Acceptance Story: Interview #2

About two weeks after my Interview at PCOM-Ga we traveled to the Harrogate (middle of nowhere) TN for my second interview.  Prior to the interview we had not considered this school to be our first choice.  In fact it we saw it more as a back up plan if not the worse case scenario (of course the actual worst case scenario would have been not getting in anywhere).  There were several reasons that we did not consider this school to be ideal.  First it was an hour farther away than Atlanta, and it was also a very new school that had only opened in 2007.  This newness led to many other concerns such as would the faculty be adequate, would the curriculum have all of the kinks worked out, or would they have strong hospital affiliations.  Also, this school had never even had a graduating class, so we had no idea how they would do in the residency match.  However, for some reason Brooke and I had began to have more positive feelings in the week leading up to the interview, and we decided to go there with an open mind and truly give the school a fair chance. 

This interview began at 8AM on Monday so we drove up on Sun. and got to have dinner with some current students that night.  The conversation at dinner was very informative and we began to get a sense that this school had an extremely supportive student body and faculty.  I had not been too keyed up for this interview until we met the students at dinner, and then I began to get really nervous.  I did not sleep well and was so afraid I had not prepared well enough that I had Brooke asking me possible interview questions at 2:30 in the morning as we laid wide awake in bed.  This was a closed file interview so it was up to me to remember everything I wanted to mention and not freeze up due to nerves. 

Finally, morning came and we took the shuttle bus over to the school at the suggestion of the students from the night before.  I'll try to be brief, but the whole interview was great.  As soon as we entered the building we were greeted by the dean coming downstairs and then were escorted into a large conference room for about an hour of presentations.  We got face time with the financial aide officer, dean of the science curriculum, dean of the clinical curriculum, and even met and introduced ourselves to the namesake of the school.  Brooke was allowed to sit through each of these presentations.  Next came my interview and I felt it went really well.  It was the same format as my first interview (one DO and one PhD) except this was closed file.  Answers seemed to come to me quickly and without much hesitation and before I knew it I was being escorted back downstairs.  We were told that the committee would probably meet later that week and we could hear something as early as the next week. 

The rest of the day was very enjoyable because we could all relax a little bit.  We got an extensive tour of the facilities ( and WOW what facilities), a nice lunch in the campus cafeteria (Brooke was welcomed), and then a tour of the campus, medical apartments, and nearby town of Cumberland Gap (complete with the information that the town mechanic was also the mayor) from Bob, the shuttle driver.  Finally, it was over.  Bob dropped us back at the hotel about 1:30PM and we changed clothes and hit the road.

On our way home we discussed the pros and cons of both schools and drafted thank you notes for some of the people who had made our visit to LMU an enjoyable experience.  Overall we had a great day and came away being more impressed with the school than we previously would have thought.  Everyone was friendly, welcoming, sincere and the facilities were absolutely outstanding (more on that in future posts).  However, as Andrew commented on the last post, facilities are not necessarily the most important thing so I didn't want to put too much emphasis on that.  Although I have to admit the thought of driving up that big beautiful building on hill surrounded by mountains was pretty inviting.  We new though that in some ways it didn't matter what our pros and con list looked like until we had actually been accepted, so there was really not much to do but wait.  

So we waited and hoped we would have an answer from both schools before Thanksgiving.         

Acceptance Story (Continued from Recurring Theme on 12/2/10)

Last night Brooke posted a link to this blog on her Facebook page and it nearly got more hits in three hours than it had the previous year.  She must have a lot of friends.  I also actually got comments (that's a first).  In one such comment my Rooke buddy LC asked where I was going to school and as I looked back at old posts I realized I stopped the story after stating I was offered interviews at both LMU-DCOM and Ga-PCOM.  That is Lincoln Memorial University-Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus.  So, here is the rest of the story.  Or at least more of it (I may not finish tonight).   
     As previously stated my first interview was at PCOM-Ga just outside of Atlanta on Nov. 2, 2010.  We had visited the school before and so we new what to expect.  Meaning we were not surprised to find that the school was in an old warehouse building situated between Maxxis Tire Co. and Siemens.  We got up early, made the drive, changed clothes in a McDonald's parking lot and proceeded to the industrial park.  I know I'm sounding less than thrilled about the location of the school, but let me say it was very nice on the inside.  They have done an incredible job with the renovation and it really did seem like a great place to learn. There were three other candidates in my interview group.  We took a quick tour with two students, were treated to lunch and then dropped off back at the front to await our interview.  Brooke was only allowed on the tour.  She had to make the trek back to MceeDees for lunch, but made it back to clam me down while I waited for my interview.  I was last in the group to go in and my interview lasted about 25 minutes.  It was with one current faculty member and one retired faculty member who was a DO.  I enjoyed the interview and was encouraged by the fact that the DO suggested that given my previous work experience I should go into PM&R (which as of now is my specialty of choice).  It gave me confidence in my belief that my background and interests would make me an ideal candidate for that specialty.  However, the interview ended on a sour note when I was asked if I would reconsider taking the MCAT.  I'm not sure how I answered, but thankfully I refrained from saying what first popped into my head, haha.  So, we left feeling less that confident and a little disappointed that Brooke was directed to the local mall instead of being welcomed on the entire visit.  We were told the admissions committee would be meeting again on November 17th and that letters would be mailed a week or two after that.  So began the waiting.

