I know what you're thinking. You're thinking why would you, you conservative values midwestern kid go to medical school on the East Coast? Furthermore, what's with this "you're not really a medical student thing." The answer is simple... okay... I lied, the answer is kind of complicated. Try and hold on.
I just graduated from Ohio State University. I've been pretty sure I wanted to go to medical school since I was 16. I'm not entirely sure why -- that's probably going to bite me in the ass when I interview. I know it has something to do with me knowing that people not in pain > people in pain, and people alive > people dead. Still, putting into words why I want to practice medicine isn't easy for me. In fact, I have a lot of trouble expressing most of my emotions, which is probably why I haven't had a date in 3 years. But I digress.
Anyway here I am at Ohio State, wanting to go to medical school. But my grades, while decent, were not exactly medical school quality. Furthermore, taking the last ever paper-and-pencil MCAT provided me with a 29 (the average MCAT score of MD students is somewhere around 30.5) despite scoring as high as a 32 on practice tests (yes, those 3 points make a big difference) ... darn you Kaplan and your overly simplistic verbal reasoning sections.
So I was kind of behind the eight ball when I applied to 6 MD schools and 2 DO schools for August 2007 matriculation. Now, if it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all. So I got shot down at all 8 schools -- I didn't even get one lousy interview invite. So what was I to do. Well, the ever helpful, and ever annoying Student Doctor Network was able to provide some information on an underused resource: Special Master's Degree Programs. Here's the deal - you take most, usually not all, of the Med1 curriculum, get graded alongside the MD students, receive a master's degree after only one year, and then you re-apply. Success rates (matriculation rates) vary widely depending on the school. I chose this school because it had the highest success rate. But this came with something of a caveat: while upwards 0f 90% of the masters graduates from my school do get into MD programs the same year they graduate -- nearly all of them are getting in at this school. Since I cared much more about getting into an MD program than where it was, I didn't mind. I applied, was admitted and enrolled in only a few weeks.
I know as long as I work as hard as I should, I'll be part of the MD class of 2012. Still, being so far away from everyone I know isn't easy. Especially on days like today. I needed a haircut. I only knew of one barbershop in the nearby area (I'm sure there are several others... but as of now I don't know where they are). Anywho, I walk in -- and immediately notice that -- well... I am not like anyone else in the barbershop.
Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm all about diversity of people -- but this wasn't diversity. This was me -- and everyone else. I'm pretty sure I got some dirty looks and some snickers from some of the customers. Oh well. I tried to casually leave, saying that it looked liked they were busy and I'd be back later. One of the barbers told me I'd be next if I just waited 2 more minutes. So I stayed, and got my hair cut. It was still pretty awkward, but maybe now I have some idea of what other people go through on a daily basis.
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