I am finally in Boston. As I predicted, the last ten days before leaving for Boston flew by between cleaning out my room and visiting relatives and friends. I am pleased to say that I accomplished everything I had planned to do, even though I left 2 days ahead of schedule. It is always good tie up any and all loose ends.
I sometimes feel that I have to force topics for discussions with this blog. It is mainly because I have not begun dental school. My hope is that once I begin, topics will become more plentiful and as a result, more frequent.
But, I do have something to discuss today other than an update on my current location. It is in regards to an article I came across in one of the many computer coding blogs out there. Do not let the fact that it comes from a coding website put you off. It is certainly worth your time. If you decided to read on, no worries. My entry will talk about it more or less.
During my interview for Tufts, I was asked what my greatest failure in life had been. At the time, I could not think of anything. Absolutely nothing. Noticing that I was at a loss for words, the interviewer asked if I had every failed an exam, class, etc. I said I had not, but I did not always get my desired grade.
I want to apologize to that interview because I lied. I had failed more than one exam in college and barely passed a few classes. Those times just never made it to the forefront of my mind and out of my mouth.
That is where this article comes in. In it the author discusses the findings of a researcher who interviewed former neurosurgeons that had either left or let go by their respective programs, in order to see what differentiated those that succeeded versus those that failed. One may think that the difference is that the successful neurosurgeons were smarter, more studious, and more capable than their failed counterparts, but this was not the case; instead, the researcher found those that succeeded were as equally apt to make mistakes as those that failed, but the difference came in how each group viewed their mistakes. Those that completed the neurosurgeory program viewed their mistakes as part of the process, whereas those that quite or were let go never looked at mistakes as their fault. Unfortunate for the latter, they viewed mistakes as something totally out of their control. Talk about a difference in viewpoints.
In this case, the differences in these viewpoints have profound effects on these individual's life trajectory. It also exposes a more deep-seated problem: the inability to recognize and thus learn from one's mistakes.
I am too familiar with this attitude. For years, I regarded many of my poor grades on my written exams and term papers in college to be the fault of the professors. Looking back on it, I think my reaction ridiculous, but at the time it seemed like a perfectly plausible feeling. What it really was was my inability to recognize that I had fucked up and needed to go back to the drawing board on how I organized, developed, and coordinated my thoughts on paper. Fortunate for me, I met someone who helped me do just that. You could almost call me a "recovering mistake deflector" because I was exactly that.
Although I still find it hard to accept every mistake as my own, I can proudly say that I am now more apt to recognize mistakes and learn from them. In doing so, I have bettered both my writing and oral communication skills. It was only by making these improvements that I was able to get a job and into dental school. Well worth putting your pride to the side, don't you think?
In closing, mistakes happen and what you learn from those mistakes can make or break you. Unlike the successful neurosurgeons out there, I find this a difficult every day task. I guess I am still recovering.
Words to live by as I begin my mistake-filled journey into dental school.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Start Date Fast Approaching...
T-minus 10 days until I leave for dental school. Admittedly, I am getting more and more excited everyday. How couldn't I be? I am going to a new city and embarking on a new journey. Even better, I have more than a 175 people to meet.
Of course, the next few weeks will be pretty busy between packing, fulfilling pre-enrollment requirements, and doing a little studying (emphasis on little). It does not sound a lot to do in 10 days, but I know myself well enough to know that it will take me from now until I leave to complete everything. You can also guarantee that I am slipping in a few last minute friend visits along the way.
Let the countdown begin!
Of course, the next few weeks will be pretty busy between packing, fulfilling pre-enrollment requirements, and doing a little studying (emphasis on little). It does not sound a lot to do in 10 days, but I know myself well enough to know that it will take me from now until I leave to complete everything. You can also guarantee that I am slipping in a few last minute friend visits along the way.
Let the countdown begin!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Financial Aid...
For the past week, I have been in Las Vegas literally partying my face off. I slept less than I ever have, drank more than I should have, and gambled more than any other time in my life. I mean, it is Vegas: go big or go home.
