Why Ross University School of Medicine?
Why Ross University School of Medicine?
I find it funny that I always have to explain my actions every time I bring up Caribbean medical schools, as if I'm ashamed of it... and yet I still do it and will continue to do it whenever I bring them up.
*shrugs*
I've described myself as a very borderline candidate for medical school in the past. Things haven't changed. My GPA just isn't very competitive. The rest of my resume and experience is great. (Or at least, it's everything I've read what medical schools are looking for. And I've read a lot.)
I'm applying for both Ross University and St. George's University January '09 in-coming class. Two points I want to make clear:
I plan to apply to U.S. allopathic medical schools in addition to my other options (such as international schools and osteopathic medical schools. I'm applying to schools as their application deadlines come up. It just so happens that the deadlines for the January '09 classes for these schools is October by this year. (And for those of you who are wondering, application deadlines for U.S. schools are never this close to the actual class start date. You usually have to apply close to 1 year in advance.
Some people have no interest in international schools. Those people also usually have very competitive GPAs. I see nothing wrong with that point of view. It's just not me. At some point, you have to apply with what you have, not what you wish you would've accomplished.
This post is about some of the specifics about the Ross University application regarding the Personal Statement. Did you know that they only allow you to submit a 300 word essay? Like me, you probably have your 1500 word essay completed or at least have written a draft or two. Like me, you'll probably have to start from scratch because there's no way you're going to whittle 1500 words down to 300 and salvage any type of cohesion in the paper. There's just no way.
That essay is still getting some final revisions.
What I really wanted to do right now is point out the last page of the application. It's titled, "Additional Information: Please add any additional information you may have." And they leave a blank page with no mention of word length or specifics of any kind.
Excellent.
I've been working all day on the following essay. It brings up a lot of points that couldn't make the cut in the 300 word Personal Statement. Of all the things I could have written about, I chose to answer the question, "Why Ross University?" There a few reasons why I chose to apply to Ross University School of Medicine above all other U.S. and international medical schools.
After attending multiple seminars hosted by representatives and alumni of Ross, I began to research Ross University further, starting with their website.
On the website, in one promotional video in particular, a medical student being interviewed says, “I knew that I wanted to become an M.D. Ross gave me the opportunity to pursue that dream.” This really struck me on a personal level. I’m 26 years old and I’ve been out of high school for over 8 years now. The road I’ve taken to get where I am today wasn’t pretty. I’ve made some mistakes academically, especially in the years immediately following high school. After a few changes in my intended major and a lack of motivation to put in the hard work necessary (due to a lack of direction), I find my permanent academic history with a few weaknesses. “Ross gave me the opportunity to pursue that dream.” He said. It struck me because I could see myself in his place, speaking to the camera, saying the exact same thing.
Even with the seminars and the promotional information, there was still one final influence on my decision to apply to Ross - an influence I admire and respect a great deal. I first met Dr. Matthew Kelly working along side him at the Hyperbaric Unit of John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California. I was a transporter at the time. My duties involved, among other minor tasks, moving and helping patients to and from their rooms in the hospital and back and forth from their cars (if bound to a wheel chair). At the time I was studying Nursing and eventually began my Pre-med course work. Dr. Kelly was very accessible, answered all of my questions, inquired regularly about which books I was currently reading, educated me (as much as he could) about subjects such as medical insurance, hospital politics, and unabashedly stated his own views on many different issues. I worked along side him for 2 years. It turned out that wouldn’t be the last time I’d be seeing him.
One year after quitting my job, intending to put all my focus into being a full-time student, I call up my old job and I begin shadowing Dr. Kelly in the Emergency Room of St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco soon after. Dr. Kelly specializes in both Hyperbaric Medicine and Emergency Medicine. I remembered this and had a very good impression of him as a physician. He was the viagra cialis online pharmacy pharmacy, above all others, I wanted to shadow. Intending to specialize in Emergency Medicine myself, shadowing an emergency room doctor is something I knew I wanted to accomplish before sending my applications to medical school. It was just my good luck that Dr. Kelly was available and willing to take on my request. Over the course of the semester, many situations, patients, and conversations later, it’s only here that I learn he was a Ross alumnus. It’s only here I learn more about his background as a student. And it’s here that I ask him one question in particular:
“So you recommend Ross?” I ask, point blank.
“I do.” He looked at me and said without hesitation.
That’s all I needed to know. If Ross can produce a doctor of his caliber, I had little to worry about as far as the quality of education offered by Ross and the quality of the Ross Medical School in general. If I don’t meet or exceed his level as a physician, it’s due to my own inabilities and not the school’s. He is the bar I’m setting for myself.
From what I’ve learned from the seminars I’ve attended, from what I’ve read on the website, and from what I’ve experienced first hand from Ross graduates, Ross University really does give me hope that I’ll be able to achieve my goals… even through my mistakes of the past.
I mean every word.
edit: It looks like there is a limit. The very last paragraph couldn't fit into the field provided.
I find it funny that I always have to explain my actions every time I bring up Caribbean medical schools, as if I'm ashamed of it... and yet I still do it and will continue to do it whenever I bring them up.
