Woo! 2 live births and 1 C-Section later… I have finally finished 3rd semester!
3rd semester is often known as the most difficult semester. If you can make it past 3rd, it is all down hill from there. The material is completely new for most students and so it requires more studying and background knowledge. If I can do it, YOU can do it!
Heavily rely on your cohort during this time. Anything you guys can work on together… please do together! I swear it is the only way we not only survived, but thrived. Apparently, as a whole, we did much better than other semesters in the past! TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!
I will be using break to get some much needed R&R, and will be working on releasing 2nd semester and 3rd semester notes! I will be definitely enjoying the holidays with family, but please continue to ask any questions you have! I will also be at San Diego’s ELM orientation Tuesday. If you see me, say hello!
Reminder: Only email subscribers will be getting the updated passwords. There is no cost! You just have to subscribe. The whole point of my blog is to give you resources that are free and help you find discounts to make things as close to free as possible!
Love your blog and all the insight you are sharing about this program. I was wondering if you could share with me where you took Biochem and Organic Chem. Those are the two prereqs I’m missing, along with the research class. Also, what does your schedule look like on a weekly basis? I am a single mom with a full time job, although I am fortunate to work from home, which is great! Trying to see how I can balance it all and keep afloat. My youngest is in 6th grade, though..so I don’t have any small children. I have a 4.0 in all my other prereqs, but I don’t have any healthcare experience aside from raising three children and taking care of family members with disabilities and Alzheimers. Do you think I should spend a year volunteering before I apply? If so, what kind of volunteer opportunities would you recommend? Thank you for your time!
I took an intro to biochem/organic chem combo class for 4 units. I took it at sacramento state so that may nto be helpful, but I would look for an intro class that satisfies the requirement. My schedule changes each semester. This semester (4th semester) is pretty light compared to 2nd and 3rd semester. I usually have Mondays off except a couple Mondays are scheduled for random trainings we need to complete. Tuesday we have clinical 800 to 1630. Wednesday and Thursday, we have class 0900-1600. Friday, we have clinical 0630-1900. 1st semester was a lighter semester too. I don’t remember my exact schedule, but I might have posted it in response to a comment in one of my posts.
If your youngest is in 6th grade, I think you will be okay. Our cohort has many parents with 2+ kids. Some of them have older kids, but some of them have toddlers. It does make it more difficult, BUT if your older kids are willing to help a little with chores, cooking, etc. I think you can manage it.
If I were you (and this is just my own opinion), I would focus on getting my prereqs done first. Try to find a combo biochem/organic intro chem class so you don’t have to take 2 classes instead of one. If you can, take the chem and research in one semester, and apply once you are enrolled. If your schedule/family priorities don’t allow for you to finish all your pre-reqs in one semester, I would apply as soon as you are enrolled in your last remaining pre-requisites. Once you have your pre-reqs out of the way, then focus on volunteering. It can make you more competitive, but they may accept you without it because of your experience with children and family members with disabilities.
If you have time for volunteering while doing your pre-reqs, may local hospitals are in need of volunteers. I would google “Hospital name” volunteer and find out their volunteer application process. I volunteered at my local Kaiser, but any hospital volunteer experience will do.
Don’t be afraid to re-apply. It can take a couple tries sometimes, but most schools take note of how many times you apply!
Hi Bree, I am your subscriber I have you on FB as well. I just started my second semester. We hear that it is more test heavy than 1st semester, so I am bit nervous. You said you will be releasing 2nd semester and 3rd semester notes, where can I access those? Please let me know,
Thank You.
Hi! I have already released some of the material under resources. For example, we covered hematology in my 2nd semester. It is organized by topic/system. I am working on releasing the rest of 2nd and 3rd. Tonight or tomorrow I will have oncology done (that was our first topic in med surg/patho).
Yeah I think I need the new password again the old password you gave me isn’t working anymore.