Mock Magic Personal Statement

Preface: while reading my friend’s personal statement about gaming, I thought back to applying to college 8 years ago and thinking about writing an essay about playing Magic the Gathering. I decided against it because gaming still has this weird stigma of being a fringe hobby and a waste of time, but back in January 2016, when solidly 25, I wrote a personal statement as if I were still 17. Continue reading Mock Magic Personal Statement

Medical Naming Madness

What the heck is “erysipelas?!” While studying for my Step 1 board exam, I’m rediscovering all these medical terms I rarely hear and definitely don’t remember. Many of them, including erysipelas, are vaguely ancient Greek- and Latin-sounding, so I wondered if learning a few more etymological roots would help anchor my memory. This has led to ponderous philosophizing about the history and nature of naming medical terms. Continue reading Medical Naming Madness

Infectious Nostalgia

Today, my class at Weill Cornell finished our pre-clinical coursework, traditionally the first half of medical school. That’s quite the milestone, isn’t it? After winter break, most of us (including me) will retreat into our study caves and prepare for our Step 1 board exam. We’ll then reemerge to start our clerkships in Febuary 2016, the beginning our time learning and working on hospital floors. Wut. Continue reading Infectious Nostalgia

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