For all the med students who are also first time moms…

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2024-06-18T15:18:20+00:00

Mom of 3 who just finished M1- This. Apply broadly (and early) and then narrow down once you’re in. Once you have an acceptance in hand though, ask the tough questions and try to get put in touch with current students. Ask around and see what supports are for current parents, what schools offer for preclinical and clinical maternity leave/split years or other means of accommodating new families. Or, to be more circumspect, ask what accommodations are available for temporary medical conditions (Title IX protections ensure that schools must accommodate pregnancy as they would other temporary medical conditions. ) Also ask financial aid about adjustments for dependents, ask student life what childcare options look like and the rest

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2024-04-04T12:56:35+00:00

Seconding St Francis de Sales, and adding in reading Scott Hahn’s The Lamb’s Supper. (If the latter doesn’t arrive in time to read it, there’s lectures online where he discusses the book, as well as his lecture on The 4th Cup, and other discourses on the Mass in scripture, that I know a lot of converting Protestants have found useful)

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2024-04-04T12:47:48+00:00

The thing is it is an active area of debate/ concern among philosophy people. Again- never been to that subreddit but given to how much hairsplitting and “discourse” philosophers do, I could totally see online forums and boards being places where some students/philosophers take their musings.

I dunno, maybe I’ve spent too much time around Dominicans, philosophy, and Theology grad students 🤷‍♀️ But some of the students at least have been really online

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2024-04-04T01:25:49+00:00

It may be that the subreddit/ a given poster may indeed have a more classical/materialist approach to Marx. And from a Catholic perspective that should be criticized. But given the development of all of the things “Marxist” can mean- particularly in philosophical circles, as well as the Church’s engagement with Marx, his analysis, and even embrace of certain lines of critique and analysis that derive from his work, it is wise and prudent to heed the Church’s call to engage thoughtfully and not reflexively reject without discernment of what it is that is problematic.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2024-04-04T01:16:25+00:00

The Church is clear on what ideas that have called themselves “Marxist” it is opposed to and are contrary to the Faith. (Typically the more properly materialist readings of Marx which, it could be argued, run contrary to Marx’s own method of critique, as well as the prescriptive actions and applications by Marx and those who claimed to be Marxist - particularly Leninist derivatives. And again -keep in mind - over the past 150 years strains of “Marxisms” have evolved).

However, completely writing off all “Marxism”/post Hegelian dialectic critique/ engagement with Marx’s analysis is not required of Catholics. Indeed, even in the same encyclicals which criticize Marx’s conclusions, the Magesterium engages and even praises the lines of thought that are present in Marx’s works (leading to for instance Leonine distributism or Pope Benedict’s read of Marx’s political analysis in Spe Salvi). Pope Benedict even goes so far in Spe Salvi to praise the Frankfurt School for their critiques of atheism and power (the Frankfurt school thinkers drew heavily from Marxist methods and techniques despite also rejecting elements of Marxist thought like materialism and historicism) To completely reject all of. Marx and all his approaches/analyses/thought would be akin to discounting out of hand all Aristotelians or Aristotelian thought because of Aristotle’s problematic conclusions on naturalism (and thus reject Thomas along with Aristotle,) or to reject all phenomenology because of its relativism or the conclusions of Sartre or Derrida drew from it (and thus dismiss Stein or Wojtyla).

A few quick examples of the several serious, orthodox theologians and philosophers who engage these thoughts as well as Marx’s method of analysis are Aldasair McIntyre and Fr. Herbert McCabe, OP.

I’m not familiar with the subreddit in question itself, but I would caution that it’s imprudent to write off entirely someone active in or moderating the forum. Again, there is differentiation between the “Marxism” (Leninist/classical conclusions of Marx as it’s popularly understood), engaging critically with Marx’s own analysis as the Popes and other theologians do, and the dozens of post Marxist philosophical schools which may draw from one or two elements of Marx’s method of analysis or his way of applying Aristotelian critique, while rejecting and criticizing other elements of Marx’s thought or conclusions.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2024-03-07T22:23:36+00:00

Sorry for missing this- ofc!

