A break?

Recently I have been pondering the idea of taking a year off of school and traveling somewhere or doing something I probably can't do later in life.

This year seems like a good time to do it because I haven't been able to figure any of my schooling out. I don't know if I'll be able to take those courses or if I'm going to have to take another year (again). I think if I had to take another year than this break would be perfect. But if the schedule works out than I wouldn't do it.

But it is tempting.

I also think that after taking the time off that I wouldn't want to go back. I'd miss the freedom in a way and I would become a broke student again. I would also lose the motivation and the knowledge.

I just really want to graduate. Pass the CSMLS. Get a job. ASAP.

Decisions. Decisions.

Course Registration.

It either works out exactly as how you planned it or everything goes terribly wrong.

In my case, it is going terribly wrong.

It will only allow me to sign up for three classes so far.

I have to book an appt with academic advising for Health Sciences and Sciences.

I do not want to have to add more and more years to my program. What's the point? (Graduate?! Duh, I know. It wouldn't be the end of the world but it is not idealistic).

Has anyone had issues getting into the courses they wanted? It's a terrible feeling isn't it.

Here is the link for the "how-to" on online registration: http://www.uoit.ca/mycampus/webregistrationuoit.pdf

Schooling Update.

• Recently finished Pathophysiology 1
• Pathophysiology 2 doesn't start up until July 9th
• The preview of courses for the 2012-2013 year has been released
• I have Tuesdays off each semester which is a first as I never had a day off in the last two years
• Second semester has two busy busy busy days (as in class from 8am until 7pm with tiny breaks in between)
• I'm excited for next year to start

How to "memorize" flash cards quickly and effectively

My final exam for Patho I is tonight. I made about 150-200 flashcards and now want to make sure I know them well. I found these tips here on how I can achieve that: http://www.wikihow.com/Memorize-Flashcards-Effectively

1. First off, write your flash cards, if you haven't done so already.
2. Next, arrange all of your flash cards in a grid. You should keep it to about five flash cards to a column.
3. Now with them all arranged in a grid, pick out the ones you already know. Be very honest about this, don't guess and see if you're right. You're just cheating yourself and you won't learn the material. Take the ones you know and put them aside in a pile.
   • If you know enough of them already, you might need to rearrange your grid to fill in the gaps.
4. Take the first row of your flash cards into your hand and lay down 3 cards in front of you.
5. Take the first card and read the front and back out loud. This sounds stupid, but the information will really stick if you do so.
6. Take the second card and look at what it means as well and say it out loud.
7. Now, point to the first card and say what it means.
8. Then point at the second card and say what it means.
9. Now, read the third card.
10. Now, go point at each card and say what each means.
11. After you're sure about them, rearrange the cards without looking and say what each card means to make sure you memorized the card and not the placement in the row.
12. Take the fourth card and add it to the mix.
13. Mix up the cards and say what each one means again.
14. Then, throw in the fifth card.
15. When you're sure that you know them very well, pick them all up into your hand. Go through the stack of five note cards. Say what it means and double check to see if you're right.
16. After this, put them to the side and repeat steps five through fifteen again with the next column of cards.
17. When you have memorized those five cards, join it with the other stack of five cards and run though them all to see if you know them. Again, double checking to see if you know them.
18. Continue with this process until you have all of the columns memorized.
19. Don't forget to keep adding to your stack of known cards and running though those after every new row is learned.
20. Congratulations! You learned your flash cards quickly.

Making effective flash cards.

1. Keep the questions/key word simple.
2. Keep flash cards in bag to study wherever/whenever.
3. Try and review the deck a couple times a day. Once you feel you know a card well you can remove it from the pile to focus on the more difficult areas.
4. Highlight important terms.
5. Add pictures/diagrams.
6. Colour code.

Getting through Pathophysiology: Update

• I have currently completed all the new material needed for Patho 1 
• I am now studying for the final that's in two weeks
• I currently have an A- in the course (woo hoo!)
• I developed a system that seems to be working:
• I have the lectures and reading completed beforehand
• Study very often for the tests
• I try to "talk"/"run through" the processes and definitions in my head without the help of a textbook or notes
• When filling out the multiple choice I like to circle key words like TRUE and EXCEPT so I know exactly what to look for
• I also like to cross out choices that I know are definitely wrong, therefore making the correct answer more visible 

Laptop Update.

