November 30. 10:48AM. My Crib-Inner Sunset, San Francisco.
I woke up early today in an attempt to do my piling laundry and because I am having a terrible pounding headache as well. I took two aspirin tablets and bam!; Headache is gone but laundry is still there. I'll postpone laundry for tomorrow.
As a usual routine, I checked my twitter and was baffled by what Elena Bautista-Horn claimed that GMA is a subject of a purported Oplan: Put The Little Girl to Sleep. This is the most interestingly stupid idea that came from the camp of the former president. I am a big fan of GMA and still am up to this point. But what her agents portrayed are totally unbelievable and I am not buying that sh*t from Len Bautista.
On the other side, I am almost systems-go with my plans in 2013. I just pray that everything will run smoothly as planned.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Who would want to leave this place?
November 29. 9:56 PM. My Crib-Inner Sunset, San Francisco.
Well, well, well. After 2 weeks of hiatus, I'm finally back and yet again. I was busy these past few weeks and I have just regained my balance after the Thanksgiving holiday. I admit, it was really stressful.
Nevertheless, I am back to my original routine of preparing for law school admission next year while trying to juggle it with work, full time! Although it is an over-kill working two jobs at the same time, you will be delighted for sure seeing your paycheck afterwards. All this for law school in 2013.
I have been working at UCSF for almost three years now and I admit, I have grown to love this place ever since I moved from New York City to San Francisco a few years ago. Leaving the Big Apple is really hard. I have to adjust for a year before I finally came into a realization that there was indeed no turning back. And now that I have been with UCSF for quite sometime, I can say that the decision to leave Big Apple and move into the Sunshine state is the best decision I made.
One of the reasons why, is due to the prestige of the institution. UCSF has been considered by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 10 medical centers in the entire U.S. and one of the leading institutions in the field of neurology and neurosurgery in the world. There is no doubt everybody wants to work here. As a matter of fact, out of 5,780 applications the medical center had received in June 2008, there was only 24 selected for various nursing (R.N.) positions. Luckily, I was included in the 24. I can still remember the time when the medical center called me for personal interview. I have to endure a long 6 hour flight from NYC to San Francisco just to attend the interview and then back on a red-eye flight to NYC that same day.
Second of all, the salary is way to far compared to other hospitals in the entire United States. San Francisco R.N.s are in fact, the highest paid R.N.s in the continent. A San Francisco R.N.(whether you're working for UCSF, Stanford, California Pacific, Kaiser or the San Francisco County) would hit an average $50-65/hr plus differentials, certifications and of course years of experience. That is almost seven times the minimum wage of $7.65 prescribed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Lastly, the view. See for yourself. UCSF stands high in the middle of Mt. Sutro Forest Reserve. Just across the famous Twin Peaks. (used to be a soap in TV in the mid-90s)
If you were in my shoes, would you leave such lucrative job in exchange for fulfilling your hopes to be a lawyer?
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Well, well, well. After 2 weeks of hiatus, I'm finally back and yet again. I was busy these past few weeks and I have just regained my balance after the Thanksgiving holiday. I admit, it was really stressful.
Nevertheless, I am back to my original routine of preparing for law school admission next year while trying to juggle it with work, full time! Although it is an over-kill working two jobs at the same time, you will be delighted for sure seeing your paycheck afterwards. All this for law school in 2013.
I have been working at UCSF for almost three years now and I admit, I have grown to love this place ever since I moved from New York City to San Francisco a few years ago. Leaving the Big Apple is really hard. I have to adjust for a year before I finally came into a realization that there was indeed no turning back. And now that I have been with UCSF for quite sometime, I can say that the decision to leave Big Apple and move into the Sunshine state is the best decision I made.
One of the reasons why, is due to the prestige of the institution. UCSF has been considered by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 10 medical centers in the entire U.S. and one of the leading institutions in the field of neurology and neurosurgery in the world. There is no doubt everybody wants to work here. As a matter of fact, out of 5,780 applications the medical center had received in June 2008, there was only 24 selected for various nursing (R.N.) positions. Luckily, I was included in the 24. I can still remember the time when the medical center called me for personal interview. I have to endure a long 6 hour flight from NYC to San Francisco just to attend the interview and then back on a red-eye flight to NYC that same day.
