Chemistry for a Chemist is easy?

Umm, not really at least it wasn't at first. Funny those "chemistry insecurities" I used to have as a Freshman in college crept up on me like arthritis in my knees, and it's been quite a chore to purge those thoughts and get back to the Chemistry major and tutor/teacher I used to be.

So I ordered the solutions manual to my old Petrucci general chemistry book a few weeks back,and it's be "on and popping" every since!

The MCAT study plan, which has changed again (LOL), is now to focus on general chemistry over the next 3 weeks, and throw in some verbal and biology in the mix as well. I'll still do those 3 millions practice problems I outlined previously, I've just had to replace some of that practice with review from my chemistry book.And so far so good!

I should also mention that the chemistry review is where I have my first criticisms of the TBR materials. The chapter on equilibrium in the first book really should have been proceeded by the chapter on kinetics which is located in the second book. So I'm reviewing both of these 2 chapters this week for continuity.

Verbal strategies part deux

These days my verbal scores are improving and are pretty consistent. I ended up with an "8" in the first chapter of the EK 101 verbal passages books and here's what's been most interesting about my studies. I purchased these books back in 2004 and over the years as I've prepared for the MCAT and taken the exam (and NOT taken the exam), I've kept track of my progress in a notebook. What I've found to be amazingly interesting is that in a lot of cases, I'm missing THE SAME questions I missed in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. THE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS which means for all the "studying" I claimed to be doing for the MCAT in verbal over the years, I was really just wasting time since I didn't improve significantly. And it was this knowledge that was the impetus for completely restrategizing (is that a word ??) my approach to verbal passages.

So what have I done? First, I no longer read the questions first EVER, because I find myself reading the passage in the context of the questions instead of the other way around. I also take notes in the margins of the passages to keep me from having to reread the them. I also ask myself what type of questions are on the test (via TPR) since that does help me to know what type of answer I should be looking for. What I found when I did last take the MCAT is that the EK 101 books are far more difficult than the actual exam but then things could have changed since 2007 or 2008 which was the last time I took the exam.

On to other things, I'm in the process of setting up a meeting with a PI who's known in the area as the 10 million dollar man because he has a million dollar "portfolio" of R01 grants. And obviously this is HUGE for my predoctoral studies and beyond. This PI is also on the adcom of said university and does bioinformatics and health disparities research, so this really could be a big deal in my career right now. So what's the downside? I hear he can be a beast to work for but what "10 million dollar man" isn't'? I've actually worked with him before when I was at the NCI doing Genetic/Cancer Epidemiology but considering I was far down the totem pole in terms of rank, he probably doesn't remember me at all. At any rate, I'm definitely going to give this a shot!!

The only other thing going on in my life right now is that my kid is out for Spring Break so I've kinda been chillin' at home with her (no Java programming of Bioinfo this week, just MCAT stuff). I figure this is probably the LAST opportunity where I'm going to have this kinda time for a VERY long while, so I may as well enjoy it!

Verbal challenges!

So I spent most of this past week reviewing verbal strategies so much so, that I've completed 6 of the 11 chapters in the TPR book. And my approach this time was to as best I could, blank my mind of everything I'd ever learned about doing these types of problems and start fresh.

Initially, the results were pretty bad in 5-6 score range, but over the past 2 days, I've improved significantly to the 10-11 range. But as strategies go, I have mixed feelings about what was taught in TPR, finding a good amount of it to be a waste of time. The strategy I'm finding most useful is to always remind myself to erase whatever knowledge I may have about the passage out of my mind and to VERY closely determine what each question is asking. Along these same lines, I'm also focusing on how I determine which of the answer choices is correct and contrary to popular teaching methods, I'm not focusing as much on recognizing extreme words as much as I'm focusing on the context those extreme words are used. In other words, just because I see extreme words, doesn't mean that answer choice can't be the right answer.

As anyone who has taken the MCAT knows, changing the verbal score is the most difficult and having taken a class in neuropharmacology, I know exactly why ( rewiring your brain to think differently is quite a task). However, I KNOW without a doubt how critical it is for me to do whatever is necessary NOW to get this in order since it will not only help my MCAT score in other areas where I'm seeing good improvement, but down the road as well for all 3 of the STEPS and beyond.

Speaking of other areas, I also started my Bio review beginning with chapter 6 (don't ask me why in the middle of the book), and my scores were very good in the 11-13 range. Again, my performance was enhanced by the verbal review I did earlier in the week and I'm finding that with time, my complaints about always being able to narrow my answer choices down to 2 yet choosing the wrong one, will soon come to an end!

