Moving right along

This path that we take to medicine is a long marathon.  Your first year is a training on how to study for medical school. Your second year, combined with first year,  is a training year for your first board exam. The second year also has practical applications for your next two years.  The clinical years are exhausting!  I am sure they are preparation and training for your...

Read More

Moving to 'hot'lanta. . .

Wow!! I love to write and to share information with you all. Sometimes, I have to write after the fact; that is the case with tonight's post. I have already moved to Atlanta for my medical rotations. In fact, I have been here two weeks. There was so much going on while I was moving that I didn't have time to write, but don't lose heart, I took notes--mental and written- on what I thought was most...

Read More

Whats Next? ? ?

So I have passed my USMLE Step 1. What is next? The first thing I had to do was send in documents to the clinical department. Things like : TB test results current for this year physical current for this year Proof of Vaccinations  National Background Check ACLS certification Drug Screen Once all of the documents are in and after my tuition is paid; the clinical placement director/team...

Read More

FINALLY!!! I DID IT!

Well, here it is February almost, and I have just finally taken and recieved my USMLE Step 1 Scores. PASSED!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, I didn't score as high as I wanted, but in the end passing was my ultimate goal. Other News  I have had an addition to my family!!!! Lilly "Kate" Katherine...

Read More

A Christmas Miracle!

I got the best news ever yesterday from Facebook- of all places-. . . . WE HAVE LOANS!!!! I began my journey with UMHS in 2010 and they had student loans available at that time. In my first semester of ARP Citibank canceled their contract with UMHS in light of the student loan situation in the states. I was devastated. I ask my (at that time) husband and he suggested I continue- he could help to...

Read More

Step 1 Study Lingers

Ok so I know I have not updated in a while, and I have been feeling a little guilty for leaving you all hanging. The truth is I have set many Step 1 dates and I have had to postpone them. My original date was for November, but I didn't feel like I was quite ready yet. After Maine I came home and played with my children for two months. I didn't even look at a book. So I postponed and decided to step...

Read More

USMLE STUDY UPDATE

Ok, so a while back I said that I would be taking the Step 1 in December. I am now studying for a January test date. I reserve the right to change that based on my NBME practice exams that I am taking at the testing center. I am using a study schedule made out by Topher for my last six weeks of study. His blog is fantastic! I know the exam has changed a little since he took it, but the concepts are...

Read More

How to Enjoy maine from an upperclassman.

To all of my fellow classmates and underclassmen:  Enjoy Maine!!!! I hope that you can look back on your time in medical school with fond memories, as I know I will. Remember to see everything you can while you are here. I know that the weather may not be great but Portland is a fantastic place.  For those of you who are coming next semester there are many places to ski. There...

Read More

Quick Update

A quick update- All apologies for not updating you all sooner. I am sure you all were wondering if I passed the exit.  It is challenging to come from studying for two years and then study harder ( trust me it is much more intense than studying for that final block exam or even more intense than studying the first block exam in Med 1.) than you have ever before. I have been asked multiple times...

Read More

My fav step 1 study books so far

Plus First Aid USMLE Step 1. Almost all of the BRS series. The Kaplan books as we...

Read More

What you need to know before you come to Maine

The biggest worries for me in fourth semester were "am I ready for maine?" "do I know enough?". The answer is yes and yes. I wasn't an A+ student. I studied as much as I could stand (probably less than most of my classmates) I made ok grades (B and C). I took masters classes all the way through. I struggled in some classes and had to retake neuroscience. I had every right to be worried.  When...

Read More

Maine! The post we have all been waiting for...

Maine! The post you have all been waiting for.  Ok. So this will have to be a series of posts, I just can't fit it all into one. So Ill start at the beginning. When I first got to Maine it was much more stressful than I had imagined. I thought that being back in the USA would be this great feeling and that I would know and understand the culture and I would be able to get around much more easily....

Read More

Go Fund Me

A friend sent me a message about her new way to fund her medical education and I jumped on board. Go fund me is a website that accepts donations and allows you to post updates and information about your goals and the process all along the way. I joined GoFundMe.com as a way to get funding to pay for my clinical years. This post is copied from my update there. I have plans to post about Maine and...

Read More

Its all relative

Having been a science major in a university, I met many people who were planning to go on to medical school. Of all of the students that were planning to go to medical school, I only know two people who have actually made it. I went away medical school and at the same time one of my friends when to medical school in the states. Then another of our friends went to DO (Osteopathic Medicine) School this...

Read More

Curious Prospective Student

Curious Prospective Student         Every once in a while I get an email from a student that is interested in applying and want some kind of reassurance that they will be going to a real school. I know I felt the same way. I was afraid that I would apply and come to realize that there was no such entity and I was taken for my money, but even worse, my dreams. Well, the university...

Read More

Why Caribbean Medical School?

Why Caribbean Medical School? The first question I get asked when I say that I go to medical school in the caribbean is " Why caribbean medical school?". I went to undergrad in the US ( I am from the US). After my undergrad degree I realized that my grades from early on in my undergraduate times were not the best and I felt like I really didn't have a great chance at getting into medical schools...

Read More

Where to live?

       Where do I live?      I think this is a huge questions for most new students. I have had the experience of living in basseterre and frigate bay and the Royal. So this is my honest assessment. I will also tell you what I have heard from other students.  ...

Read More

Post Block 3 Slump!

Block 3 was a week ago yesterday and I still cannot get my brain back in gear to study for finals. I am not sure if it is that I have the Christmas spirit like Santa's Elves or maybe even Santa himself, or if it is my inner desire to be home with my children, but something has me preoccupied. I...

Read More

Seasons of Change

        I am not sure what has happened to my blogging lately. I have a lot on my mind and have I guess taken a short hiatus from thinking about blogging. There are a few things that I sometimes think about at random moments. I guess, and perhaps I have blogged about this before, during this season I really begin to miss the seasons.          I love the...

Read More

Professionalism in Social Networking

This blog is hard one to write, but I think it is necessary. I read a few blogs in my spare time . . ok well not really my "spare" time, but you get the point. One that I particularly like is Mothers in Medicine  for the most obvious reason--I am a mother and I am going to be in medicine. But I also like it because they write about issues that women face in the workforce as mothers. Topics...

Read More