Finally picked a major

[fallen_angel]

So after going to school off and on for many years and only finishing an Associate's degree, I have finally picked a major! I applied to the University of the Pacific here in Stockton, CA with a major in Laboratory Medical Science. I won't be able to attend until the Fall of 2010, so I have awhile before getting started, but I am very excited about it and thought I'd share

 

[Bellalee]

OMG!! That's awesome! Lab work is so needed. How long till you graduate?

 

[fallen_angel]

I am not sure yet, I just applied yesterday and it will most likely be awhile before I get accepted. My brother applied there in November of last year and it took until last May for his application to be accepted. I'm super excited though, once I get accepted I will be able to meet with an advisor and plan out everything

 

[ILoveGeckos14]

Congrats! School and learning new things is awesome I'm going to miss it!

 

[LizMarie]

Very Cool is Laboratory Medical Science like Medical Technology? I know different school name each program differently my school when from Laboratory Sciences to Medical Technology, lol.

 

[gitrdone0420]

That is so cool! I still havent really decided what I want to do. I am glad that you picked something =] Lab work is fascinating. I bet you will have a lot of fun!

 

[LizMarie]

Very Cool is Laboratory Medical Science like Medical Technology? I know different school name each program differently my school when from Laboratory Sciences to Medical Technology, lol.

Ugh obviously I need to go back to English Composition so I can learn to write, lol

"Very Cool."

Is Laboratory Medical Science like Medical Technology? I know different schools name each program differently, my school went from Laboratory Sciences to Medical Technology.. either way you graduate with a BS in Science in Medical Technology and are prepared to take the certification once you graduate to become a Medical Technologist.

 

[thestack510]

Congratulations Jess. I'm excited for you. I can't wait to see you guys in the very near future.

 

[fallen_angel]

Thanks everyone

Ugh obviously I need to go back to English Composition so I can learn to write, lol

"Very Cool."

Is Laboratory Medical Science like Medical Technology? I know different schools name each program differently, my school went from Laboratory Sciences to Medical Technology.. either way you graduate with a BS in Science in Medical Technology and are prepared to take the certification once you graduate to become a Medical Technologist.

I would think it is most likely very much the same thing. My Associate's degree is in Arts, so I'm going to have to probably start as a Sophomore since I haven't done many science classes thus far. It should be fun though, 8 months is a long time to start, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself until then! lol

 

[fallen_angel]

Congratulations Jess. I'm excited for you. I can't wait to see you guys in the very near future.

Thanks Ken, very near future indeed, we'll be seeing you tomorrow!!

 

[robin]

congrats jess! maybe one day i will go back to school

 

[fallen_angel]

Thanks Robin Now is a good time for getting grants and loans, especially for those over 25 y/o (which I will be in less than 2 weeks)

 

[LizMarie]

Thanks everyone

I would think it is most likely very much the same thing. My Associate's degree is in Arts, so I'm going to have to probably start as a Sophomore since I haven't done many science classes thus far. It should be fun though, 8 months is a long time to start, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself until then! lol

I advise you during those 8months to start brushing up on your science skills, pick up the School's Bulletin and look for required courses. Your probably going to have to take Gen and Organic Chemistry, A&P, Micro, Bio, etc. If you know the basics now you'll have an easier time during the class, start with basic types of cell structures, the periodic table, get some flash cards to study bones and muscles, vocabulary, etc. You can NEVER be too prepared! If I hadn't sold my Clinical Laboratory Sciences Textbook i would have sent it over because it speaks ALL about the different organizations, safety precautions, etc. If you go into class knowing this stuff your not only going to ace your first test professors are going to be pretty impressed.

 

[fallen_angel]

That is a very good idea, I'll definitely be doing that! My mom also works at a hospital so I may go there and talk to the technicians to see what is most important to focus on, what is difficult, easy, etc.. I took a basic Bio class last summer but have never taken Chemistry in my life! I moved to AZ the summer before my senior year and it wasn't required at my school there so I just never took it.. my brother was very good at Chemistry though, so hopefully I will be too haha. What is A&P?

