Sak Pase!
I received an email from AUC today and they told me that I got a spot in one of the on-campus apartments. Woot woot. They even gave me my unit number :) I'm excited because that is one thing less I have to worry about. Housing...check!
TTYL!
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Epiphany
Sak Pase!
I woke up on this beautiful Saturday morning feeling so grateful for all I've been blessed with and I have some inspiration to write today. I hope I make some type of sense with what I'm about to say so bear with me a little.
I have gone through a lot personally, academically, financially, etc. I'm not going to bore you with ALL of the details so I'll just stick to talking about my academic struggle. I was A HOT MESS in undergrad at USF. I majored in Biology and basically failed organic chemistry, physics and calculus. The science department at USF has this rule that any student who gets two or more failing grades (D/F) in their science courses need to be redirected to another major. This means that you won't be able to take ANY science courses at USF. EVER. Long story short, I got kicked out the science department at USF and had to change my major to Health Sciences. The problem with that is I wanted to go to medical school. Medical school has certain science prerequisites that you have to complete. I couldn't complete those pre-reqs at USF anymore. I was screwed.
I took that as a sign that maybe I wasn't meant to become a doctor. My GPA sucked and I couldn't take my pre-reqs. I prayed, I cried and I got an answer. I had to take those classes somehow. I registered at the community college called HCC and finished my pre-reqs there while taking my major classes at USF. I was taking at least 20-22 credits per semester my last two years at USF. Guys, I had to pay HCC out of pocket and I was broke. I also didn't even have a car yet to travel to HCC. But HUGE thank you to two angels at USF, one who I met at HCC who also went to USF. She took me back and forth between HCC and USF until I got my car. And the other who helped me with finances. My GPA still sucked so I went on to do a one year Master's program at USF. My grades went up significantly (I'm pretty sure that was due to the fact that I didn't have to deal with Orgo and Physics 😌). Even that wasn't enough. I took the MCAT and didn't do well (because it had Orgo and physics😑). Took it several times. Things weren't looking good.
The point I'm trying to get at here is I was angry and I was confused. I asked God how could he pave the way like this and I still end up getting burned every time. When I got kicked out my major, he paved the way to HCC. When my grades still weren't enough after that, he made sure I got accepted to the Master's program at USF. And now, I was stuck once again. I told God (yes y'all, I TOLD my creator) that if this isn't what he wants me to do, then STOP opening doors to lead me to those paths and bringing my hopes up and stuff.
New Year's Eve 2018 is when it all made sense. Just because he's opening doors for me, it doesn't mean that my walk through and past these doors will be easy. I keep getting burned but I also keep getting back up and still He keeps showing me the way. He basically led me to another open door and that was to apply to AUC (a Caribbean school), something that I told myself I would never do. The stigma and hardships associated with this path is not for the fainthearted. However, all of the signs and all of the answers led me to AUC and this is why I'm excited about what's to come. I'm not only excited that I got accepted into AUC. Nope. I am excited because of the process that led me to this point. I mean, I'm sure I'm going to get burned some more (grr) but I'm going to keep getting back up and continuing on my path because that's what I've always done. Embracing the challenges, because I know that they will never be too much for me to overcome. Despite me thinking otherwise at that moment.
I wouldn't change anything. I don't regret anything. All these things I've told you about made me more determined and more hungry for my dreams. The excitement is indescribable. I have a LONG and DIFFICULT road ahead of me and I SHOULD be afraid. But have I ever done or acted like I should? No, never. Or else I wouldn't be Bettyna. Haha.
TTYL!
I woke up on this beautiful Saturday morning feeling so grateful for all I've been blessed with and I have some inspiration to write today. I hope I make some type of sense with what I'm about to say so bear with me a little.
I have gone through a lot personally, academically, financially, etc. I'm not going to bore you with ALL of the details so I'll just stick to talking about my academic struggle. I was A HOT MESS in undergrad at USF. I majored in Biology and basically failed organic chemistry, physics and calculus. The science department at USF has this rule that any student who gets two or more failing grades (D/F) in their science courses need to be redirected to another major. This means that you won't be able to take ANY science courses at USF. EVER. Long story short, I got kicked out the science department at USF and had to change my major to Health Sciences. The problem with that is I wanted to go to medical school. Medical school has certain science prerequisites that you have to complete. I couldn't complete those pre-reqs at USF anymore. I was screwed.