You can imagine, then, how I felt when I came home to find my financial aid form from TUSDM. The total cost for my 2009-2010 education? Let me tell you, it is double what it was for my Northwestern undergrad. As my mother said, "that's a lot of money."
Do not get me wrong, I was not surprised by how much I had to pay. I was fully aware of the cost of attending TUSDM when I signed the dotted line, and I still feel that it is worth every single penny. It is just that it is a lot of pennies!
My leaving for Vegas also marked the beginning of my summer. At the beginning of May, I had told my boss that I would be leaving at the end of the month. Although I definitely needed income, I figured it would be a good time to leave and spend the summer working for my parents. Part of this time will be spent in my dad's office practicing on some beginner level stuff, such as doing wax-ups, giving Novocain shots, and taking digital x-rays. Sometimes I wonder who is more excited about this dental thing: dad or me!
Speaking of excited, can you imagine how excited I am going to be when I get my credit card bill?
You can imagine, then, how I felt when I came home to find my financial aid form from TUSDM. The total cost for my 2009-2010 education? Let me tell you, it is double what it was for my Northwestern undergrad. As my mother said, "that's a lot of money."
Do not get me wrong, I was not surprised by how much I had to pay. I was fully aware of the cost of attending TUSDM when I signed the dotted line, and I still feel that it is worth every single penny. It is just that it is a lot of pennies!
My leaving for Vegas also marked the beginning of my summer. At the beginning of May, I had told my boss that I would be leaving at the end of the month. Although I definitely needed income, I figured it would be a good time to leave and spend the summer working for my parents. Part of this time will be spent in my dad's office practicing on some beginner level stuff, such as doing wax-ups, giving Novocain shots, and taking digital x-rays. Sometimes I wonder who is more excited about this dental thing: dad or me!
Speaking of excited, can you imagine how excited I am going to be when I get my credit card bill?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Living Situation...
(This is the third time I have written this post because my internet connection keeps shorting out. I apologize if this seems rushed.)
I received an unexpected call from my parents Saturday morning. They informed me that I could live in Posner Hall - Tufts graduate dormitory.
I have written in previous posts about the benefits that the dormitory affords: cost-effectiveness, proximity, and social-outlets. To me, these benefits far outweigh the costs of a condensed living space, shared washrooms and bathrooms, and an overall lack of privacy.
Do not get me wrong, I love having my own apartment. There are few things that I enjoy more than being able to go out onto my porch and have a beer or two with my friends or take a quick shower after a run. These are some great luxuries.
Unfortunately, my school situation in Boston will not allow me to have these luxuries, but do not feel bad for me. I will be doing something that I truly enjoy.
I received an unexpected call from my parents Saturday morning. They informed me that I could live in Posner Hall - Tufts graduate dormitory.
I have written in previous posts about the benefits that the dormitory affords: cost-effectiveness, proximity, and social-outlets. To me, these benefits far outweigh the costs of a condensed living space, shared washrooms and bathrooms, and an overall lack of privacy.
Do not get me wrong, I love having my own apartment. There are few things that I enjoy more than being able to go out onto my porch and have a beer or two with my friends or take a quick shower after a run. These are some great luxuries.
Unfortunately, my school situation in Boston will not allow me to have these luxuries, but do not feel bad for me. I will be doing something that I truly enjoy.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Effort vs. Skill
In Malcom Gladwell's most recent article for the New Yorker he discusses the age old story of David and Goliath and how, to our surprise, David wins more verse Goliath than we may think.
Everyone, christian or agnostic, knows the classic story of David's triumph over the mighty Goliath against seemingly impossible odds. To a degree, it is the impossibility of David, a shepherd no less, defeating Goliath that prompts us to think that the heavy underdog is unlikely to come out on top. It is what makes the story so memorable and so uplifting.
However, Gladwell's piece discusses how this seemingly impossible situation, that of the heavy underdog defeating an invincible foe, occurs more often than we would guess: 33% actually. Gladwell argues that when faced with unfavorable odds, the underdog is forced to be creative in their attack because they cannot beat their heavily favored foe at the latter's own game (i.e. David could not fight Goliath in hand to hand combat).
