Home Is Where The Heart Is

As my days keep dwindling (4 days and counting), it is getting exceptionally hard to want to get on that plane. I've slowly been saying good-bye to people and places but the hard things to say good-bye to are coming up.

Things I'll Miss About My Home In Miami (in no particular order)

1) The nightlife - I'm not a big party girl by any means but I think I'll miss being able to go to an occasional drinking/sports bar or comedy/dance club. I'll also miss going to Boomers to play mini-golf and Dave and Busters or Gameworks to play games. Just the fact that the option of doing anything remotely entertaining at night will be totally removed makes me miss the idea of being able to go out.

2) I will definitely miss Best Buy/Circuit City/Wal-Mart/Target - I LOVE collecting DVDs and it saddens me to think that I can't walk into one of these places to buy the newest release or a DVD on sale. I'll also incredibly miss the convenience of walking into ONE store and being able to buy anything ranging from food to electronics. Target will be missed!

3) MOVIES! - I love, love, love going to the movies. Had I not pursued medicine, I probably would have liked to have done something involving film. I love going to the movies, buying movies, renting movies, etc. On Friday nights, you can usually catch me at a movie theater watching that week's new release. I will miss the movies two-fold. First, I'll miss just being able to go to the movies. And secondly, I'll miss having the time to go to the movies. I know they show movies on campus but I'm unaware of how new the movies are and how often they show these screenings.

4) Driving - As much as Miami traffic SUCKS, I love the freedom of getting in my car and driving anywhere I please. I don't think I'll love walking everywhere or having to depend on a bus or cab driver.

5) Publix/Grocery Stores - I've been researching food shopping in Dominica and it's looking like slim pickings. There really isn't fresh milk and I don't roll with that vulcanized milk so I can probably kiss my Frosted Flakes good-bye. I'll greatly miss walking into a Publix and buying my favorite foods.

6) I will definitely miss living in a generally bug and mosquito-free bubble here in Miami. I will also miss living in somewhat tolerable weather. Miami gets really hot sometimes but it can also get cold. According to Discover Dominica, "Dominica offers a tropical climate all year with temperatures ranging from 78° - 89°F, constant trade winds and an average sunshine period of 8 hours per day. Weather is predictable; there are two seasons: Dry (Jan - June) and Rainy (July - Dec)." I hate the idea that I'll be hot and sweating most of the time and drenched from the rain the rest of the time. Mosquitoes are also drawn to me like moths to a flame. I've read that there isn't really a Malaria concern in Dominica but leave it to me to get attacked by that one crazy African mosquito that flew over to Dominica carrying some incurable strand of Malaria. Of course, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

7) Long showers! - I know this is a trivial thing to miss but I am physically incapable of keeping a shower under 15 minutes. I LOVE long, hot showers. I do my best thinking in the shower and nothing relieves my stress better. Almost nothing puts me in a worse mood than all of a sudden having my hot water turn to Arctic temperatures mid-shower. I don't know how long the water heater in my apartment will be able to provide hot water but if it is anything under 15 minutes ... I am going to be pissed.

8) Chicken Kitchen! - Another trivial thing to miss but I LOVE Chicken Kitchen. I eat it about 2-3 times a week. Curry sauce is really crack, I'm convinced. Hopefully, I can learn to make my own version of it. How hard can it be?

9) My friends - My friends are the family I got to choose and I will definitely miss seeing them and knowing what's going on in their lives. My only hope is that even though we won't be able to see each other or talk often that we'll still be able to keep those lines of communication open. I'd hate to come back to the States in a year and a half to realize that I lost contact with my friends throughout my time in Dominica.

10) My dogs aka my kids! - I love my two little Pomeranians, Libby and Luigi, more than life itself. I've had Libby for 12 years and Luigi for about 7 years. They have spent their entire lives with me, and it breaks my heart to leave them behind. I didn't have enough time to get their pet permits together but I hope to bring them over eventually if and when the time is right. Until then, they'll stay here in Miami with my aunt. I'll miss them everyday - especially at night when I would come home and all three of us would go to sleep in my bed. I miss them already....

11) My mom - My mom is the only person on Earth that loves me unconditionally and would do anything for me. I'll miss her more than she thinks I will. I wouldn't be here after all if it weren't for her.