I took that as a sign that maybe I wasn't meant to become a doctor. My GPA sucked and I couldn't take my pre-reqs. I prayed, I cried and I got an answer. I had to take those classes somehow. I registered at the community college called HCC and finished my pre-reqs there while taking my major classes at USF. I was taking at least 20-22 credits per semester my last two years at USF. Guys, I had to pay HCC out of pocket and I was broke. I also didn't even have a car yet to travel to HCC. But HUGE thank you to two angels at USF, one who I met at HCC who also went to USF. She took me back and forth between HCC and USF until I got my car. And the other who helped me with finances. My GPA still sucked so I went on to do a one year Master's program at USF. My grades went up significantly (I'm pretty sure that was due to the fact that I didn't have to deal with Orgo and Physics 😌). Even that wasn't enough. I took the MCAT and didn't do well (because it had Orgo and physics😑). Took it several times. Things weren't looking good.
The point I'm trying to get at here is I was angry and I was confused. I asked God how could he pave the way like this and I still end up getting burned every time. When I got kicked out my major, he paved the way to HCC. When my grades still weren't enough after that, he made sure I got accepted to the Master's program at USF. And now, I was stuck once again. I told God (yes y'all, I TOLD my creator) that if this isn't what he wants me to do, then STOP opening doors to lead me to those paths and bringing my hopes up and stuff.
New Year's Eve 2018 is when it all made sense. Just because he's opening doors for me, it doesn't mean that my walk through and past these doors will be easy. I keep getting burned but I also keep getting back up and still He keeps showing me the way. He basically led me to another open door and that was to apply to AUC (a Caribbean school), something that I told myself I would never do. The stigma and hardships associated with this path is not for the fainthearted. However, all of the signs and all of the answers led me to AUC and this is why I'm excited about what's to come. I'm not only excited that I got accepted into AUC. Nope. I am excited because of the process that led me to this point. I mean, I'm sure I'm going to get burned some more (grr) but I'm going to keep getting back up and continuing on my path because that's what I've always done. Embracing the challenges, because I know that they will never be too much for me to overcome. Despite me thinking otherwise at that moment.
I wouldn't change anything. I don't regret anything. All these things I've told you about made me more determined and more hungry for my dreams. The excitement is indescribable. I have a LONG and DIFFICULT road ahead of me and I SHOULD be afraid. But have I ever done or acted like I should? No, never. Or else I wouldn't be Bettyna. Haha.
TTYL!
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Process
Sak Pase!
While I am super grateful and super excited to be going to medical school, at the same time I am super stressed. I have FINALLY completed the admissions checklist they sent me. I paid everything I needed to pay (easy peezy lemon squeezy right?) and filled out every form I had to fill out. Filled out the FAFSA and applied for the grad plus loan, housing, etc. Ohhh and I bought my flight ticket :) WHEW! This is real, this is happening.
A little note about financial aid. Once you fill out the FAFSA, grad students are only eligible for $20,500 of a direct Stafford loan. Half for each semester of the year. However, 10,250 per semester doesn't even cover your tuition alone, imagine the full cost of attendance for each semester. So you will have to apply for a Grad Plus Loan to cover the rest. For that, they check your credit history for delinquent accounts and late payments, NOT your credit score from what AUC told me so don't worry much.
Now the official admissions checklist is done with but there are still few things I'm stressing over:
1) Buying a laptop - I have a faithful Dell Laptop from my first year of undergrad in 2011. It's been good to me for all of these years but now it is super slow and it cannot hold any charge. I mean it only makes sense to buy a new and improved laptop for med school right? I'm not sure what kind of laptop to buy, especially because my funds are so limited as of right now. However, GOD IS GOOD and he will provide a way.