Gladwell cites numerous historical examples and the work of one academic to support his conclusion. He discusses the Fordham Rams defeat of Dr. J's UMass team, the success of Lawrence of Arabia's band of rag-tag nomads over the Ottoman Empire, and the countless many that have achieved the American Dream. With all these accounts, one cannot help but think that the underdog might actually have the upper hand.
But probably the point that most resonated with me was Gladwell's conclusion that in battle, effort is more precious than skill. We are taught, however, that it is the opposite. For example, any one can comment on how beautifully Tiger Woods turn a poor shot into a good one, but what is often forgotten is the countless hours and sleepless nights that he put into making that shot possible. Unfortunately, effort in the form of practice, determination, and sheer will takes a backseat to the physical display of Woods' skill.
With dental school quickly approaching, I am once again confronted with the "I am only this good at science classes" attitude that plagued me during my college years. Gladwell's piece, however, has made me reconsider the trepidation I feel about competing with some of the smartest kids out there and take heart in the fact that if I put in the effort, I can triumph over these Goliaths. Sometimes it is better not to have the weight of expectations holding you down.
Everyone, christian or agnostic, knows the classic story of David's triumph over the mighty Goliath against seemingly impossible odds. To a degree, it is the impossibility of David, a shepherd no less, defeating Goliath that prompts us to think that the heavy underdog is unlikely to come out on top. It is what makes the story so memorable and so uplifting.
However, Gladwell's piece discusses how this seemingly impossible situation, that of the heavy underdog defeating an invincible foe, occurs more often than we would guess: 33% actually. Gladwell argues that when faced with unfavorable odds, the underdog is forced to be creative in their attack because they cannot beat their heavily favored foe at the latter's own game (i.e. David could not fight Goliath in hand to hand combat).
Gladwell cites numerous historical examples and the work of one academic to support his conclusion. He discusses the Fordham Rams defeat of Dr. J's UMass team, the success of Lawrence of Arabia's band of rag-tag nomads over the Ottoman Empire, and the countless many that have achieved the American Dream. With all these accounts, one cannot help but think that the underdog might actually have the upper hand.
But probably the point that most resonated with me was Gladwell's conclusion that in battle, effort is more precious than skill. We are taught, however, that it is the opposite. For example, any one can comment on how beautifully Tiger Woods turn a poor shot into a good one, but what is often forgotten is the countless hours and sleepless nights that he put into making that shot possible. Unfortunately, effort in the form of practice, determination, and sheer will takes a backseat to the physical display of Woods' skill.
With dental school quickly approaching, I am once again confronted with the "I am only this good at science classes" attitude that plagued me during my college years. Gladwell's piece, however, has made me reconsider the trepidation I feel about competing with some of the smartest kids out there and take heart in the fact that if I put in the effort, I can triumph over these Goliaths. Sometimes it is better not to have the weight of expectations holding you down.
Monday, April 27, 2009
I'm Clean...
Yeah, it is true. I got my titer results today, and I am happy to tell you that I am immune to Hepatitis B, Varicella, and Rubella. Honestly, it was not a huge surprise, but I was a little concerned about my immunity to Hepatitis B; if I were not, I would need a shot over the next 3 months. I mean, the last thing I want to do is have to go to the doctor during the summer!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Boston and Related...
I took this past weekend to visit Boston with Mom and Dad. Before this weekend, neither of them had been to New England, so I was very excited to show them my new city.
We arrived in Providence around 11pm Thursday and drove to Boston, arriving at the hotel around 1AM. In the morning, we woke up, had breakfast, and then headed to Tufts Dental School. Earlier in the week, I had set up an appointment with the student services coordinator to view the dental/medical school dormitory. We were on our way to the school when I received a call from the assistant director of admissions. Apparently, I had forgotten to send the second deposit in, which prompted the assistant director to ask if I was still planning on attending. That prompted a rush to get a money order. Luckily, I was able to get that money to her.
