Update Before I'm Off to Study...

I know it's been two months since I've written anything, but keep in mind that in those two months, not a whole lot has happened. Finals and winter break do that to you.

Anyway. I'm in my last semester at VT and honestly, the weather is doing its darndest to drive me out. I am so over snow and the people around here not knowing how to deal with snow (hint: you start salting/sanding BEFORE there's any snow, let alone 3") and being plowed in and digging my car out with a tupperware because Kroger, Food Lion, Target, and Walmart all sold out of snow shovels ages ago. I am sick of unshoveled sidewalks ON CAMPUS that mean I'm walking to my classes in snow past my knees and black ice everywhere.

I'm also sick and tired of having to remind my roommates that just because they don't have class until noon (or at all) doesn't mean that everyone doesn't.

But I digress. I've got Food Microbiology, Immunology, and Detective Fiction, as well as the staple of Research to keep me busy. A test in Immunology to keep me oh so busy that I'm actually considering blowing off the research lab today in order to study. And because it's a 20 minute walk to the lab from my class (already a 15 minute walk from my apartment) and it is still currently snowing/sleeting/who knows outside.

I think that's what I'll do.

And the envelope please...

OK So the actually envelope isn't in my hands, and won't be until at least Monday. But today, whilst I was out and about doing some Christmas shopping, I got a phone call.

From Augusta Health.

Offering me admission to their program. The director called to see if she should mail the letter to my apartment here in the burg or to my parents' house in New Jersey. Since it's being mailed today, I told her sending it here would be fine.

And after we got off the phone, I proceeded to freak out.

OH MY GOODNESS HURRAY!!

Waiting...

So I've had two interviews now (Augusta and Valley) and there is nothing to do but wait. Valley is supposed to send of decisions on December 1, and Augusta just said that I would know "before Christmas". It's so vague; it's making me crazy.

In the mean time, I have to work on my presentation and report for my undergraduate research. I have my own project now, working on capsule production and motility, but nothing really has been determined with it yet, as I only started at the beginning of November. I have to present sometime before finals--the exact date depends on the availability of the other undergrad in the lab, so we can present at the same time. However, she just had a baby so she's not even sure when she'll be available.

That's all I've got for now. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, whether they were home with family or far away.

The Waiting Game

So I had my first interview (Augusta Health) on Friday. I think it went well; one of my interviewers said she was very impressed by my knowledge of the profession.

I am supposed to find out by Christmas...

It's official...

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.

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.

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!!!!