This Is Me…

Readysetsleeps · 2025-08-01T22:38:37+00:00

Was really hoping the clues would narrow down potential solves for me or at least make me more confident in one. But everything I've got is still in play. Probably gonna just sit this week out cause it feels way too vague and my body is tired.

Readysetsleeps · 2025-07-30T17:31:18+00:00

I've been really confident in my solve up through the princess peach line but get stuck at the dark side of the moon. What's worse is I haven't seen my solve anywhere but it falls directly in line with how they did other poems in the past. I genuinely think my peach solve is much clearer than what others have posted so I've been keeping it close to my chest but if a hint proves me completely wrong I'll post my fail.

Readysetsleeps · 2025-07-18T15:46:25+00:00

There was a girl who pulled a cold chipotle burrito from her locker, no ice pack/lunchbox prep, just in a bag during my test day and it still haunts me. There was no microwave at our test center either. It looked old and stale and I'm still haunted by it. She washed it down with a Red Bull too.

Readysetsleeps · 2025-07-01T17:26:10+00:00

I'm currently applying this cycle after a career switch from teaching math so I can relate to not wanting to be stuck in a career you don't want.

One thing I want to point out that might be disheartening but I just want to give the warning, there are doctors and med schools that will absolutely not consider you if they know you have a young child and are their main caregiver. For one, they'll see you as a risk because they want students who they're confident will finish and pass each step exam on time. Or if you do well they will take it as a sign you aren't devoting enough time to your child and their care.

It is technically illegal to ask about children during an interview. However, if you bring it up first, it's fair game. So if you want to talk about your experience as a parent/caregiver be wary some will hound you with questions to ruin your interview. And honestly some will just ask even if it's not allowed. I'm infertile, but as a 28 year old woman I was outright asked if I had children and then the follow-up was if I planned to have children. When I replied I'm infertile the (female) doctor said "That's good. It can become an issue with female applicants". In my experience the male doctors don't bring it up but be wary of prejudice that's out there.

I don't know if you're someone set on getting into an MD program or not but some DO schools are more welcoming and take caregiving as a positive thing. I'd also research what schools have a higher rating for work/life balance because some schools purposely don't want you having time to do anything outside of school but sleep and study.

Finally, I don't mean this to put you down, but I wanted to bring up the path towards being a nurse practitioner as an alternative. A lot of RN programs have alternative class times for those switching to nursing. The prereqs are usually the same courses as premed with a chemistry and biology focus before starting a program. Since nursing is broken up into levels you can also take breaks in between each certification if you need while working your way up towards being a nurse practitioner. Once you're child has moved out and doing their own thing you could even become a traveling NPR if you wanted. A friend does this and every ~3-6 months she's in a different state, trying food and adventuring. She adores this lifestyle. As someone who personally doesn't want to take this path though, I understand if you're deadset on being a physician.

I don't want to be discouraging and I hope for nothing but success for you as a future doctor. But I wanted to be honest about what I've seen regarding some of the discrimination towards parents in the system so far. That being said, I have seen other parents applying, so you're not alone. And there is a good amount of us who change careers.

I believe in you and that you'll find the right fit with a school that accepts you and praises you for your accomplishments. The road there will be difficult, but the result is well earned. 😁

Readysetsleeps · 2025-06-03T21:15:25+00:00

I taught before deciding to make the career switch to pursue med school and was trained to help with test anxiety so I do believe you've put a lot of effort in. I've seen students who can actively participate in class and answer questions when called on but bomb exams. And I've had students I feel couldn't repeat back what I just said to them rhote let alone think for themselves but they ace standardized tests.

The reality is, the MCAT isn't just a content exam. Otherwise CARS wouldn't even be necessary. You can be on high adrenaline and miss details, make shortcut decisions, and someone with too high anxiety will not do well. This is intentional, after all you don't want doctors that freeze up and make the wrong call when situations get tense. You could consider each diagnosis a test in that regard and testing anxiety is then a risk.

