EmoryLife

Decision Day

2008-04-01T14:16:00.003-04:00

So I know today is a big day for many people in hearing back from Emory. There are many things to remember about college -- it's really what you make of where you go. There are SO many things to do at different schools and each school has their own flavor.

I hope that everyone who applied made it into Emory, but the reality is, we can't take everyone. Every year the application pool gets harder and harder, and while it may seem rough not making it into Emory - it's not the end of the world. There are many other amazing schools out there, and like I said you can do big things everywhere.

This isn't the end of the world just another decision we have to make. Being a senior now and not having heard back from Medical Schools is tough. I have not heard a yes or a no, so no news is good news at this point - but it's frustrating. Take what you can get and have the most fun with it as you can.

My favorite quote is the following:

LIFE HAPPENS - enjoy and make the best of what comes your way!

Busy Days

2008-02-25T17:34:00.002-05:00

WOW! This is the first time in a while that I've had the opportunity to write.

Sure, I may have a schedule that consists of two classes, Tibettian Buddhism and Golf, but it doesn't mean that the school's Deans and other organizations don't keep me on my toes.

I just got back from Dallas, TX for a dance competition. I am apart of the dance group KaRMa (yes, that is the way it is officially spelled on our governing documents) and we just brought home 2nd place and $1,000! Not bad I'd say.

ALSO, we just had Ralph Nader speak at Emory too! That was really exciting to have him come and speak. Since I am on the programming board that brings many speakers to Emory, I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to meet and talk with him.

Other than those things, life here has been fun! I'm coming down to my last few months -- scary thought to be honest, but I'm enjoying it. I'm sure many of you all are coming down to the end of your high school careers, and I hope you are making the best of it. Make as many friends as you can, do the things that you always wish you had done (within reason of course), and step out of your shell! It'll be fun!

Any exciting news from anyone out there? Email me or keep me posted

January... already?!

2008-01-04T16:45:00.000-05:00

WOW! How is it January already?! Didn't my senior year just start? Am I really half way done?

I don't want it to end.

Anyways, I'm still here in Florida doing a lot of nothing - which is one of the best feelings ever. I am just so busy at school, so when I get some time off, I really like to capitalize on it. Things are good here - nothing to stress about, food is made for me, and hell, sometimes my mom even cleans my room! HAHA

In a whole nine days it all comes to an end - an end I'm not looking forward to - but life moves on...

Anyone working on applications this break? How are they coming?

Are you nervous yet?

2007-12-24T22:32:00.000-05:00

Nervousness is a key part of life - and more importantly for a student, a key component to the application process.

I know, why does the application process have to exist? Can't we all just get in? Hell, if the application process has to happen, why can't we find out right away!? I know, it's no fun.

About four years ago I was in the same position of many people who read this blog. I know, it's tough. What makes it probably even tougher is the fact that I know many of the people who are reading your essays and applications.

I know it's getting later and later and the second semester of high school is on its way, but you have to be patient in the process. It's easier said than done, but you really have to be. During this time, remember that you have time to get in. Just because you haven't heard back yet, doesn't mean you have not gotten in.

Also, don't forget about your other schools. I'm sure many of you applied to many schools, and there are a lot of great schools out there, but with Emory getting harder and harder to get into, we don't always get our top choice. Don't forget your back ups, and work on those. Life tosses us some interesting curve balls - just go with them.

Stay calm, and just wait it out. The anticipation sucks right now, but the more it builds up the better it feels when you get that goal.

You wanna talk anticipation? I sent out my application for medical schools in the beginning of July - I've had a few interviews, but no "yes". I have not gotten any "no" responses, but no "yes". You maybe have been waiting a whole 2 or three months, I've been waiting almost half a year. :)

Friends?

2007-12-24T00:47:00.000-05:00

Anyone out there? I would love to hear back from people who read this thing. I don't mind posting up more frequently, but I would like to know if people are reading and what they would like to hear about. I have some fun and interesting stories on many different topics that surround college life and well, life as we know it.

Let me know and I'll cater it to the masses (or the 1 other person who reads it).

-rb

Food? Home? Home? Food?

2007-12-24T00:41:00.000-05:00

What's the difference? I really don't know.

