Sunday, January 26, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Blogger on the iPad
Jared got me the iPad air for Christmas, and what do you know, it has a blogger app! Should be a little easier for me to post on the go (and now super easy to post pictures!!).
One of my best friends got engaged over break and I got asked to be her bridesmaid today (I am super excited!).
The first week of classes has been going well. A bit hectic. Microbiology seems like it will be really interesting and also highly relevant to vet med/health sciences. Neurobiology will be fun just because my teacher is so enthusiastic about it and can make anything sound fun and exciting. Today we dissected a sheep brain and did anatomical comparisons to a human brain (a real one!). Proved all the reasons why sheep aren't smart!!
Vertebrate zoology is going to be rather boring I fear... It is a graduation requirement and focuses (rather than on anatomy)on evolution of species. I do like all the dead specimens though, and I am sure I will get at least something out of it. We get to do a bunch of field trips to find critters in the field and identify them, so that should also break it up a bit.
And human anatomy and physiology is fun as always. I am taking the second half of the course and still find it just as exciting and interesting as last semester. It is easy to make it comparative and to teach myself the animal versions at the same time.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Back to the Grind
5 weeks of break have flown by... while I spent much of it working, I also had the opportunity to visit with three of my dear friends (or have them visit with me), fly across the country to interview at Missouri, drive from MO to CO and spend some time with my parent set out there, then fly back home and drive down to VMRCVM with my other parent set for an interview yesterday. I returned today, and am back to school at 8 am tomorrow!
My interviews went... well, they went! Missouri felt a little rough; I wasn't expecting them to test my knowledge on a few things, nor ask me some of the ethical questions that they did, but I hope I muddled through it all right. They were very kind, and it was quite conversational. If I hadn't been so darned nervous it would probably have gone a bit better. However, I loved the environment of Missouri, as it reminded me deeply of the school I go to for undergrad, where professors are professors but also friends and colleagues. Everyone was friendly beyond belief, the program and facilities were impressive, and I was sold on the whole concept of how they do things. It was an honor to interview there, and they made me feel like THEY were honored I was there, which was pretty cool (certainly doesn't hurt the ego ;-) ). I should hear back from them the week of the 27th (since officially the dean is out of town until the 28th and he has to confirm everything).
Virginia-Maryland was different. There was little in the way of welcome when we got there, though we did have a nice dinner where we were able to chat with a current vet student and a professor. The professor didn't even know the first year at the table, despite the fact that he had just had him for class the past semester. I can't say much about the interview process except for that it was behavioral and both everything and nothing like I expected. I felt good about it when I left, since I was able to relax a little while into it and revel in the silliness of the whole thing, the novelty of the experience and the fun of the way it was presented. I have no idea how they can determine anything about me from any of the things that I had to do, nor what they would determine about me from them, but I hope that it was all good! The tour was enlightening, and they have done some renovations since I was there in March, which made things look a little nicer. Getting to talk to some current third and fourth years in food medicine and equine helped ease my mind about the tracking program and opportunities available, and made me feel like I could be successful and enjoy my time there were I admitted. I should know from them by February 14th.
I still haven't heard a peep from Wisconsin, but they are (I think) going to notify in mid-February.
So by this time next month I should know whether or not I am going to vet school, where I am going if so, and what my loan will look like! The experiences I had going to the schools were invaluable though, and I really was grateful for the interviews that I got and the opportunity to shine. Just looking at the numbers, it was amazing to make it into the top 200 of 900 (for MO) or top 300 in 900 (for VMR).
Still, I was a little intrigued by the collection of students; certainly they are going for diversity. Some of the students had little vet experience, some had changed careers abruptly and decided that they wanted to switch to vet med, some had thousands upon thousands of hours of vet experience, were certified vet techs or had spent years in a hospital. Others had done pivotal research with prestigious labs, or seemed to have done everything short of curing cancer. And yet I still met a few students who just "thought" that vet med might be a good career for them, since they "liked animals" and such. It was interesting to meet so many others with a similar goal, and to hear the differing paths they had taken to get to this point in the process. It certainly proved there is no one "right" way to get into vet school (or at least get an interview). I am sure that this diversity boils down in the end to a class of vet students with differences across the board that strengthen each other and the profession. It was nice to see.
My interviews went... well, they went! Missouri felt a little rough; I wasn't expecting them to test my knowledge on a few things, nor ask me some of the ethical questions that they did, but I hope I muddled through it all right. They were very kind, and it was quite conversational. If I hadn't been so darned nervous it would probably have gone a bit better. However, I loved the environment of Missouri, as it reminded me deeply of the school I go to for undergrad, where professors are professors but also friends and colleagues. Everyone was friendly beyond belief, the program and facilities were impressive, and I was sold on the whole concept of how they do things. It was an honor to interview there, and they made me feel like THEY were honored I was there, which was pretty cool (certainly doesn't hurt the ego ;-) ). I should hear back from them the week of the 27th (since officially the dean is out of town until the 28th and he has to confirm everything).
