I was sitting in pre-clinic today working away on a PFM crown wax cutback when I heard someone scream my name. I turned around to see an pre-dental interviewee rushing up to my seat. “It’s really you!” At first I was surprised as I didn’t know anyone interviewing today. Then it hit me, my website has made me famous. The interviewer reiterated this thought when she told me she was an avid reader of this blog. She then made the comment that I haven’t written anything for a while. I apologize, it is a busy year! I must say that it was very nice to meet you. (I will not mention her name for privacy matters – but let me know how your application turns out!) I hope your interview went well and also the guy who was with her. I apologize if I wasn’t proficient in answering your questions. I must admit I was taken back a little when I was singled out like that.
Also if anyone else is coming to Temple for an interview they can come talk to me, just ask someone where I sit if you are touring the pre-clinic when the sophomores are in it.
To explain why I have been absent I will go through the next month of my calender:
- Oct 05: Practical 5 & 6: Prep and Provisionalize for PFM
- Oct 09: Periodontology I Midterm
- Oct 10: Micro test 2, Dental Public Health midterm
- Oct 11: Pathology Lab Test 1
- Oct 12: Restorative Quiz 2 (On about 8 chapters and countless lectures)
- Oct 16: Intro to Oral Surgery Midterm
- Oct 18: Pathology test 2
- Oct 19: Practical 7 & 8: three unit prep and provisionalize for PFM
- Oct 25: Restorative Test 1
- Oct 26: Practical 9 & 10: I don’t remember
- Oct 31: Micro Test 3
November isn’t quite as rough, but it is still very busy and then December is when we have all of our finals and projects due. I have basically been studying from morning until evening with some breaks in between. Here is a typical schedule:
- Monday: Study in the morning. Class from 8:30-3:00, study with breaks for lunch, dinner, and the TV show Heroes. Go to bed by 11:30
- Tuesday: Class from 8:00-4:30. Study with breaks for lunch, dinner, and in bed by midnight.
- Wednesday: Class from 8:00-4:30. Study with breaks for lunch, dinner, in bed by midnight.
- Thursday: Class from 8:00-4:30. Study with lunch/dinner breaks. In bed by midnight.
- Friday: Class from 8:00-5:00. Go home and get a baby sitter and go out with my lovely wife. Hang out and unwind.
- Saturday: Hang out in morning, played flag football last week, chores, etc. Study for at least 5 hours and then watch football and play with my kids.
- Sunday: Go to church, hang out, play with the kids, nap, NFL.
I wake up Mon-Fri at 6:30am and in bed by midnight. Sometimes I take a nap for 15 minutes. Saturday/Sunday I am awake by 8am. The last two weeks I have been basically getting ready for midterms. There are many chapters to read and some of the material is very arduous and technical. Pathology can be exceptionally difficult to crunch through because of all the technicalities and mechanisms. The lab quizzes are not very hard though, so there are some buffer points. (You still have to know the material)! I have also never had pathology before so most of the words are new terms and it is more difficult to commit them to memory compared to biochemistry and histology (both of which I have taken before). Micro is a little easier because I have taken several microbiology classes. It definitely helps to have taken a class before hand to get the exposure. Even if it was two years ago. It is surprising what your brain can store in the dark places of yester-year. 
Now you know where I have been and what I have been up to. My studies take precedence over the blog and I unfortunately haven’t had very much time to make this a priority. I also don’t have very much to write about right now – all I do is study! As it gets closer to board taking time I will try to start more board review articles and keep a schedule of my study time. I can hear my micro notes calling my name…and must say farewell until next time…if I am still alive! j/k, I will survive – don’t worry about me and remember to come say ‘hi’ if you are at Temple for an interview.