Moving to a new country for a year and a half is not easy - especially if you are leaving behind so many things you love. I've always said the chambers of my heart were occupied by mom, my dogs, my boyfriend, and my friends/family. Even though my boyfriend will be with me in Dominica, 3/4 of my heart will be 1,400 miles away. I'll miss my mom and my dogs every day and I'll say a prayer for their health and safety every chance I get. Nonetheless, I know my heart won't be complete until I'm done with Dominica and I can come back home. Until then, all I can do is focus on school and study hard so I can finish and get home as soon as possible. Most importantly, I'll be taking it one day at a time...

Getting In Is Easy, Getting Out is Hard

A lot of people ask a lot of questions about getting into Ross. Are my stats good enough? Will I get in? What was the interview like? How long did it take to hear if you were accepted after the interview? I certainly asked myself these questions and spent hours rummaging through posts on ValueMD to find answers. Well, in retrospect, I shouldn't have worried so much. Ross is NOT hard to get in to. In fact, you may be hard-pressed to find someone who was rejected. The hard part is doing well at Ross. I will now impart my knowledge...

"Are my stats good enough to get in?"

- To get in, you need to provide your transcripts (including your GPA in undergrad), your MCAT score, your application, and two letters of recommendation.

1) GPA: All kinds of GPA's get into Ross. I've seen anywhere from a 2.8 to a 4.0 get in. Therefore, you can stop sweating bullets if you GPA falls in this range. However, if your MCAT is also low, then you may be in trouble.

2) MCAT: I personally know two people who got in with a 20, one person with a 21, and a few people with a 29 or higher. I think the MCAT/GPA dilemma is inversely proportional. If you have a low MCAT (low 20's), then your GPA better be pretty high (around a 3.4 and higher). If your MCAT is pretty high (around a 28 or higher), then you can get away with a bit of a lower GPA (around a 3.0). Let's face it, if your GPA and your MCAT were both pretty high, you'd be applying to an American school. Most Ross applicants have either a low MCAT or a low GPA.

3) Application: Be truthful and remember EVERYTHING you wrote on your application. Your interview consists of you, your interviewer, your transcripts, and your application. They will be looking through and asking questions from your application throughout your interview.

4) Letters of Recommendation: I personally think these are not really all that important. I say this because Ross asks that you send them a professional letter and an academic letter from a professor. According to the Ross website, "At least one letter of recommendation should be written by a pre-medical professor acquainted with your academic ability." I sent them a letter from a doctor I shadowed as my professional letter, and a letter from my psychology professor (whom I did research with) as my academic letter. Now, this isn't exactly what Ross asked for but either they overlooked it or simply didn't care.

5) Research: I don't know how heavily research weighs into their decision. However, every person that I know who was accepted had either research and/or lengthy (about a year or more) volunteer experience.

- Overall thought: When Ross says that they consider applicants holistically, they aren't kidding. Ross' GPA and MCAT cut-offs are pretty low. Therefore, they really took a look at your entire application (GPA, MCAT, LORs, transcripts, research and volunteer experience, and your essays). Consequently, about 60% of applicants are offered an interview. This percentage was given to me by my interviewer during my interview.

NOTE: I know that some may feel offended by what I've written above or think that I believe Ross/Caribbean schools are a joke. This is absolutely not the case. If I genuinely believed this, I wouldn't be here at Ross, would I? I think Ross (and Caribbean schools in general) give students that do not fit American medical schools' standards an incredible opportunity to become doctors. The education at Ross is just as good (if not better in some cases) and the quality of doctors they put out is in no way subpar to American doctors. That being said, what I've written above is what I have personally seen and experienced. I have yet to meet a current Ross student that did not have an area of weakness (GPA or MCAT) on their application. I, in no way, am putting Ross down or giving Caribbean medical schools a bad reputation. I am extremely grateful (as is every other Ross student I have met) to Ross for giving me the opportunity to be here. But to think that it is not easier to get into a Caribbean school than an American school would be a complete denial of the truth. More than anything, I have been truthful about my experiences and have tried to offer hope to those students that have lost it. Sometimes the American Medical system gets it wrong and denies students that perhaps didn't have a 4.0 and 38 on their MCAT but would still make great doctors. Thankfully, there are schools like Ross and other Caribbean schools that look past those areas of weakness and allow students the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. If you choose Ross (or another Caribbean school) and you start to feel down about your choice, know that most people would have given up. As my friend Sean wrote my boyfriend, "remember, you're on the path to becoming what you've always wanted to be. Ross may not make your dreams come true but at least you didn't give up on them, you found a way. In 16 months, it will have all been worth it."

