Hello dear readers! I know I've been quiet lately, but what with hurting my ribs and grad school applications, I've been swamped. Couple that with a job hunt and school starting, and I do hope you can forgive me my silence.
BUT! I'm coming back with a vengeance, after I rant slightly about the application process.
So this is my own damned fault, frankly, but I forgot about deadlines for a program that I REALLY want to get into. It's close to home, I already know a ton of the faculty, and I'm already attending school there, albeit informally. So I scrambled and scrambled, and I'm getting everything together.
Here is what I hate about applications: they make you list your classes and grades ad nauseum for each program that you apply to. I don't think I realized how lucky I was with the AMCAS, because I had one application, one set of credentials to list, and one essay to write. Instead I have to write a statement that conforms to each programs' specifications, fill out two applications per program, and list my classes and grades according to each program's idiosyncratic application criteria. Exceptionally time consuming.
It was pointed out to me that they make students spend the time so that people who process applications don't have to; otherwise app fees would be astronomical and it would take forever to reach a decision because they'd have to pay people to do all of the busy work that I'm currently doing. It made me a little less bitchy, but only just. ;)
So grad school. I'm applying for master's programs or alternatively a series of classes that will hopefully make my med school applications look more competitive. I only have 4 of 16 med school applications still outstanding; the rest have declined to interview me. It is looking a bit grim, so I need backup plans. I have been told that I shouldn't take it personally, and I don't. I realize it is part of the process and that while I have lots of qualifications and experiences, my grades could be better and my MCAT scores stronger. Because of the economy, cutbacks in faculty hours and facilities, a lot of med schools are tightening their criteria. Makes a process that is really tough that much more difficult to get through successfully.
Plus my cellular neurophysiology class last semester was taught by two post docs, and both actively do research. One is a neurochemist who studies neurotransmitters, and the other looks into how the brain changes with drug dependency and did her thesis on how alcohol addiction changes the brain. Her model organism? Rats. Yes, she got rats drunk and looked to see how their brains changed over time. It's pretty frickin' awesome.
And they really got me excited and enthused about doing some research. I've been doing my research internship at SFGH, and I really have been enjoying that. I have read anecdotes about a couple of students who were accepted to medical school and decided not to because research was much more appealing to them. I realized that I don't know much about research, and that given where I am in my life, perhaps I should give it a fair try. Who knows, I may end up as a PhD and studying plasticity in drunk rats. It sounds like a great career to me.
So I'm applying to two MS programs and an MA program. I also applied to two programs that are not degree programs but would give me a stronger med school application next time around. I'm not sure how much I want to actually spend two years and not get a degree of some sort, but we'll see how this goes. One program is in New York, which is slightly scary. I don't know if I want to leave my husband for a year while I go do this program and then possibly go to another state that is not home to get my medical degree.
Perhaps you are getting a sense of what I'm up against. There are a number of variables in my life. Nothing is certain and everything seems convoluted. It is a bit scary because I don't know where my life is going, but it is also exciting. I have a number of opportunities available to me.
So I have all of my letters of recommendation lined up (easy! my advisors are the best and are so nice, even though I didn't give them as much time as I wanted to) the transcripts and exam scores are all ordered and sent, and my goal these next two days are to finish ALL of the applications and statements.
I also have a tentative offer to join a neurodevelopment lab at one school. I'm holding out for my first choice, but nothing will be decided or agreed upon until after applications are in anyway. Thankfully MS applications are NOT on a rolling basis like med school apps, so no movement is done on processing until after the deadline is passed. This is more of a benefit than it seems, because it gives me time to sort out things like which lab I can work in and thoughts about a project.
I am taking a pharmacology class and a systemic neurophysiology class this semester, so I will have lots of fun material to talk about. I really wanted to post a bit about action potentials and graded potentials, because they are the basis for everything that our brains do.
Till then, ciao!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Science =/= Religion
I will say this again, for anyone who is listening: SCIENCE IS NOT A RELIGION.
I HATE having this conversation over and over and over. Argh.
I HATE having this conversation over and over and over. Argh.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I Asked, And You Answered!