Next Post:  LMU-DCOM Interview
 
 

Follow the Leader

So this past weekend we finally got to take our Moms and Brooke's Grandmother to see where I will be attending medical school next year.  I really enjoyed the trip and I think they enjoyed seeing the area.  I do feel though that when we got home everyone felt a little bummed out as the reality that we are moving 4 1/2 hours away really began to set in after making the drive on successive days.  For me this brings mixed emotions.  On one hand it makes me feel like a jerk.  Like I'm taking Brooke away from her family for my selfish reasons.  However, I know my reasons aren't selfish and I know that we both believe we are doing the right thing for our family.  Before discussing the other hand I need to add a preface.  I haven't spoken of this much in previous blogs, but Brooke and I are both Christians.  Believers that there is a God and He sent his Son Jesus to this earth to be an example of how we should live and to die so that we may have a relationship with God Himself.  We also believe that sacrificing our lives for His plan will not only please God, but also give us more satisfaction and peace than we could ever imagine.  And I must say that so far, in my life, this is true.  I almost can't believe where we are today.  It was just about 2.5 years ago that I really felt stuck.  I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but worse yet I felt like even if I found out I might not be able to follow my dreams because I was married and she already had a career and we had just bought a house.  That's when I finally began seeking God's will instead of  mine and He he went to work.  He placed on my heart the thought of being a doctor.  A thought that I actually been dismissing for 2 years before finally "listening".  After a few months of shadowing I knew what I was supposed to do with my life.  What was more amazing than finally choosing a career after many years of indecision was the fact that Brooke was 100% on board from the first time I mentioned it.  So here my wife, who hadn't wanted to move for me to pursue a PhD in exercise phys., or a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (both of which would have taken 3-4 years max), was now suddenly perfectly content with moving up to 5 hours away for 8 - 10- years.  Not to mention this would take more of my time and cost a lot more money.  So I know what your thinking, man that guy is good.  He must have done some smooth talking.  Not so.  In fact sometimes I think "what did I do to convince her to do this," and she is the first to tell me that I didn't convince her.  God did.  Through prayer she got a peace that let her know we would be alright despite the move.  So as much as I would like to take credit, I did nothing.  I also know now that she didn't resist those earlier possible moves because she wasn't supportive, but because that wasn't the right path for us.  After making the decision to pursue this career I still had almost 2 years of classes and the MCAT to take.  One by one things have been checked off and here we finally are taking our parents to see my school of choice.  So I said all that to say this.  While I do feel sad from time to time when I see how many people are having to sacrifice for me, I mostly get motivated.  I am aware how much everyone is giving up and I owe it to them, God, and myself to do my very best.  I get excited about studying and learning the ins and outs of medicine and patient care.  I also get excited about the chance to support my wife in a few years, and countless other things.  So in conclusion, while sometimes I get sad and sometimes I wonder if we made the right choice, I know in my heart we did.  Three years ago I would have never dreamed of being this happy and this excited about my upcoming career and I know I could not have gotten here on my own.  It sounds paradoxical but when you sacrifice yourself and make yourself available to God, He will bless you more than you could ever imagine.  I am living proof of that and when I get sad I just remember that I'm not in control... and that is a very good thing.                

Thesis Update, Road Trip, and Really Weird "Band"

Ok, so I just logged on here to write an update on my thesis progress and outline our upcoming weekend trip to Harrogate, but first I just have to rant about this really weird musical non sense I'm watching on TV this very moment.  It's a local show called "We Have Signal" on APT highlighting Birmingham's music scene.  I've seen it before and since I have an admiration for original music I was excited to see it was coming on after a program about Children's Television Pioneers I had been watching.  All I can say is what an absolute disappointment.  There is one guy on a dimly lit stage wearing a sparkling golden mask with obnoxiously large white painted teeth.  He is seated on a drum stool with an electric guitar strapped around his neck and resting on his right knee.  In front of him is a bass drum, snare drum, and a hi-hat.  He is fingering the guitar with his left hand, and playing the limited drum kit with his right hand.  And then letting out some wailing chant like vocals, (oh great he just stood up and stuck the drum stick behind the nose in his mask, oh now he took it out and he's hitting his chest with the stick.  And now beat boxing. This just gets better and better).  And all the while there are these people in the front row just bobbing and swaying like he is playing something that's just moving their soul like they never thought possible.  WHAT THE CRAP!!!  How is this on TV??  I mean I'm all for being original and expressing yourself through music and art, and if this is how he wants to do it that's fine, but I just don't get it.  I mean I guess my problem is people seem to do stuff like this because they lack the discipline to put in the work required to become good at playing an instrument the way everyone else does.  So they say "Well I'm being creative and that's all that matters".  I disagree.  What matters is you put time and effort into developing your skill or craft and not sidestepping it.  If you want to create weird monotonous chants thats ok, but prove yourself first.  Show me you got chops then go and play mediocre one handed guitar and drum duets, but prove your skills first.  Earn the right to be weird.  Kinda like Frank Zappa. He was an amazing guitar player and could have written hits if he wanted, but he preferred to write satirical social commentary songs.  Not because he was talentless and needed a gimmick, but because he was awesome and said, 'I'm gonna do what I want.'  So, with that said, Go...  Create, Express, Explore and by all means be true to yourself, but be true to the instrument first and learn how to play it and play it well.  Then your style will be your style and not a gimmick.  In fact that lesson can sort of be applied to most things in life.  Don't take the side road or easy way.  Buckle down, set your mind to it, and pour your talent, time, and effort into becoming the best you can.  Sorry, off my soapbox now.  I'll write about my thesis and trip later, that wore me out.