Virginia-Maryland was different. There was little in the way of welcome when we got there, though we did have a nice dinner where we were able to chat with a current vet student and a professor. The professor didn't even know the first year at the table, despite the fact that he had just had him for class the past semester. I can't say much about the interview process except for that it was behavioral and both everything and nothing like I expected. I felt good about it when I left, since I was able to relax a little while into it and revel in the silliness of the whole thing, the novelty of the experience and the fun of the way it was presented. I have no idea how they can determine anything about me from any of the things that I had to do, nor what they would determine about me from them, but I hope that it was all good! The tour was enlightening, and they have done some renovations since I was there in March, which made things look a little nicer. Getting to talk to some current third and fourth years in food medicine and equine helped ease my mind about the tracking program and opportunities available, and made me feel like I could be successful and enjoy my time there were I admitted. I should know from them by February 14th.
I still haven't heard a peep from Wisconsin, but they are (I think) going to notify in mid-February.
So by this time next month I should know whether or not I am going to vet school, where I am going if so, and what my loan will look like! The experiences I had going to the schools were invaluable though, and I really was grateful for the interviews that I got and the opportunity to shine. Just looking at the numbers, it was amazing to make it into the top 200 of 900 (for MO) or top 300 in 900 (for VMR).
Still, I was a little intrigued by the collection of students; certainly they are going for diversity. Some of the students had little vet experience, some had changed careers abruptly and decided that they wanted to switch to vet med, some had thousands upon thousands of hours of vet experience, were certified vet techs or had spent years in a hospital. Others had done pivotal research with prestigious labs, or seemed to have done everything short of curing cancer. And yet I still met a few students who just "thought" that vet med might be a good career for them, since they "liked animals" and such. It was interesting to meet so many others with a similar goal, and to hear the differing paths they had taken to get to this point in the process. It certainly proved there is no one "right" way to get into vet school (or at least get an interview). I am sure that this diversity boils down in the end to a class of vet students with differences across the board that strengthen each other and the profession. It was nice to see.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Life Update
Things have been CRAZY over here, and I didn't even realize how long it had been since I had posted. I guess, rather than write an extensively long post, it may be easier for me to make a list! So here goes:
1.) Finished the semester with two B+'s, an A and an A- (kicked butt in biochem!!), which, while not a great GPA booster, is a semester I am proud of.
2.) I got an interview at VMRCVM!!
3.) I have been fostering an orphan lamb from the farm (named Sir Lambchop) and have had a quick intro to bottle feeding and lamb care! Having a hard time with the little fellow; he isn't the brightest bulb in the box (thus why momma kicked him off) and I have been struggling to get him on solid food and to drink out of anything but the bottle.
4.) Amidst some new baby animals at the farm, we have two calves! The very first calf did not do so well (born Xmas Eve) and died on Friday (we think from hypothermia) after a very cold night and an aggressive cow who wouldn't bring her in or let us bring her in. My boss gave me the opportunity to necropsy/dissect her (yes, I know, a little weird) in order to become more familiar with cow anatomy, as well as to see differences from normal relating to cause of death. It was sad, since she was a beautiful little heifer. But overall, it was really neat to be able to do, and I was glad of the opportunity.
5.) I'm heading to go visit a good friend for New Year's Eve, and then leaving for my interview at Missouri on the 10th. I will be driving to Colorado with my dad and stepmother, and then will return home on the 15th, only to head to VMRCVM on the 17th for my interview that is on the 18th! Then I start school again on the 20th. It will be a crazy few weeks! In between I will be working at the farm ($$$) as per usual. I would have loved to shadow over break, but it has just been a little too hectic.
Wish me luck!!! I have been talking to current students, practicing questions, and getting reaaaally nervous. My mother bought me a suit for Christmas, and it is charcoal with big black lapels, black buttons and a black shirt. It is really classy looking! I have to learn how to walk in my pumps though... :P
I will try to upload some pictures of Lampchop and some other things to colorize my blog (cause who just wants to read large blocks of text??)
Melissa
1.) Finished the semester with two B+'s, an A and an A- (kicked butt in biochem!!), which, while not a great GPA booster, is a semester I am proud of.
2.) I got an interview at VMRCVM!!
3.) I have been fostering an orphan lamb from the farm (named Sir Lambchop) and have had a quick intro to bottle feeding and lamb care! Having a hard time with the little fellow; he isn't the brightest bulb in the box (thus why momma kicked him off) and I have been struggling to get him on solid food and to drink out of anything but the bottle.
4.) Amidst some new baby animals at the farm, we have two calves! The very first calf did not do so well (born Xmas Eve) and died on Friday (we think from hypothermia) after a very cold night and an aggressive cow who wouldn't bring her in or let us bring her in. My boss gave me the opportunity to necropsy/dissect her (yes, I know, a little weird) in order to become more familiar with cow anatomy, as well as to see differences from normal relating to cause of death. It was sad, since she was a beautiful little heifer. But overall, it was really neat to be able to do, and I was glad of the opportunity.