 

[Taquiq]

Congratulations!

 

[LizMarie]

That is a very good idea, I'll definitely be doing that! My mom also works at a hospital so I may go there and talk to the technicians to see what is most important to focus on, what is difficult, easy, etc.. I took a basic Bio class last summer but have never taken Chemistry in my life! I moved to AZ the summer before my senior year and it wasn't required at my school there so I just never took it.. my brother was very good at Chemistry though, so hopefully I will be too haha. What is A&P?

Chemistry is actually fun to me but you have to take the time out to study and get acquainted with it, it's not one of those fly by classes but definitely impossible. From what I know of the majority of people I've had classes with while in Allied Health Chemistry can be the class that makes or breaks your GPA so look out for that, ask for help, get tutoring, get into a study group, have flash cards, etc. because once you know it, it's not easily forgotten.

A&P is Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body which usually is broken into 2 semesters, Part I and II. When I took A&P the first part was basically getting acquainted with the different parts of the body and their location (the anatomy part) and just a little of what they do. Barnes and Nobles has some really neat flash cards and study equipment such as flash cards of different organs and maps of the body (skeleton, muscular, arteries and veins, blah, blah, blah). Part II focused on the Physiology and basically broke down all the different systems and mechanisms in your body. While A&P is basic and you'll know general things it is highly detailed where everything through out the year build on one another.

Have fun and if you have any other questions on different classes and stuff don't worry asking I've taken Biology, Microbiology, Pharmacogenomics, Gen Chem, Started Organic Chem but dropped it, lol and Intro to Clinical Laboratory Sciences which seems to be what your focusing in on, so I have a little insight as to what is needed to be a Medical Technologist, etc.

 

[gothra]

That's awesome Jess!

 

[fallen_angel]

Thanks Joey and Bonnie

LizMarie, my mom always said that I have very good study skills, I make flashcards for most classes :main_yes: so I'm sure I will end up making many during the next 8 months :main_thumbsup:

I've never taken Anatomy and Physiology before, but have had some classes where we learned a little bit. I think it will be fun, definitely a lot of work but well worth it! So is your major the same thing, or what are you going for? I'm sure I'll be contacting you once school starts if I have problems with anything! Thanks for all of your help

 

[LizMarie]

Thanks Joey and Bonnie

LizMarie, my mom always said that I have very good study skills, I make flashcards for most classes :main_yes: so I'm sure I will end up making many during the next 8 months :main_thumbsup:

I've never taken Anatomy and Physiology before, but have had some classes where we learned a little bit. I think it will be fun, definitely a lot of work but well worth it! So is your major the same thing, or what are you going for? I'm sure I'll be contacting you once school starts if I have problems with anything! Thanks for all of your help

oh lord what is my major, lol.

Well I always knew I wanted to work in a hospital but didn't know what exactly I would do in that hospital. For two years I was undecided but took the regular required classes and a bunch of general classes for PA, MT, Nurses, PreMed, etc because a lot of it is the same at the end of the day. Anyway after two years I transfered to SJU thinking I wanted to do Medical Technology and worked on that for a year non stop and learned a lot about it, but in my school if your in pharmacy and allied health you want to shot yourself after a semester and I felt that way so I changed my major to Health Services Administration ( you know supervisors, managers, if I work hard enough I can be a CEO, lol) with all that I still plan to go back to Med Tech no that I know what is involved and what it takes. I think I was too naive and confused before and wasn't sure that I panicked. HSA is great but I really enjoyed MT, that year I spent doing it full on was hard but fun. I even got to tour a lab and took an Intro class that educated you on all the aspects of Med Tech's so I know a little bit of this and that.

 

[Bellalee]

:main_thumbsup: If you need anymore help lol.. I think she's got you covered but I've gone through Organic, let me know. I've taken all those classes too.. Lizmarie your right it's all the same at the end of the day.

I love science and I think it's a great field. Good luck! I'm totally jealous btw of your study skills I wish I had them.. I still don't have them! Wth!