Radioing in…

Hello everyone. I am sad to see that my natural posting urges have indeed been about once a month, if not less.  Unfortunately I don’t think this will change much, unless I put it in my outlook 😉

Since my last posting, I have been blessed with 3 more acceptances, all to fine schools–Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.  I honestly am not sure why I have been so lucky, as I have neither a 3.9+ GPA (more like 3.59), nor a perfect MCAT (a respectable 35).  I think it just goes to show you how important the interview is, although again honestly, I could not tell you objectively why I did so much better in this process than others.  What I do know is that I never pretended to be anything other than I am in interviews, I strove to be honest and thoughtful, and I think despite my many (albeit hidden) insecurities, I tried to put my best face forward and be confident.

From a financial perspective, most medical school educations will cost anywhere from 100 to 250k, before interest starts to accrue. This includes my state school, which I have yet to hear a definitive answer from, due to being placed on interminable “hold” since December.  However, somehow….I won a spot in next year’s class at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, which is notable for announcing earlier this year that they are going entirely tuition-free.  That’s right, TUITION-FREE!  For all 32 of its students in each class, they will be providing a ~~45k/year scholarship! (See link: All of the Medical School, None of the Tuition – Health Blog)

Obviously, this is an enormous opportunity.  One that is very difficult to pass up, and the program is unique in that it emphasizes training physician-investigators, a kind of mini MD/PhD program that is geared towards producing medical researchers (who can also practice).  I feel that it fits my goals and interests perfectly, despite the newness of the school ( it’s first class matriculated in 2003) and the complete ablation of a traditional med school curriculum (i.e. no formal tests, lectures, or grades).  It is kind of scary, but exciting at the same time.  And luckily I have been through the lecture style curriculum (hello, UW undegrad), and HATED every minute of it.  Not to mention that I forgot everything I have ever learned in a lecture.

I am SO excited.  But scared at the same time.  Moving to a new city where I don’t know anyone, without my boyfriend whom I love very much, is just a huge question mark for me right now.  I think Cleveland would be a good city to study in, though–extremely low cost of living ($400-500/mo for a 1 bedroom?  Unheard of in Seattle!), not too many distractions, and basically mellow enough to concentrate without giving up too much of what I love, such as Trader Joe’s and Nordstrom Rack ;).

 

Okay, so I’m terrified…

to see when the last time I posted an entry here.  My record has been shameful.

Because I have no other place to write this, I just want to document 2 very exciting things that happened to me this week:

1.) I was accepted into Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, for the class of 2013.  This is my first acceptance and I am THRILLED.  I would be 100% happy going there if I got no other acceptances because I think it matches my personality…unpretentious but hard-working.

2.) After presenting my quarterly progress report in this morning’s lab meeting, I caught our lab’s senior postdoc on the way out.  “Do you maybe have any suggestions for what I could be doing better, and how do you think I’m doing so far?” Keep in mind that this was the same postdoc that said “Shame on you!” in public at last week’s meeting, for asking a question that I should have known the answer to (i.e. she has very high standards). “I think you are doing an excellent job…I was so impressed with that one graph…I was amazed!” Are you SHITTING ME. This has basically made my entire year! I think that it is funny also, that because my boss never gives me any direct feedback on how I am doing, that her approval means more to me than his. So…yeah.  Pretty much floating on air right now.

Unfortunately, this was tainted by the fact that I got in a number of stupid fights with my boyfriend when I got home. He blamed me for not choosing a restaurant to go to on Valentine’s fast enough, because (apparently) most of the reservations are booked for the good restaurants in town.  I told him that I thought it was more important to celebrate our being together, and that it didn’t matter the exact day…that we could eat dinner on the 15th.  Sigh.  I’m not sure what to do about him sometimes, I feel like more of the man in the relationship than him. But he is my little puppy and I will take care of him.

 

Historic day

Words cannot express the happiness that I feel right now–I never thought I would get this emotionally involved in politics or world events.  But when I’m reading articles about Obama’s election yesterday, I feel myself literally tearing up every time.  Obama won the U.S. presidency by a landslide, and I am so proud of our country and the fact that our democracy actually worked out.  I’ll be the first one to admit that I was not always a supporter of Obama, and in retrospect I’m not sure how strongly I should believe in valuing experience over vision.  I think there is something to be said about dreaming big. Obama’s heart is in the right place, and I believe that he has the intelligence to ask for expertise, and the courage to do what he thinks is right.

