Winning Friends, Influencing People

Or: Shitting the Bed in Which I Sleep (Title pending outcome.)

Yesterday afternoon, I received a call from the director of admissions at PCOM. She mentioned that she received a note to call me regarding my application. I quickly filled her in on my previous conversation with the admissions office. She explained how the admissions committee designs the requirements and the requirement for a recommendation from the institution that granted your bachelor's degree. She continued to describe how she constantly gets questions on this topic from applicants.

"Well, the letter is intended to get feedback from your pre-med advisor or, failing that, the dean of the college in order to prove that you graduated in good academic standing without disciplinary problems."

"Ma'am, I graduated in 1995 with degrees in liberal arts. The deans who are there now have no idea who I am. I fail to see how a letter from someone who doesn't know me or, much less, have any recollection of me will be of any benefit to you guys."

"That's the requirement as designed by the committee."

"I graduated with honors. Shouldn't my transcripts prove that I graduated in 'good academic standing?' "

"We don't have your transcripts."

"But I submitted my transcripts to AACOMAS* and they're included on my primary application."

"We never get the transcripts. All we receive from AACOMAS are a printout of your classes and grades."

"Would you like me to send you my official transcripts from UGA?"

"No. That's not necessary."

"Well, it seems to me that your requirement is biased against older, non-traditional applicants."

Finally, she agreed to accept the letters that I submitted and consider my application complete for the Philly campus. She explained that the GA campus is governed by a separate admissions committee over which she, the director of admissions, has no authority to deem my application complete. She would, however, make a note on my file to let them know her decision regarding my other app with them.

To recap, here's my simple three-step method of problem resolution:

1. Phone the office and complain
2. Tell the admissions director that the requirement they drafted sucks and is biased against you
3. Offer to send an official copy of information that they currently possess

And that, my friends, is how to make yourself known to the admissions committee and to ensure that a director of admissions scrawls the word "ASSHOLE" across your application in thick magic marker. I can't wait to get their rejection letters.

*AACOMAS is the application service of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. All applicants to osteopathic medical schools must use this service. In addition to essays that detail your motivation for applying to med school and detailed histories of your life, work, volunteer, and academic career, the application service requires that you submit official transcripts from every college or university you attended. Submitted official transcripts are authenticated and validated against information entered on the application. When complete, this "primary"application is submitted to each school to which you apply and is the basis for their decision to invite you to complete a supplemental application.

Stay Positive

Although I always suspected that the "alternate" route would not work out for getting into Mercer, I always held out a little hope. I think of it as my own Lloyd Christmas moment:

Anyway, turns out that my chances were really like "one in a million." I got the official email today that confirmed what I'd already known since the spring. Here's the message:

August 20, 2008

Good afternoon:

Classes have begun for Mercer University School of Medicine’s Class of 2012. I regret to inform you that we were unable to offer you a place in that class.

We have begun our admissions cycle for the Class of 2013, and because you were one of our alternate students for the Class of 2012, if you have not already done so, we would strongly encourage you to submit an application for the current cycle as soon as possible.

When completing your new application, please let us know what you have done over the past year to enhance your application. It is especially important to tell the Committee about additional activities that demonstrate your commitment to Mercer’s mission.

Remember that your application will be seen as a new application. Pay particular attention to your personal statement, and include additional information supporting your activities during this past year and your commitment to serve Georgia residents, especially those who live in underserved areas of the State.

We are pleased you have expressed an interest in Mercer University School of Medicine and look forward to reviewing your application during the current cycle.

Sincerely,

Maurice S. Clifton, M.D., M.S., E.d.
Associate Dean of Admissions & Student Affairs

When one door closes, another opens, doesn't it?

Osteopathic Medical Schools
Shortly after returning from New Heaven, I completed applications for osteopathic medical schools. Deep down, I think that this approach to medicine might be a better fit for me. The online application service is processing my application and will send it out to my selected schools in the near future. Keep your fingers crossed that I'll hear better news from these guys.

On Second Thought ...

... maybe having Geraldine Ferraro write a recommendation letter for me wasn't such a good idea.**

**Props to Dr.J3K for suggesting that she might've been my downfall on this one.

Dylan's Rough Month + Ski Trip Bonanza + Rejections!

Our poor dog has been having a bit of a rough month. I suppose that, in dog years, he's entering his awkward teens. A few weeks ago, my wife took him to the park for a walk and to run with other neighborhood dogs. He loves it. It's nice to see him in a pack, running, wrestling, and having a blast. As is normally the case, Dylan is a lot faster than most of the dogs with which he plays. If they're running, he'll be a few paces ahead of them and will be looking back at them while he sprints.

On several occasions in the past, he nearly mangled my leg but crashing into me because he wasn't watching where he was going. I'd always limp off and, in a few paces, I'd be fine. He, of course, was never any worse for the wear...until a couple of weeks ago.

He was running full speed (which is blazing) and was looking at the dogs behind him. Unfortunately, he didn't see the mature tree in his path. At full throttle, he plows into it, leading with his right eye. The impact lifted him off the ground and spun him around a few times before he landed. Other than being really scratched up around his eye, he was fine.

The Mighty Oak, 1. Dylan, 0.

So, about a week ago, I was heading out to Colorado to snowboard. On the day I was to fly out, my wife was scheduled to return from a business trip in the late evening. Rather than board the dog overnight, we dropped him off at our friend's place so he could play with her dog, Moses. No worries, right?

Wrong. Turns out that Dylan found something on which to severely cut his foot. Because neither of us were in town, our friend "R" ended up taking him to the emergency vet clinic to get the wound glued back together. Later, Kim takes him back to the vet on a follow-up visit. Turns out that the wound is slightly infected. As a result, the beast got limited outdoor activity, a healthy course of antibiotics, and daily trips to the vet for bandage changes and wound inspections. On Valentine's Day, he got an especially festive bandage. We, as expected, got stuck with the bill.

Dylan feels the shame of a Valentine's Day bandage.

Ski Trip Bonanza
On the 7th, I flew out for a ski trip to Steamboat, Colorado. They are having a ridiculous snow year. While we were there, I think it snowed close to 20 inches. Not too shabby! Here's the best kept secret about Steamboat: If you fly Delta into the Hayden airport from either ATL or SLC and you're a SkyMiles member, you can get a free lift ticket on the day of your arrival by showing your boarding pass at the ticket window. Holy smokes, nothing compares to getting off the plane and getting on the slopes within a couple of hours. It was fantastic.

Ready to hit the powder.

We covered most of the mountain. I think my favorite run was one called Middle Rib. It was steep and isolated. When we did it, were were the only ones on the run. You start out in a wooded area and make your way to a great overlook of Steamboat Springs.

Beware of deadly tree wells.

The view from the mountain top.

Beautiful seclusion.

Self-portrait.

Honestly, I boarded my ass off. I've been back for a few days but my knees are still sore and aching. I wish I was back out there. For more of my photos of the trip, click here.

Rejections!
So, in the land of good times and great fun, let me add a little seriousness. Cross one more school off of my list: Medical College of Georgia. As I suspected, they're not interested in me this year. Damn you, MCAT, damn you!!!

Ahh, the delicious taste of rejection.

Still awaiting word from Mercer. Turns out they have until 30 March to notify me of an acceptance. How I wish it were May 30 or even July 30!