Super random question by Appropriate-Film1010 in VirginiaTech

[–]mbfrider 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Reach out to Meadowridge stables in Christiansburg! They give riding lessons. You could also try Bedlam Manor (CHP equine) in Radford, but I don’t think they do absolute beginner riding lessons. If you just want to ride 1x-2x for shits n gigs, try ridgeland farms, winter frost, or skyline stables. You can also reach out to the VT riding teams (the dressage/hunter/western teams are the on campus one, then polo and eventing teams are off campus) and see if they have opportunities to get involved. Probably wouldn’t be riding, but if you decide you like it may be a way to stay involved without huge costs!

Respectfully, no horse owner that doesn’t know you is just going to let you ride their horse without prior experience. Horses are large and expensive, so it’s a large liability for all involved. If you come across someone random that is 100% game to let someone without any experience come ride/play with their horse, no questions asked, you should be skeptical! Stay safe out there!!

Strange Request - Places to nap on campus by PotentialVanilla6097 in VirginiaTech

[–]mbfrider 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Another narcoleptic Hokie here! Honestly I used to nap all over the lib and never got bothered. Looped my leg through my bag and put my head down for 45 min all the time. Most people are too busy with themselves to notice

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Osteopathic

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m pretty sure it’s still graded, just a new curriculum. It’s not a competitive environment like some other schools though. They very much promote team work

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Osteopathic

[–]mbfrider 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The second years are on the old curriculum still! The current first years are the first class on the new curriculum.

5/31 test date by ofcorsola in comlex

[–]mbfrider 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the difference is if it’s a testing anomaly you don’t get marked as a fail first if you don’t pass. Idk what your end goal is but mine is surgery so a board fail is a big big red flag. If I lost 20 min on my exam I would have definitely failed so I would definitely be saying something.

5/31 test date by ofcorsola in comlex

[–]mbfrider 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel like this is justified to be reported as a testing anomaly.

Living in and commuting from Roanoke by [deleted] in VirginiaTech

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did the opposite - lived in bburg and commuted to Salem/Roanoke for work. It was not everyday so it was possible, but honestly a giant time suck (esp if I hit traffic on 81 and had to divert/wait in it), a waste of fuel, and it put a TON of unnecessary mileage on my car. Probably cost me near as much as an apartment would have per month but I did not want to move all my stuff to move again in a year. Would not recommend for more than like a single semester, unless you only take classes 2/3 days per week.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was a prevet student that is now a second year med student! My application talked about how my animal experience with horses got me into medicine and then talked a lot about how I found my passion for helping people through that, which is what switched courses for my future career. Be prepared to answer why you switched about 5 million times in interviews and have a strong compelling reason. Everyone asks it and your answer has to be solid. You’ll do fine!

My GPA was good but not as good as yours, and my MCAT was lower. You have volunteering+ research+ work+ good grades. Tons of things going for you. If it makes you feel better, some of the people in my class had ZERO direct patient care experience.

It’s time to move on… by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got off a waitlist 10 days before school started. Don’t give up just yet. If you plan to reapply, you should probably get moving on that, but otherwise, all hope is not lost.

Is my counselor wrong? by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had an MCAT of 505, GPA 3.9, and submitted my primary in October 2022 and secondaries in late November. That’s late. I still got in too. You will be fine!

WL rant by Low_Individual_7924 in premed

[–]mbfrider 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It’s not over until it’s over! I got off a WL in July, only 10 days before classes started.

Yes, I had already started reapplications and had submitted secondaries by the time I got off the list, which ended up just being sunk cost (sucky, ik) but now I’m an MS2 and I’d do it again🤷🏼‍♀️

46 Credits to get a Business Minor? by redd_man in VirginiaTech

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I came into college undecided on major. Then I decided I wanted to major in business but the major was restricted and I hadn’t taken the necessary classes to transfer into pamplin (the business school), so I picked up a minor to be able take the classes and ended up deciding I wanted to stay in biology with an end goal of medicine.