*shrugs*
I've described myself as a very borderline candidate for medical school in the past. Things haven't changed. My GPA just isn't very competitive. The rest of my resume and experience is great. (Or at least, it's everything I've read what medical schools are looking for. And I've read a lot.)
I'm applying for both Ross University and St. George's University January '09 in-coming class. Two points I want to make clear:
- Yes, they are international medical schools. If you graduate from them, you'll have to live with the stigma of having not graduated from a non-U.S. school for the rest of your career and life.
- I've done my homework on these schools. If I get accepted, I not only will not have any regrets, but I'll consider myself lucky to have been given the chance to pursue my dream.
I plan to apply to U.S. allopathic medical schools in addition to my other options (such as international schools and osteopathic medical schools. I'm applying to schools as their application deadlines come up. It just so happens that the deadlines for the January '09 classes for these schools is October by this year. (And for those of you who are wondering, application deadlines for U.S. schools are never this close to the actual class start date. You usually have to apply close to 1 year in advance.
Some people have no interest in international schools. Those people also usually have very competitive GPAs. I see nothing wrong with that point of view. It's just not me. At some point, you have to apply with what you have, not what you wish you would've accomplished.
This post is about some of the specifics about the Ross University application regarding the Personal Statement. Did you know that they only allow you to submit a 300 word essay? Like me, you probably have your 1500 word essay completed or at least have written a draft or two. Like me, you'll probably have to start from scratch because there's no way you're going to whittle 1500 words down to 300 and salvage any type of cohesion in the paper. There's just no way.
That essay is still getting some final revisions.
What I really wanted to do right now is point out the last page of the application. It's titled, "Additional Information: Please add any additional information you may have." And they leave a blank page with no mention of word length or specifics of any kind.
Excellent.
I've been working all day on the following essay. It brings up a lot of points that couldn't make the cut in the 300 word Personal Statement. Of all the things I could have written about, I chose to answer the question, "Why Ross University?" There a few reasons why I chose to apply to Ross University School of Medicine above all other U.S. and international medical schools.
After attending multiple seminars hosted by representatives and alumni of Ross, I began to research Ross University further, starting with their website.
On the website, in one promotional video in particular, a medical student being interviewed says, “I knew that I wanted to become an M.D. Ross gave me the opportunity to pursue that dream.” This really struck me on a personal level. I’m 26 years old and I’ve been out of high school for over 8 years now. The road I’ve taken to get where I am today wasn’t pretty. I’ve made some mistakes academically, especially in the years immediately following high school. After a few changes in my intended major and a lack of motivation to put in the hard work necessary (due to a lack of direction), I find my permanent academic history with a few weaknesses. “Ross gave me the opportunity to pursue that dream.” He said. It struck me because I could see myself in his place, speaking to the camera, saying the exact same thing.
Even with the seminars and the promotional information, there was still one final influence on my decision to apply to Ross - an influence I admire and respect a great deal. I first met Dr. Matthew Kelly working along side him at the Hyperbaric Unit of John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California. I was a transporter at the time. My duties involved, among other minor tasks, moving and helping patients to and from their rooms in the hospital and back and forth from their cars (if bound to a wheel chair). At the time I was studying Nursing and eventually began my Pre-med course work. Dr. Kelly was very accessible, answered all of my questions, inquired regularly about which books I was currently reading, educated me (as much as he could) about subjects such as medical insurance, hospital politics, and unabashedly stated his own views on many different issues. I worked along side him for 2 years. It turned out that wouldn’t be the last time I’d be seeing him.
One year after quitting my job, intending to put all my focus into being a full-time student, I call up my old job and I begin shadowing Dr. Kelly in the Emergency Room of St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco soon after. Dr. Kelly specializes in both Hyperbaric Medicine and Emergency Medicine. I remembered this and had a very good impression of him as a physician. He was the viagra cialis online pharmacy pharmacy, above all others, I wanted to shadow. Intending to specialize in Emergency Medicine myself, shadowing an emergency room doctor is something I knew I wanted to accomplish before sending my applications to medical school. It was just my good luck that Dr. Kelly was available and willing to take on my request. Over the course of the semester, many situations, patients, and conversations later, it’s only here that I learn he was a Ross alumnus. It’s only here I learn more about his background as a student. And it’s here that I ask him one question in particular:
“So you recommend Ross?” I ask, point blank.
“I do.” He looked at me and said without hesitation.
That’s all I needed to know. If Ross can produce a doctor of his caliber, I had little to worry about as far as the quality of education offered by Ross and the quality of the Ross Medical School in general. If I don’t meet or exceed his level as a physician, it’s due to my own inabilities and not the school’s. He is the bar I’m setting for myself.
From what I’ve learned from the seminars I’ve attended, from what I’ve read on the website, and from what I’ve experienced first hand from Ross graduates, Ross University really does give me hope that I’ll be able to achieve my goals… even through my mistakes of the past.
I mean every word.
edit: It looks like there is a limit. The very last paragraph couldn't fit into the field provided.