My buddy Thom just sent me an Instant Message (an IM as us kids say it these days) that said, being at home is great - the food is amazing.

I sat there and thought, HM - Thom's probably right. Not that Thom is usually wrong, but rather, I don't know if I would take his word 100% of the time.

Anyways, I got to thinking and Home and food are the same things. Right when you come in, food is there. I think this is a universal thing. From there, your parents just want to feed you. I love it. No more having to go out, no more having to find food yourself, no more looking for the best deal around, no more of any of that. It's great. It really is great.

And another cool part -- you can just have the look of 'what should I eat next' on your face, and everyone knows. During that time - you get questions like 'what do you want for dinner?' That's when the magic happens, because for the most part - whatever you say goes.

NOTE: this only happens for the first week to two weeks. When you're home for a month - yea right. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like....

2007-12-16T11:52:00.000-05:00

FINALS!

So we are currently in the middle of finals -- only about three more days to go. The way finals usually works is as follows:

Monday & Tuesday: Normal Classes
Wednesday: Reading Day (no classes at all -- a day off)
Thursday & Friday: Finals
Saturday & Sunday: Weekend (no classes/finals -- days off)
Monday through Wednesday: Finals.

All in all, there are 5 days of finals. I've already had two, and I have one more that is in a classroom (tomorrow, Monday at 4:30pm) and then one that is take home for 24-hours.

I can't wait for them to be over, but to be honest, it's kinda weird. This is going to be my last true set of finals. Next semester I'm juts taking 5-credits (a religion and a PE course) - that's it! Religion classes usually don't have exams that are in class, maybe a paper if anything.

The end is coming, I don't know if I'm ready, but it is coming none the less.

Being a senior is great - but the idea of leaving isn't the warmest feeling ever... I WANNA BE IN COLLEGE FOREVER! :)

Talking

2007-12-09T14:32:00.001-05:00

So I'm here in the library with what seems like the rest of the school trying to study for finals... you can feel college-final-tension in the air for sure.

Anyways, I'm a guy that likes to study in complete silence so I take an extra long time to find the perfect place to park myself for the days. So today I went to the 4th floor to the Media Library, a place a normally don't go, and I find a table with a girl sitting at it. I scope it out - it seems like it's a quiet area. She is doing her work, the table next to her has people doing there work - the only sound are typing keys, people walking, and a printer. I can deal with that.

Just as I finally sit down and open up my notebook to start doing work comes her friend. Awesome. They sit in front of me, even now as I write this, and decide that they need to recap their entire Friday night (which both of them were seemingly present). Yes, I'm sure your Friday night was great - but you were there! Is it necessary for you to recap it all with each other?!

I mean, don't get me wrong, if you're going to do it, do it. But at least make it interesting for those that are having to listen to it... :) haha.

Enough of a study break for me... back to Atmospheric Chemistry! YEY!

The Close of a Semester

2007-12-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

It's a Saturday night, and there's already the academic rush in the air. December just started, and when you look at a calendar, you know finals are right around the corner.

The dreaded feeling of having to study for finals - no matter how well you are doing in a class, or how easy the class may be, no one enjoys finals [I don't think].

Only 19 more days until I'm done with this semester. Kinda crazy, kinda exciting, and kinda scary. I only have one semester and 19 days left of my college career. THAT'S

I'm off to FSU tomorrow (Sunday) to talk to their medical school on Monday morning. I'm kinda nervous -- I hope it goes well! :)

WOW!

2007-11-28T14:25:00.000-05:00

Time flies when you're a senior! I'm sure that a lot of people can relate. Whether you're a college or a high school senior, senioritis kicks in, and time moves fast!

I have been a busy guy on campus these days while I wait on medical schools. The medical school process is a long road - but I'm enjoying the ups and downs for now. I'm sure at some point, I'll want to just know if I got in or not, but the roller coaster is good as it stands. :)

As far as my day-to-day life goes, I've been working really hard on putting on THE largest Blood Drive that Emory has seen. Currently, there is a record for 98-pints of blood, and I really feel that can be blown out of the water. :) My goal for this coming Spring in a single drive is about 150 pints of blood. I don't think that should be TOO hard to do.