I was pretty impressed with the dormitories. The rooms were a good size, the kitchen was adequate, and the gym had new equipment. The kids I met were cool, too, but more importantly, they seemed to be enjoying their time in the dorm while in school. After the tour, we headed back to the hotel before going out to dinner.
The next day was spent visiting a friend at Harvard. I figured my mom would enjoy visiting the campus while my dad was doing a seminar at TUSDM. If you have never been to Harvard, take the time to walk around and see the university. It is truly a site. After spending the day in Cambridge, we headed to Fenway to see the Sox play Baltimore. I had a few friends come along to the game. It was a late night.
Seeing my parents happy with the city made me feel even better about going to TUSDM. Although the decision to go to TUSDM ultimately fell on me, I am happy to know their are excited for my new school.
We arrived in Providence around 11pm Thursday and drove to Boston, arriving at the hotel around 1AM. In the morning, we woke up, had breakfast, and then headed to Tufts Dental School. Earlier in the week, I had set up an appointment with the student services coordinator to view the dental/medical school dormitory. We were on our way to the school when I received a call from the assistant director of admissions. Apparently, I had forgotten to send the second deposit in, which prompted the assistant director to ask if I was still planning on attending. That prompted a rush to get a money order. Luckily, I was able to get that money to her.
I was pretty impressed with the dormitories. The rooms were a good size, the kitchen was adequate, and the gym had new equipment. The kids I met were cool, too, but more importantly, they seemed to be enjoying their time in the dorm while in school. After the tour, we headed back to the hotel before going out to dinner.
The next day was spent visiting a friend at Harvard. I figured my mom would enjoy visiting the campus while my dad was doing a seminar at TUSDM. If you have never been to Harvard, take the time to walk around and see the university. It is truly a site. After spending the day in Cambridge, we headed to Fenway to see the Sox play Baltimore. I had a few friends come along to the game. It was a late night.
Seeing my parents happy with the city made me feel even better about going to TUSDM. Although the decision to go to TUSDM ultimately fell on me, I am happy to know their are excited for my new school.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tying Up Loose Ends
Nothing much to report this week.
I am in the process of getting my vaccinations and financial aid materials done. It does not sound like much, but I have been working on that stuff for the past few weeks. I mean, I have never had to fill out a financial aid form, set up doctor's appointments, or take care of medical insurance. It has been quite the learning experience.
Next week, I head to Boston to take care of my living situation.
I am in the process of getting my vaccinations and financial aid materials done. It does not sound like much, but I have been working on that stuff for the past few weeks. I mean, I have never had to fill out a financial aid form, set up doctor's appointments, or take care of medical insurance. It has been quite the learning experience.
Next week, I head to Boston to take care of my living situation.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Living Situation
When you decide to attend any school, you basically have three choices for your living situation: dorm, family member, or apartment. Since I do not have any family in the Boston area, I only have two choices. If you were to ask me a month ago whether or not I was considering living in a dorm, I would have said "no," but time has a way of changing things.
In order to understand my initial reaction, you have to understand that I have not lived in university housing for three years. I lived in off-campus housing my senior year of college, and I currently live in an apartment in Chicago. Over the years, I have gotten used to doing my laundry in my own apartment, cooking my own food, and cleaning my own living space. And, I like it a lot.
At the same time, I have also gotten used to paying bills and damn, there are a lot of them. Seeing my bank account bulk up only to trim down every month is never fun, but I guess that is the price you pay for having all of life's necessities in 700 sq. feet.
My cost sensitivity has only gotten worse since I started working. Currently, more than half of my monthly income goes to my bills, which include rent, utilities, and college loans. Although I can go out on the occasional nice dinner, it is difficult to save up for big things like weekend trips. If I were to do it over again, I would have probably gotten a cheaper place. And that is why I am not so sure I want to live on my own in Boston.
It is not cheap to live in Chicago, but Boston is 20% more expensive in virtually every category, whether it be housing, food, or entertainment. This is a tough nut to swallow considering Tufts Dental School is one of the more expensive dental schools in the country. Even worse, TUSDM is in the heart of downtown Boston, which means everything is more expensive. By comparison, I live about 30 blocks North of Chicago's downtown area. I can tell you that you definitely get more for the money where I am currently at.