 

Election Fever

Hello everyone!  It is the eve of the election and I thought it appropriate to continue my once-a-month posting frequency on this auspicious day.  I mailed my absentee ballot this morning, and to tell you the truth it was pretty anticlimatic. 🙂 But I will have the satisfaction of knowing that my vote will be part of Washington State’s inevitable pledge of electoral votes for Barack Obama.  This will all be very exciting to watch tomorrow…I can’t wait!  I remember how disappointed I was during the 2004 election, when it was clear that Kerry was not going to be able to catch up to George W. Bush.  I am SO ready for my candidate to win!  All selfish desires aside though, I cannot wait to see what Obama will do for this country.  He is educated, well-spoken, diplomatic, and has shown clear understanding of issues that matter to us–the middle class.

I thought this article was hilarious–it is basically saying that Bush is hiding out during the days prior to the election.  Even his own party considers him a liability…HA HA! Bush Laying Low

Re: med schools…thanks guys for the comments.  Lesley, I know that being doctor isn’t for everyone, and believe me I have spent a long time thinking about whether it is the right career for me, and comparing it to all the possible careers that I could have with a science degree.  In short, it’s very difficult to advance anywhere in biology without a graduate degree–whether it is a Ph.D, a M.D., a Pharm.D., or a DDS.  I chose an M.D. because it was the one career that is flexible enough so that it gives you a variety of options and specialties to practice, and you can also conduct research, which I want to continue in some way in the future.  I like how the science in textbooks is truly put to the test of practicality in medicine, and I am definitely aware of all the bad/undesirable aspects of health care in the U.S.  The declining Medicare reimburesments, patients that are noncompliant and frivilous lawsuits, the lack of universal health care coverage…I could go on and on.  But I hope that in spite of these downsides, that it will be outweighed by the day-to-day upsides of practicing medicine…giving checkups to children, diagnosing illnesses, providing the attention and care that people need the most–will make it all worth it.

Interview count so far: 5!!!

Cost incurred recently:  a beautiful new Ann Taylor suit…$240.  OUCH! But it is rather nice…:)

Costs that have yet to be incurred: black pumps (how do I not have a pair? oh right, because I work in a research lab), round-trip airline tickets to 3 different cities in the midwest and East Coast, haircut, etc…

 

Med School Apps

They have eaten my soul and drank my lifeblood.  Not to mention my wallet!  But thank god it will all be over soon (almost).  Officially I have 3 left that I *should* do, but I have turned in 19 so far, and my motivation is waning.  Not to mention I got 2 interview invitations last week (SQUEAL) and I have so many things to do to start preparing for them.  I can’t believe the end is almost in sight.  I am really looking forward to going back to school again, if I get in somewhere this cycle.  I can’t deal with the lack of goals or schedule, not to mention the inherent nowhere-ness of my career right now.  People tell me that these should be the best times of my life…but why do I feel so unsatisfied and direction-less, without this goal of getting into med school? I think I need to be a more adventurous person.

The really funny thing is, I am looking forward to the mundane aspects of interviewing more than the actual interview (which is very scary right now).  I have to buy a real suit…and plane tickets…and actually fly to other states on business?  I love doing all these grown-up things~!

Things at work are going very well, and for once I am really excited about the experiments that I have going on.  I think part of it has to do with my boss being more interested in what I am doing.  But mostly, it’s just that things are working out for once, experiment-wise.

Fall is upon us, and winter is nipping at its heels…I’m getting ready for another season of gloominess and rain.  It is really windy outside and I have been holed up in my room all day, waiting to go to work in an hour (boo for a Saturday). Hello from Seattle!

 

Why does a month…

Seem to pass so quickly? I am so terrible at my posting frequency! I’m letting down the 2 people who read this blog….:)

Well, since my last update (which was rather profane…sorry about that!), we have seen the carnage of the sub-prime mortgage crisis take it’s large toll on Wall Street. From inhabiting the personal finance community for awhile, I sort of knew what was going on…but I found a really EXCELLENT, simple, and clear description of the root causes here: What happened to AIG (NYMag). There is also a great description of what happened to Lehman Brothers here: What happened to Lehman Brothers (NYMag).

Anyway, so what have I been up to? Hemorrhaging money, that’s what! Well, that’s what I am calling the process of applying to medical school, anyway. Every secondary application is from $75-100 dollars, and I am applying to about 20 medical schools, which brings the total cost to…well, I don’t even want to think about it!. Anyone that is curious about my progress so far…can go to: My MDApplicants.com Profile. Hopefully that won’t completely destroy my anonymity!

