Shadowing....In the beginning.

As I began this process I went to our local hospital and spoke with the individual that works with the Medical School students as they come out for rotations. I explained my situation and asked for help with arranging shadowing opportunities. 

For me, arranging shadowing opportunities on my own was getting me nowhere fast, so I knew that I needed help. In my full time career and life, I just did not have interactions with physicians to build relationships to pull upon for shadowing opportunities. Going to the source was the best option I had.

What did I ask for and why?  I have a great deal of experience as an ENT patient. I had nearly 20 surgeries on both ears before I was 18. I worked in the ER while in college, but that was nearly 10 years ago and in another city/state. I worked in a lab and taught at a Community College. Again, 10 years ago and no where near my current home. So basically all my "medical" experience is ancient! UGH! In order to figure out what things are like now, I knew I was going to need to jump in. So I asked to shadow everyone. Every type of physician. If I am going to leave a great career behind to pursue my dream, well, I owe it to my family to remind myself of what that dream really looks like - GOOD, BAD, & UGLY. Luckily for me, my new found ally thought it was a great idea to shadow different types of docs, too. 

And that is how I began down the road of shadowing. I have learned an enormous amount from each physician that has permitted me into their world. It has been amazing. In future posts I will break down each experience, questions I asked, bites of wisdom shared. Thank you to all of the physicians that have been so wonderful to allow me to spend a few moments with them, their teams, and their patients. 

More Arsenal for the MCAT

I am still gathering resources and in the beginning stages of studying for the MCAT. I have decided on purchasing all of the available AAMC Practice Exams. Go straight to the source. I plan on taking all of them. A very large task to undertake.

Next on the purchasing list is the Complete Examkrackers package, and I mean the whole enchilada. All five resource books, the 1001 Questions for each core topic, 16 mini-mcats, and Audio Osmosis CD package. From all the forums, research, checking the books out. I think these will be the best for my style of learning. In addition, I have a host of websites that I have pulled together and book-marked. I will start to compile those for a later post.

I have also pulled together a select few podcasts to listen to on a regular basis. Those include:

• Medical School HQ by Dr. Ryan Gray - first one I discovered with good quality audio and useful material. Plus I actually had the opportunity to meet Dr. Gray in the flesh at the OldPreMeds conference this summer. Nice guy. Thanks for the podcast and encouragement. Oh, and if you listen, give the guy a positive review. Help the cause!
•  Mental Math Secrets  - This is really because I know as an older student, time is not my friend. Speeding up my ability to process numbers in my head will really be helpful. Plus this podcast includes videos as well as audio. Good quality recordings that are easy to listen to.

So, I am feeling pretty good about my game plan. Working on study calendar and timeline. Hope to have it together by the end of this week. 

Gathering MCAT Study Materials

Finished up my first semester back with an A in General Chem II. Big confidence boost. Now I am in the thick of summer gathering resources to study for the MCAT. While I have read many a blog post about preparing in two or three months, I just don't think that is enough time for me. I have put together an plan to study that is a bit unorthodox.

Many blog posts, tweets, articles, and even the AAMC resources discuss how the MCAT is unlike any test you have ever taken. There is much discussion that the MCAT is more about testing your ability to read, analyze, and think critically. Based on that, I have decided to go about preparing for the MCAT a bit differently than I have seen elsewhere.

Of course I am focusing on Physics, Chem, Bio, A&P, O-Chem, and Biochemistry, but I am also taking a good bit of time to work on math skills, logic, and critical thinking skills. I believe those skills will be helpful to work my way through the passages and figure out the science that slips my mind the day of the exam. Afterall, isn't that what doctors do in the real world. They think their way through problems, often with only the information available right in front of them and what is tucked away in their minds.

In addition to studying this summer, I am taking a Physics course and Psycology course, plus shadowing. Those are for the next post.