I think that it is well past time that universal coverage healthcare plan is installed in the United States. Over 44 million Americans are uninsured and that number is likely to increase if nothing is done. There are several major consequences of this. People are increasingly waiting until the last moment to go to a physician or the hospital to treat their illness because it is too expensive for them to do so on a timely basis. This is exceptionally true for the poor and lower middle class sector of society. It is well known that early treatment is most diseases leads to a better potential outcome. When patients wait to get tests done to diagnose cancer for instance, it may be too late for anything meaningful to be done for that patient because the cancer more than likely has metastasized to other parts of the body. Had that patient come into the physicians office sooner, the cancer could have been caught earlier and the patient would have had a higher probability of survival. That person not being tested early does not result from his or her being stubborn more than likely it is due to the cost of visiting the doctor especially if one is working on a minimum wage job. So ads that urge people to seek tests early to catch these things remains empty when the cost is the thing that is preventing some people from being able to find out if they have that disease.
Another major effect of people not being insured is that when they do come to the ER with a problem, they obviously cannot pay for the expensive cost of staying in the hospital and services rendered. The hospital knows this so it transfers the cost to the insured which raises the cost on the insured population. This raises their rates and could drop those people into that 44 million plus category. This will exacerbate the problem instead of solving it.
In short it is time to realize that everyone deserves to be treated when they are sick and at bear minimum there should be insurance to cover every single member of society. This doesnt mean that we are going to become a socialist society or become like the USSR because the poor can afford healthcare. Hopefully with the incoming democratic presidency (I hope) this problem can be solved. It is obvious that the republicans favor the current system which is spiraling out of control. People shouldn't be turned away because they cannot pay the bill. At the same time, doctors require compensation for their services. The solution to this is to provide affordable insurance coverage for people who are now uninsured so they are able to see the physicians and receive the quality care that they deserve.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Thursday, March 1, 2007
waiting game
The worst part about this process in my opinion is the long wait. Honestly I had no idea when I began this whole process how long this would take. I began to fill out my primaries for AMCAS and ACCOMAS in June (right when they came out for the 2007 entering class). I submitted them and got my first taste of the 4-6 weeks it takes to get AMCAS and ACCOMAS verified. this is in addition to getting the transcripts sent from my college. After that I started to receive a plethora of secondaries from all schools. MOST schools will automatically send you a secondary application (methinks money has something to do with this but maybe not...). for example Northwestern sends 70% of their primary applicants secondaries but only 10% get interviews and 5% get acceptance letters. NSUCOM for example sends everyone a secondary but again a small percentage receive an interview invite. Then came the arduous task of filling out all those secondaries to which you want to apply. Essay after essay makes you thankful for the secondary that does not have an essay component (such as Howard Medical College).
After you finally finish the secondaries it is now time for the letter of recommendations to be sent to schools. I already asked professors before I filled the primaries to write one but to hold sending them until the secondaries got in. So the wiaitng game of the professors writing and sending the letters began. Some were quick others were not and ended up holding up my applications at some schools. Some medical schools want 2 science letters from professors who taught you (U of Miami for example) while others are content with just two science letters and one liberal arts non-science letter (check with your schools requirements).
So while waiting, secondaries continue to be completed and application fees (which add up to quite a substantial sum of money) continue to be paid. Maybe some interview invites come at this time (October/November) and if so great! Do not be discouraged however if they do not come at this time. I got one interview invite in October (NSU) and one in December (Meharry). The rest came in January and February. I know plenty of people who get interviews in March and they are NOT necessarily interviews for waitlist spots, it depends on how the schools decides things.
After secondaries are sent out, LOR sent, application fees paid, all that there is to it is wait patiently for that email that says that the admissions committee from X school has decided to extend you an interview for the entering class of 2007. Then comes travel expenses and prep for the interviews. That is where SDN helped me the most. Not the discussion forum but the interview feedback section which listed questions prior interviewees were asked. I just read that schools website, admissions packet (if they sent me one), SDN Interview feedback, and practiced with some very helpful friends.
Other than that the waiting game is played. Waiting for the decision letter is the most painful because it leads to chronic checking of the mailbox, email and/or status page online (depends on the school). Then decisions (should you hold multiple acceptances) have to be made. After that you are finally finished with the process and a deep breath can be taken.
After you finally finish the secondaries it is now time for the letter of recommendations to be sent to schools. I already asked professors before I filled the primaries to write one but to hold sending them until the secondaries got in. So the wiaitng game of the professors writing and sending the letters began. Some were quick others were not and ended up holding up my applications at some schools. Some medical schools want 2 science letters from professors who taught you (U of Miami for example) while others are content with just two science letters and one liberal arts non-science letter (check with your schools requirements).
So while waiting, secondaries continue to be completed and application fees (which add up to quite a substantial sum of money) continue to be paid. Maybe some interview invites come at this time (October/November) and if so great! Do not be discouraged however if they do not come at this time. I got one interview invite in October (NSU) and one in December (Meharry). The rest came in January and February. I know plenty of people who get interviews in March and they are NOT necessarily interviews for waitlist spots, it depends on how the schools decides things.
