SCHOLARSHIPS GOING TO WASTE: AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ARE NOT APPLYING!

Scholarships Going to Waste

by Patricia Smith

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ARE NOT APPLYING!

Even if you do not have a college-aged child at home, please share this with someone who does, pass this scholarship information on to anyone and everyone that comes to mind. Though there are a number of companies and organizations that have donated monies for scholarships use to African Americans, a great deal of the money is being returned because of a lack of interest.

No one is going to knock on our doors and ask if we can use a scholarship. Take the initiative to get your children involved. There is no need for money to be returned to donating companies because we fail to apply for it. Please pass this information on to family members, nieces, nephews, friends with children etc. We must get the word out that money is available. If you are a college student or getting ready to become one , you probably already know how useful additional money can be. Our youth really could use these scholarships. 

Thanks!

1) BELL LABS FELLOWSHIPS FOR UNDER REPRESENTED MINORITIES
http://www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP/info.html

2) Student Inventors Scholarships
http://www.invent.org/collegiate
http://www.invent.org/collegiate/

3) Student Video Scholarships
http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html

4) Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarships
http://www.coca-colaschola/rs.org/programs.html

5) Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships
http://holocaust.hklaw.com/

6) Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships
http://www.aynrand.org/contests/

7) Brand Essay Competition
http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.htm

8) Gates Millennium Scholarships (major)
http://www.gmsp.org/nominationmaterials/read.dbm?ID=12

9) Xerox Scholarships for Students
http://www2.xerox.com/go/xrx/about_xerox/about_xerox_detail.jsp

10) Sports Scholarships and Internships
http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html

11) National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ)
http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html

12) Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr/jobs/stw.html

13) Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org/sk_v6.cfm

14) FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid Scholarships
http://www.fina/id.org/

15) Presidential Freedom Scholarships
http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships/

16) Microsoft Scholarship Program
http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp

17) WiredScholar Free Scholarship Search
http://www.wiredscholar.com/paying/scholarship_search/pay_scholarship_search.jsp

18) Hope Scholarships &Lifetime Credits
http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope/

19) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students
http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm

20) Multiple List of Minority Scholarships
http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/blackhtml

21) Guaranteed Scholarships
http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/

22) BOEING scholarships (soma e HBCU connects)
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships

23) Easley National Scholarship Program
http://www.naas.org/senior.htm

24) Maryland Artists Scholarships
http://www.maef.org/

25) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students in South Florida)
http://www.jackituckfield.org/

26) Historically Black College & University Scholarships
http://www.iesabroad.org/info/hbcu.htm

27) Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
http://www.tylenol.com/news/subptyschol

28) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students

http://www.beanactuary.org/minority/scholarships.htm

29) International Students Scholarships & Aid Help
http://www.iefa.org/

30) College Board Scholarship Search
http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html

31) Burger King Scholarship Program
http://www.bkscholars.csfa.org/

32) Siemens Westinghouse Competition
http://www.siemens-foundationorg/

33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds
http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html

34) CollegeNet ' s Scholarship Database
http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index

35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
http://www.aflcioorg/scholarships/scholar.htmarships/scholar.htm

36) Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel
http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm

37) Scholarship &Financial Aid Help
http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm-sch.htm

38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group)
http://www.efg.net/link_scholarship.htm

39) FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info)
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

40) Aid &Resources For Re-Entry Students
http://www.back2college.com/

41) Scholarships and Fellowships
http://www.osc.cuny.edu/sep/links.html

42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies
http://www.paralegals.org/Choice/2000west.htm

43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world)
http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination.html

44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html

45) INROADS internships
http://www.inroads.org/

46) ACT-SO EUR Olympics of the Mind "A Scholarships
http://www.naacp.org/work/actso/act-so.shtml

47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships
http://www.baeo.org/options/privatelyfinanced.jsp

48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing
http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html

49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide
http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORITIESIES

50) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html

51) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund
http://www.roothbertfund.com/

As Online Dating Grows Popular, STDs Soar for Senior Citizens (Social Media & Medicine)

As an aspiring/future doctor in family medicine, I believe that it is very important to educate the senior population about being safe when it comes to online dating. Social media holds a strong presence in our everyday lives. As a result, we must acknowledge that it will play a huge role in the field of medicine, too. This article below is a good example of that as STDs are on the rise for senior citizens with the increase in popularity of online dating. #foodforthought

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As Online Dating Grows Popular, STDs Soar for Senior Citizens

By The (Ree)lationship Guide

Before you think about creating a dating profile for your parent and/or grandparent, you must encourage them to use protection once they decide to become intimate with their new companion.

