Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Introduction to A New Life

Do blogs need an intro? I think so. A blog might as well be a book, each new post a new chapter. Although, sometimes if the introduction to a REAL book is too long I seriously consider skipping it. Prologues are different, right? Oh well, sometimes I skip them too.

Anyway, back to the introduction. I will call it 'Pre-Med Life'.

First of all, it should be known that 'pre-med' does NOT mean 'before med'. It means before med SCHOOL. Our pre-med life was very much full of 'med'.

Dr. N and I were married on December 26, 2008. On Jan 3, 2009 he started studying for the MCAT. Yes, we had an entire week where our marriage was med-free. Then, the lonely nights started. MCAT study was T/Th from 6 - 10 pm and Sat. from 8 am - 12 pm. Not to mention going to school for his undergrad. The MCAT was taken May 1, 2009. Stress free! Med-free! For one more week. Then it was on to the application process.

Oh, horrid application process.Shivers down my spine.

Resume, personal statements, letters of recommendations, essays, AMCAS, AACOMAS, TMDSAS, primaries, secondaries, writing, revising, the list goes on and on.

Probably the most work I'll have to do in the whole medical process, that's for sure!

Before that was finished the interview process started. August 31, 2009 was the first. And the favorite. And the most  please-please-PLEASE-pick-me-ist. After that, more interviews, more applications. And more waiting. Painful, pressure-filled, unknown waiting. Until one day, it suddenly stopped.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Upstate NY. On the way to the mall for some last-minute Christmas shopping with my family. Sitting in the middle seat of the middle seat of the family SUV. An unrecognized phone number. "Answer it, Dr.N! It might be them!"

"Hello?"
"Hello. It is us. We would like to offer you immediate acceptance to our school. Are you still interested in attending?"

First shock. Then JOY! A Christmas miracle! (We hadn't been expecting to hear back until May.) Walking on clouds, on sunshine, on air! (Until Dr. N locks the keys in the car as the mall closes at 11:00 pm. Slight damper on the day. But only slight.)

10 more days of stress free! med-free! life. Then back to school, to finish up the pre-med classes. Last semester at current college!

Jan-April. School. Studying. Work. Giving them (med school) all of our money.

April 23. Sunny, happy, springy day. GRADUATION!

One week later. Loan applications start. "Please, may we have $75,000  to carry us over for the next 9 months? At least $300,000 over the next 4 years? Oh, yes, and we won't have a steady income for at least 8 years. Thank you!"

Next step: Moving day. June 16, 2010.

  • Step 1: Pack up life
  • Step 2: Put in truck
  • Step 3: Drive to a new home where you don't know anyone
  • Step 4: Attempt to un-pack, but mostly focus on making new friends
Then, buying books, computer, lab clothes, lab fees, etc. etc. 

AUGUST 2, 2010
First day of med school. Pre-med life ends. Med life begins. 

2 comments:

Katie said...

This whole blog is so creative, Cami. I hope you don't mind me being a frequent reader...

Congrats on all yours and "Dr. N's" hard work over the past year and a half. What a triumph. And there's only better days to come!

Good luck with the moving process. You guys will surely do spectacular things.

medicalwife said...

Oh my. I do remember the pre-medical school days.

Congratulations to you and Dr.N on this new adventure. And as for the fears you mention in another post? Life as a Doctor's Wife pretty much summed it all better than I could. There will be good days and bad days and long days, but mostly, you will love your husband and he will love you and want nothing more than to be with you rather than working his OB/GYN rotation and doing physicals on naked ladies (and trust me, they are not always so hot). I don't know you, but I get the feeling y'all can totally do this.