After secondaries are sent out, LOR sent, application fees paid, all that there is to it is wait patiently for that email that says that the admissions committee from X school has decided to extend you an interview for the entering class of 2007. Then comes travel expenses and prep for the interviews. That is where SDN helped me the most. Not the discussion forum but the interview feedback section which listed questions prior interviewees were asked. I just read that schools website, admissions packet (if they sent me one), SDN Interview feedback, and practiced with some very helpful friends.
Other than that the waiting game is played. Waiting for the decision letter is the most painful because it leads to chronic checking of the mailbox, email and/or status page online (depends on the school). Then decisions (should you hold multiple acceptances) have to be made. After that you are finally finished with the process and a deep breath can be taken.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Brief Overview
Early (which is relative because the application process began in June when i filled out the AMCAS and AACOMAS primary applicantions) in the application process (October) I found out that I was accepted into Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. school). I was excited because at least I was going to become a physician. They were the first medical school to invite me to an interview and the first to accept me for the class of 2011. I had sent my primary to other Osteopathic Schools, but once I got accepted into NSUCOM, which is close to home, I did not complete the secondaries for other D.O. schools.
Most recently, I found out I was accepted into the Howard University Medical College Class of 2011. I interviewed on january 17th, 2007 and received my acceptance letter on February 25th, 2007. I found out my acceptance however by calling the Howard Admissions Office after they had notified me by email that they were sending my decision letter.
I also interviewed at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine on February 13th, 2007 (through a blizzard nonetheless which made me a bit late to the interview but I still made it). I got on the waitlist and so therefore the waiting continues to see if I make it off and into the Class of 2011.
I completed secondaries to UM, USF, Emory, Howard, Northwestern, BU, Temple, Drexel, Meharry, Baylor and Nova.
of these only Howard, Meharry, Northwestern and Nova have offered me interviews. I declined the Meharry interview (after Nova acceptance), attended Nova interview and accepted later on, attended the Howard and Northwestern interviews and received acceptance from Howard and still pending at NU. So far the other med schools have not shown me any love.
in the end, i believe people should apply EARLY (of the schools that have gotten back to me 3 of 5 [ NSU, Howard and NU] have offered me acceptances or interview invites) and wide (depending on your stats, the less competative you think you are the wider you should apply) to maximize your chances of admission. good luck to everyone!
Most recently, I found out I was accepted into the Howard University Medical College Class of 2011. I interviewed on january 17th, 2007 and received my acceptance letter on February 25th, 2007. I found out my acceptance however by calling the Howard Admissions Office after they had notified me by email that they were sending my decision letter.
I also interviewed at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine on February 13th, 2007 (through a blizzard nonetheless which made me a bit late to the interview but I still made it). I got on the waitlist and so therefore the waiting continues to see if I make it off and into the Class of 2011.
I completed secondaries to UM, USF, Emory, Howard, Northwestern, BU, Temple, Drexel, Meharry, Baylor and Nova.
of these only Howard, Meharry, Northwestern and Nova have offered me interviews. I declined the Meharry interview (after Nova acceptance), attended Nova interview and accepted later on, attended the Howard and Northwestern interviews and received acceptance from Howard and still pending at NU. So far the other med schools have not shown me any love.
in the end, i believe people should apply EARLY (of the schools that have gotten back to me 3 of 5 [ NSU, Howard and NU] have offered me acceptances or interview invites) and wide (depending on your stats, the less competative you think you are the wider you should apply) to maximize your chances of admission. good luck to everyone!
websites
here are some important websites for premedical students:
www.studentdoctor.net (good forum to discuss questions with other premeds, also when you get interviews they have student interview feedback for MD and DO schools and many other features)
http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm (where you can find the link to the primary online application for medical school through AMCAS)
https://services.aamc.org/Publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.displayForm&prd_id=149&prv_id=175 (MSAR: Medical School Admissions Requirement order site for 2007-2008)
www.mdapplicants.com (see other premeds stats and the schools that they have been accepted, interviewed at, waitlisted or rejected)
www.studentdoctor.net (good forum to discuss questions with other premeds, also when you get interviews they have student interview feedback for MD and DO schools and many other features)
http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm (where you can find the link to the primary online application for medical school through AMCAS)
https://services.aamc.org/Publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.displayForm&prd_id=149&prv_id=175 (MSAR: Medical School Admissions Requirement order site for 2007-2008)
www.mdapplicants.com (see other premeds stats and the schools that they have been accepted, interviewed at, waitlisted or rejected)
Introduction
This blog is all about medical school and the road to becoming a physician. Im just going to write about my experiences as a premed and a medical student (when I matriculate into medical school). Anyone (who happens to stumble onto my blog) feel free to leave a response if you have any questions. Ill post links to important websites for premedical students. Good Luck to everyone applying!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)