According to New York Post, STD rates among senior citizens are growing at a record pace. The number of 50, 60 and 70 year-olds that have Chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea doubled in the past decade, with cases of Chlamydia and syphilis in senior citizens growing to 19,000 and 2,500, respectively, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Internet is not to blame for the surge in STD rates among senior citizens, longer life expectancy, climbing divorce rates, and recharged libidos are behind the surge in online and offline love affairs.

Senior People Meet, Seniors Meet, and Ourtime.com are the three biggest and most reputable online dating sites for senior citizens.” Combined, the three sites share more than four million users. Ourtime.com’s membership increased from 1 million to 2.5 million singles in nine months. Seniors are embracing their right and freedom to find love. In a 2010 Senior.com article titled “Senior Citizen Dating Sites – Why They Are Your Best Ticket To Finding Your Dream Partner,” seniors are encouraged to embrace online dating. The author also tells readers that online dating is an opportunity for them to “open the door for getting back out into the relationship game.”

(Source: idatedaily.com)

My Vision Board

I am taking the time today to create my vision board. I know the question running through your mind and I have the answer.

What is a vision board?

A vision board is a collage of images, pictures and affirmations of your dreams and desires. It is a powerful visualization tool that activates the universal law of attraction which states that we attract into our lives anything that we give attention to, whether it be positive or negative. Using the law of attraction in a positive sense, a vision board is a simple visual representation of the things you want to have, be, or do in your life. It is a great way to make you feel positive and begin manifesting your dreams into reality.  

From a psychological view, the law of attraction can be best explained by the information filtering system of the brain known as the reticular activating system (RAS). Vision boards serve the role of programming RAS to tune into external stimuli that can help us move closer towards our intentions. It allows you to begin to pull things from your external environment that will enable you to realize your dream. By selecting pictures and writing that charges your emotions with feelings of passion, you will begin to manifest those things into your life. 

Below I have the pictures that I will be focusing on daily on my vision board. Using the vision board concept, this positive law of attraction will open the door of a medical school for me.

Story Behind My "SuperWoman" Avatar

In case you did not notice, I have an image of a woman tearing open her white coat to reveal a superwoman logo. The inspiration behind this avatar is the song "Superwoman" by Alicia Keys. This song has some of the most powerful lyrics which has gotten me through many down times. It also hits the nail on the head, pretty much describing my current state of mind and situation. 
It's pretty hard to keep going when you receive so many "No's" on your journey to MD. It's hard to pursue other options when you know that this is the only career that will make you feel complete. You've been there and done that doing other jobs and activities. There's still that emptiness inside, however, that continues to burn a big hole through your chest. Lucky for me I have that S on my chest. I have the stories of many successful African-Americans, women, and African-American women to inspire me. Sure I have a so-called mess of an application but I believe that I will rise above it. I will fly. 
I share the video and lyrics to Alicia Keys' "Superwoman" with you below. May you be just as inspired, too.
*Singing out loud* Yes. I am a superwoman. 'Cause even when I'm a mess I still put on a vest with an S on my chest! Oh yes!
SUPERWOMANby Alicia Keys
Everywhere I'm turningNothing seems completeI stand up and I'm searchingFor the better part of me
I hang my head from sorrowState of humanityI wear it on my shouldersGotta find the strength in me
'Cause I am a SuperwomanYes I am, yes she isStill when I'm a mess, I still put on a vestWith an S on my chestOh yes, I'm a Superwoman
This is for all the mothers fightingFor better days to comeAnd all my womenAll my women sitting here tryingTo come home before the sun
And all my sisters coming togetherSay yes I will, yes I can
'Cause I am a SuperwomanYes I am, yes she isStill when I'm a mess, I still put on a vestWith an S on my chestOh yes, I'm a Superwoman
When I'm breaking down and I can't be foundAs I start to get weak'Cause no one knows me underneath this cloakBut I can fly, we can fly, oh
'Cause I am a SuperwomanYes I am, yes she isEven when I'm a mess, I still put on a vestWith an S on my chestOh yes, I'm a Superwoman, yes she is
Let me tell you, I am a SuperwomanYes I am, yes she isSee, even when I'm a mess, I still put on a vestWith an S on my chestOh yes, I'm a SuperwomanYes I am, said I'm a Superwoman, yes you are
Oh yeah, I'm tellin' youI'm super, so superI'm super, so superYes I am, yes we areYes I am, yes you are

USA or CARIBBEAN? Medical School Applications Begin!

I'm scheduled to take the MCAT for a second time this summer.

