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Hi everyone!
It's so good to read all of your stories!! Lydia, it was so nice to see you too!
So I just took my MCAT this past Saturday and I think it went well. I definitely felt the peace of God with me. I will know my scores in about a month.
I will also be applying to medical schools this summer. The handbook for the medical school application system is 100 pages, so I have a lot of reading to do just to start the application! lol
But it's worth it. :)
Now that my test is over, I will be gathering transcripts, letters of recommendation and writing my personal statement. Fun times! haha
But I have to say that it's so nice to finally be done with my MCAT for good! I'll finally be able to go back to my church ministries, hang out with friends and volunteer at the hospital again! I'll be resting too before I dive fully into the application process. I also have some time to shadow an osteopathic doctor since I wanted to apply to DO schools.
I will be stopping by Biola tomorrow because Dr. Harvey will be giving a medical school application workshop. It's always nice to visit Biola. :)
Anyway, that's about it for now for me. I'll be taking some Spanish classes and psychology classes at the nearby community college in the meantime. Spanish is super important for the very large Hispanic population here and psychology wouldn't hurt either. :)
Thanks for getting these blog posts going again, Rachael!
~Ellene
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Update from Riverside
Hello All,
It has been fun to read your updates and hear about what is going on in your lives. It's amazing how quickly things change in just a few years.
While my life has remained static in some ways, same school, same job, same apartment, same Bible study group, still dating Brett, still see my family regularly, etc., in other ways the past three years have been a roller coaster for me.
In my first year of graduate school, not many people knew this, but I was not excited to continue school, I was scared. I was afraid of failing, afraid I didn't have what it takes to be Chemistry researcher, and afraid I was not going to be able to pursue a career as a professor. It didn't take long to realize those fears were legitimate. My program is nothing like anything I have ever experienced before. Nothing at Biola prepared me for this. Cooperation between colleagues is discouraged, it is competitive and hostile, and students are not told what the expectations and requirements are, they have to figure out what hoops to jump through in order to succeed. My first quarter, my grades were so low that my fellowship funding was in jeopardy. I also became terrified of public speaking. Professors cut students down with the belief that it "builds character" and grades are practically subjective. There is nothing like scoring less than 50% on an exam and getting a B in the class. Every step of the way I held my breath and there were days that I almost just walked away.
Gradually, things began to change for the better as I grew acclimated to the requirements and the expectations. I joined a research group, and my performance improved academically. Then, last year, I completed the requirements for my M.S. I very seriously considered quitting the program and retook the GRE to see if I could raise my scores and apply to other programs. I was looking for a way out because the amount of effort I put in did not seem worth the result I was getting out.
It didn't take very long to realize that if I quit with my M.S, I would have to spend the same amount of time building up a resume as an adjunct as it would take if I continued the Ph.D. program where I have a predictable salary and job.So this past December, I came to the conclusion that staying where I am, despite the challenges, is the best decision for now. God willing, I will advance to candidacy and be ABD come August. I hope to graduate by 2016.
I have spent more hours troubleshooting problems than actually researching. I have learned almost nothing about Chemistry, but a lot about patience, contentment, and the value of investment. This season of life has not been easy, and while I will be glad when it is over, learning to tackle problems that no one knows how to solve is an invaluable skill that will apply to everything new for the rest of my life.
I have found joy in my friendships and it makes my job more bearable. A couple in my Bible study just had a baby girl two months ago and I have been learning the skills of burping, rocking, diaper changing and peek-a-boo. So cute. :)
My family is all doing well. My mom is still working as a secretary in the Biological Science Department, my sister just turned 20 today (WHAT?!?!) and is a college sophomore, my brother is still doing the grad school physics thing, and my dad is still teaching math.
Brett and I have been dating for four years as of March, so he says (honestly I think we've both lost track). He is finishing his second year of law school (he is taking the first of his finals as I am typing this) and will be working full time as a law clerk this summer at the city attorney's office near where he lives.
I was so pleased to see a few of you recently and talk to some of you on the phone. I ran into Ellene at Biola a few months back, such a fun surprise. Nicole came down to visit a few weeks ago and we had a wonderful day hanging out together. And I got to talk on the phone with Evan and Sam not too long ago also. :)
Miss you all and it is good to hear from you. Rachael, you rock for getting us back on track.
Lydia
It has been fun to read your updates and hear about what is going on in your lives. It's amazing how quickly things change in just a few years.
While my life has remained static in some ways, same school, same job, same apartment, same Bible study group, still dating Brett, still see my family regularly, etc., in other ways the past three years have been a roller coaster for me.
In my first year of graduate school, not many people knew this, but I was not excited to continue school, I was scared. I was afraid of failing, afraid I didn't have what it takes to be Chemistry researcher, and afraid I was not going to be able to pursue a career as a professor. It didn't take long to realize those fears were legitimate. My program is nothing like anything I have ever experienced before. Nothing at Biola prepared me for this. Cooperation between colleagues is discouraged, it is competitive and hostile, and students are not told what the expectations and requirements are, they have to figure out what hoops to jump through in order to succeed. My first quarter, my grades were so low that my fellowship funding was in jeopardy. I also became terrified of public speaking. Professors cut students down with the belief that it "builds character" and grades are practically subjective. There is nothing like scoring less than 50% on an exam and getting a B in the class. Every step of the way I held my breath and there were days that I almost just walked away.
Gradually, things began to change for the better as I grew acclimated to the requirements and the expectations. I joined a research group, and my performance improved academically. Then, last year, I completed the requirements for my M.S. I very seriously considered quitting the program and retook the GRE to see if I could raise my scores and apply to other programs. I was looking for a way out because the amount of effort I put in did not seem worth the result I was getting out.
It didn't take very long to realize that if I quit with my M.S, I would have to spend the same amount of time building up a resume as an adjunct as it would take if I continued the Ph.D. program where I have a predictable salary and job.So this past December, I came to the conclusion that staying where I am, despite the challenges, is the best decision for now. God willing, I will advance to candidacy and be ABD come August. I hope to graduate by 2016.
I have spent more hours troubleshooting problems than actually researching. I have learned almost nothing about Chemistry, but a lot about patience, contentment, and the value of investment. This season of life has not been easy, and while I will be glad when it is over, learning to tackle problems that no one knows how to solve is an invaluable skill that will apply to everything new for the rest of my life.
I have found joy in my friendships and it makes my job more bearable. A couple in my Bible study just had a baby girl two months ago and I have been learning the skills of burping, rocking, diaper changing and peek-a-boo. So cute. :)
My family is all doing well. My mom is still working as a secretary in the Biological Science Department, my sister just turned 20 today (WHAT?!?!) and is a college sophomore, my brother is still doing the grad school physics thing, and my dad is still teaching math.
Brett and I have been dating for four years as of March, so he says (honestly I think we've both lost track). He is finishing his second year of law school (he is taking the first of his finals as I am typing this) and will be working full time as a law clerk this summer at the city attorney's office near where he lives.
I was so pleased to see a few of you recently and talk to some of you on the phone. I ran into Ellene at Biola a few months back, such a fun surprise. Nicole came down to visit a few weeks ago and we had a wonderful day hanging out together. And I got to talk on the phone with Evan and Sam not too long ago also. :)
Miss you all and it is good to hear from you. Rachael, you rock for getting us back on track.
Lydia
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