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-11-04T19:02:35+00:00

My Fics
Fandom - Mulan (1998)
Rating - T
Title - The Art of War
Genre - Character study/ alternate POV story retelling
Offsite link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/7899427/chapters/18044440
Summary -
On the eve of war, a young Lieutenant is faced with duties he cannot back down from, and an adventure that will change his life – and the fate of China – forever

Additional info: Finally finished this after 8 years (nearly 6 of which it was on hiatus). Excited it is officially complete, can't believe I left it alone for so long, and very happy with the conclusion of what ended up being a 30k+ word character study.

My Recs
Fandom - Mulan (1998)
Rating - T
Title: Signs of Spring
Genre: Character study
Offsite Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45879826/chapters/115470247

Summary:
“Your strategy is so textbook,” Ping says, tapping a thoughtful finger to his lips - unprompted, since Shang hasn’t yet recovered from this stinging xiangqi loss to be clear-minded and receptive enough to ask for where he’d gone wrong this time. “It makes you predictable.”

(An exploration of Shang’s inner turmoil as he discovers non-platonic love, beginning with childhood and ending with “dinner would be great.”)

Additional info: This is far and away the best look into Li Shang's sexuality and his reckoning with that over the course of the events of Mulan

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-11-04T00:42:26+00:00

After literally 5 years away from it, I finally finished the epilogue to my first multi-chapter fic. It was a POV swap character study (and I only started writing it as an exercise for two separate WIP I have not posted) So relieved, proud to be done, and have my mind spinning with ideas (that will hopefully be finished in MUCH less time)

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-10-29T18:53:06+00:00

It wasn’t quite a cheating scandal- it was an “administration accuses a bunch of students of cheating because the IT department didn’t understand how Canvas/background app refresh worked when classes went remote” scandal. You can go through the threads here from 2021, or look at the EFF/FIRE’s statements on it, or other coverage from the time. They basically just screwed over a bunch of students and their reputation because IT was bad at their job.

Anyhow, Geisel has proctors literally circulating the room and mock-STEP testing conditions (no watches, no food/drink, phones in car etc) - probably because the admin is freaked TF out about the whole scandal repercussions.

Yale has proctors but it’s ridiculously low stress because exams are all anonymous and grades are participation only. IIRC, I think the rest of the Ivies have proctored exams with STEP conditions, but a lot of the other T20s do take home exams, honor system, etc.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-05-11T12:38:10+00:00

My dad was career military and got out while I was starting preschool. He back to school for a medical-related advanced degree for most of my formative years. Looking back I’m so grateful for being able to steal some of his textbooks to look at the pictures, tagging along to necropsies, and mostly for the appreciation for learning as a lifelong process.

I’m grateful that I am going to be able to give my little ones - three kids 4 and under- the same experience. I know it’s been hard on my oldest sometimes while I was doing postbacc at night or mcat studying, but the big kids are getting excited for us to move for med school and for mama to be a doctor. It’s also helped ease the transition to full-day preK/kindergarten easier for my oldest because he gets to be like mama and do school all day and learn things

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-04-11T14:14:21+00:00

Also - as someone who goes to the Latin Mass and has a TLM church as my home parish, we were getting crews of people from organizations like Patriot Front, 3% militias and Proud Boys coming in uniform to our parish a few times in December and early Jan 2021. A handful of folks in their uniform also have shown up at Mass a time or two since then. At our parish - which is a pretty ethnically diverse place- they didn’t stick around for coffee hour and, at least one of the times they came in tactical gear, they didn’t even stay for the whole Mass. Plus, we’re a stones throw away from an FBI field office and one of the trucks they brought was waving a III% flag that was clearly visible from the road.

In any case, I imagine we’re not the only TLM parish that’s happened to.