AUA requires the MCAT but does not care much for it. They believe that these standardized test scores do not measure an individuals abilities to be an efficient physician.--APPLIED! INTERVIEW COMING UP!

AUC requires the MCAT but my scores are too old. They will wait until my scores or in before moving forward with my application.--APPLIED! I'll know in June/July.

Ross University wants a more updated MCAT score. They, too, shall wait.--APPLIED! I'll know in June/July.

SGU says the same thing as Ross and AUC regarding the MCAT. They also suggest that I take some graduate level courses to make my application more competitive. Seems like they are becoming more strict with who they accept into their programs.--APPLIED! Deciding on whether or not I want to bother sending my MCAT scores though. I don't feel the urge to continue my app with them after that suggestion. Chance of acceptance appears slim.

All 4 medical schools want me to take statistics or calculus. The math courses I took in college do not fulfill their requirements.

Special Masters Programs. The dreaded program. Oh yes! I applied to a few as far South as Florida to as North as Boston. Barry and Boston...REJECTED! The BUs have told me FU! Haha! No problemo! I'll wait to see what the New Jersey and New York schools have to say.

I have decided that if no Masters programs accept me (deja vu), then I will go to the Caribbean. I just have to get accepted into a Caribbean Medical School first.

The medical marathon continues. Guess you all won't hear from me again until June (or when I feel the need to rablabla. LOL).

Shadowing My Local Physician

It's the Summer of 2011 and I am in search of inspiration and building my resume, I call up physicians in my local area. Doctors in the field of internal medicine, gynecology, podiatry, etc. You name it, I was calling them. All I needed was one yes after all.

A local physician in internal medicine agrees to let me shadow him. I was a bit disappointed because internal medicine seemed so boring to me. I wanted the fun and action I saw on television in the ER. But hey! At least it was something in the medical field. I ask to start the next day and he could not be happier.

The first day of shadowing was just what I expected. BORING! A few follow-up patients and folks who just need refills on their prescriptions or signatures on working papers. YAWN! I don't think I want to return. I'm  calling other offices and signing up for my local ER. This physician was so fascinated by his own work and the staff seemed so happy though. He was practicing medicine for decades and said he will retire when he dies. I decide to stick around. Again...BEST DECISION EVER!

There is so much more to internal medicine than prescriptions and paperwork. Day by day I was learning about new illnesses and treatments. Patients seemed to ignore the introduction of "This young lady is an aspiring doctor and she's shadowing me today." The level of trust and respect was just immediate once they saw that stethoscope around my neck. I became a counselor, friend, daughter, comedian, healer, and more. Patients cried on my shoulders, shook my hand after examining them, told me their life stories, and encouraged me to become a doctor. An old black lady was so happy when she saw me. I asked her, "Why are you so happy to see me?" Her answer, "It feels so good to be treated by someone who looks just like you." POWERFUL WORDS! I could almost cry right there on the spot but all I could do was smile. A hug and a "Thank You!" was all.

Lupus, Prader Willi Syndrome, Hyperthyroidism, Shingles, Diabetes, Hper/Hypotension, Gout, Kidney stones, PCOS, Pregnancy, Vitamin B12 deficiency, AIDS/HIV, and more were all illnesses I encountered. And guess what? ALL WERE DIAGNOSED BY ME! Yeah baby! I had the best physician in the world guiding me and challenging me. Reading many books on my own and plain experience from being in that office day after day were paying off. Talk about the ultimate boost in confidence!

OPQRSTI, ABCs, SAMPLE, and more that I learned as an EMT all came in very handy. All of these experiences in the medical field only added fuel to the fire that was building inside of me.

THE FIELD OF MEDICINE IS DEFINITELY FOR ME!

I explain my scenario to my new mentor (the physician I am shadowing) and he recommends that I give Caribbean Medical Schools a shot.

Hmmm...the medical marathon continues.

Special Masters Programs (Applications & Rejections)

After doing my research, becoming an EMT/ER Tech, I decide to apply for MBS programs. These are special masters in the biomedical sciences at graduate schools to prove to US medical schools that you can handle medical school.

I applied and got rejected by each one. I call and email to ask "Why?" The answer I am told is that the seats have filled up and my application just was not competitive enough. In other words, that low GPA continues to haunt me. The admissions departments of these schools, which also happen to be medical schools, advise me to retake some of the premeds at a local community college. Sadness and anger begin to build.