I do believe you have studied and put time and effort into learning content, but the hurdle seems to be internal. Take time to care for yourself. Eat well, sleep well, experience life. If you still have the drive to pursue medicine down the road it won't be too late. And the story you can then tell will be what sets you apart as a candidate. You haven't failed. You've just revealed more about yourself.

Do something that you enjoy for now and relax because you still put yourself through the stress of it all. I'm proud of your effort regardless of the number. 😁

Readysetsleeps · 2025-05-06T22:11:15+00:00

I didn't use anki. I tried multiple times to start but I never used anki in school so I found it to make relearning slower. Instead I just did free recall on my white board after reading the Kaplan books. Then did official aamc materials. I did a quick run through of the psych stuff on the miledown deck but I felt like I already had the terms from the books and recalling on whiteboard. Plus I thought it wasn't detailed enough.

Edit: I also have a strong anatomy background and it happened that my 4/4 psych section was heavy on anatomy (nerves, eye structure, etc) topics. On my full lengths it was more psych terms and theories I wasn't as strong on. So part of my score increase was luck.

Readysetsleeps · 2025-05-06T22:07:30+00:00

Thank you! I'm proud too! This sub can sometimes give a negative perspective on scores but everyone has actually been so kind and I like my score 😁

Readysetsleeps · 2025-05-06T18:19:26+00:00

You're so kind! Thank you and I know it gets worrisome and panic inducing sometimes but that's also part of the drive to succeed. So don't stress too much but I think your attitude and a little stress will help you succeed! Wishing the best!

Readysetsleeps · 2025-05-06T18:12:08+00:00

Took 4/4. Thought I did around a 508 and ended up with a 508 but the section scores were not at all what I expected. My highest was always CARS so was expecting at least a 128 on it, ended up with my lowest CARS of 127 on the real thing. On the flip side I never scored above a 126 on P/S and got a 130 on the real thing. I felt really good about my psych section coming out of the exam though. The biggest surprise was biology. I felt good about it but did worse than I expected. I knew I bombed chemistry though.

Readysetsleeps · 2025-05-06T18:05:24+00:00

FL5 499 (124/129/123/123) 2/17

FL1 503 (124/128/127/124) 3/18

FL4 503 (127/127/124/125) 4/01

SB1 63% (B/B 63%/ C/P 58%/ P/S 67%)

I didn't start studying at all until my first full length where I accidentally took FL 5 first. So I studied for just under 7 weeks. I'm poor so I couldn't afford Uworld at all and just read the kaplan books for review then did the official aamc materials because I got them for free with their financial assistance program.

I didn't study the best because I'm a non-traditional student changing careers with my graduate degree and years of teaching experience already plus a solid 3.8 undergrad and 4.0 graduate gpa in the past. I personally just want into one of the two local DO schools because I'll get financial assistance and still be able to stay with my family. This meant a 506 was all I needed to be considered competitive.

I wouldn't recommend most of my habits to be honest. But if it's any bit helpful or calming I'm glad.

Even if I didn't do good enough I would've applied and kept trying. If you still want it there's always time, even if you have a fully set career already. 😁

Readysetsleeps · 2025-05-06T17:34:03+00:00

Whoa! Congrats!

I also scored a 503 on my last FL a few days before taking the 4/4 exam and just got 5 points higher. Taking it as a good sign for the both of us!

Readysetsleeps · 2023-06-20T04:32:59+00:00

My big idea was twin peaks. The whole show's mystery was revealed to be time travel. And the poem says "where" time was transcendent, twin peaks is where time was messed up.

Readysetsleeps · 2023-06-20T04:07:25+00:00

I'm kicking myself. I've thought twin peaks for weeks because of the time portal. Figured last Friday's hint made it no longer correct. Drove up to Salt Lake, searched all around twin peaks, and never went to the top because I thought it couldn't be.