ALSO, I'm making great headway on my hybrid parking initiative. Just to recap, there is a great push/desire to get specified parking for hybrids on campus. I'm in talks with the parking office now, and hopefully that will be up and going by the Spring.

Life other than that is good. Moving a bit fast for me as it is senior year - but I guess that's what they call 'Life'.

More to come!

-Rajiv

State of the Race

2007-10-15T11:08:00.000-04:00

Today and tomorrow Emory's College Council is having it's annual State of the Race event. This event is going to feature the movie Hotel Rwanda today, with a speech/presentation by Paul Rusesabagina. Mr. Rusesabagina was the actual hotel manager in which the movie made.

We are very fortunate to have him coming to speak to us, and we're really looking forward to the event.

Chalking

2007-09-23T12:49:00.001-04:00

So it's not uncommon to see that a campus has been tagged with signs or chalk to advertise an event.

On Emory's campus you'll see messages advertising events around campus all the time, but today for the first time I looked down to read the message, and all it said was

"Have a Great Day!"

That's it. It was a good feeling to see that instead of an advertisement, that someone was just trying to make sure that people were happy. Good day.

MIA

2007-09-21T12:12:00.000-04:00

So I've been a little MIA recently, but life has been pretty crazy around here. I think this is the first time in a long time that all my organizations that I'm on are getting to me time wise. Maybe it's just the fact that I'm a senior and time is flying by faster than I want it to.

Anyways, I'm here in the College Council office trying to do some work on our new bill which pays $20 to EVERY Emory undergraduate student who takes a cab home after drinking. This initiative is here to help curb drinking and driving and is a pretty big success in its early stages.

I'm starting to make some leeway on my own legislation, but I'll talk about that when the time comes. :)

Other than that - Pre-med wise, I'm in the process of writing my secondary applications. Secondaries take a LONG time to do as most of my schools seem to want like 5 or 6 essays about me, my interests, and what I think about controversial issues. It's a tough process, but I hope it stands fruitful.

"Ob-la-de, Ob-la-da, life goes on on, oh la la la life goes on" ~The Beatles

HOT!

2007-08-22T16:27:00.000-04:00

Atlanta is HOT during the summer.

(...so hot that I had to make the word 'hot' red...)

AMAZING !

2007-08-18T20:41:00.001-04:00

WOW! If you are interested in medicine, you should shadow a physician! You should shadow a physician even if you're just thinking about medicine.

On Thursday of this past week I had an incredible experience shadowing three surgeons in Orlando (my hometown) at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. I saw 9 surgeries including tumor removal, appendix removal, stone removal, a baby with a button inside their stomach, a trauma case with a kid on a ATV, and a lot more. I know not all medicine is like this - but for a guy like me who wants to go into pediatric surgery - this was heaven!

I got to scrub up and was in the room live! Fun stuff! And to top things off, when I would follow the doctors around on their rounds, they would think I was a surgeon as well, and would call me "Doctor" as well - awesome feeling! haha... one day it'll be true. One day...

Junior and Senior Year

2007-08-10T22:39:00.000-04:00

After doing the whole high school and then the college thing, I've come to realize that Junior and Senior year in both types of schooling are quite similar.

Junior year of high school you're in the process of taking your SAT and/or ACT. You're applying to colleges, trying to beef up your application as best as you can for the hope that the right admissions counselor will think your personal statement is funny,or that they have the same interest as you and you're surefire into that school. College is similar. Come your junior year you begin to think about the future, what you want to do, is what you're doing the right thing to do. In college you start to take tests like the LSAT (law), MCAT (medical!), and the GRE if you plan to go off to graduate school in a particular study. Once again you start the process of beefing up your application, trying to find the right way to put your essays all in the hope that the right person will read your essay and make you that surefire candidate for their school.

Senior year I hope will be the same for me. Once you're in to a school, you're in. Sure, you still have to do good in your classes, but the pressure of getting into a school is off your back. A HUGE relief. Many times people get something called 'senioritis' - I can only hope for that 'disease' this year. :)

Side note: I'm now done with summer school! YEY! Not that it wasn't the time of my life (sarcasm), but I'm glad to be done and can start my 9-day summer vacation.