2) I need to find someone to sublease my apartment from May-July. If not, I will have to continue paying $593 per month with my non-existent student salary. I've posted all over FB but nothing yet. Fingers and toes crossed that I find somebody before I have to leave.
3) Books....I've read that I don't need to buy the books from the online bookstore because I wont need all of them. So I'm still waiting on the booklist so I can figure out which books I think I'll need and what others I can omit?
4) And finally SCRUBS, scrub-a-dub-dubs. I have to go buy scrubs for anatomy lab. I'm not stressing over this but it's on my to do list. Oh and summer clothes, and packing and buying a suitcase. My friend E already bought me one (thanks E) but I need to buy another one soon.
TTYL!
While I am super grateful and super excited to be going to medical school, at the same time I am super stressed. I have FINALLY completed the admissions checklist they sent me. I paid everything I needed to pay (easy peezy lemon squeezy right?) and filled out every form I had to fill out. Filled out the FAFSA and applied for the grad plus loan, housing, etc. Ohhh and I bought my flight ticket :) WHEW! This is real, this is happening.
A little note about financial aid. Once you fill out the FAFSA, grad students are only eligible for $20,500 of a direct Stafford loan. Half for each semester of the year. However, 10,250 per semester doesn't even cover your tuition alone, imagine the full cost of attendance for each semester. So you will have to apply for a Grad Plus Loan to cover the rest. For that, they check your credit history for delinquent accounts and late payments, NOT your credit score from what AUC told me so don't worry much.
Now the official admissions checklist is done with but there are still few things I'm stressing over:
1) Buying a laptop - I have a faithful Dell Laptop from my first year of undergrad in 2011. It's been good to me for all of these years but now it is super slow and it cannot hold any charge. I mean it only makes sense to buy a new and improved laptop for med school right? I'm not sure what kind of laptop to buy, especially because my funds are so limited as of right now. However, GOD IS GOOD and he will provide a way.
2) I need to find someone to sublease my apartment from May-July. If not, I will have to continue paying $593 per month with my non-existent student salary. I've posted all over FB but nothing yet. Fingers and toes crossed that I find somebody before I have to leave.
3) Books....I've read that I don't need to buy the books from the online bookstore because I wont need all of them. So I'm still waiting on the booklist so I can figure out which books I think I'll need and what others I can omit?
4) And finally SCRUBS, scrub-a-dub-dubs. I have to go buy scrubs for anatomy lab. I'm not stressing over this but it's on my to do list. Oh and summer clothes, and packing and buying a suitcase. My friend E already bought me one (thanks E) but I need to buy another one soon.
TTYL!
Monday, February 19, 2018
Letting it sink in
Sak Pase!
I have been accepted to medical school. I am going to medical school. I honestly cannot believe I'm saying those words. My dreams are about to come true and I still can't process it yet. I've bought my flight ticket, I've filled out my housing request, did my physical, etc but my brain still has not processed this yet. How wonderful! I'm not sure how to feel yet....excited? Scared? Apprehensive? Only Lord knows. I know that once I get on the plane to head to St. Marten it will all hit me then. Until then, I will try to enjoy myself as much as I can to prep for this long road ahead.
TTYL!
I have been accepted to medical school. I am going to medical school. I honestly cannot believe I'm saying those words. My dreams are about to come true and I still can't process it yet. I've bought my flight ticket, I've filled out my housing request, did my physical, etc but my brain still has not processed this yet. How wonderful! I'm not sure how to feel yet....excited? Scared? Apprehensive? Only Lord knows. I know that once I get on the plane to head to St. Marten it will all hit me then. Until then, I will try to enjoy myself as much as I can to prep for this long road ahead.
TTYL!
Friday, February 16, 2018
Good News
Sak Pase!
