get through chapters 1-5. From the old syllabus online, it looks like the first test is about chapters 1-5, so the more I know it, the better I will do and the faster I can get to my A. Of course, it will leave me more time to study the chapters further along.

I guess right now I am putting off cramming in biology while Im doing these chapters. Biology is much easier and I think that I can even put it off until the fall semester. I won't but just saying. Maybe I can watch the biology vids when I start to doze off at about 2:30 - 4:00pm. maybe that will wake me up. I am trying to stay away from drinking coffee at high levels. I just figure if im tired, I'll nap. Im at home who cares!

Im also wondering if I should learn Spanish. I really want tobuy Rosetta Stone. I don't know if it works but it's used in the military and NASA. I think it would be a big benefit to my med school application if I knew Spanish. I will see. The full course is about $600 so I don't know if I can make that investment right now.

Ha and let's not forget about the writing section and the verbal section. Those will probably be my worst! Hm. So much to think about!

I feel better than I did yesterday, but I am not madame confidence.

:: Jane Dee 1:51:00 AM [+] ::
...

Frustrated

I just came back from a week with TJ to visit his family in Texas. It was nice, I got to meet his sisters and their husbands. I tried to study on the road, but that put me to sleep. I did get to squeeze some study time in and I am almost finished with chapter one.

I am taking a lot more time than I wanted to on this and I am scared that I am not going to do well. I know that I was able to jump into it before when I took microbiology and anatomy, but this class is going to be much harder than those classes. I am scared because I have to introduce myself to the teacher and let him know that I want to go to med school and that I would need his recommendation if I do well. That is the problem. I may not do well and I will not be able to get a letter from him. I guess I am getting nervous for no reason since the class can be a lot better than I am expecting. I just wish I knew what to expect.

Today I enrolled in the Kaplan online med school forum thingy and sat through two hours of stuff I already knew. I didnt get my questions answered either. Oh well. I wonder if Ross will let me into their school even if I get a C in organic. I bet they wont. They have to have standards too.

I guess right now Im kind of sad. I am getting nervous about the classes and I just feel like it's not going to work out. I would be happy with a B. I don't even think I can get a B. I dunno. I guess only time will tell. I havent studied any biology either. I am really not sure how to approach this! I am also not sure of what to study. I thought I had downloaded the syllabus, but I guess it was just quizzes and they arent really helpful. I mean I can kinda see what chapters he is doing but not really. UGHHH!!!!

I guess in other news, I decided to go on a calorie counting diet. I eat about 1500 calories a day and I lost one pound a week to bring me to two pounds lost so far. I want to try to get down to 120 so if I get any interviews, I will look younger. I need every weapon I can get so they dont reject me.

I dont feel so good. I am not happy right now. I hope tomorrow I will have more energy and will be able to press through chapter two.

Oh yeah and while I was in Texas, I stopped by Texas Tech School of Medicine in El Paso and it looked pretty nice. The neighborhood looks like Phoenix, at least the west side of Phoenix, and the Mexico border is right there. Some spots looked crappy, but so does Phoenix. I will definately apply there. Hopefully, they will grant me an interview.

Other than that I feel like crap.

:: Jane Dee 7:26:00 PM [+] ::
...

One Month Until Class

I started on my first lesson in organic, going over basic chemistry. What I plan to do is just watch the videos and read from the chapter in the textbook. I won't make any notes because I don't want to do that twice! I will have to make notes for class anyway. I also hope they have the textbook on reserve in the library. I think they are getting a new edition when I start in the fall which is stupid because the one for the summer will be outdated. So I am hoping I can see what the major differences are and just copy the questions for the assignments. If not, I will see if I ca borrow the professors book for an hour! I will try to make the case that I am very poor and cannot afford the book (which I probably cant if it is brand new probably $200!!!!) I need that money to see the doctor (no insurance this year so I pay for it myself)

However, I will study biology like I was doing with chem and physics: making notes, using the textbook, making cards, etc. No sense waiting. This will be a busy month trying to cram in a lesson everyday. Now that I have most of my diet needs out of the way, I should be able to start faster and have more time. I don't have to do biology everyday, but if I can why not. It will only be better to finish faster.

So now I need a new schedule to start 1)studying for biology, 2)getting aquainted with organic, 3)studying for the reading comprehension and 4)studying for the essays. I also have to decide if I should start volunteering at the VA soon. I don't want to start too late because I need people there to know me. I also think that if I have to go to Ross, and I have been volunteering there, I can apply to do my clinical rotations there! We'll see.

SO like I said, its going to start gettiing busy. However, I am still looking foward to my trip to Alaska!!!

:: Jane Dee 1:37:00 PM [+] ::
...