This is where the dorm option comes into play. For about $200 less a month than its apartment counterpart, I can live in TUSDM's dorm, which contains both dental and medical school students. The dorm is also right on campus, meaning my daily "commute" to class is a few minutes at the most. I will not have the same amount of living space, but the dorms are in far better shape then what I had in college, and I will not have monthly utilities bills. The convenience factor and no additional costs make dorm living an attractive option.
There is no guarantee that I will have a spot in the dorm, but you can bet I will be sending a certified check reserving my spot as soon as the dorm application becomes available. I will still look for apartments in mid-April just in case I do not get a spot. Who knows, may be it will turn out to be an even better option than I can imagine.
In order to understand my initial reaction, you have to understand that I have not lived in university housing for three years. I lived in off-campus housing my senior year of college, and I currently live in an apartment in Chicago. Over the years, I have gotten used to doing my laundry in my own apartment, cooking my own food, and cleaning my own living space. And, I like it a lot.
At the same time, I have also gotten used to paying bills and damn, there are a lot of them. Seeing my bank account bulk up only to trim down every month is never fun, but I guess that is the price you pay for having all of life's necessities in 700 sq. feet.
My cost sensitivity has only gotten worse since I started working. Currently, more than half of my monthly income goes to my bills, which include rent, utilities, and college loans. Although I can go out on the occasional nice dinner, it is difficult to save up for big things like weekend trips. If I were to do it over again, I would have probably gotten a cheaper place. And that is why I am not so sure I want to live on my own in Boston.
It is not cheap to live in Chicago, but Boston is 20% more expensive in virtually every category, whether it be housing, food, or entertainment. This is a tough nut to swallow considering Tufts Dental School is one of the more expensive dental schools in the country. Even worse, TUSDM is in the heart of downtown Boston, which means everything is more expensive. By comparison, I live about 30 blocks North of Chicago's downtown area. I can tell you that you definitely get more for the money where I am currently at.
This is where the dorm option comes into play. For about $200 less a month than its apartment counterpart, I can live in TUSDM's dorm, which contains both dental and medical school students. The dorm is also right on campus, meaning my daily "commute" to class is a few minutes at the most. I will not have the same amount of living space, but the dorms are in far better shape then what I had in college, and I will not have monthly utilities bills. The convenience factor and no additional costs make dorm living an attractive option.
There is no guarantee that I will have a spot in the dorm, but you can bet I will be sending a certified check reserving my spot as soon as the dorm application becomes available. I will still look for apartments in mid-April just in case I do not get a spot. Who knows, may be it will turn out to be an even better option than I can imagine.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Blogging During Dental School
I have a friend in medical school who began blogging during college. For years, he and another one of our friends blogged back and forth about medicine and law - each a topic of interest to the other. And, for those years they had a great thing going on. I was often times struck by their insight and witt about the world, and their powers of observation were something to be desired.
But, in time, the med school examinations and the law school memos got the best of their time. Soon, I found myself visiting infrequently until one day the blogs just stopped. I was disappointed.
It seems that in life we begin so many things only to see the excitement and enthusiasm we once had for them wane, until one day they just stop.
I am not sure if I will be able to keep this blog going in dental school, but I am happy that I have the time now to record my thoughts and memories, so I can reflect on them one day.
Maybe that is why we get so excited about doing things like blogging in the first place - we hope to capture those fleeting moments and thoughts that get tucked away in our undependable memories. Or maybe it is because we believe we have something to say.
In any event, I hope to keep building these memories and record my now young life. And, I hope my desire to keep these memories never just stops.
But, in time, the med school examinations and the law school memos got the best of their time. Soon, I found myself visiting infrequently until one day the blogs just stopped. I was disappointed.
It seems that in life we begin so many things only to see the excitement and enthusiasm we once had for them wane, until one day they just stop.
