We arrived in BCS and found very quickly that the trees (which I'm not used to) made each street look like the only street in town. The maps we picked up from the Hotel made BCS look so much bigger than we'd prepared for also. Because of the Lubbock Fun Run someone had contacted their sister and we had a place to stay. After realizing we were lost and needed to regain our bearings, we linked up with the sister, had internet connection, and was able to get insight from her husband on his lunch break. We were then much more prepared and saw a number of houses, apartments and condos that day. Although we had seen alot of apartments, we didn't feel good about any of them. I didn't feel like they were in safe places. It was somewhat discouraging to go to so many places and feel like non of them were what we wanted. We also met with a medical student and his family. I was able to get some insight about the A&M's medical program and how it is living in BCS with a family while going to medical school.
He said Medical School at A&M is good. The people at the school are very kind, there is a brand new Health Science Center facility which is very very nice (for the first few years they wouldn't let anyone eat anything in any of the rooms there. Since that time they have loosened that policy. It remains a pristine facility still). He likes the people that he studies with. There is an option to choose who is in your anatomy tank. He chose some people from his same church and some other guys. Since that day he has remained study partners with all of them. When they are not available, he said, he just walks around until he finds a group of people studying. He just asks if he could join them and then studies with them. He says that study partners are one of the most effective ways to learn in medical school. I believe that is true because if often takes a whole lot more effort and requires one to know the subject in more depth to study with others.
There are few MD residents there are BCS, only family medicine residents. Because of that structure as a 3rd and 4th year medical student you get to work directly with the attendings, which he has found to be very helpful. He likes surgery, particularly the operating room (OR), and believes that because he was able to be first assist in the OR right alongside the attending, he had a good experience and would like general surgery as a profession. Along with attendings, he also said the faculty at A&M is outstanding.
"Here at A&M there are very good professors...with the good also come the bad." He told me of one doctor that he has followed that practically runs from room to room. One day my friend asked him why he practically runs. The doctor told him that he has a family at home and that it is his goal each day to be home at 5 to be with them. My friend says that this doctor is one of his favorite to work with and that he would like to pattern his future medical career similarly. It was good talking with my friend. While talking and later discussing things with my wife, I just had this strong feeling of excitement for medical school. It didn't seem to matter where we lived or where we went to medical school, I'm just excited and eager to begin! Where we live was/is still an important issue for my wife though.
The next day of apartment searching was even better than the previous. We found an area up east of highway 6 that just felt good. It is around Pecan Ridge, off of Boonville rd. We liked the area much better than any other area we had visited. The Realtor was from Twin City Properties and showed us to many apartments at Pecan Ridge and even some in Bryan. He was informative, honest, helpful, and friendly, traits that are important when you're looking for a place to raise your family. We believe we will live far east of campus, perhaps I'll get a little motorbike or something to commute to campus cheaply and easily.
Overall we left BCS somewhat sad for needing to leave so many friends and family in Lubbock Texas, but we also knew that just as we came to love so many in Lubbock in one year, we will also come to love so many people in BCS over 2-3 years. We plan on making the most we can of this medical school experience.
I want to help others
So many people have been such a HUGE help to us through everything leading up to Medical School.
My wife and I will, in any way possible, help others as they work on getting into Medical School.
I am willing to accept phone calls,
and my wife and I will open our home and our fridge to anyone that needs it!
It's been great talking with future medical students about Texas Residency and doing well on the MCAT.
I don't claim to know everything about this grueling process,
but what I do know and what's worked for me, I am willing to share.
Don't hesitate commenting on this blog to get in contact with me.
-Mike, future Doc
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