My first two interviews are scheduled:
Augusta Health - 13 November, 3 PM
Valley Hospital - 23 November, 11 AM
I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!
Now if only the sweaters I ordered for the express purpose of wearing as interview attire would arrive. I managed to find nice pants at the store, but for some reason, there were no sweaters in XS to be found in the entire store.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Oh Em Gee!
So those who know me well know that I've applied to three clinical lab science programs (Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA, Augusta Health Center in Fishersville, VA, and The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ). I also thought about applying to Virginia Commonwealth's program (Richmond, VA), but as it's in a college setting, it takes longer. Semesters and courseloads and all that. For hospital-based programs, it's done on intensive block scheduling, and you work for 12 months straight (with a week break between Christmas and New Year's).
For those who don't know what that is, clinical lab science is a branch of pathology (medical specialty) that deals with the biology and chemistry (and biochemistry, which I'm loving, btw) of disease. If you've ever given a urine sample, had a blood test, or even just a throat culture for mono or strep throat, a clinical lab scientist processed and analyzed your tests. The results of these tests factor into about 75% of diagnosis and treatment decisions made by physicians; other results can be used to determine if blood is suitable for transfusion, genetic testing to see if you are predisposed to a disease, or simply typing blood. There are several divisions of this science; at the moment blood banking (transfusion science) and microbiology (I know, shocker) are the most interesting to me.
Anyway, I've been having kittens over the fact that two of my letters of recommendations were lost in the mail (one of which is due next Saturday). Obviously, this is crucial for Valley, as their deadline is October 31; it is also a serious issue for Augusta, who does semi-rolling admissions. Augusta chooses about half of their class through people who get complete applications in early and the other half by those who have their applications completed by their February 1 deadline.
This became especially agitating as Valley e-mailed me on Monday offering me an interview, but only if they received my final reference by their deadline. For the record, it was sent out September 15. Curse you, United States Postal Service.
Fortunately, the professor who wrote my missing references agreed to issue new ones, as he had saved them. He even gave me some money to cover the cost of sending the letters priority mail so they would arrive at Augusta and Valley by the end of the week.
Anywho, I just got an e-mail today saying they had received my third letter and they're offering an interview as well...I'm so excited!
The more I learn about this career, the more I realize it's what I really want to do. I've been doing bench science and lab work my entire Tech career; it's what I love. I also am completely fascinated by how the body tells us that it's sick or damaged. I can't imagine letting this knowledge and these skills be wasted, especially when I get so much joy out of it. So I'm hoping and wishing that these interviews go well.
In other news...in Patho lab today, I got to culture Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The species name should tell you what nasty disease that causes; the bacteria we use in teaching labs are engineered to be non-virulent though, so it's really not so bad. They made us work in the biosafety hood anyway, to give us experience with the skills. I'm super excited to look at this particular bacteria under the microscope on Tuesday. I'm such a nerd.
For those who don't know what that is, clinical lab science is a branch of pathology (medical specialty) that deals with the biology and chemistry (and biochemistry, which I'm loving, btw) of disease. If you've ever given a urine sample, had a blood test, or even just a throat culture for mono or strep throat, a clinical lab scientist processed and analyzed your tests. The results of these tests factor into about 75% of diagnosis and treatment decisions made by physicians; other results can be used to determine if blood is suitable for transfusion, genetic testing to see if you are predisposed to a disease, or simply typing blood. There are several divisions of this science; at the moment blood banking (transfusion science) and microbiology (I know, shocker) are the most interesting to me.
Anyway, I've been having kittens over the fact that two of my letters of recommendations were lost in the mail (one of which is due next Saturday). Obviously, this is crucial for Valley, as their deadline is October 31; it is also a serious issue for Augusta, who does semi-rolling admissions. Augusta chooses about half of their class through people who get complete applications in early and the other half by those who have their applications completed by their February 1 deadline.
This became especially agitating as Valley e-mailed me on Monday offering me an interview, but only if they received my final reference by their deadline. For the record, it was sent out September 15. Curse you, United States Postal Service.
Fortunately, the professor who wrote my missing references agreed to issue new ones, as he had saved them. He even gave me some money to cover the cost of sending the letters priority mail so they would arrive at Augusta and Valley by the end of the week.
Anywho, I just got an e-mail today saying they had received my third letter and they're offering an interview as well...I'm so excited!
The more I learn about this career, the more I realize it's what I really want to do. I've been doing bench science and lab work my entire Tech career; it's what I love. I also am completely fascinated by how the body tells us that it's sick or damaged. I can't imagine letting this knowledge and these skills be wasted, especially when I get so much joy out of it. So I'm hoping and wishing that these interviews go well.
In other news...in Patho lab today, I got to culture Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The species name should tell you what nasty disease that causes; the bacteria we use in teaching labs are engineered to be non-virulent though, so it's really not so bad. They made us work in the biosafety hood anyway, to give us experience with the skills. I'm super excited to look at this particular bacteria under the microscope on Tuesday. I'm such a nerd.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Augh.
So either one of my letters of recommendation (that went to two of the three schools to which I applied) has been lost in the mail or was never sent in the first place.
AUGH!!!!
AUGH!!!!
Monday, October 5, 2009
You're Incompetent!
Oh my cells...
We've been trying to transform bacteria in order to determine some genes, except none of the transformations are working.
So today I started a test to see if these cells are even competent. For those who don't know, competence is the ability of bacteria to take in foreign DNA. I tested the strain we've been using, a newer stock of this strain, and another strain that we know to be competent.
Man I hope I find something.
Sorry I haven't written anything in a while.
We've been trying to transform bacteria in order to determine some genes, except none of the transformations are working.
So today I started a test to see if these cells are even competent. For those who don't know, competence is the ability of bacteria to take in foreign DNA. I tested the strain we've been using, a newer stock of this strain, and another strain that we know to be competent.
Man I hope I find something.
Sorry I haven't written anything in a while.
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