Day 1 of Traveling: Dec 28th, 2017

Well, I’m all packed and ready to go to the airport. I have three bags to check, one carry-on and my personal item ( a very stuffed backpack).

My flight was originally scheduled for 6:15pm but kept getting delayed. First to 7:00pm then to 7:15, 7:30, 7:55 and finally to 8:01pm. So it was a lot of sitting in our living room, trying to not leave too early for the airport.

When we arrived at the Wichita Airport, I went to check my three bags. When I got to the counter I was told that the statement I had originally been told, that I could take three checked bags, had changed to two check bag restriction. So of course, my stomach promptly turned into a knot!  I pulled my three bags over to where my mom and Dad were sitting and started playing the ultimate game of “Need VS. Want”. I may have hated the game but I totally won, with the help of mom, Dad and W. I won’t have been able to do it without them, especially W! He was a lifesaver! 

I was definitely a sight as people walked into the airport and see me, on my knees with my bras, toothpaste and such all over the floor around me. 

After packing all my needs into two of the three bags, I went back up to the counter and checked my two bags. The lady behind the counter reminded to collect them in Dallas before my next flight the following morning. My mother had the brilliant idea that a friend I had made who is a returning Ross student who also lives in Wichita and was here over break, could possibly take my third suitcase!!! This is why you should always be kind to your mother (and dads)because they are amazing and you would probably die without them! 

So Dad was the source of reason when he suggested we all go grab a coffee or some snacks before we went upstairs to the TSA. As we sat around that little coffee table, I looked at my family and realized just how lucky I was to have them and how much I wanted and needed to make them proud. I opened my phone and saw all the messages from my family and dear friends, wishing me well and safe travels. I feel truly blessed.

After a bit, it was time to go upstairs so I could go through TSA. There had been so many tears (most of them, of course, coming from me....with mom coming in a close second place for volume of tears cried) and you better believe I cried, even more, saying goodbye to each of them. They watched as I went through TSA and, Lucky SJ, getting “randomly selected “ for additional screening. But it honestly wasn’t too bad. I was too excited and emotional to let anything break my positive spirit. 

After going through TSA, I found my flight gate and waited to be called up to board. There ended up only being about 15 people on my flight. I got a whole row to myself, which is good because my carry on bag was just a wee too big to fit in the overhead bin. But with a smile, the flight attendant came to my rescue! He offered me a thick trash bag and I put my liquid bag, makeup bag and my pair of jeans in it and tried again to put my bag in the overhead bin. It fit in! So with the extra space on my empty row, I had a lovely flight from Wichita to Dallas. Once I landed and got clearance to turn my phone back on, I went ahead and rung my hotel to let them know and to sent the shuttle my way. She asked if I had any checked bags to retrieve and I said yes. She informed me to call again when I had successfully collected all my bags. 

I made my way off the plane and to the baggage carousels. The lady behind the American Airlines desk informed me that I was at the correct place to collect my luggage. So I took and waited.....I waited for a whole hour. After which, I decided to check back in with the same lady. I waited for a gentleman who was yelling and screaming at her. He was upset that his luggage was delayed and won’t arrive until midnight. Once it was my turn, I knew had to be sweet as pie to this lady (1. Because that gentleman had just finished screaming at her and 2. Because she a person just trying to do her job and help and finally 3. Because you catch more flies with honey than vinegar). 

I gave her my luggage numbers and she informed me that my luggage must have been misplaced and as I was about to start filling out the paperwork for lost luggage, she informs me that my luggage is getting ready to go on my flight for Miami that leaves in the morning. So basically I waited at the luggage carousel for an hour...just for the fun of it. Being relieved that my luggage was not lost, I called my hotel again and waited for my shuttle to arrive. It took me to my hotel and I finally got to lay my head down on a pillow at 11:30pm. I was dog tired, I’ll tell you what! But I melted into the bed and slept like a baby if a baby sleeps with a fort of pillows around them.

 

Redos, Retries and BIG NEWS!

Dec 10,2017
Hello all you lovely people! I know it's been awhile since I posted but let's just jump right in...

First off the big news, I graduated this May with a Bachelors in General Studies with chemistry accent and a biology minor! Sounds quite fancy, if I do say so myself. Honestly it just means that when I went to my advisor and said " I want a bachelors", he said "based on all your classes you are able to get this bachelor degree." I said alrighty then and now I have my bachelors. I chose not to walk across the stage but never the less, I am proud of myself for achieving my bachelors! 

I did apply for the Fall 2017 semester down at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. I was rejected for the second time and told to retake my GRE, since the score I had sent in was from 2013. This time I didn't get a letter, I got a phone call from the gentleman who interviewed me. When he called I was at work and was so hopeful that I ducked into the restroom to answer his call. He informed me that I did not get in and I told him, while fighting back tears, thank you for calling but that I would have to call him back, since I was at work. I must have spent 10 mins in that bathroom trying to stop crying and to calm myself back down but, it was a blow to the gut, let me tell you. But, what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger! So I pushed forward, my family and friends were a continuous source of positivity and motivation when I started to get down on myself. 