I am just chugging along, hopefully I will finish them all in the next week. I am obsessively checking my email (As always!). Here’s to hoping I will get an interview somewhere…

 

Well we all knew…

what my first mistake was–opening a capital gains taxable stock market account at Sharebuilder, without maximizing my Roth IRA contributions first.  That I can understand.  I can also understand that is why I’m in the hole $700 for the 3 total stocks that I have.  What can I say, amateur mistake.

What I cannot stand is that since contributing the full amount to my Roth in April ($4000), the value of my fidelty target 2050 fund has gone down 10%.  TEN PERCENT!  Almost 400 dollars.  What a rip.  I should have kept that shit in my Washington Mutual 3.75% APR savings account, and amazingly…have MADE, not LOST money.  God, Fidelity must be laughing all the way to the bank.  They freaking suck.  I know that I”m supposed to have the advantage of starting to save for retirement so early, but honestly, negative 10% is pretty fucking shitty.

 

Carrot and cumin soup

I tried to copy this soup from Campagne.  It ended up being a combination of 2 different recipes.  Here goes:

1 lb carrots, chopped and peeled; 1/2 onion, sauteed with garlic

1/4th teaspoon cumin, herbs de provence, salt and pepper

Simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Puree in blender.

Mix in a small amount of whipping cream.

 

Summertime frivolty

20 days this time…my posting frequency is getting marginally better.

Well, so I’ve committed the #1 sin of personal finance bloggers, and no, I didn’t lie about my income or numbers. I spent unnecessary money on 2 luxury items, namely a leather ($164) and a terry ($116) Juicy Couture handbag, both from Nordstrom’s half yearly sale. I’ve never bought anything as expensive as each of these bags. This would be a textbook case of how the internet can poison your mind. I’ve been frequenting a lot of fashion and shopping sites lately, as a substitute for more worthwhile endeavors I suppose, and have been spending some time over at thepurseforum.com, the most shallowest, superficial forum that I’ve ever been to. Literally, the only two types of comments that you will see following a post is: 1.) “that is beautiful” and 2.) “i want that”.  Oh, and the only other topic of marginal amusement usually involves a self-righteous and astonishingly myopic discussion of why fake bags are the “scourge of the earth”…never mind that there is plenty of worse crimes out there in the big wide world (namely, unnecessary war, genocide, political deceit, etc…).

And yet, somehow I’m pulled in…all of the silly designer handbags with their names and classifications, sort of like how I used to have to memorize latin names of organisms in biology class. And then, the fun part is going out “into the wild,” and actually observing and naming certain bags that will literally just walk by you. Sigh. What depravity I’ve gotten myself into.

And so, I am putting myself on a self-imposed “bag ban” (as it is said) for the rest of the summer, because I can only see a downhill spiral from this kind of behavior if it’s not stopped in time…not to mention the fantastic levels of expense that will come from submitting a primary AMCAS application…

 

Spring is here…and the shopping bug has bitten me…

…and that means it’s almost time to break out the skirts and shorts! I am SO excited for summer. Warm weather in Seattle is just amazing–It’s warm but not humid, and there are no bugs or anything out to get you. I suppose it is the one saving grace of Seattle weather. I actually went to go check out Crossroads Trading Company (a secondhand clothing store) that just opened up here in the U-district, just to see if I could sell them some new clothes that I had bought for my boyfriend from the clearance section at Aeropostale. For some reason I thought he could fit small or medium, but turns out he’s a large (HAHA). Anyway, these 2 polo shirts are really nice and along with this other shirt I bought for $2, the total sell-back value was around $13. Not bad–I would break even if I took the store credit, and not the $10 in cash they offered. What I did not expect to find were clothes that I actually wanted to buy–a cute Old Navy sweater and an AWESOME red polka-dot strapless dress! Both were $10 each! I made really sure to look for weird spots or stains, and they both smelled like normal, so I bought them…and got 2 compliments on the sweater the next weekend 🙂 If they only knew it was from a thrift store….hehe….

I also tried to sell back some books that I had bought but (seriously) could not finish, they were so bad. They were:

1. A Million Little Pieces, by James Frye. Oprah, what were you thinking?

2. The Dante Club (author escapes me)

3. The Historian (Elizabeth Kastova)

4. The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions, by Anna Ivey

The last 2 had cost me 25 dollars, and I got 8 dollars back for them :(. The first two were so unwanted that I was happy to get rid of them for $1. Sigh.

Moral of the story: Books (that aren’t college textbooks) have SHITTY resell value. Clothes are okay for reselling, given that you bought them for dirt cheap clearance prices!!