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!