I am not sure if I will be able to keep this blog going in dental school, but I am happy that I have the time now to record my thoughts and memories, so I can reflect on them one day.
Maybe that is why we get so excited about doing things like blogging in the first place - we hope to capture those fleeting moments and thoughts that get tucked away in our undependable memories. Or maybe it is because we believe we have something to say.
In any event, I hope to keep building these memories and record my now young life. And, I hope my desire to keep these memories never just stops.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Housing
Yeah, I realize that today's post title is about something you should not even consider until the Summer, especially since I will be starting dental school in September. But, the fact is that Boston is an uber-college town. There are nearly 60 universities (never corroborated) in the city alone, which means a ton of people will be looking for apartments just like me come summer. You can guarantee that I will start looking now, and if I find a place, I will plop the money down sight unseen.
Of course, I have my own limits on how far I want to be from school and how much it will cost. I would like to be within 10 minutes of TUSDM and close to South Station. The latter is especially important because my girlfriend will be attending Brown. I would like her to have a short walk to my apartment, especially if she brings her new cat with her. I mean, she will be looking for a place as close to the train for me, so it is only fair.
My time frame is the end of April, which gives me a few months to get my finances in order. That may be harder than it sounds because my company, like so many others, are in dire straights; things at work are so bad that there is a good chance I will be unemployed come late April.
For now, however, I am going to focus on getting packed for my LA trip. I originally planned to be out there for a USC dental school interview, but declined it once I got accepted to Tufts. I am confident I made the right decision.
Of course, I have my own limits on how far I want to be from school and how much it will cost. I would like to be within 10 minutes of TUSDM and close to South Station. The latter is especially important because my girlfriend will be attending Brown. I would like her to have a short walk to my apartment, especially if she brings her new cat with her. I mean, she will be looking for a place as close to the train for me, so it is only fair.
My time frame is the end of April, which gives me a few months to get my finances in order. That may be harder than it sounds because my company, like so many others, are in dire straights; things at work are so bad that there is a good chance I will be unemployed come late April.
For now, however, I am going to focus on getting packed for my LA trip. I originally planned to be out there for a USC dental school interview, but declined it once I got accepted to Tufts. I am confident I made the right decision.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Guess Who Just Got into Dental School?
It is true. After nearly a year of waiting, I finally got in to dental school this past Tuesday, Feb. 24th, 2009 - a day I will remember for the rest of my life.
The feeling I got when I saw that Tufts had made an offer to me was a combination of relief and elation. I applied to dental school in late June, but the application process really started in March. For the next 12 months, I took prep classes, shadowed, took a post-bac class, and visited schools (emptying my bank account in the process). It was not easy considering I was working, sustaining a long distance relationship, and living my life. But, now that I am going to be at Tufts, it was ALL worth it.
Right now, my only issues are that I have to figure out my housing situation and try to keep interested in work for the next 4 months. The latter will be the most difficult for me, since I have been feigning interest in anything work-related for almost two years. But, as long as the pay check keeps coming in, then I guess I can do it.
I mean, it is only 4 months. Considering how far I have come and what I have done, that really is nothing.
The feeling I got when I saw that Tufts had made an offer to me was a combination of relief and elation. I applied to dental school in late June, but the application process really started in March. For the next 12 months, I took prep classes, shadowed, took a post-bac class, and visited schools (emptying my bank account in the process). It was not easy considering I was working, sustaining a long distance relationship, and living my life. But, now that I am going to be at Tufts, it was ALL worth it.
Right now, my only issues are that I have to figure out my housing situation and try to keep interested in work for the next 4 months. The latter will be the most difficult for me, since I have been feigning interest in anything work-related for almost two years. But, as long as the pay check keeps coming in, then I guess I can do it.
I mean, it is only 4 months. Considering how far I have come and what I have done, that really is nothing.
Monday, February 23, 2009
BUGSDM and TUSDM
I find those two acronyms for Boston and Tufts dental schools pretty funny. They do not really roll off the tongue, nor are they that easy to remember. But, the fact is that they describe two high-quality dental schools, and trust me, I am not being biased because I interviewed at them.