Second of all, the salary is way to far compared to other hospitals in the entire United States. San Francisco R.N.s are in fact, the highest paid R.N.s in the continent. A San Francisco R.N.(whether you're working for UCSF, Stanford, California Pacific, Kaiser or the San Francisco County) would hit an average $50-65/hr plus differentials, certifications and of course years of experience. That is almost seven times the minimum wage of $7.65 prescribed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
If you were in my shoes, would you leave such lucrative job in exchange for fulfilling your hopes to be a lawyer?
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Taking this seriously.
I'm back..... for now. 11:15pm. Inner Sunset, San Francisco, California.
So finally, I have decided to pursue my law school plans in 2013 as suppose to going into medical school, after a conversation with few trusted people last week. To prepare myself, I need to sharpen whatever that is left in my frontal lobe. I have been out of the academic setting for quite sometime and I fear that without enough preparation, I will definitely flunk the exam. Complacency is definitely the twin sibling of the lazy.
To prevent that from happening, I did some empirical blog readings about the coverage of Ateneo Law Entrance Exam. I was not surprised. It obviously is composed of purely logical and analytical questions that will gauge a prospective student of his or her success in the study of law. To date, I purchased BARRON's LSAT, The Princeton Review LSAT, KAPLAN's Miller Analogies, KAPLAN's GMAT Quantitative Reasoning workbook and a bunch of TOEFL Review materials. Personally I think this is an overkill but I'd better be prepared. I have also prepared a time-table about my review plan.
During Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays-Logical Reasoning; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays-Abstract/Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning; Sundays-Grammar and Composition, Summaries, Briefs and Essays and Reading Comprehension.
So far, I have not started yet. I have the entire year to prepare for the December 2012 Ateneo Law Entrance Test. I know I can do this.
.... Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
So finally, I have decided to pursue my law school plans in 2013 as suppose to going into medical school, after a conversation with few trusted people last week. To prepare myself, I need to sharpen whatever that is left in my frontal lobe. I have been out of the academic setting for quite sometime and I fear that without enough preparation, I will definitely flunk the exam. Complacency is definitely the twin sibling of the lazy.
To prevent that from happening, I did some empirical blog readings about the coverage of Ateneo Law Entrance Exam. I was not surprised. It obviously is composed of purely logical and analytical questions that will gauge a prospective student of his or her success in the study of law. To date, I purchased BARRON's LSAT, The Princeton Review LSAT, KAPLAN's Miller Analogies, KAPLAN's GMAT Quantitative Reasoning workbook and a bunch of TOEFL Review materials. Personally I think this is an overkill but I'd better be prepared. I have also prepared a time-table about my review plan.
During Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays-Logical Reasoning; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays-Abstract/Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning; Sundays-Grammar and Composition, Summaries, Briefs and Essays and Reading Comprehension.
So far, I have not started yet. I have the entire year to prepare for the December 2012 Ateneo Law Entrance Test. I know I can do this.
.... Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Monday, October 24, 2011
From 227 lbs to 204 lbs. 23 lbs in 5 weeks!
So after ditching my plan of going into UERMMC and after a month long vacay in the Philippines. I gained almost 27 lbs! But thanks to my ever VEGAN diet, I'm beginning to lose these gained pounds again!
So here's my diet plan:
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I only take a glass of V8 Vegetable Juice (90 calories) each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No other solid foods!
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, a glass of Whey protein Energy Drink (70 calories) each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No other solid foods!
Plus I also do moderate walking and running in between days.
Sundays are my cheat days. I get to eat anything I want as long as it's limited to a 2,000 calories food equivalent.
So far, it's effective!
So here's my diet plan:
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I only take a glass of V8 Vegetable Juice (90 calories) each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No other solid foods!
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, a glass of Whey protein Energy Drink (70 calories) each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No other solid foods!
Plus I also do moderate walking and running in between days.
Sundays are my cheat days. I get to eat anything I want as long as it's limited to a 2,000 calories food equivalent.
So far, it's effective!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
a day full of surprises....
My day was filled with surprises. It may be hard to comprehend but I know that what transpired today will just be another thing in the past come tomorrow.