I knew I wasn't going to give up! I signed up for a Vertebrate Zoology course taught at Wichita State University in the fall. I didn't want to have any education breaks and I wanted to stay sharp. I also decided that I would cast my nest further this time. I applied to Ross University, St. George University and St. Matthew's University. I sent all my info to both Ross and St. Matthew's and was about to finish sending all my documents to St. George when I got a call from St. Matthew's, they wanted to interview me! I was so excited and after the Skype interview, St. Matthew's told me to get all things in order so that if I got accept for their Jan 2018 semester, I would be ready. Now, St. Matthew's is not U.S. accredited,so that would just mean that I would have to take an additional exam before my boards to be able to practice in the United States. Which, I thought would be no big deal because if I could pass the additional exam then the boards wouldn't be too scary. Another point about St. Matthew's, that I was unaware of, was that because it is not accredited, you can NOT get government loans! I searched for two straight days and could find no place that would do private students loans for an unaccredited university. So in the end, St. Matthew's and I just didn't work out.

Then on Nov 30th, 2017, while I was at work, I felt my phone vibrating in my scrub pocket. I looked down and saw that it was a call from New Jersey, which could only mean Ross! I immediately thought of what had happened last time. I knew I had 4 and half more hours left of my shift and I didn't want to spend those hours fighting back tears again. So I chose not to answer it. After about an hour or so,  I glanced back at my phone and saw there was a voicemail. I was so nervous and I didn't want to know what that voicemail had to say but after about 30 mins, my will power broke and I stepped out to listen to the message. It was from a women and all she really said was "I just wanted to share some information with you regarding your application, call me back or I can try calling back tomorrow morning". Now I tried to not be too hopeful because I didn't want to get my hope crushed when I talked to her. I decided to wait for her to call me the next day. So the next day is Dec 1st,2017 at about 9am, I couldn't take the suspense anymore, I called her. But I got her voicemail so I hung up. Within 10 mins I got a call for Bill Bingham on an unknown number from New Jersey. I answered it and was terrified. Then he said, we would like to offer you a spot in our Jan 2018 Vet Prep Classes! I immediately accepted!! I know the Vet Prep may not have been what I was hoping for but when I passed the vet prep program I would immediately start the DVM program! I was so on board! 

SOooo things are moving pretty fast here. I still have to finish my course at WSU on Dec 12th and get all my student Visa paperwork done but I am not stressed at all. I'm so excited and just so happy. I will continue to keep you update as I begin this brand new chapter of my life, into Vet School on the Caribbean island of St.Kitts!

Rejection in a little white envelope

So as you can tell from the title, I received a rejection letter from Ross the other day. It was a hard letter to open. I knew that a letter from Ross was a 98% chance of it being bad news.  I took the letter and ripped it opened and began to read. I read the first paragraph and of course, there were some tears...okay a lot of tears. So sue me, I was really hoping for another outcome. I was upset that I got a letter and not a phone call, like I was promised. Yet it makes sense because who would want to be on the phone and have to tell someone that they didn't get in. I would probably be a blubbering hot mess if I had to carry on a conversion with some random person who called and said I didn't make it. I extremely happy that  I had personal time to read and cope and then reread  the letter.

So reason behind their rejections (things that didn't help me); not having my bachelor degree yet,  still taking Biochemistry and Genetics and my science GPA not being stronger.

Now, for spring 2017, I plan to take the last 13 hours needed for my bachelor's degree. Of course I have just finished up taking genetics and Biochemistry ( which will raise my science GPA and complete all the requirements). I was told by my interviewer that if I had a bachelor's degree it would help combat the negative of my science GPA. So that's the next step.

Lights, Camera.....Interview!! - November UPDATE -

Hello all of you lovely readers!!

Well it is Sunday, November 13th, 2016! Last Wednesday I got to do my interview with a interviewer from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine!
I thought it would be a nice little treat to put together some of the questions I was asked, in case any of you , readers, might be preparing for an interview at a Veterinary College or at Ross!
The interview I had took place on Skype so I had to email the lady my Skype username and my CV. CV is a more focused resume, you put all your stuff that would help you to get into Vet school (your volunteer and work hours, school and such.) If you have any questions, just comment below and I can  provide some more detailed outlines.
SO here we go....
1) Basic questions: How did you hear about Ross? Why do you want to be a Veterinarian? Why do you want to come to Ross?

2) GPA & GRE questions: They will touch on any subjects you may not have none so well in. Do not get scared just be honest and explain why you didn't do so well in those courses and then add what you have done to improve on them. Be ready to explain yourself and give examples.
They will ask how you prepared for the GRE, so also be prepared to list what you did for that too.

3.) Work/volunteer questions: Now here I was a little saddened because she only asked me to list off the animals I had seen and worked with in all my hours of working and volunteering. (which has been  everything from turtles to chickens to horses to cats to even a squirrel) But she really didn't dig any deeper into the subject but I had a lot of information on my CV , so maybe that's why she only asked that one question.