I arrived in Boston Wednesday evening in preparation for my Thursday morning interview at Tufts. I was nervous because I had not done an interview in almost four months (UIC was November 3rd), but I still felt prepared. For the days leading up to the interviews, I practiced between 30 and 45 minutes a night with my girlfriend and room mate, answering a battery of every possible question that the interviewer could throw at me. Of course, I went over certain questions more than a few times just to make sure my responses sounded as natural as they could.
Tufts' routine was different from ASDOH and UIC in that the financial aid, facility tour, and program overview presentations of the day come before the interview, which happen, oddly, during lunch. The long wait before the single interview allowed me to brush up on some of the questions I anticipated on getting asked at lunch time. Of course, I was attentive and asked questions during these other presentations. I would hate the admissions committee to think that I did not have one question about a school that charges $80K a year!
I was able to scarf down a few bites of my lunch before I was taken out of the conference room for my one-to-one interview with a current dental student. She interviewed me in Merritt hall, the principal lecture room for the dental school. Although I cannot remember the majority of the questions she asked, I do remember being surprised by the nature of some of them. In previous interviews, I had never been asked if I felt okay working with the sick or studying for exams with a diverse student body, but I felt comfortable with my responses. The interview lasted about 45 minutes; typically, they last 20-30 minutes.
The beauty of having back-to-back interviews is that you never get out of interview mode - a state in which you are totally focused on the prize. I was not interested in watching TV, talking on the phone, or reading a book. Hell, I barely ate anything that night. Instead, I brushed up on a few of the questions that past interviewees for BU had been asked, looked at some website materials, and fell asleep around 10 PM.
I felt refreshed the next morning. For the past few nights, I had averaged 8 hours of sleep, and I was definitely feeling the benefits. After going through the morning routine, I grabbed breakfast and took the hotel shuttle to BU's dental school, which was about 5 minutes away.
Similar to Tufts, BU does the program overview and facility tour before lunch and interviews. The main difference being that financial aid presentation occurs after the interviews. I guess the total cost of tuition is a good thing to be left thinking about? I do not know.
I had my BU interview with a current faculty member, who does, among other things, dental policy research. The interview was open file, and she asked me questions about my various volunteer experience, research, and shadowing. Trust me, there is nothing better than being asked about stuff you know so much about. I guess the most important thing is that you do not talk too much!
Like any school, BU and Tufts have their ups and downs. For one, they are among the most expensive dental schools in the US, and unfortunately, they reside in the third most expensive city behind New York and Los Angeles. Tufts does have the advantage of having a brand new facility and, in my opinion, a better location, since it is in downtown. From my short time at BU, I enjoyed the faculty and students much more. Not to say that they were un-enjoyable, it is just that I felt that I connected with them better at BU than at Tufts. At the end of the day, I would feel privileged to be invited to either school, and I cannot wait to hear their final decision in the coming weeks.
I arrived in Boston Wednesday evening in preparation for my Thursday morning interview at Tufts. I was nervous because I had not done an interview in almost four months (UIC was November 3rd), but I still felt prepared. For the days leading up to the interviews, I practiced between 30 and 45 minutes a night with my girlfriend and room mate, answering a battery of every possible question that the interviewer could throw at me. Of course, I went over certain questions more than a few times just to make sure my responses sounded as natural as they could.
Tufts' routine was different from ASDOH and UIC in that the financial aid, facility tour, and program overview presentations of the day come before the interview, which happen, oddly, during lunch. The long wait before the single interview allowed me to brush up on some of the questions I anticipated on getting asked at lunch time. Of course, I was attentive and asked questions during these other presentations. I would hate the admissions committee to think that I did not have one question about a school that charges $80K a year!
I was able to scarf down a few bites of my lunch before I was taken out of the conference room for my one-to-one interview with a current dental student. She interviewed me in Merritt hall, the principal lecture room for the dental school. Although I cannot remember the majority of the questions she asked, I do remember being surprised by the nature of some of them. In previous interviews, I had never been asked if I felt okay working with the sick or studying for exams with a diverse student body, but I felt comfortable with my responses. The interview lasted about 45 minutes; typically, they last 20-30 minutes.
