DONE! ... mostly.
Today I received confirmation that I have completed all the classes that I need to take to become a Chiropractor.
Roughly six years ago, I began this impossible journey to finish 6 years of higher education for the purpose of becoming a Chiropractor. Six years ago I started by working full-time and taking night classes for two years to fill in all the holes that a Software Engineering degree has in relation to a Pre-Medical degree. (That is a lot for those who are not aware...). Followed by 4 years of full-time graduate school education in one of the more difficult chiropractic programs in the country. At the time it was just a goal. A huge, impossible goal. A dream.
Today I get to wake up. I got my final grades from my final classes and exams. I have passed all the classes necessary to receive the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic. And a BS in Human Anatomy. To be specific, in addition to the undergraduate prerequisites, that comes to a grand total of 426 credit hours in approximately 100 classes, and comes to about 4260 class room hours. With an average of 32.5 credit hours per term over the past 3.5 years and 13 terms. Those are 32.5 credit hours in a graduate school program. A very difficult and challenging graduate school program. And throw in a couple of extra classes and a thesis for the BS.
That is an average of 8 midterms and 8 final exams per term. (which means a lot of scantrons) And some classes had 2 or 3 midterms plus a final. Some classes had quizzes every week. One instructor felt it necessary to have a '3 minute probe' each week. A three minute quiz on Tues at the beginning of class. To be returned to your clinic mail box within 12 hours with comments on it. Comments like 'Come see me' or 'Make an appoint to meet with me in my office' or 'please write and explain why your answer to #2 is wrong and see me before the next class'. This same instructor, the next class went from giving written probes to calling you out in class by name, and asking these same types of questions in front of all your peers, and then critiquing your answer in front of the whole class. You might be surprised to find out that I came to really like this instructor and his methods, because he really challenged us to be on our toes and to think like doctors.
All this while also attempting to be a father and husband and son and brother. And Cubmaster and sunday school teacher. All while trying to maintain my life.
All that is actually remaining is that I complete my internship hours required. (270 clinic hours). I already have all the clinic requirements done as far as patient visits, and different types of exams, etc. All that I really have left are the hours requirements. So I just need to put in my time and I will officially be a Doctor.
To get a license to practice, I still have one more National board exam to pass, and I have to wait until November to take that. After that it will be Dr. Slacker DC.
Now I can start thinking about all those things that I have been avoiding or putting off so that I can keep focused on school. Things like golf, and DnD, and video games, and movies. (and blogging) Not that I haven't participated in any of these things, indeed some of them have provided a much needed release while wading through this program, but I have not been able to really enjoy and get into any of them for the past 4 years. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't play golf until I was done, now I get to get my clubs out and clean them off and start to swing them again. Now I get to play DnD without guilt, now I can play some of the video games that I have been avoiding for so long so as not to get sucked in. Now I can read a book for pleasure and not feel guilty about needing to read a chapter or my notes to prepare for the next exam or quiz.
Now the classes are DONE, and the work begins.
Roughly six years ago, I began this impossible journey to finish 6 years of higher education for the purpose of becoming a Chiropractor. Six years ago I started by working full-time and taking night classes for two years to fill in all the holes that a Software Engineering degree has in relation to a Pre-Medical degree. (That is a lot for those who are not aware...). Followed by 4 years of full-time graduate school education in one of the more difficult chiropractic programs in the country. At the time it was just a goal. A huge, impossible goal. A dream.
Today I get to wake up. I got my final grades from my final classes and exams. I have passed all the classes necessary to receive the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic. And a BS in Human Anatomy. To be specific, in addition to the undergraduate prerequisites, that comes to a grand total of 426 credit hours in approximately 100 classes, and comes to about 4260 class room hours. With an average of 32.5 credit hours per term over the past 3.5 years and 13 terms. Those are 32.5 credit hours in a graduate school program. A very difficult and challenging graduate school program. And throw in a couple of extra classes and a thesis for the BS.
That is an average of 8 midterms and 8 final exams per term. (which means a lot of scantrons) And some classes had 2 or 3 midterms plus a final. Some classes had quizzes every week. One instructor felt it necessary to have a '3 minute probe' each week. A three minute quiz on Tues at the beginning of class. To be returned to your clinic mail box within 12 hours with comments on it. Comments like 'Come see me' or 'Make an appoint to meet with me in my office' or 'please write and explain why your answer to #2 is wrong and see me before the next class'. This same instructor, the next class went from giving written probes to calling you out in class by name, and asking these same types of questions in front of all your peers, and then critiquing your answer in front of the whole class. You might be surprised to find out that I came to really like this instructor and his methods, because he really challenged us to be on our toes and to think like doctors.
All this while also attempting to be a father and husband and son and brother. And Cubmaster and sunday school teacher. All while trying to maintain my life.
All that is actually remaining is that I complete my internship hours required. (270 clinic hours). I already have all the clinic requirements done as far as patient visits, and different types of exams, etc. All that I really have left are the hours requirements. So I just need to put in my time and I will officially be a Doctor.
To get a license to practice, I still have one more National board exam to pass, and I have to wait until November to take that. After that it will be Dr. Slacker DC.
Now I can start thinking about all those things that I have been avoiding or putting off so that I can keep focused on school. Things like golf, and DnD, and video games, and movies. (and blogging) Not that I haven't participated in any of these things, indeed some of them have provided a much needed release while wading through this program, but I have not been able to really enjoy and get into any of them for the past 4 years. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't play golf until I was done, now I get to get my clubs out and clean them off and start to swing them again. Now I get to play DnD without guilt, now I can play some of the video games that I have been avoiding for so long so as not to get sucked in. Now I can read a book for pleasure and not feel guilty about needing to read a chapter or my notes to prepare for the next exam or quiz.
Now the classes are DONE, and the work begins.