Because I was curious about how other people view the debate, I went around to a bunch of fantastic blogs that I follow and I asked the same question:
What is your opinion on the use of ridicule in a debate between a theist and an atheist? I know some people that say it's divisive and that it serves no purpose other than to drive a deeper wedge between groups. Can you talk about how you think it might be an effective tool when trying to change someone's mind about their belief?
In Reason,
-Reading Frame
http://reading-frame.blogspot.com
And boy, did you guys come up with some great answers.
Hateful Atheist just posted the response, and as always the explanation was well worded and thought out.
Bible Belt Atheist had a response so good that other folks reposted his response.
And in a slight detraction from the rest, Underground Skeptic thinks that ridicule is divisive and serves no purpose.
My personal opinion is that it is important to differentiate between an idea and the person having that idea. Certain ideas are incredibly asinine and deserve ridicule. The difficulty lies with the fact that many, if not all, religious people perceive themselves as being indistinguishable from their belief, and so attacking their ideas sounds like a personal affront.
Satire seems like a great way to shock people into thinking harder about their belief, and we know that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a magnificent piece of satire designed to show that intelligent design is really creationism dressed up in flowery pseudoscientific language.
It is also important to know your audience. Are you debating a theist because you really think you will change their mind, or are you doing it to defend your own beliefs, or are you doing it for someone else's benefit? It is a tactical considration that you must make, and it can go horribly wrong if you misjudge your audience.
Their responses have given me a lot of food for thought. Much obliged, gentlemen, for your time.
Stay Reasonable,
-RF
What is your opinion on the use of ridicule in a debate between a theist and an atheist? I know some people that say it's divisive and that it serves no purpose other than to drive a deeper wedge between groups. Can you talk about how you think it might be an effective tool when trying to change someone's mind about their belief?
In Reason,
-Reading Frame
http://reading-frame.blogspot.com
And boy, did you guys come up with some great answers.
Hateful Atheist just posted the response, and as always the explanation was well worded and thought out.
Bible Belt Atheist had a response so good that other folks reposted his response.
And in a slight detraction from the rest, Underground Skeptic thinks that ridicule is divisive and serves no purpose.
My personal opinion is that it is important to differentiate between an idea and the person having that idea. Certain ideas are incredibly asinine and deserve ridicule. The difficulty lies with the fact that many, if not all, religious people perceive themselves as being indistinguishable from their belief, and so attacking their ideas sounds like a personal affront.
Satire seems like a great way to shock people into thinking harder about their belief, and we know that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a magnificent piece of satire designed to show that intelligent design is really creationism dressed up in flowery pseudoscientific language.
It is also important to know your audience. Are you debating a theist because you really think you will change their mind, or are you doing it to defend your own beliefs, or are you doing it for someone else's benefit? It is a tactical considration that you must make, and it can go horribly wrong if you misjudge your audience.
Their responses have given me a lot of food for thought. Much obliged, gentlemen, for your time.
Stay Reasonable,
-RF
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Death For Blasphemy
A governor in Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, was murdered by his bodyguard, an unstable man by the name of Malik Mumtaz Qadir, after working to reform blasphemy laws.
Blasphemy laws. A law that says that blasphemy is punishable by death.
From Wikipedia, a concise definition of what, specifically, is blasphemy: defiling a Quran, defaming Muhammed, or generally saying just about anything that mocks or questions someone's faith.
This is beyond absurd, beyond monstrous, beyond barbaric. People are being thrown into prison for criticizing a violent religion that seeks to quiet dissent, by threats, murder, and intimidation, and some poor governor has now paid the ultimate price.
The person who murdered him, and openly confessed the crime, has been offered all kinds of legal support, and was awash in kisses and rose petals when he appeared in court.
Do these people have the most incredibly fucked up list of priorities ever, or is it just me? He KILLED SOMEONE, for working toward making the law a bit less harsh to people who criticized their violent religion or ripped up a book full of outmoded, antiquated, evil ideas. Not only do the people of Pakistan think that someone should die for that, but they are practically venerating the man who performed the deed.
Where are you, moderates? Why are there no loud voices saying that this is not Islam, violence isn't the way of our religion, we really aren't like that? Where are the people stubbornly insisting that Islam is a religion of peace? Why am I only hearing crickets?