Finals

2007-08-08T22:14:00.000-04:00

I'm SOO close to being done with Summer School finals! I know I've been fairly MIA, but this summer has been pretty crazy. Between studying, going to class, college council stuff, volunteering, medical school applications, MCAT'ing, tour guiding, and trying to find sometime to relax (after all, it IS my summer) I'm trying to update this blog.

Anyways, summer school is over on Friday -- SOO close then off to Florida I go! :)

THE Process

2007-08-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

So right about now, I'm in the midst of doing my medical school applications. I will admit - they are NOT fun at all. Anyways, as I was about to start my secondaries, I figure I would post a little about the actual application process.

First, you have to submit what they call your "Primary". The Primary is like the common application - it has all of your basic information including your classes, transcript, MCAT scores, extracurriculars. It also contains the all-important Personal Statement. (FYI - you're personal statement can only be 5,300 characters - that's about page and a quarter MAX -- try explaining yourself in that much space... not an easy gig).

After you submit your primary, many of your schools will offer you a "Secondary" which consists of sometimes up to 3 more essays, and more information about yourself and why you wanna go to that specific school. Some would think that you can just use the same essay for all of them - no, not so much - medical schools aren't stupid - they know a 'general' essay from an original.

Then you wait. And wait, and wait, and wait for the hopes that a medical school will invite you for an interview, and after a very successful interview, you get asked to sit one of their 100 chairs.

Not a fun process I suppose - but one that needs to be done. :)

*Note: I've recently gotten myself into a lot of music by Journey. Particularly the song "Don't Stop Believin" Amazing.

Where have I been?!

2007-08-02T13:32:00.000-04:00

First off, sorry about not posting up in a while - I've been fairly busy, but I'm now on a path that's going great and a *little* more relaxed.

Between my last post and this post, a lot has been happening. I took the MCAT on Tuesday the 24th, on that Friday I had a quiz in the BioChemistry course I'm taking, and then on that following Monday I had an exam. A lot of testing in just a few days.

Anyways, I'm now consuming my life with things for my dance group, Karma, I'll talk about them on a later post. There's a lot of work that goes on behind a dance group - my area is the uniforms. It's tough trying to design both men and women's outfits, get the tailors, the sizes, colors, accessories, how they are going to work in our dance... etc.

I can't believe that the summer is already coming to a close! I just started this summer ordeal, and it's over?! Already....? I need another vacation.

I'm off to go volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House. More to come soon!

SHHH!! It's the library!

2007-07-19T13:35:00.000-04:00

I'm not saying you should do this - because it's really annoying when people do, but you know how when you pick up your cell phone while you're in the library everyone whispers?

First, you are whispering because you're on the phone in a silent library (because of course you don't want to disturb anyone although they can hear you). After those people can hear you, they start whispering to their friends saying, "can you believe them? they are talking in a library!" (which in itself is quite perplexing). And finally - the person you are talking on the phone with starts to whisper too. WHY?! I don't know - but without fail, when you whisper to someone on the phone saying you're in the library - they usually start whispering as if they are there.

Try it.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. ~The Beatles

Plan B... or C & D

2007-07-18T11:32:00.001-04:00

So I do a lot of thinking on my daily walks. The walk between class and home, to the office, or anywhere else. I have a car, but I try to stay as green as possible. Anyways, on the way back home from BioChemistry with Dr. Weinschenk, I was thinking about my next post and I realized that everyone needs a 'Plan B'.

Life comes at you quick, and sometimes (just sometimes) life doesn't go as perfect as you thought it would and you may not get into medical school the first year out. Trust me, it's fairly common. There's an average of at 48% of a 'pre-med' class getting into medical school their first year out. At Emory, we're about 52% - 54%, which is nice.

Anyways, so just incase you're in the 1/2 that don't make it out their first time - it's cool - just know what you're going to do if you don't get through the first time. There's nothing to be ashamed of - the only thing you can be ashamed of is not having a Plan B.

I've decided mine is going to be picking up a Rap career.

Word up!

