I am still in shock after finding out I got into vet school Tuesday night. It is still hard to believe after so many years that I will finally be starting veterinary school in August. In just 4 years, I'll have a DVM after my name and a Dr. before it. Wow. Just wow.

Today was the last day for NC State to send out letters to us, so I should hopefully be getting mine in the next few days. It looks like they only accept 20 out of state students, so my chances at this school are lower, but not to matter. I am already in a Mizzou.

I also decided today, after a lot of thinking, that I am going to cancel my last two interviews that were at Auburn and Tuskegee, Alabama. My thought process on this is that even if I go down, spend a ton of money on both of these interviews getting there and if I get accepted, I still would choose Mizzou over both of these schools. The big reason is that Mizzou allows you to change your residency after the first year so I could be paying in-state rates after that. That equals a huge savings of at least $50-75,000 total so it isn't even a question of is it worth it. Also, a big factor to me is that Auburn requires business dress for normal classes. For me, this is a huge deal since I don't have anything like that in my current wardrobe. I had to go out and buy everything for my interviews. I'd have to buy a whole new wardrobe just for normal classes. Now, some people have said 'suck it up it is professional school' or 'you will have to wear that for clinicals.' Well, let me just say, I don't mind wearing something nice for a reason, like clnicals. That is fine with me, I have no problem with that. My problem is when it is for something like classes- which makes no sense. We are going to be stuck in a lecture hall all day or down in the labs. I just don't see the point of dressing up nicely for that, I just don't.

Anyway, now that my rant is over, it is nice now to not have to worry about any more interviews plus, look at all the money I will be saving! I did have to cancel my flight and didn't get the money back for that, but I will be able to have $150 towards another ticket sometime this year, which I will be flying to San Diego Comic-con in July, so that works out great.

After work tomorrow, I am going to call each school and tell them that I am no longer attending the interview. Hopefully they can send out another interview invite to someone else who would like the chance!

I GOT INTO VETERINARY SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!


After that really terrible weekend I had at my interview at VMRCVM, yesterday night I got the best news possible. I was at work, it was almost 6:00 and then we would be closed. I see my mom's phone number pop up on the caller ID on the work phone. My co-worker answers it before me, but I go upfront to grab the phone from her. She says that she got a letter in the mail from the University of Missouri and wanted to know if she could open it for me. I wasn't sure what to say... I was excited for the results but so so nervous. I asked my co-worker and my boss (who just happened to be up there) and they said sit down, breathe, and have her open the letter. The first word out of her mouth was 'Congratulations!' and I just lost it. I burst into tears as she read the first line of the letter to me that I had finally been accepted to veterinary school. It took me a good minute or two to even stop crying and to be able to actually speak. It hit me that somewhere in August, I will be going to veterinary school. Missouri was the first school I heard from about an interview and the first school I interviewed at. I did enjoy the little bit of time I spent there- it really reminded me of Blacksburg. So, if I have to go there, I will! The only drawback is that it is 14 hours away from where I live and I really like/need to be near my family. So, that would be the only reason I am hesitant about this school. Also, they do 'periods' instead of semesters and it seems like 4 periods is equal to a semester. I am not 100% sure on how this works, exactly, but it sounds like we only get about a 6 week break during the summer, which isn't long enough in my opinion.

Anyway, last night I got home from work a few minutes later and Mom came downstairs and hugged me. I burst into tears again and we both stood there crying together. It was surreal. My mom, her boyfriend, my sister and I then went to Olive Garden to celebrate. I got 3 of this strawberry lemonade vodka drinks and they were delicious. I came back home and then pretty much went to bed. I had no motivation to work on homework after that! Last night, I could not sleep well at all. I kept tossing and turning all night- I cannot even recall what I was thinking about during the night.

Today was a new day and a new outlook on life. I am going to be a veterinarian in a little over 4 years . I am still waiting to hear from a few schools about admissions and I still have 2 interviews to attend down in Alabama. But it is still good to know that if every other school I applied denies my admission, I still have a potential spot at Mizzou.