If Islam is a religion of peace, then why does it open the door for things like this to happen? Why is it as a collective body actively trying to squash dissent and criticism to the point where people must fear for their lives?
What happened to Pakistan? It is seriously devolving into something that Muhammed, were he alive today, would be very proud of. And that is terrifying.
Let me break it down for you, in case the point has yet to be made clear: 900 years ago this behavior by your savior wasn't exactly appropriate, and it certainly isn't today. There is no excuse for this barbarism. I would have thought that most people would have grown past this, and now here you are, proving my optimism for the human race wrong yet again. This is a plague of mental illness that is sweeping the Middle East, and unfortunately a lot more people will have to die for this lunacy before people realize that killing someone over a book probably isn't the best way to treat your neighbor.
People who openly criticize the religion and the things done in the religion's name are having to go into hiding or are being killed. Atheist Oasis has a brief list, but unfortunately these are just the high-profile cases.
What can be done before this is brought to a halt? It seems like it would take a major social revolution to make that happen, if the thousands upon thousands of people that hit the streets after the governor was murdered are any indication. It was obviously a popular move. Butterflies and Wheels has a a statement made by the deceased man's son, expressing with clarity his sorrow over a Pakistan slipping away into theocracy.
In Reason,
-RF
Blasphemy laws. A law that says that blasphemy is punishable by death.
From Wikipedia, a concise definition of what, specifically, is blasphemy: defiling a Quran, defaming Muhammed, or generally saying just about anything that mocks or questions someone's faith.
This is beyond absurd, beyond monstrous, beyond barbaric. People are being thrown into prison for criticizing a violent religion that seeks to quiet dissent, by threats, murder, and intimidation, and some poor governor has now paid the ultimate price.
The person who murdered him, and openly confessed the crime, has been offered all kinds of legal support, and was awash in kisses and rose petals when he appeared in court.
Do these people have the most incredibly fucked up list of priorities ever, or is it just me? He KILLED SOMEONE, for working toward making the law a bit less harsh to people who criticized their violent religion or ripped up a book full of outmoded, antiquated, evil ideas. Not only do the people of Pakistan think that someone should die for that, but they are practically venerating the man who performed the deed.
Where are you, moderates? Why are there no loud voices saying that this is not Islam, violence isn't the way of our religion, we really aren't like that? Where are the people stubbornly insisting that Islam is a religion of peace? Why am I only hearing crickets?
If Islam is a religion of peace, then why does it open the door for things like this to happen? Why is it as a collective body actively trying to squash dissent and criticism to the point where people must fear for their lives?
What happened to Pakistan? It is seriously devolving into something that Muhammed, were he alive today, would be very proud of. And that is terrifying.
Let me break it down for you, in case the point has yet to be made clear: 900 years ago this behavior by your savior wasn't exactly appropriate, and it certainly isn't today. There is no excuse for this barbarism. I would have thought that most people would have grown past this, and now here you are, proving my optimism for the human race wrong yet again. This is a plague of mental illness that is sweeping the Middle East, and unfortunately a lot more people will have to die for this lunacy before people realize that killing someone over a book probably isn't the best way to treat your neighbor.
People who openly criticize the religion and the things done in the religion's name are having to go into hiding or are being killed. Atheist Oasis has a brief list, but unfortunately these are just the high-profile cases.
What can be done before this is brought to a halt? It seems like it would take a major social revolution to make that happen, if the thousands upon thousands of people that hit the streets after the governor was murdered are any indication. It was obviously a popular move. Butterflies and Wheels has a a statement made by the deceased man's son, expressing with clarity his sorrow over a Pakistan slipping away into theocracy.
In Reason,
-RF
Thursday, January 6, 2011
IRS vs. Medical Residents
In November, the Supreme Court essentially said that the IRS can categorize medical residents similarly to apprentice tradespeople or law clerks, due to an overall reluctance to overturn an arbitrary rule that medical residents must pay Social Security taxes.
But medical residents are students. They get paid a pittance so that they can survive while going to school. That pittance is essentially compensation for the egregious number of hours that the teaching hospital requires them to put in while receiving training for their job.