Finally, I heard back from a PI regarding a Bioinformatics gig and when she returns from vacation in 2 weeks, I'll have set up a gig at the school where I'll be pursuing graduate study in Bioinformatics this Fall. Of course, this is going to involve a HUGE change in salary but as I've seen so many times in my life, money doesn't always equate to happiness!!

August 18, 2011 @ 1:00 PM

My date with MCAT destiny! :)

Okay, so I took the bait........well, sort of..........

So this past Thursday, I was unofficially accepted to an MS program in Bioinformatics beginning in the fall of 2011, so if I don't find a gig by then, that's what I'll be doing. And if I do find a gig, I'll do this program part-time. However, while in the program, I'll be following the same track as the PhD students (I only need 12 credits for the degree), sit for the first part of my PhD oral exams in the Spring of 2012, and will have the opportunity to take 2 more courses in the med school curriculum if I choose. Ironically, it turns our that the director of this track taught one section of the medical school biochem course that I just happened to do extremely well in. So I wasn't all that surprised he remembered me, but was VERY surprised that his first question to me was "Aren't you supposed to be in Residency by now"?. Gee, thanks for reminding me that I've been in quick sand for the past 5 years, LOL!! So the idea of starting med school as a PhD candidate is gonna be too much for me to pass over!

This new plan of course, changes a few things in my life, the first of which is that now my primary academic focus will be to get through my MCAT prep, which in hindsight would have been impossible to do before August 2012 given my schedule (and I don't know why it's so hard for me to see these things ahead of time!). I'm still going through my Java programming course (what fun!), but I've put the bioinformatics course on the back burner since it's at a different school and won't help me prep for this school's oral exams. I haven't eliminated it completely because I really like it and more importantly, may need those skills should I find a Bioinfo job soon.

On Thursday, I also met with one of the deans of a local med school whom I've known for years to let her know that my app would be forth coming this year if all goes well and at the latest summer of 2012. Most importantly, I'm STILL very interested and committed to the MD/PhD program and to quote one of my late 30 something MD/PhD mentors, "if you had tuned out all the naysayers and just went for it 5 years ago, you'd be half way through the program by now"! Yeah, tell me about it and it's this revelation that has me more committed than ever! Because when it comes to "naysayers", I've heard EVERY reason why I shouldn't pursue the MD/PhD for my entire career, the ONLY thing that has changed are the "excuses" people give me for why I shouldn't it do it. When I was in my early to mid 20's it was "you'll have a hard time balancing that with family issues which you'll be thinking a lot about as a 30 something med student/resident". Then when I got married in my late 20's, it was "that's a long haul and you'll be taking your family through a lot". Then in my mid 30's the "tactic" switched to my age, "you'll be in your mid 40s by the time you finish". Well $hit, I'm in my mid 40's NOW and I'd rather be an MD/PhD in my mid 40's NOW than a wannabe!!! And these days, I'm REALLY hearing the "age" excuse, "you'll be in your early 50's before you're done with your training".

So now I'm thinking, ALL of you "naysayers" can kiss where the sun don't shine, I'm going to go for it because it's clear "they" will ALAWYS be on the sidelines talking smack about why I shouldn't do it!!!!! And while they're talking, I'll be moving on with my life.... PhD2, MS1-2, PhD3-4, MS3-4, then

Path201X MD,PhD!!!!!

Happy Friday!

So today began with some not so great news when I learned that one of my cancer health disparity contacts didn't have any openings with his group and just as I was starting to feel a little sad about it, I was contacted by a PI he works with not only about a gig with his group but about my long term goals as well. Then he preceded to tell me that I could apply to his department's PhD program (in Biochemistry) with my MCAT scores, start the program with advanced standing, AND concentrate my studies in Bioinformatics!

Okay, don't worry I didn't take the "bait" as far as the PhD is concerned and I ain't gonna lie, the idea of possibly having to study for a PChem exam as required for the Chem department just about flared up my "GI condition", LOL!! Anyway, I may do my cert in Bioinformatics at this school instead of schelping to Baltimore every other day but if I don't find the "right" gig by August of this year, I just may sashay myself into the MS program in Bioinformatics at this school since; 1) It will be free courtesy of the NCI and 2) Will come with a built in internship since it's proving to be quite a chore to get that first gig in a new field (even with my experience and contacts).

Finally, the pic above is me at a health fair in Baltimore this past Wednesday. Turns out Wednesday was an all day Komen affair for me!!!