"What was the interview like?"

- A lot of people get stressed over the interview. Well, it's nonsense. I interviewed in Miami and it was a very personal and informal experience.

It went like this:

1) My interview was at 10:00 AM and I showed up at 9:30 AM. The receptionist offered me something to drink not knowing it would end up all over her if I took her up on it. My interviewer called me into an office and he pulled out my file. He looked over my application and transcripts and asked about 20 questions. I was nervous and rambled on and on so I'm sure that cut down his opportunity to ask more questions - especially since he had another interview scheduled for 11:00 AM.

2) This is a list of questions that have been asked in interviews before. I have highlighted the questions that I was asked.

Why do you want to be a doctor?
What types of leadership positions did you have in college?
What types of clinical experience do you have?
Will you be able to survive on the island?
What has been your greatest hardship and how did you deal with it?
What was your favorite class in college and why?
What other schools have you applied to?
What was the result of applying to those schools?
Why were you not accepted to a US medical school?
Why are you applying to Ross?
Are you content with becoming an Foreign Medical Grad vs. being a US Medical Grad?
What is your weakness?
What is your strength?
What do you know about living in Dominica?
How do you feel about living in a third world country?
How do you deal with stress/pressure?
If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
Why would you be a good doctor?
What do you feel are the most important qualities in being a good doctor?
What do you do to alleviate stress?
What are your hobbies?
Are you a leader or a follower? Give examples...
What exposure have you had to the medical profession? Healthcare experience?
What did you do when you volunteered at ----?
What do you think you will like most about medicine/being a doctor?
What motivates you to pursue this field?
What makes you unique?
What other field would you choose if you do not get accepted to any Medical School
(Caribbean or otherwise)?
Why did you get (insert bad grade) in (insert class)?
What was the most challenging class for you during your undergraduate studies and why do you think so?
Will you be able to handle living in a foreign country?
What characteristics do you possess that makes you adaptable?
What are the characteristics of a good/bad doctor?
How would a friend describe you?
What do you think would be the hardest part of the medical school curriculum for you
and why?
What are your study habits?
What field of medicine interests you most and why?
What do you know about Ross and why did you choose to apply here?
What else would you like to tell the Committee about yourself that is not included in your essay or application?
Do you have any questions?

- I found these questions on ValueMD in the interview sticky in the Ross forum. I wasn't asked anything that wasn't on this list. Go through it and formulate your answers in your head. At the same time, do not memorize your answers so it doesn't seem rehearsed. I would also recommend going through the interview sticky and reading people's personal experiences. The interview seems to pretty much follow the same order and questions for everyone.

- This piece of advice also came from ValueMD: "Don’t freak out. Stay calm and composed. The interviewer will inform you that he/she is not the one to make the admissions decision but it is rather a Committee who decides your fate. However, he/she will take notes during the interview and write a summary, which will be sent to this Committee. Incidentally, during a recent Ross University Open House held in NY the following statistics were cited: 'If you have been granted an interview, there is a 65% chance that you will gain admittance to Ross University School of Medicine.' So the interview is somewhat important. Dress professionally; be well groomed, and well mannered."

3) After the interview, you watch a 15 minute video about Ross. There's not much to be said there.

4) After the video, my interview was done and I went home. I was in and out in 1 hour including the 15 minute video. However, my cousin and boyfriend had an extended portion to their interviews. After the video, they (along with a few other interviewees) had a question and answer session with a 5th semester student. This lasts until people run out of questions to ask. Then they were invited to tour the Miami campus and have lunch (on Ross' tab!) with the Dean of the school in the cafeteria. Of course, I was swindled and got none of this. Regardless, it's a pretty easy-going albeit day-consuming experience.

5) As far as attire: dress nicely. Girls go in business suits (either skirt or pant). Men go in suit and tie.

"How long did it take to hear if you were accepted after the interview?"