The beauty of having back-to-back interviews is that you never get out of interview mode - a state in which you are totally focused on the prize. I was not interested in watching TV, talking on the phone, or reading a book. Hell, I barely ate anything that night. Instead, I brushed up on a few of the questions that past interviewees for BU had been asked, looked at some website materials, and fell asleep around 10 PM.
I felt refreshed the next morning. For the past few nights, I had averaged 8 hours of sleep, and I was definitely feeling the benefits. After going through the morning routine, I grabbed breakfast and took the hotel shuttle to BU's dental school, which was about 5 minutes away.
Similar to Tufts, BU does the program overview and facility tour before lunch and interviews. The main difference being that financial aid presentation occurs after the interviews. I guess the total cost of tuition is a good thing to be left thinking about? I do not know.
I had my BU interview with a current faculty member, who does, among other things, dental policy research. The interview was open file, and she asked me questions about my various volunteer experience, research, and shadowing. Trust me, there is nothing better than being asked about stuff you know so much about. I guess the most important thing is that you do not talk too much!
Like any school, BU and Tufts have their ups and downs. For one, they are among the most expensive dental schools in the US, and unfortunately, they reside in the third most expensive city behind New York and Los Angeles. Tufts does have the advantage of having a brand new facility and, in my opinion, a better location, since it is in downtown. From my short time at BU, I enjoyed the faculty and students much more. Not to say that they were un-enjoyable, it is just that I felt that I connected with them better at BU than at Tufts. At the end of the day, I would feel privileged to be invited to either school, and I cannot wait to hear their final decision in the coming weeks.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
More Waiting? Seriously?
I finally got the balls to call some of the dental admissions departments this past week. The result: one returned email stating that more final decisions would be made in the upcoming week. The others you may ask? Not a word.
I am torn between feeling sorry for these admissions committees and being royally pissed off. Based on my readings, I know that admissions committees sift through, on average, 2,000 applications during the dental school process. I imagine the vast majority of those are rejected right off the bat, but the remaining ones take the better part of a year.
Still, it makes me wonder why this process seems, by all accounts, utterly inefficient. Imagine if businesses took that long to recruit summer interns or new employees. HR in these businesses would be little else than a recruiter. Forget investigating malpractice or employee concerns; all they would do would review, interview, and admit. That and answer phone call after phone call from over eager applicants.
Ok, maybe I am oversimplifying on the last point, but that is what these committees do in a nutshell, right?
Even though I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown, I did receive an interview invite from Tufts today, which coincidentally is the same week as my interview with Boston University. Knowing that schools were still interested despite it being almost February was pretty cool. because I did not expect to hear from anymore schools, let alone Tufts.
As for the schools I called, please get back to me. At least let me know if you are interested by changing my status on AADSAS. Bring some closure to this long, drawn-out process.
...Or I will keep calling.
I am torn between feeling sorry for these admissions committees and being royally pissed off. Based on my readings, I know that admissions committees sift through, on average, 2,000 applications during the dental school process. I imagine the vast majority of those are rejected right off the bat, but the remaining ones take the better part of a year.
Still, it makes me wonder why this process seems, by all accounts, utterly inefficient. Imagine if businesses took that long to recruit summer interns or new employees. HR in these businesses would be little else than a recruiter. Forget investigating malpractice or employee concerns; all they would do would review, interview, and admit. That and answer phone call after phone call from over eager applicants.
Ok, maybe I am oversimplifying on the last point, but that is what these committees do in a nutshell, right?
Even though I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown, I did receive an interview invite from Tufts today, which coincidentally is the same week as my interview with Boston University. Knowing that schools were still interested despite it being almost February was pretty cool. because I did not expect to hear from anymore schools, let alone Tufts.
As for the schools I called, please get back to me. At least let me know if you are interested by changing my status on AADSAS. Bring some closure to this long, drawn-out process.
...Or I will keep calling.
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