About.com states that in exchange for a list of required tasks to complete at the hospital (remember, 80 hours a week in 16 hour shifts) most residents make approximately $35,000 a year with increases of about $1500 a year until completion or fellowship.
A side note: where did Justice Sotamayor get the $50,000 a year figure? Most sources I have checked say anywhere from $35-40 K a year for most residents at most teaching hospitals.
In most areas of the country, that is barely enough to survive. Throw in the fact that the laws regarding loan repayments have recently changed, and thus the number of students that qualify for deferments/forbearance/grace from their creditors has gone down, and you have some desperately poor medical residents.
You want to tax doctors? Fine, do just that. I think that the rich should have to pay more in taxes anyway, because they can afford to. But while residents may have their MD, they are not full-fledged doctors yet, and thus aren't making that six figure salary. We are facing a critical shortage of doctors in this country, and the federal government certainly isn't making life any easier for the people that are trying to get out there and help the sick and the ailing.
I do sympathize with the idea that Social Security taxes are a big source of revenue. I get that. But right now the rules are exceptionally arbitrary. We need to ease up on residents and clearly define the difference between people who work to get to school and educate themselves and people who work to support themselves.
But medical residents are students. They get paid a pittance so that they can survive while going to school. That pittance is essentially compensation for the egregious number of hours that the teaching hospital requires them to put in while receiving training for their job.
About.com states that in exchange for a list of required tasks to complete at the hospital (remember, 80 hours a week in 16 hour shifts) most residents make approximately $35,000 a year with increases of about $1500 a year until completion or fellowship.
A side note: where did Justice Sotamayor get the $50,000 a year figure? Most sources I have checked say anywhere from $35-40 K a year for most residents at most teaching hospitals.
In most areas of the country, that is barely enough to survive. Throw in the fact that the laws regarding loan repayments have recently changed, and thus the number of students that qualify for deferments/forbearance/grace from their creditors has gone down, and you have some desperately poor medical residents.
You want to tax doctors? Fine, do just that. I think that the rich should have to pay more in taxes anyway, because they can afford to. But while residents may have their MD, they are not full-fledged doctors yet, and thus aren't making that six figure salary. We are facing a critical shortage of doctors in this country, and the federal government certainly isn't making life any easier for the people that are trying to get out there and help the sick and the ailing.
I do sympathize with the idea that Social Security taxes are a big source of revenue. I get that. But right now the rules are exceptionally arbitrary. We need to ease up on residents and clearly define the difference between people who work to get to school and educate themselves and people who work to support themselves.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Mock Indignation Post
This was going to be my next post of substance: a bit of irritation aimed at the American Medical Student Association for buying into the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) crap....
But then I found this. *shakes fist angrily* Damn you Orac for stealing my thunder. ;)
He pretty much covers everything that I wanted to talk about, as well as links to previous articles that he has written.
My problem with this whole snafu is that students that don't know a whole lot about quackery might well get sucked into this stuff because of the verbiage involved. "Holistic, huh? That sounds good..." "Everyone knows you have to take your vitamins!"
They don't realize that such things are essentially scams, and that they are being suckered into a modality that has no scientific basis whatsoever. Even more disturbing is the idea that these people graduate from medical school thinking they are helping their patients when they are simply peddling woo.
I was disgusted to find that California Pacific Medical Center, right around the corner from where I live in San Francisco, has an "Integrative Health Center".
Codename for bullshit.
But then I found this. *shakes fist angrily* Damn you Orac for stealing my thunder. ;)
He pretty much covers everything that I wanted to talk about, as well as links to previous articles that he has written.
My problem with this whole snafu is that students that don't know a whole lot about quackery might well get sucked into this stuff because of the verbiage involved. "Holistic, huh? That sounds good..." "Everyone knows you have to take your vitamins!"
They don't realize that such things are essentially scams, and that they are being suckered into a modality that has no scientific basis whatsoever. Even more disturbing is the idea that these people graduate from medical school thinking they are helping their patients when they are simply peddling woo.
I was disgusted to find that California Pacific Medical Center, right around the corner from where I live in San Francisco, has an "Integrative Health Center".
Codename for bullshit.
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