A few updates this week; it has been super busy. First off, I started my veterinary technician classes. I am only taking two classes, Terminology and Radiology. The terminology class should be a breeze- you have 1 test a week for 10 weeks and then the final. But for all the exams (minus the final) you have unlimited attempts on them. The final you just have 2, but hey, I'm not worried about it.
Radiology is not as easy. You still have one exam per week for 10 weeks plus a final, but you only have 2 attempts on all the exams and the final. Plus you not only have the book to read out of but also slideshows and videos. Overall, it should be really simple and I'm glad I have had the opportunity to be able to take these classes. My employer is paying for them, which is great, and I also get to start doing technician things at work. As of now I am only allowed to read urinalysis sediment (at least when I know what I am looking at) and place catheters (I actually put two of them in on Wednesday and was really impressed with myself!)

I also think I have figured everything out for my Auburn interview in Alabama. I booked a flight to Atlanta on Thursday the 7th. My interview is at 2:30 in the afternoon on February 8th. I allowed myself enough time to go on a tour before my interview and then I can drive back to Atlanta to catch a flight back to Dulles at 8:45 that night. I hope that this goes well, it sounds like it is about a 30 minute interview. I also found out some good advice from a friend who had an interview with them last year. Apparently, they have a dress code of business casual for daily classes, which is kind of turning me off from them, but I will go where I can get in, so if I have to do it it, I will.

I also found out a few days ago that I got an interview to the final school I was waiting to hear from, Tuskegee (also in Alabama). One of the doctors I work for went to school there. That interview I have tentatively scheduled for February 18th or so; no word on what time yet so I have not booked anything for it yet. So, that brings me up to: Interviews for Missouri, Virginia Tech (both done), Auburn and Tuskegee (to come). Tufts said no in regards to an interview to me and then finally NC State I am just waiting to hear from as they don't do interviews.

Now, onto the the details about my interview with VMRCVM. I had my interview yesterday so it is still pretty fresh in my mind. I went down Thursday afternoon and I was able to stay with my roommate from last year in my old apartment, so it was nice to see her and the old place. The school held a dinner at 6pm that night, which was apparently a new thing this year. It was a formal dinner with a table of about 8 people. Most of us were interviewees for the next day and then a faculty member or student was at each table so we were able to ask questions. I sat with someone I graduated with last year in my major as I knew her. Most people at my table were either out of state or from Maryland and I had a good time. We had a few awkward silences but then we got to talking again. Dr. Pelzer also talked to us more about the interview and how it would go the next day.

That night, I could not get much sleep. I was tossing and turning all night I am sure due to being nervous. This was the most important day of my life, pretty much. This interview determines if I get into the school that I want to go to (plus it is my in-state school). Once you get an interview here, everyone is on the same page so the interview makes or breaks it. My interview was at noon that day, so I get ready and head out into the snowy weather to the parking lot where the shuttle took us to the vet school. In the reception area, there was some food but there was no way I felt that I could eat anything at that point. I could barely down the oatmeal I ate for breakfast. 

We were then shuttled over to career services for the actual interview due to having more space there. The interview at VMRCVM is very different from the traditional interviews. They do multiple mini interviews there which are basically scenarios that you read first and then go into a room and discuss them. You have a total of 8 to go through with 2 minutes to read and then 6 minutes to go in and talk to the interviewer. Going in, I thought I would like this method more because there is nothing you can really do to prepare for it. All you have to do is be yourself. Coming out of the interview, I decided I like the traditional interview much much more. I was way too stressed out during each interview I had trying to figure out what to write down int he 2 minutes I had and then trying to discuss what I needed to in the other 6 minutes. I ended up running out of time in pretty much every interview I had with the interviewer.

I did not feel very confident coming out of there with how I did. I felt like it was an awful experience but at least it sounds like I am not alone. The few people I talked with felt the same way and no one was really sure what just happened. So, that makes me feel a little better, but I am still really upset and disappointed with this interview. I feel like I blew my one chance I had. I won't know anything until March, so it looks like a waiting game until then.

I am still upset about it today, but one good thing that came out of this experience is from the snow. I decided to leave right after the interview (I didn't stay for a tour since I have seen the vet school numerous times). My friend canceled dinner that night, which was sad but the roads were getting bad, so I decided to just leave that night as well and drive home instead of leaving the next morning.

