What's up with the MCAT???

I hadn't posted much MCAT stuff in the past month or so because I hadn't done much. I spent the past week reviewing all the wrong answers from the previous MCAT exams questions in my TBR book, and some embarrassing revelations have come to light. I mentioned this before but it bears mentioning again, that I tend to make the same errors in thinking over and over and over again, so the point in my reviewing the wrong answers wasn't for me to see if I could get them right again (because believe it or not, I barely remember any of the problems I repeat). I need to address why I repeatedly go down the path of what I call "wrong thinking" which results in me getting the answer incorrect no matter how many times I come back and repeat the question. The good news is that in >90% of the questions I miss, I'm quite successful to narrowing down the answer to 2 choices. The bad news is that I'm still working on choosing the RIGHT answer of the 2 the majority of the time, LOL!!! It isn't all bad though, I had used to have a success rate of only about 25%, but now I'm up to about 75%, as in getting the answer right when I repeat the problem. However, I think that needs to be bumped up to at least 90%

Strangely though, I have rarely had a problem with critical thinking in my career which is why I think I've seen the success I've had despite not having a PhD. But this MCAT thing, now 21 years since I first took the test, is something entirely different and it is obviously a "mental" issue. Of course, if it weren't a "mental" issue for so many bright students, it wouldn't be revered the way it is and wouldn't result in some of the strange things you see, like a 3.5+ GPA Harvard Chemistry major who can't score above "8" on the PS section of the exam.

If you haven't followed my blog long, you're probably wondering why all this emphasis on the MCAT (besides the obvious of getting into med school) when most people know that MCAT's don't determine the how well a person will practice medicine? The fact is that I've run out of fingers counting the number of people I've known and heard of who had low to mid 20's MCAT's (23-26) and who had trouble passing either Step I, Step II, Step III, or ALL of the Steps, and I'm simply determined to NOT have that be me one day. Right or wrong, I believe fixing the "mental" issue with the MCAT is a HUGE step toward diminishing the possibility of having Step "issues" in the future (although I know there are no guarantees). Plus, Docs are required to retake their boards after a certain number of years of practice, so it seems wise to master this early in the game.

Ok, I need to get into the kitchen now to prepare dinner early so I can study later!! :) Have a great week!!!

Mo' Money, Mo' problems, New Job, New problems, LOL????

So this title isn't exactly right, so far "mo' money" hasn't translated into mo problems yet although I won't know untilI get my first paycheck on Sept 10th. What I can tell you with certainty is that I'm gonna finish med school if it's the LAST thing I do!!!

This is a GREAT gig for someone who is satisfied being what I call a "middle" man. And it's not that being in the middle is a problem for my ego, because I expect to be a "middle man" (or should I say woman) as a Research Pathologist. I don't aspire to be Chief of anything or department head in Pathology at some med school one day. I simply want a career that has clinical and research duties and responsibilities.

The thing is that on my last gig, I was opened up to the field of Vet Pathology through my original assignment in the department of Vet Med, which was eventually changed. Now I'm REALLY being exposed to the field which has come with some pleasant surprises, such as a local Army recruiter's failed attempt to get me to consider joining the Army for 4 years, having them send me to Vet school with the goal of becoming a Vet Pathologist, then having Army pay for Vet school while I served my country as part of the Vet Path core (and this is an great option for anyone considering Vet school, which I'm not).

So besides the obvious histology, there's the field of pathology and my dear old friend infectious diseases (ID) which are in SERIOUS play in my new gig. Which reminds me, I was thinking a few months ago about my plan to get a PhD in Infectious Diseases/Biological agents, I took some PhD level courses in the field, I applied for some ID fellowships, then I starting feeling like I was running around chasing my tail again when that didn't quite pan out!!! That is, until I starting working for the largest of gov't agencies which studies infectious diseases and then realized that my life was "lining up" even when I didn't plan it out to the letter (remember that saying about God looking out for fools, LOL??) Now I meet with the Vet Path at work to study pathogenesis of all kinds of infectious diseases in animal models and it's really, really, REALLY, COOL!!!

The coalescing of life

So today, I received my the Pathology Informatics book, written by the Yale Pathologist who's the designated Pathology Informatics guru, and while it's proven to be VERY interesting, it's a LOT like reading another language. And not just any other language, but a language like Japanese or Chinese which can be extremely difficult to learn!