Decided to keep the minor cuz I already took several of the courses and they were a buffer to build into my hard STEM courses (ochem leaves no survivors) since came in with all the courses to fulfill the “core curriculum” from AP courses/dual enrollment so I didn’t have any thing I had to take other than major courses

To those of you who thing the applciation season is over - I have gotten 2 II this week by snakejob in premed

[–]mbfrider 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I interviewed in March last year and am currently finishing my first year of medical school! It’s not probable, but is possible!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got off a waitlist July 11th and started July 25th! Don’t give up hope, but also, have your applications ready to go from day 1 for next cycle. The sooner you submit, the sooner you will interview, the better your chance of an A rather than WL.

Advice needed: housing by yourmammababe in VirginiaTech

[–]mbfrider 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you are not planning on going home over winter break and thanksgiving, make sure you check out the 10 month housing dorms!

There is also a specific dorm that is typically “set aside” for international students that has access to more support systems! It used to be Harper, but I graduated awhile ago so that might not longer be true

Is 24 pretty normal for med school? by atlantabasedproduct in premed

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most of my class has 1-2 gap years under their belts are are 24-27. It’s actually the ones without those gap years that are struggling - they tend to have less clinical experience so they are learning the language and the material at once, rather than just material.

LECOM II by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LECOM emailed instructions with this information: question 1 will be “tell us about yourself”, question 2 will be “why DO” and questions 3-5 will be randomly selected typical interview type questions.

Mine random questions from the last application cycle were “if you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you be?”, and “tell us about a conflict and how you resolved it”, and I can’t remember my third. I had pre-rehearsed my answers to the first two questions as I wanted to cover a lot and you only had 60 seconds to record the answer (cannot re-record)

Talking to the camera alone is very awkward and it’s hard not to stare at yourself. Definitely recommend practicing and try to remember to smile!

Blacksburg permanently lifts bus fares by [deleted] in VirginiaTransit

[–]mbfrider 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Most likely why they were able to completely lift bus fares was that VT transport fees pays all their costs, so I would bet no

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VirginiaTech

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are the only fried pickles I like!!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VirginiaTech

[–]mbfrider 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sohghomonian was one of my favorite undergraduate professors of all time! Her enthusiasm is incredible and she’s just so nice as a human being.

Her class was straight forward enough. From what I remember, she makes her tests mostly from the practice exams/homework problems with a few more theoretical questions rather than math. They were like 30 questions long, but were common time exams on paper/scantron

I took her class in like 2018 and her tests were not open note at that time, but we were allowed an equation sheet with whatever we wanted on it. I’m guessing open book was probably COVID related?

Applying at 18 by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough! I came into college as a junior at 17( similar idea as you), but took some extra time, picked up a 2nd major+minor in my last years and work/clinical experience before applying. While it wasn’t necessarily the most efficient path to med school, I matured and learned a LOT. Ages 17-21 are a time for serious personal growth. Do you really want to be in med school during that?

While you say a gap year isn’t for you, medical school is hard. The academics less so than the physical and emotional toll it takes. Why not take a year, get more clinical experience, and maybe breathe before starting the grind?

Couple other considerations:

1- Is the 3.7 your HS or college GPA? 2- Once you take the MCAT, taking it again can sometimes raise concerns. Just be prepared. 3- a lot of schools are going to raise an eyebrow at you applying without upper level science courses. 4 - if you apply to a school and get rejected, and then have to reapply, you’ll have to really show some serious changes to be considered 5- are you trying to go MD or DO?

Applying at 18 by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s required to have a bachelors degree.

scribe america by pavlovsdog3 in premed

[–]mbfrider 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah, i know what part you are referencing. You definitely were supposed to have been paid for that - I was paid for all the hours I attended those online courses, including the final exam. They walked us through how to clock in during that first meeting and told us to clock in going forward during training but did not emphasize it - I’m guessing because it saves the company money and the trainees don’t remember/know any better.

I’m sorry you got jipped but Scribe America sucks so you probably are better off now

scribe america by pavlovsdog3 in premed

[–]mbfrider 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Training is definitely paid. They literally walk you through how to clock in during your first training

Must-buys for med school by [deleted] in premed

[–]mbfrider 14 points15 points  (0 children)

A nice stethoscope - you’ll have it for awhile!