Today, I went over to Berryville to see if I could get my tattoo finished (of Tali'Zorah vas Normandy from Mass Effect) and I was finally able to get it finished! I got it started back in October and I've been trying ever since to get in with Jason (at Body Art Tattoo Studio) to get it finished up. I am so very pleased with the way it turned out and so happy! I guess if it wasn't for the snow I wouldn't have been back in town to get it done.

So that is all for today, thanks so much for reading!

Today has been a pretty decent day! Work for 6 hours today- busy on and off. Then, after I get home, I get an email from Auburn University in regards to an interview for vet school! I am pretty excited! It is pretty far away, but I am willing to travel if that is what I need to do to get in. According to mapquest, it is about 11 hours away to drive- so I think that is much too far for just a short visit. This will be my third interview that I have had an offer for. I did hear from Tufts last week and I didn't get an interview there and I really wasn't that upset about it. One less place I have to travel to. So far, that brings me up to one interview at Missouri already done, one at Virginia Tech in a week and half, and then one at Auburn sometime around the first or second week in February. I have to call them tomorrow morning to actually schedule it.

I talked to one of my friends who interviewed at Auburn last year- they said that they have a business casual dress code for day to day classes there, I am not sure how I feel about that. I am more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of person. So... we shall see about that. At this point, I'm willing to go where-ever I get in at the moment. Hopefully I'll get my letter from Missouri before I leave for this interview.

Getting out there is going to be yet another adventure. Seems like I am going to be flying out to Atlanta yet again and then renting a car and driving 2 hours to Auburn. Since I'm under 25, renting a car will be... interesting. I'll have to pay a lot more just to rent a car for a day or two. I am thinking of flying out Thursday the 7th, having my interview on the 8th and either flying back that evening or the next day depending on the time of my interview and things. I'm trying to balance flying out for these and work as I don't want to take off a ton of time since I need the money to pay for these trips. My last trip cost me about $800, most of that the plane ticket to fly right into the small airport.

But anyway, I am excited to get more interviews and have these new experiences. I still have yet to hear from NC state... still waiting on that letter from them in regards to admissions since they don't do interviews. And Tuskegee, in regards to an interview or not (which is also located in Alabama).

Welcome! I'm not sure if anyone is going to be reading this blog- but I think I need somewhere to write out my thoughts and feelings once in a while. For those who might be reading who don't know me, hopefully I can give you a little bit of insight.
 
The start of the year has been a really exciting time in my life. I hope 2013 is going to be much better than 2012 (which had its ups and downs). 2012 was great since I had a pretty lax schedule my senior year of college plus graduation, which could also be counted as bitter-sweet since I really miss seeing two of my wives, Megan and Jackie on a daily basis. On the downside, I lost my kitty, Nip, this summer. The pain is still there and she will always be remembered. I also did not get into vet school last year which did hurt, but honestly not as much as I thought it would. I had thought I would be devastated, but I wasn't. I have to admit, it has been nice just working and making some money. My boss did, however, invite me to start the veterinary technician program in a few weeks, which is awesome. I'll still get to learn more before I (hopefully) start vet school in the fall (which I'll go into more about here shortly) and I get to start performing vet tech duties at work like placing catheters and tubing patients. Best of all, the clinic I work at is paying for it all. 

Now onto why I am hoping 2013 is going to be an awesome year. 2012 ended with me hearing from one of the veterinary schools I applied to, Missouri, for an interview. You cannot even imagine my excitement when I got that email. Plus, I wasn't even anticipating hearing that early from a school. Just this past weekend, I flew out to Columbia, Missouri for the interview. Lots of milestones that weekend, my first flight by myself, first taxi ride, first time getting my own hotel room, and first time flying at night (which was gorgeous!) As for the school, I think I wouldn't mind going out to Columbia if I had to. It is pretty far from home (14 hours according to Mapquest) but it really has that community feeling that I love just like my alma mater, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. I, unfortunately, didn't get to see much if any of the actual city of Columbia at all. I got in at about 7pm the night before my interview and I was in the air by 12:30pm the next day. I just had a few short taxi rides to see the city, which was mostly just farmland. 