I ordered this book after I was added to the list serve of folks who are members of the Association for Pathology Informatics (API). This allows me to see all the emails back and forth between it's members, primarily Pathologists, as they discuss any and all issues related to this growing area. And talk about being a fly on the wall, I absolutely LOVE it as much as I loved being the fly on the wall during sign-out! I'm getting a real flavor for the field, it's challenges, and issues not to mention the access to mentors galore! So while reading the first few pages of the PI book, I came across the image I have posted with this entry and ironically, MANY of the ares which "feed" into the Pathologist in the center, I've already "covered" career wise. Epidemiology, check! Pharmacoepidemiology, check! Proteomics, check! And on and on and on!!! So after thinking about this chart for a minute, it would appear that my career path has been a LOT like circling the bullseye, LOL!! And I'm thinking this should make me a hellva Pathologist one day should I stick with the field (which really seems likely, but I'm trying to keep an open mind).

Anyway, this was just the push I needed to get my self in gear since not only have I not exercised ONE day this week to any appreciable measure, I also haven't done more than an hour or so of MCAT review. Of course, I hadn't really felt all that great either at least that's my excuse, but my doctor told me at my follow-up appointment today that that was normal. Speaking of that, with a family history of breast/ovarian cancer on my Dad's side, I'd been concerned that I had some serious ovarian "issues", but it turns out that it was nothing more than benign endometrial cysts on my ovaries. And I thought about posting a pic of that, but I'm choosing not to ruin anyone's lunch/dinner today!

"Trust everyone, just not the devil inside"

It turns out that more often than not, mother does know best!! My mother and sister both warned me that given all the things my old Supv put me through that I should just focus ONLY on my recuperation and leave the past behind. And it's not that I didn't believe my old Supv could be a super, duper devious snake, I guess I just hoped that something resembling morals would somehow shine through.

So when I was informed by my contracting agency that my old Supv's reaction to my resignation was to inform security that I would somehow be a "threat", "irate", and "irrational" when returning to pick up a few items and to return my ID's, I could only nod my head in belief that my Mom and Sister had been exactly right. Now, I'm just trying to figure out exactly what it is I was supposed to be a "threat" to, but I guess after the black guy went ballistic in CT last week over the racism he experienced on the job, maybe all of the sudden any black person quitting a job is seen as a Psycho negro these days, LOL!!! Oh well, turns out my decision to not return to pick up a few personal items was in my best interest and I'm VERY fortunate I have such a good relationship with my company rep who has agreed to do that for me.

Despite this insanity, I do have some MCAT verbal progress to report, scoring a "9", and realizing that I'm soon going to run out of practice problems to do, LOL!!! Of course, that's a drop from my high of "13", but given I hadn't done a passage in a couple weeks, I'm OK with that score for now. I'm also going to get back on the Science review wagon this week, and will post my progress next Sunday!

Needless to say, I'm so looking forward to moving ahead with my future and my new gig and over the weekend, received the info for the Pathology Informatics training I'm going to in October. Looks like my new employers are already following up on their promise to support my further education in this area, so I'm obviously more than pleased. Computers are here to stay and their influence in the field of Pathology is just getting hot, so these are going to be VERY exciting times in the future!! Speaking of that, I'll have to review my histology for my new gig since I'll work with alomst every tissue in the body, and like my old job, there's gonna be a whole lotta brain too!!!

I'm a survivor!!!!

So I survived my "date" with Mr. Propofol and I'm now dealing with the side affects of the anesthesia that's still floating around in my body. I'm also releasing the CO2 that was pumped in too, in some of the most imaginative ways ever, LOL!!! Unfortunately I haven't had a good nights sleep because my shoulders hurt so bad thanks to the CO2, but with time things will get back to normal. I just wish I had the energy to get on that stationary bike for just one mile................

Other news, I informed my contracting company ( NOT my immediate Supv.) that I'm considering another gig and my company rep seemed genuinely happy for me. Of course, she's seen me through some VERY difficult employment "moments" and agrees 1000% that a new, better paying gig is just what's needed now. All that's left for me to decide is if I want to first the first time in my entire employment career, not give my Supv the courtesy of a 2 week notice or just bounce which I'm SO inclined to do based on how shitty I've been treated, especially lately. And finding out from the company that hired me that I'm not required to give 2 weeks, only fuels my desire to be highly unprofessional in this situation, LOL!! So we'll see, my main priority now is to get both my mind AND body prepared for this new blessing and that may mean putting my needs 100% first and NEVER looking back!!!

I've also been thinking about my MCAT study schedule and have decided that giving myself a month to cover each of the TBR books should be plenty enough practice between now and the exam date given that..............drum roll please.........I've also decided to pursue formal training in Pathology Informatics!! Yeah, I guess it's an understatement to say that I LOVE school and feel VERY fortunate that I'm working in a field I really enjoy at the same time!! That said, I plan to be back on the MCAT prep bandwagon by the end of the week and will post my progress on Sunday!!

Have a GREAT week!!! :)