5.) I'm heading to go visit a good friend for New Year's Eve, and then leaving for my interview at Missouri on the 10th. I will be driving to Colorado with my dad and stepmother, and then will return home on the 15th, only to head to VMRCVM on the 17th for my interview that is on the 18th! Then I start school again on the 20th. It will be a crazy few weeks! In between I will be working at the farm ($$$) as per usual. I would have loved to shadow over break, but it has just been a little too hectic.
Wish me luck!!! I have been talking to current students, practicing questions, and getting reaaaally nervous. My mother bought me a suit for Christmas, and it is charcoal with big black lapels, black buttons and a black shirt. It is really classy looking! I have to learn how to walk in my pumps though... :P
I will try to upload some pictures of Lampchop and some other things to colorize my blog (cause who just wants to read large blocks of text??)
Melissa
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Winding Up and Winding Down
Well the semester is almost over; only three papers and three exams stand between me and Winter break. I have been finishing my cartilage and bone staining of the chick embryos, and have collected most of my data. I have been having some issues with the embryos taking much longer than predicted to dehydrate and rehydrate so I have been a little bit crazy with my schedule. I even slept over at the Science Center last night, and will be going in every day even though I am technically on break. Yay, Science!! But it has been a really neat process to learn how to do this, as well as to learn how to work with embryos. I freaking love science. It is the coolest thing to learn how and why certain solutions can turn cartilage and bone a certain color, can turn muscles and organs translucent, can make skin brittle.
I need to buckle down and do really well this final cycle; I am on the border of an A in all three of my science classes. This will probably end up being my worst semester grade-wise of college, but definitely the one in which I have learned the most, and I think that is the more important thing.
I submitted my supplement for Wisconsin today, which means that I really have nothing to do except wait. I won't find out about VMRCVM until the end of December, and may not even hear from Wisconsin until March! It will be what it will be...
~Melissa
I need to buckle down and do really well this final cycle; I am on the border of an A in all three of my science classes. This will probably end up being my worst semester grade-wise of college, but definitely the one in which I have learned the most, and I think that is the more important thing.
I submitted my supplement for Wisconsin today, which means that I really have nothing to do except wait. I won't find out about VMRCVM until the end of December, and may not even hear from Wisconsin until March! It will be what it will be...
~Melissa
Friday, November 15, 2013
Today was a bit rough. A&P exam in the morning, Biochem exam in the afternoon. I have been studying for both since last Friday but I don't feel great about either exam. I guess we will see what Monday and the grades bring... On the upside, we have a wet lab with Doc tomorrow, where the pre-vetters will be learning more about equine dentistry and veterinary work. I'm sure it will be fun! And I have work, which always cheers my soul even as it exhausts my body. Being around animals all day is a balm for my stressed out self; it reminds me why I do what I do, and even allows me the rare opportunity to apply the things I am learning in the classroom to the the things in the field and the barn.
~Melissa
~Melissa
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Crazy Week
This week has been an interesting one, only promising to get more stressful as it goes. Monday started the kick off of our research study after finally getting IUCUC approval. We recorded three dogs, and have more set up in the coming weeks. Monday also started the individual capstone research project that I am conducting, which involves shooting lufenuron (an active ingredient in flea and tick meds as well as a hugely industrial pesticide) into eggs to see the effect on embryo growth. That has been a shit show, as one could say. I was in the lab until eleven last night getting it all set up and all of my eggs injected... The biggest problem was that my drug refused to be soluble in anything! Finally got it in a 3:1 ethanol:water mix, but we will see if any of my eggs live after that...
Got home with half an hour to spare before course re-registration opened. I switched some classes around, and ended up in Vertebrate Zoology, Neuroscience, Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology 2. Can you say hellooooo stress? Three of those have labs, while vert zoo is a combine 3 hr lecture/lab. This will be my first time taking 4 science courses in a semester (I really like to hold on to just one non-science), but I'm not too too worried.
Tonight marks the continuance of more intense studying for my two exams on Friday; Anatomy and Physiology and Biochemistry. I really need to do well on both; my grade could go either way (A-/B+) in both classes, and having a good exam score would put it on the higher end!
Anyway, out the door!
~Melissa
Got home with half an hour to spare before course re-registration opened. I switched some classes around, and ended up in Vertebrate Zoology, Neuroscience, Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology 2. Can you say hellooooo stress? Three of those have labs, while vert zoo is a combine 3 hr lecture/lab. This will be my first time taking 4 science courses in a semester (I really like to hold on to just one non-science), but I'm not too too worried.
Tonight marks the continuance of more intense studying for my two exams on Friday; Anatomy and Physiology and Biochemistry. I really need to do well on both; my grade could go either way (A-/B+) in both classes, and having a good exam score would put it on the higher end!
Anyway, out the door!
~Melissa
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