I had a conversation with Gil earlier over the phone and I was surprised of his decision not to push through with medical school next year. At first I was furious to the point that I nearly yelled at him over the phone. He was the one who dragged me into the whole thing of going to medical school and all of a sudden he would back out. I could not understand what he was trying to tell me at first. It seems that my whole world stopped for a moment. I could not even hear what he's trying to tell me. A minute passed and we were back in conversation again. I started to hear him out and I know his reasons are far beyond his decision not push through as planned. We almost talked for an hour and I'm beginning to see the value of his apprehensions for the moment. I wish they would just go away so that we can proceed as planned and thus put everybody in a happy place. But one thing I have learned from what we conversed earlier; a decision should be thought of a thousand times; weighing the pros and the cons and testing it in clear waters so that we could gauge the effect.
Honestly, the conversation Gil and I had earlier rocked my plans for next year. But nevertheless, I will still proceed as planned. I just ask the Lord to guide me....
You, Lord have always been there for me. I know you'll never tire...
I had a conversation with Gil earlier over the phone and I was surprised of his decision not to push through with medical school next year. At first I was furious to the point that I nearly yelled at him over the phone. He was the one who dragged me into the whole thing of going to medical school and all of a sudden he would back out. I could not understand what he was trying to tell me at first. It seems that my whole world stopped for a moment. I could not even hear what he's trying to tell me. A minute passed and we were back in conversation again. I started to hear him out and I know his reasons are far beyond his decision not push through as planned. We almost talked for an hour and I'm beginning to see the value of his apprehensions for the moment. I wish they would just go away so that we can proceed as planned and thus put everybody in a happy place. But one thing I have learned from what we conversed earlier; a decision should be thought of a thousand times; weighing the pros and the cons and testing it in clear waters so that we could gauge the effect.
Honestly, the conversation Gil and I had earlier rocked my plans for next year. But nevertheless, I will still proceed as planned. I just ask the Lord to guide me....
You, Lord have always been there for me. I know you'll never tire...
Mariah Carey and NMAT Review=Me singing Mariah early in the morning.
I woke up today at 10 a.m. feeling bloated because of the Chinese food that I binged in last night for dinner. I should not have ordered it. Bad bad bad. Nevertheless, I feel refreshed and rejuvinated and more on the positive note today after learning of this video clips from UC Berkeley where Prof. Heino Nitsche lectures about General Chemistry. I was already getting desperate because despite of countless hours of reading about Matter, Chemical Reaction, Balancing Equations and anything under the name of Chemistry. Darn, I still could not understand it. Thanks to Prof. Nitsche, I now can at least watch his wonderful lectures. He is truly indeed a genius.
I'm starting my day today with a cup of tea and played Mariah's Butterfly album. Feeling inspired, I started singing her songs to the top of my lungs giving myself some respite on top of this whole cramming thing. I said to myself that I am going to take this whole chemistry fiasco one step at a time and believe me I will. I also made a study outline of the NMAT and shall be posting it it my next blogs.
Hasta Tardes mi amigos, amigas. I wish everybody a nice and wonderful day ahead.
And oh yes, thank you Lord for another day and for everything you have done for me. You are truly magnificent.
I'm starting my day today with a cup of tea and played Mariah's Butterfly album. Feeling inspired, I started singing her songs to the top of my lungs giving myself some respite on top of this whole cramming thing. I said to myself that I am going to take this whole chemistry fiasco one step at a time and believe me I will. I also made a study outline of the NMAT and shall be posting it it my next blogs.
Hasta Tardes mi amigos, amigas. I wish everybody a nice and wonderful day ahead.
And oh yes, thank you Lord for another day and for everything you have done for me. You are truly magnificent.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
UERM College of Medicine vs UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
Okay okay, I was just blogging a while ago that I would spend the rest of the afternoon studying Chemistry and Physics. Oh well, I lied. I just could not take the volume of things that I have to brush up. I am super brain-fucked right now. In all reality, I can say that if I am going to take the NMAT now, I am sure that I am not even gonna reach the median score. In all fairness, it was almost 16 years ago since I last studied Chemistry and Physics in an academic environment.
So I just decided to hit my mac, updated my facebook and twitter status and wrote this blog. Earlier in the afternoon I had a long distance chat (cough, expensive, cough, expensive ) with Artchell to ask some tips about how to ace the NMAT but the conversation did not push thru as planned. We just had a casual conversation of how's life yadah yadah yadah. And so an hour passed...