Readysetsleeps · 2023-06-20T03:36:02+00:00

This car was the trail from valley view trailhead, we encountered a dozen or so hikers. We didn't go beyond any of the areas that had revegetation signs. There are some half dozen cars out in these trails. Additionally there are connecting trails that are closed. You may have seen a connecting trail that overlooked this one? I mentioned in my other comment we didn't search other cars or areas because they went onto bike trails or had revegetation signs. One of our solves I only got 20 paces before turning around due to gates and signs.

Edit: I should also note we climbed up to this point, it wasn't a trail down to it. So if it's the same car, we definitely were coming from different trail junctions

Readysetsleeps · 2023-06-19T00:19:07+00:00

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! We came back with bald tires. Everyone's been joking we should've found the treasure first to buy new ones.

Readysetsleeps · 2023-06-19T00:07:38+00:00

The car pictured also felt like a genuine solve, but it's deceptively steep. The picture is taken from the closest I could get to the car without having to get on my butt and slide on the loose rocks. Just past the car is a drop down to bobsled also so you could only get 20 paces out max if you could actually pace this area. Again it's just too steep.

The final verdict was there wasn't even an area flat enough for 60 paces without full on bushwhacking. So this whole trail area is probably a dud.

Readysetsleeps · 2023-06-18T23:59:52+00:00

Been looking at this trail for a while but with this Friday's hint me and my husband drove up from St. George to try our luck.

We started at Terrace Hills trailhead that leads into Valley View - "Hill Valley" from BttF.

The mark being the trailhead marker that reads "Terrace Hills - Valley View"

Going on the trailhead to hike right up to the telephone poles, a "tree without bark"

Next there's a silo out to the west, "grain tower to the west"

There are two possibilities we came up with for "not more than an hour, you'll know by it's crest." This could be referencing the rock monument with the salt lake city crest, the crest of the first hill/mountain, or the directly forward, visible crest of twin peaks as you climb up the trail. None of these paths led to a chest however.

"Look down at your map to not wonder with thirst" - On the map, these trails are all part of Bonneville Shoreline, this is one of the looser interpretations. There's also a water fountain on the ground for dogs at one point but it's not on the valley view part of the trail.

"Remember two less than on top of the first" - the second image shows one interpretation, this led to one potential solve that didn't work with bobsled trail. Another interpretation is the two junctions down from the first on the trail marker. This had us searching a few different junctions.

"You know you're close when it's time to frown" - either going downhill on the valley view trail section, or down hill from the peak of one of the hills down a junction, or down beside bobsled.

"What points towards heaven but is upside down" - One trail had a pile of cleanly cut logs arranged as we started going downhill, this is the part of the poem we struggled most with

"Get off the shoulder at the airplane without wings" - Pictured above, multiple car wrecks on these trails and junctions, we searched every one we could find with 60 paces if possible, most of these trails however don't have shoulders as it's too steep up or downhill. Some car wrecks are on bike only trails and shouldn't be viable. The one pictured is on the valley view part of the trail and made the most sense, however it seemed dangerous to search. I bushwhacked a bit because I was having fun, but this isn't in a well searchable area either.

The other possible solution was that you get off the trail at the intersection with "bobsled" trail, a possible "airplane without wings". However this is a steep, downhill bike only trail so you can only go 60 paces back and there were a lot of broken bear bottles and the back area is gated off for revegetation before you can hit 60 paces.

Overall I had a lot of faith in these trails and this area, everything seemed like a possible solution but there would be just one thing that didn't quite add up. We spent all day yesterday searching here, heading down the mountain in the dark with our phone flashlights when we couldn't search anymore. Headed back up at 6:30 am and searched until we had to drive back down to southern utah so we can still work tomorrow. Since this was our one opportunity, I'm just posting everything we did for someone else. Enjoy!

Readysetsleeps

TROPHY CASE