As for my interview, I think that went really well. The bad part was that it was at 7:30 that morning and I had to wake up at 5:45 that morning to shower and dress nicely for it. Once I got there, I really wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. The staff and student ambassadors welcomed me warmly and I chatted with them and a few other fellow interviewees while I was waiting. The actual interview itself was only 15 minutes long- I got asked lots of questions in regards to my lyme disease project that I did a few summers ago. One of the intervewers also threw out a few random questions about lyme disease. One I knew- why is it called lyme disease (since the first case was in lyme CT). The other, where did lyme disease originate from, I didn't know. I was honest about that and then they said it was from Europe. I was also asked about a little bit of research I did on beef cattle temperaments and my large animal vet experience which I felt like I had a good amount of (though not any of equine or of any exotics). One of the three intervewers asked me about my time I spent as an undergraduate anatomy lab teaching assistant. I loved doing that so I was happy to talk about it. I also informed them about my vet tech upcoming classes which I didn't get a chance to put on my application. 

Needless to say, afterwards, I was very glad it was over. I want to say I did really well, I didn't stutter or was dishonest about anything. I acted like myself and tried to put my very best out to them. After the interview, I went on a tour of the school with one of the students who I'd been talking to. She was super helpful and very nice. The school seems very impressive as was the clinic. We even got to see a horse being prepped for some kind of surgery (probably colic). We couldn't see the actual surgery itself since the drapes were in the way, but it was still my first experience seeing any kind of large animal surgery. 

I went back into the waiting room for interviews for about 30 more minutes and talked a little bit more to some students and others who were intervewing before I had to leave to go check out of my hotel and head to the airport. I did talk to one really nice lady who's daughter was intervewing. She actually went to Radford (which is about 30 minutes from Tech) and we talked about Blacksburg. Before I left she said 'Go Hokies!' and I couldn't resist to call back. She said she now lives in South Dakota. 

 My flights there (I had to go to Atlanta for a layover and then to Columbia out of Dulles) were alright. The first one I didn't have a single issue. The second we had a small mechanical issue that was resolved in 15 minutes. It was a really tiny plane (only 17 people were on it but there were lots of empty seats). I got to see the cities at night and it was just so beautiful. I only had a 2 hour layover when I was flying in. On the way back, we had to get some more fuel for the plane so that was a little delay. I had a 5 hour layover in Atlanta that time so I pretty much got to walk and see the entire airport looking for food and a good place to crash and watch episodes of Death Note to pass the time. Once I was finally on the plane, we had a delay leaving and getting in. Meanwhile, there was this poor girl who must have had some kind of mental disease that caused to her make these high pitched noises and do a strange sneeze-thing. I was sitting diagonally from her and she did it THE WHOLE FLIGHT I was so fed up with it by the time we landed. I know she couldn't help it... but you get to that point where it just gets in your head and you cannot get it out. I had my music turned up as loud as it could go I was playing my 3DS. 

That night, my dad picked me up from the airport and I spent the night at his place since he lived 10 minutes from the airport and I still had an hour drive home. After being awake from 5:45 that morning until about 11:30 that night I was pretty wiped. 

Now, if you are still reading I really commend you! I knew this would be a long first post but I never expected it would be this long! But, I'm not done yet. I still have yet to even mention the best news of this year, yet. I got word the day before I left for Missouri that I got an interview at VIRGINIA TECH!! I was so excited for this since this is the school I really want to go to. It is 3 hours from my home and I already spent 4 years of my life there for my undergrad. I was at work when I found out and trust me everyone in that building knew. My interview at Tech is on January 25th at noon. I'm going down the night before and going to go to this dinner they are having and then I will leave on Saturday the day after. I'll hopefully see some friends who are still down there, as well! This interview is situation based so there really is no way I can prep for it besides look up some current events (on the advice from a few friends who have interviewed there and got in). This will be the most important day of my life to date and I am really hoping all goes well. As for now, I am still waiting to hear from 4 more schools, NC State (who doesn't have interviews), Tufts in Mass, and Auburn and Tuskegee in Alabama. Who knows what that will bring for me as well. I should hear around the beginning of February about admission to Missouri. 

Anyhow- thanks so much for reading and I hope I can post some more updates soon!