• they fixed it in under 2 days and I'm picking it up tomorrow
• there is apparently insurance for the first time there is big damage
• it only cost me $25 to have it repaired 
• I got a loaner laptop for the two days it was at IT

Why I might not be posting for a while.

This happened to my school laptop Saturday morning. I basically tripped and shattered the screen. I am going into school early today to take it in to I.T. I'm hoping that it is "insured" and I don't have to pay a large amount of money to have it fixed. We'll see what happens. I'll update the situation incase someone else from UOIT also shatters their screen and freaks out.

Worst part: My pathophysiology notes are on their and I have a 15% test today.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with a minimum of six 4U, 4M, credits or equivalent or mature applicant status.

4U/4M credits must include English (ENG4U with a minimum 60 per cent), Advanced Functions (MHF4U), and two of Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Biology (SBI4U), Chemistry (SCH4U), or Physics (SPH4U).

It is recommended that all three of MCV4U, SBI4U and SCH4U be taken.  

Note: The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance and, due to space limitations, preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

(Taken from: https://connect.uoit.ca/uoit/program.do?from=faculty&programID=53 )

The cut off last year (2011) was 78%.

I think the courses I took in grade 12 were:

• English (U)
• Advanced Functions (U)
• Biology (U)
• Chemistry (U)
• Human Growth and Development (M)
• Exercise Science (U)
• World History (U)

And my average was 86%.

Getting through Pathophysiology: My progress in the course so far

So I am now entering week 5 of 7 of the first part of my pathophysiology course and things have been going very well in my perspective. I currently have a B+ in the course and with an extra boost I feel I can pull off an A. This is what I have been doing so far that I have found worked for me.

• completing the weeks worth of work ahead of time
• reviewing notes during my break at work
• looking up the definitions and writing them down as soon as I come across one I don't know (doing this actually makes the word stick in my memory)
• studying in front of a mirror (I know this sounds weird) but I like to talk through the processes or go over definitions without the help of notes and I found doing so in front of a mirror really helps
• repeating things (things meaning definitions/steps/processes) over and over again
• doing/reading case studies that involve the things you just learned and allows you to apply your knowledge

And that's it. I am now going to apply these things into my other classes in the fall because I have finally found a method that works for me.

On a side note, I would like some help on what to add to this blog. What would you guys like to see from this blog? Comment below!

If you like to listen to music while you study

www.stereomood.com

You can pick whatever "mood" you're in if you'd like but the studying playlist is really good. There's minimal lyrics in the songs and it is generally calming music. I used it while studying for my genetics final at 3AM and felt that it made the time I had to study bearable.

Getting through Pathophysiology

I'm taking both parts of pathophysiology this spring/summer. I'm thinking of posting how I get through the course. I know it's a tough course for both med lab and nursing so hopefully this helps somebody! (But I doubt anyone is reading this)

My course doesn't start until May 7th, but this is the plan I have so far on how to tackle the course:

• Taking notes on everything I read and when it comes time to review what I've read/studying for assessments I can summarize them
• Actually attending the class
• Reading the chapters beforehand
• Looking up definitions that I don't understand as soon as I come across them
• Learn from general to specific
• Reviewing my notes each week so studying for the final isn't a nightmare

 This might change once the course actually starts but we'll give it a go.

My First Experience in an MLSC Lab

My first experience in the MLSC lab was very exciting and a very new experience. It was different because in the first year  general labs you have to buy your own lab coat and goggles, bring your own pencils and calculators and you can bring your bags and belongings into the room. With the MLSC lab it was a bio hazard 2 (oooo!) so we had to keep our stuff in lockers out in the hallway and we were given everything we needed for the lab (pens, pencils, calculator, disposable lab coat, timers, goggles, phlebotomy cards, diamond pencil, rulers, staplers etc.) which stayed in the lab to avoid bringing anything we contaminated outside the room.

The equipment we used was very different to the other labs and you didn't have to share them with so many people. It was set up like how things would be set up in a hospital laboratory (in my opinion). I feel like you actually gained real experience in these labs and what was taught stuck after the first time doing it. 

We learned how to use the spectrophotometer, quality control (which is major), staining, anything with the microscopes, how to make blood slides, venipuncture and so much more. This lab was definitely the highlight of my first semester and I can't wait to get back into the lab next year.