I CAN'T GO TO A POST-BACC PROGRAM BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED MY PRE MED REQUIREMENTS. I CAN'T GET INTO ACADEMIC ENHANCER PROGRAMS BECAUSE MY GPA IS TOO LOW. WTH IS THE PURPOSE OF THESE PROGRAMS THEN?! WHERE DO YOU LEAVE ME WHO REALLY NEEDS YOU?! UGHHH!!! HOW CAN YOU HELP A SISTER ACHIEVE HER GOALS IN MEDICINE IF YOU WON'T EVEN GIVE HER A CHANCE? WHY DO YOU SCHOOLS ONLY ACCEPT THE TOP STUDENTS? HAVE YOU NOT ENOUGH FAITH IN YOUR STAFF TO HELP THE ONES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL? WHY YOU'RE RIDING THE COAT TAILS OF THE GENIUSES, MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THEY HAVE ACHIEVED BECAUSE OF YOU WHEN IT'S ALL BS?!

The venting ends. I put off applying to medical school once again. I'm lost, confused, and don't know what to do at this point in the medical marathon. How do I get to medical school? Maybe these are signs that it's not for me. I need inspiration once again. After all, I refuse to give up but I need to know that this is it. I shadow my local physician to see.

Confronting the Past

It was May 2010. I ordered a copy of my undergraduate transcript from my school. I needed to review what courses I did not do to well in. What caused this low GPA?

I noticed the D's in Organic Chemistry and the C's in Physics & General Chemistry. The Biology classes were a mix of B's and C's. There were a couple of F's that I recall getting after dropping out the class late in the semester. Ahhhh!! Work, procrastination, thinking I knew it all by taking advance classes before the basics, etc. etc. Everything an immature 16 yr old "genius" in college who had the slightest clue what she wanted to do with her life until junior year would do.

I then logged onto my MCAT account. A 13O. YIKES! What was I thinking studying from a "How to Pass the MCAT" book for 3 weeks as preparation for such a major exam?! *smacks hand onto forehead*

Okay. What's done is done. How can I make this better? Is the field of medicine for me?

A Sign from God

A letter from LGA is sent to me out of the blues--BECOME AND EMT FOR FREE! Hmmm. Emergency Medial Technician huh? I love emergency medicine! Watching the action in the ER on television and sitting in one gets the wheels in my head spinning all of the time. Off to LaGuardia Community College I go. I'm going to become an EMT!

Fast forward and I LGA says I do not qualify for their program. I am too advanced to earn the grant. But I can pay on my own for it and start in their next session only a few months away. My decision: I applied to an EMT program that was starting in a couple of weeks. This was the best decision of my life!

I aced the EMT course with a 98 average; and pass the NYS License Exam with a 91. I no longer felt like an idiot in the sciences. This was the happiest I ever been in my life. The medical field was definitely for me!

The spark has rekindled. The past may have been dark but the present and future looks bright.

Welcome! Allow Me to Introduce Myself!

Greetings!

Welcome to my new blog, "My Medical Marathon", where I will be documenting my journey towards a Doctor in Medicine degree.

As stated in my "About" section, I am a non-traditional student--30 years old, African American, female, low GPA, low MCAT, non-science major. (Okay, okay. Stop that horrified face you're making at the computer screen after reading that. LOL) Yes. I am applying to medical schools in the Caribbean and Special Masters Programs. I know that the odds are very much against me. Hence the reason behind this blog.

In life you will never know unless you try. I was a 19 year old senior at a 4-yr university when my pre-med advisors pretty much slashed my hopes of ever becoming a physician. With a 2.0 GPA in the sciences and 2.4 overall GPA (thank goodness for those couple of A's LOL), they advised me to pursue another career within my major and forget about medical school since no school would ever accept me. I got my BA and took their advice--screw medical school!

I went on to be a public advocate. I turned my anger into passion fighting for the rights of others i.e. immigrants, local residents, homosexuals, etc. etc. It was fun being able to help my neighbors and residents in communities all across the states.

I also became a thrillseeker. Science and medicine were natural highs for me. I needed to get that same adrenaline rush elsewhere. So, whitewater rafting, skydiving, bungee jumping, mountain climbing, etc. etc. have all become hobbies of mine. What a rush?!?!

I still needed to explore. What better way than to travel?! A passport full of stamps across the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and Mexico; and skymiles earned from flying around the US.

What a fun life?! Whoohoo!! All of that and guess what? I'M MISERABLE! I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR!

Sure, I appeared to be living the life from the outside looking in. My friends envied my life and wished to be in my shoes. But I still felt empty. I was depressed and sad when I hit my bed. I still want to be a medical doctor and I will always have regrets if I never at least tried.I know that it will be quite the marathon but I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

My Medical Marathon! The journey begins...