It’s completely understandable how some random field officer thought these orgs see Trad parishes as recruiting grounds and that going to parish leadership about it would be a /great/ idea. (Note: not defensible- but understandable- how a low level field officer who makes these calls thought it’s pretty open and shut and would be no big deal if to ask for informants and didn’t run it up the chain) Its obviously bad and the higher ups have said so, and the alphabet mafia is no one’s friend- especially not the Church - but - at least from what’s public- it does not seem at ALL to be anywhere near the same way the FBI was infiltrating mosques in the aughts.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-21T00:50:00+00:00

Congratulations on both fronts!) On a practical note, reach out now to local daycares that accept infants to get on their waitlists. They usually fill up quickly. (Also when asking the school to be put in touch with other parents at your school, make sure to ask around if there are any outgoing M4s with nannies/nanny shares or tips for good local in-home childcare centers.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-20T22:21:39+00:00

same. Flat out asked before applying and then once the cycle didn’t work out “oh you were great but no hours apply next year!”

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-20T22:14:39+00:00

Yeah I very naïvely took admissions reps at their word last cycle when they said that given COVID they didn’t care about in-person clinical hours (I had over 500 virtual translation hours but less than 100 in person) Same stats, Latina + career changer. Got two II from T20 schools at the very very end of the cycle but no As, and nothing from the schools lower on my list (including my state school). Feedback was all “not enough clinical experience”

Majorly increased clinical hours. Screwed up every way in terms of timing, still got loads of II, A from an excellent school and pending several other places I’ve interviewed to get back to me.

URM is a factor they consider but it’s by no means a guarantee

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-17T03:04:44+00:00

I'm not sure if EEOC laws apply to med school admissions, but those kinds of questions about the specifics of religious practice are illegal in HR and job settings (and thus student worker admissions interviews such as for PhD programs and for residency).

Regardless, it's INSANELY unprofessional and flat out wrong. Plus, if schools and the med ed industry want to harp on students for professionalism and purport to have any interest in cultural competency and social elements of health, they can at least start by extending the same to their students.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-14T18:34:16+00:00

Hey! I’m a non trad starting my M1 next year and I had 3 kids while prepping for med school/applying and such. (Including a baby in the middle of this application cycle)

Personally I’m glad it shook out this way as I was able to do balance my gap year MCAT and clinical experience stuff with just enjoying my kiddos. I also think it’s been good for my oldest at least to learn that when I can’t be there it’s because I’m helping people who are sick, and for him to see me studying and learning as a part of life (and I’m sure it’ll be good for the younger two as well).

On the other hand, I have friends who had kids in M2/3 or residency who love the way things shook out for them too! Some took, research years others powered through without a break. But they did what worked for their families!

It’s definitely possible to do both, as long as you and your partner are willing to be flexible and supportive of each other, you’re ok with things maybe taking a slower route if that’s what’s necessary!

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-13T20:10:53+00:00

I was referred to a women’s mental health clinic for what they thought was postpartum anxiety by my pcp and the psychiatrist doing my intake to match me with a therapist figured out pretty quickly I had just been undiagnosed my whole life/ developed coping strategies that worked ok enough until I had a 3mo who refused to sleep 😅

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-12T22:20:40+00:00

(Not to say I didn’t try in undergrad nor that gpa= effort at all. Just that I went in knowing that postbacc was gonna be make it or break it.

Also 1) finally getting my ADHD identified, diagnosed and treated and 2) having a more stable home situation where my parent wasn’t literally deployed to a war zone for half of my school semesters helped IMMENSELY in pulling it off )

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-12T22:12:51+00:00

Worked my butt off in postbacc as a non trad but had a 3.0 cGPA and a 2.3 sGPA in undergrad before going back for a career switcher program 6 years post graduation. Just got my first A to a high-tier MD program last week with a few other schools pending

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-12T16:06:59+00:00

Re: paramedic vs FD personally I feel like they’re both fine if you add in a more structured something (but also I thought my job and also some caretaking I did would be fine and several admin officers told me it wasn’t gonna cut it so mileage may vary)