4) Personal Questions: What is your great strength and your greatest weakness? this one is always hard for me because I am never really sure what to say on this one. My mind always tells me to tell them that my biggest weakest is desserts but I'm pretty sure that's not what the girl meant! Hahaha

The interview it's self took about 45 mins. I was a little offset by the fact that it was on Skype but I got use to it. I caught myself staring at myself while I talked to see if I was making a weird face or anything. Which is completely noticeable from where my eyes are looking, so she totally knew. It was weird to look at her when she talked because I knew i should be looking into the camera but it wasn't the most natural thing in the world. To top it all off, I was getting over a cold so I was coughing every 10mins! I kept apologizing but i still felt so embarrassed! Eek!

But it's over and done with! So now I just have to wait 1 to 2 weeks to hear back from them. I was told it will be a phone call. They will either tell me;
1) yes, you got in! Pack your bags!
2) no, sorry you didn't make it....Try again
or ......(3) We would like to offer you a seat in our Vet Prep Course (which is a prep semester you take , down on the island and if you pass that semester you get "grandfathered" into a seat in the next semester (aka your first real vet school semester))

Well I should hear back by Thanksgiving so I will keep you all posted. (Keeping in mind that if I get offered a seat in 1st semester or Vet Prep, it still all depends on me passing my genetics and biochemistry that I am currently taking).
*FINGERS CROSSED*

October 2016 Update

Okay so I received an email from the Ross admission department and guess what!

They are offering me an interview! I have it scheduled for next week and I'm pretty excited but also a little nervous. I'm still focusing hard on my classes i'm still in the progress of taking, which are Genetics and Biochemistry. I have to stay focused so I can pass these course so that if I get offered a seat in the DVM program I will be able to accept it. Things are happening really fast but my advice to anyone who is applying or going to apply to Ross, don't be afraid to call and check on your applications status. This is your dream and when you call to make sure you are doing everything you need to be, it shows your passion and your willingness to do what needs to be done to achieve your dream!

Surround yourself with a great support system! I'm blessed to have such wonderful friends, family and mentors who continue to support me. It's great to have such a support system but I'm also worried that if I'm not accepted this time, I will have let them down. I want to make them proud, but the only way to do that is to just keep on forging ahead.

Onward and upward, my friends!!

Promise to keep you posted

Application Update: UNDER REVIEW

Spoke with the Admission office last week and I got an update.

For those who are unfamiliar, Ross will allow you to apply before you have completed all of your required course. I am currently taking my last two required course I needed, which are Biochemistry and Genetics. I was told when I visited the campus down on St.Kitts that you could apply while in the process of completing two of the required course. Yet I was updated that you can actually only have one required course still in progress. But have no fear!!! 

If you ask, you can apply for a waiver to still be considered for acceptance while taking your two last required course. I applied for that waiver and got accepted for the waiver, so now my application is now in the progress of being reviewed.  **Whoo-who!!! mini-celebration!!**

So now I wait.....it's not glamorous and the time seems to drag on. I was told that I should hear something back within 3-4 weeks (so hopefully before the beginning of November).

So by November, one of two things will happen....

1.) I could get a letter in the mail, this will inform me that I was not chosen to go to the next step (an interview).  Basic rejection....pretty much. If this happens then I will find out how to strengthen my application and then reapply for May 2017 semester.

OR

2.) I get contacted (phone or email) from the admission office to set up an interview. Meaning I get to advance to the "next round". I , of course, are hoping that this is what will happen. *fingers crossed*

Whatever happens I plan to remain positive and focused. I doing well in Genetics so far yet I am having a harder time in biochemistry but I still have time to help build up my weakness in the course.

Keep in mind, that If I was to get accepted, it would be a "circumstantial acceptance". Meaning that I can only go if I pass the two required classes that I am currently taking, which is completely understandable, of course!

So that's it for right now. I promise to keep you updated! Keep your head up and remember that even the darkest night ends with the light from the sun. Everything will be okay, just keep moving forward. show the world that you have the drive that will take you to your dreams.

I believe in you and so does Gryffindor 🐱

J's words of wisdom

Okay so J has been down at Ross medical school for about three weeks now and here is what we have learned.

 J's Ten Wisdom Suggestions

1) Invest in luggage with wheels (no one wants to carry 50lb bags all over the place, J got bruises on her arms)

2) Pack some of your guilty pleasure snacks (you'll be in a new place with stressful stuff happening, having your favorite pop tart might settle your nerves)

3) Invest in a big, good quality umbrella and rain boots....and a rain jacket (when it rains it pours! and even if it's sunny one second, it can storm the next 20 mins and then return to perfect sunny weather like nothing happened)

4) Bring a sketch pad and box of colored pencils (you'll be drawing out body systems and organs and such and you'll appreciate it, trust me)

5) bring a small personal fan (it's an island....need i say more?)

6)Bring cash on your person so if there is any problem with banking you don't have to fret because you have cash

7) multiple charging cord and a power strip

8) a good quality water bottle and a back up (just in case)

9) make sure you can live off what is in your carry on bag for two to three days. ( you are going to the caribbean and there are storms that delay flight and it is very possible that you could be stuck in an airport overnight. SO pack your toothbrush in your carry on lol)

10) Lastly be friendly and make friends. Join clubs and don't wait to join study groups. Dive In!