Something to lookout for

2007-07-10T14:07:00.000-04:00

On March 24, 2007, CNN aired a feature by Dr. Sanjay Gupta about being a resident. It was called "Grady's Anatomy". It is an amazing sight into the life of a Resident. Probably one of the best and honest looks at what it means to be a resident.*

For those of you who don't know, Grady is a major hospital in the Atlanta area and is actually the home to about 900 Emory and Moorehouse medical residents.

Anyways, if you get a chance, or see a rerun, you should really take the time to watch the show/documentary "Grady's Anatomy".

Oh, and if you see it come on - or know when they are going to rerun it, let me know!

Just in case you can't wait, and want to read a transcript - click here!

*For those of you who don't know what a resident is, they are Medical Doctors (MD) who have graduated from medical school and are in training to become self-standing doctors. All of the people who are residents are officially MD's, but they are not allowed to practice on their own until they complete their residencies. As I understand it, 3 years is the minimum and it can go up to 12-14 for specialized surgery! :)

Quick Thoughts

2007-07-09T11:40:00.001-04:00

Hey hey!

I just got back from a spontaneous* trip to Orlando (where I call home), and I was in a conversation that got me thinking...

I was talking with one of my dad's friends at my house, and he was telling me how his son went through the whole premedical process, and decided that premedicial wasn't what he wanted to do, and how he was quite disappointed.

I started to think, and I think that his son did a very wise thing. Being premed, and wanting to go into the medical profession isn't a 'job' -- it's a lifestyle. Depending on the type of medicine you do, you could be the head-residents in-house servant for a decade, your life will surround your patients bodies and their fears, and you may get to a point where you don't sleep for days - not because your bed is hard, but rather because your shift is 30 hours long. It's something that I am looking forward to, but it's not for everyone, and that's okay. :)

Life is a path, and we all have choices - but do whatever it is you need to do to find out that path. A lot of students come to Emory thinking they are premed, but then they switch to something else - Something else that is going to make them happy.

There is nothing like having a bad doctor out there. You know how it is... you know how when you go to see a doctor, and you can just tell that they are tired, don't want to be there, and are just dreading the day - those are the people we don't want to be! :) There are enough grumpy people out there because of their job - find something you like... no wait - something you LOVE. It may not be easy - but if you want it bad enough - you'll get it.

A very wise man once told me,
"Who ever said life was going to be easy? Chin up and keep on walking kid, you have goals to fill!" ~Ravi Bahl (my dad).

Just some written tought before I start my BioChem studying (wha-whoo!)

"Imagine all the people sharing all the word. And you, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." ~John Lennon

eMail me

*I call it a spontaneous trip because I was sitting on the couch (the first time in a while), and I didn't like that - so I called my buddy Brian, and 30 minutes later we were in the car to Orlando. Oh - this was at 8pm... we didn't get in till 3:30am. Awesome.

From the top!

2007-07-05T14:47:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my Blog!

I am Rajiv and I'm a senior at Emory University. I'm a chemistry major and religion minor going down the Pre-medical track. I'm involved in MANY organizations on campus (sometimes I think TOO many, but I enjoy it).

After three years of experiencing and living the Emory-life I still feel like I am getting used to the school and the area. I guess what they say is true, time really does fly by when you're having fun.

On this blog you'll find things about my 'pre-medical' life, things that are going around on campus, things that I'm doing with Emory, and about the organizations that I'm apart of. (I'll include a list of the things that I am currently involved in at the bottom of this post if you are interested in asking me about any of these).

I think that's about it for this post but hopefully you'll come back soon and read up - there's always something fun and crazy going on in my hectic Emory life. I should be updating this thing a few times a week with things that are going on - so this should be a fun and helpful place to come for all thing Emory!

Please feel free to email me or post up a comment/question.

Things that I do (or recently have done) on/around campus: College Council Senior Legislator, Emory Conduct Council Justice (Alcohol & Peer Review Boards), Indian Cultural Exchange Exec. Member, Orientation Leader, M.O.R.E. Mentor, F.A.M.E. adviser, Chemistry Laboratory Teaching Assistant, Emory Tour Guide, Karma Bhangra (dance) co-choreographer, Residence Hall Association Vice-President, and a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, Atlanta Children's Shelter, and in an Influenza laboratory.