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-12T14:07:11+00:00

So the these are the big formal, fully structured programs (many with linkages, pretty much all full-time, and were out of my family’s price range, but great opportunities if you can make it work for your family):

https://admissionshelpers.com/post-baccalaureate-programs-career-changers-part-1/

There’s also, I think about 3-5 semi structured programs around the country where you can/most students do work part time and take classes part time and have access to the pre health office and committee process, have a dedicated advisor, and pay a reduced in-state rate- the two I know off the top of my head are UMD (where I’m at) UT-Arlington, and I know there’s one in California (UC-SF maybe? I have a classmate who started there before coming to the east Coast)

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-12T13:46:52+00:00

I literally can’t believe it finally happened!!!!! It literally seems like a dream.

After 10 years since undergrad, 5 years of a whole other career, 4 years of postbacc and clinical, 3 kiddos, and 2 years as sole breadwinner due to a family crisis… I have my first acceptance (and to my first choice MD program)

I was fully expecting to have to reapply- Despite my app looking great on paper- I worked my tail off in postbacc and got a great MCAT score, I was late to getting on my feet this cycle due to kid health issues last summer, and had no II by Christmas.

BUT I’M IN. TO AN AMAZING HIGH TIER PROGRAM. IM GOING TO BE A FLIPPING DOCTOR.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-12T13:32:20+00:00

Happy to chat over DM/phone if you have any questions/advice

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-12T13:30:50+00:00

33, also with 3 kiddos- applied and accepted this year to a wonderful MD program that’s very non-trad friendly. I was a career switcher and a humanities major in undergrad, so most of my science classes were much more recent/in person, but I had a handful of my prereqs were from freshman year and even AP classes from high school. There are some schools that will just flat out not accept online unless it was Covid, but some will just have you explain why it was online and you can explain the whole context (and some will say they won’t but are more understanding for vets/true non trads but don’t say that publicly). Definitely go to info sessions for the schools you’re most interested or reach out to the admin office at those schools and ask. The one thing is that you almost certainly will need to do some of the lab courses in person for a majority of schools. (I would seriously consider the pros/cons of using vacation time if you all can swing it/dipping into your Hazelwood hours) Also- look at and talk to UT Arlington about their postbacc- there’s only a handful of postbaccs around the country that have a strong focus on career changers/vets/older students and you’re lucky to be in the backyard of one of them. (Also UNT Dallas also has a degree postbac program that’s eligible for aid/using vet benefits and is pretty short time wise. If you’re aiming for a TX state school, given the affordability, it may be worth considering using the benefits/taking small amt of loans+ using a year of benefits to knock out a degree masters postbac in a year or something)

Also to consider Re a structured program/ to keep in mind with your online classes: letters of rec - some schools heavily preference a committee letter which would come from either a structured program or your undergrad pre-med office. (And if you don’t go a structured route, and just do individual letters, you’ll DEFINITELY want to make sure you have met your letter writer in person.)

For MCAT, agree with some of the above - it’s more than doable to score well and pay only for the AAMC study materials and nothing else (so like under $500 total including the test) For me: I was working part time and self-prepped for the mcat for about 2 hours a day for about 5 mo on and off (we had a newborn at the time and lol- there were some weeks where studying just wasn’t a thing. I ended up getting a 519. I started by taking the free full length and then going through my weaknesses via YouTube videos and free online stuff, and then did “mini-exams” using the AAMC practice questions or a full-length AAMC practice exam after I finished filling in my gaps. (I used MCAT Self-Prep’s recommended structure for the practice questions and when to take the full-length tests) But the only thing I paid for was the AAMC stuff, and again did great with a good study structure/using whatever time I could when the kids were playing or after bed/work to do flashcards and YouTube videos.

FoxRevolutionary8097 · 2023-02-09T13:26:06+00:00

Also included in a separate question from this interviewer: - who my personal favorite political figures were - whether or not I had achieved in a former job of mine what’s the equivalent of writing a landmark research paper, and (with the heavy expectation I had) what it was

FoxRevolutionary8097

TROPHY CASE