After updating my facebook profile, I came into the idea of bumping and comparing two of the best medical schools in the Philippines and enumerating the pros and cons of going to either. I came to a conclusion that UERM is a better fit for me compared to UST simply because of the things listed below:
1. UERM holds applicant interview here in the US versus UST which does not. This in a way will save me thousands of dollars in expenses of just going back home and attending a 30 minute interview wherein the only things they will ask you are: Are you married? How will you support you education? Do you have a car? Where will you live? Do you have relatives that were alumnus of this school? I mean, why would these questions even matter?
2. UERM has definitely lived up to its ideals as a non-profit school instead of a money-making institution. The tuition fee is way low compared to UST. Currently, UERM charges students approximately 85 to 90 thousand pesos a semester while UST charges a hefty 110 to 120 thousand a semester. Come on, for a school run by a Catholic religious order? The Pope will not be so pleased if he knows about this. Education should be for all and not for those who can afford.
3. IPBL versus Traditional Curriculum. The controversy sets in here. For me, who has been a nurse for almost ten years and have practiced my profession in the Middle East and the United States, an IPBL would suit me best. It teaches students integration and clinical management of disease process in a problem based approach. In this set up, you get to learn a bunch of things from Anatomy and Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition and Biochemistry, Rehabilitation as well as Pathopsychology of the disease process. It is well fit for an independent learner like me. USTs Traditional curriculum on the other hand tackles basic medical sciences subjects and later on integrates things during the clinical clerkship and JI level. In the long run, I cannot afford to loose whatever clinical skills that I have right now and brush it up again later on. So I choose UERM.
4. Lastly, UERM holds US clerkship rotations in New York and Chicago while UST have none. If I decide to apply for US matching program for clinical residency, I believe the US clerkship will prove beneficial. No questions asked.
So, summarizing the points I have tackled above, UERM takes a 4/4 score while UST is 0/4 based on my own criteria. I just wish I will be able to get in UERMMMC. It is now my 'dream school'. I know they raised their standards for next year's incoming freshman. I will just have to hope and trust in God's infinite mercy!
Way to go UERM!!!
So I just decided to hit my mac, updated my facebook and twitter status and wrote this blog. Earlier in the afternoon I had a long distance chat (cough, expensive, cough, expensive ) with Artchell to ask some tips about how to ace the NMAT but the conversation did not push thru as planned. We just had a casual conversation of how's life yadah yadah yadah. And so an hour passed...
After updating my facebook profile, I came into the idea of bumping and comparing two of the best medical schools in the Philippines and enumerating the pros and cons of going to either. I came to a conclusion that UERM is a better fit for me compared to UST simply because of the things listed below:
1. UERM holds applicant interview here in the US versus UST which does not. This in a way will save me thousands of dollars in expenses of just going back home and attending a 30 minute interview wherein the only things they will ask you are: Are you married? How will you support you education? Do you have a car? Where will you live? Do you have relatives that were alumnus of this school? I mean, why would these questions even matter?
2. UERM has definitely lived up to its ideals as a non-profit school instead of a money-making institution. The tuition fee is way low compared to UST. Currently, UERM charges students approximately 85 to 90 thousand pesos a semester while UST charges a hefty 110 to 120 thousand a semester. Come on, for a school run by a Catholic religious order? The Pope will not be so pleased if he knows about this. Education should be for all and not for those who can afford.
3. IPBL versus Traditional Curriculum. The controversy sets in here. For me, who has been a nurse for almost ten years and have practiced my profession in the Middle East and the United States, an IPBL would suit me best. It teaches students integration and clinical management of disease process in a problem based approach. In this set up, you get to learn a bunch of things from Anatomy and Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition and Biochemistry, Rehabilitation as well as Pathopsychology of the disease process. It is well fit for an independent learner like me. USTs Traditional curriculum on the other hand tackles basic medical sciences subjects and later on integrates things during the clinical clerkship and JI level. In the long run, I cannot afford to loose whatever clinical skills that I have right now and brush it up again later on. So I choose UERM.
4. Lastly, UERM holds US clerkship rotations in New York and Chicago while UST have none. If I decide to apply for US matching program for clinical residency, I believe the US clerkship will prove beneficial. No questions asked.
So, summarizing the points I have tackled above, UERM takes a 4/4 score while UST is 0/4 based on my own criteria. I just wish I will be able to get in UERMMMC. It is now my 'dream school'. I know they raised their standards for next year's incoming freshman. I will just have to hope and trust in God's infinite mercy!
Way to go UERM!!!
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