I have great news. I've been accepted to AUC!!! Woot woot. I got the call from my Admissions Director for my region, Sekou Smith, yesterday at around 7pm. He's the one who interviewed me. I can't believe this is real, I will be starting medical school on May 7th.That's less than 3 months!!! I'm super excited, I can't even being to tell you how happy I am. This is just the beginning of course but now at least I'm one step closer. As I wait for the acceptance package to come in the mail, Mr. Smith emailed me a checklist of things I can start working on and due dates for all of them. I'm expected to submit a health clearance form from my doctor with immunization records, PPD test, Hepatitis C and B records, etc. I have to submit a police report of good standing from my police department (did that) and also send a color copy of the information page of my passport. I have to pay the $1000 deposit to secure my seat. I have to apply for housing (did that). Buy my flight tickets. Fill our FAFSA (did that). It's a lot money I'm going to be spending , especially because I wont get my financial aid money until the Sunday before classes but I'll make it work somehow. God is good!
TTYL!
I have great news. I've been accepted to AUC!!! Woot woot. I got the call from my Admissions Director for my region, Sekou Smith, yesterday at around 7pm. He's the one who interviewed me. I can't believe this is real, I will be starting medical school on May 7th.That's less than 3 months!!! I'm super excited, I can't even being to tell you how happy I am. This is just the beginning of course but now at least I'm one step closer. As I wait for the acceptance package to come in the mail, Mr. Smith emailed me a checklist of things I can start working on and due dates for all of them. I'm expected to submit a health clearance form from my doctor with immunization records, PPD test, Hepatitis C and B records, etc. I have to submit a police report of good standing from my police department (did that) and also send a color copy of the information page of my passport. I have to pay the $1000 deposit to secure my seat. I have to apply for housing (did that). Buy my flight tickets. Fill our FAFSA (did that). It's a lot money I'm going to be spending , especially because I wont get my financial aid money until the Sunday before classes but I'll make it work somehow. God is good!
TTYL!
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Once Upon a time....
Sak Pase!
I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing with this or what my plans are with this blog. I think maybe I'm hoping that sharing my journey will help some people or that sharing my journey will be therapeutic for me. Whatever the reason, here we go. Welcome to my thoughts.
I am an inspiring medical school student with lots to share. I'm sure you've heard of this story before...you know...horrible undergrad and mediocre MCAT Scores. US Medical schools hate me and won't give me a chance. Lost hope. Now shooting my shot and giving Caribbean medical schools a chance. I've read many many blogs and I've decided that the American University of the Caribbean Medical School is the place for me. I know the stigma with Caribbean schools, trust me I've heard it all, but here I am...I'm not a quitter. I applied on January 17, 2018. My app was complete on January 24, 2018. My interview was on February 8th, 2018. Today is Feb 14 and I think I'm supposed to get a decision from AUC this week or next. As I await my fate, I can't help but think about how I got to this point. I almost gave up on medicine. I'm not kidding! I thought about going into law. I am currently working at this wonderful law firm. Being around lawyers and the office, I realized that this is really not for me. Medicine is my passion so medicine I will pursue. God has a plan for me and he's given me many signs that my rightful place is in medicine :)
Until next time! I hope to bring good news.
I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing with this or what my plans are with this blog. I think maybe I'm hoping that sharing my journey will help some people or that sharing my journey will be therapeutic for me. Whatever the reason, here we go. Welcome to my thoughts.
I am an inspiring medical school student with lots to share. I'm sure you've heard of this story before...you know...horrible undergrad and mediocre MCAT Scores. US Medical schools hate me and won't give me a chance. Lost hope. Now shooting my shot and giving Caribbean medical schools a chance. I've read many many blogs and I've decided that the American University of the Caribbean Medical School is the place for me. I know the stigma with Caribbean schools, trust me I've heard it all, but here I am...I'm not a quitter. I applied on January 17, 2018. My app was complete on January 24, 2018. My interview was on February 8th, 2018. Today is Feb 14 and I think I'm supposed to get a decision from AUC this week or next. As I await my fate, I can't help but think about how I got to this point. I almost gave up on medicine. I'm not kidding! I thought about going into law. I am currently working at this wonderful law firm. Being around lawyers and the office, I realized that this is really not for me. Medicine is my passion so medicine I will pursue. God has a plan for me and he's given me many signs that my rightful place is in medicine :)
Until next time! I hope to bring good news.
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