Here's how it went for me:
1) I interviewed on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007
2) Status on Embark changed to "committee review" on Monday, Nov. 12, 2007
3) Application status on Embark changed to "decision made" on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007
4) I called the person who interviewed me at 10:30 AM and he told me over the phone that I got in for the January term on Thursday, Nov. 15

So, as you can see, the process went by very fast. It takes AT LEAST a week because your application with your interviewer's recommendation has to be sent to Dominica for the committee review. And since the committee meets once a week on Wednesdays, you have to hope they get to your application. If not, you'll have to wait another week till they meet again. Everyone I know, including myself, found out if they got in in about 10 days (from the interview).


This is everything I can think of regarding getting in to Ross. Here is the link to the interview sticky on ValueMD. Read it! I received all of my information through that sticky and through personal experience. Hope this all helped... Good luck!

http://www.valuemd.com/ross-university-school-medicine/121739-interview.html

Shipping and Shopping

In my last post, I shared my personal packing list. The items are many, expensive, and large. You may be wondering how I'll be getting all of those things over to Dominica. Well, it isn't easy and it isn't cheap! As I was researching all of my shipping options, I compiled all of the information I found from different sources and typed it up. Here it is:


For Shipping To and From Dominica
Mail can be picked up at the school. If you decide to pick your mail up on campus, please use the address below. A posted mail list can be found daily next to the mail room in the 4th semester building. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery of mail and an additional 2 weeks for packages. A notice will be sent to you if you have a package. You will need to take the notice and your passport to the post office in Portsmouth in order to pick up your package and pay customs charges. If you have a package sent through an independent carrier, it can be picked up at the appropriate airport. If shipped other than airmail, it can be picked up at the port authority in Roseau. The school transport drivers may be available to pick up packages for a small fee.

Amerijet, DHL, Federal Express, UPS, and/or Tropical Shipping can assist you with shipping your items to Dominica.

Amerijet (approximate transit time is 2 weeks)
Amerijet sends packages to Miami and then ships them to Dominica.
For more details, please call (800) 276-5387.

DHL (approximate transit time is 5-7 business days)
Visit www.dhl-usa.com or call (800) 225-5345.

Federal Express (approximate transit time is 3 business days)
Visit www.fedex.com to view International Shipping.
Customer service number for calls placed within the U.S……..(800) 247-4747
Customer service number for calls placed from Dominica….…(747) 448-0992

UPS (approximate transit time is 3 business days)
Visit www.ups.com or call (800) PICK UPS

Tropical Shipping (approximate transit time is a week)
Visit www.tropical.com or call (800) 367-6200

Laparkan (approximate transit time is 1 week)
http://www.laparkan.com/

When shipping packages, use this address (EXACTLY):
Student’s name (Identify which semester)
(767) 255-6500
Ross University School of Medicine
P.O. Box 266
Portsmouth Campus
Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies


The US Postal Service
You can experience terrific mailing through the US Postal Service. The box arrives directly into the Portsmouth Post Office. You spend $1 EC (or about $1 USD divided by $2.65); they open the box in front of you and then you pay a small tax (usually $10-20 EC or about $8 USD). It is necessary to print 5 labels on each box (i.e. one for each side and one for the top.) Although the address contains Roseau, it is never necessary to pick up the stuff in Roseau; they always deliver directly to Portsmouth. Make sure you spell out "West Indies"; otherwise if you put WI, it’ll be sent to Wisconsin.

- FedEx and UPS charge around $40-50 per pound for the 1st pound and on a sliding scale thereafter; for example, 10lbs came out to $100 and 25 lbs came out to $200.

- Tip: when you have your parents or whoever send you stuff make sure they don’t have the prices listed as customs opens your packages and will assess the value and charge a value added tax.

- Stuff like food and books will not be assessed a big fee, however electronics will be charged a 50% VAT. Electronic items on the island are expensive for purchase so if you need anything bring it with you such as an iron, coffeemaker, George Foreman grill etc.


I have spent countless hours researching everything related to Ross. I compiled all of the information I found and made it into a sort of "Guide To All Things Ross" on Microsoft Word. It's 40 pages long. If there is one thing I have learned while researching is that you must take everything with a grain of salt. One person's experience is just that, one person's. Often the information is biased, outdated, or just plain wrong. Therefore, look into and verify all the information you come across.

If you're wondering why anything needs to be shipped in the first place, here's why:
- I chose to go with American Airlines (they offer a Ross University Student Discount Code).
- Their luggage policy for flying to Dominica (different countries have different weight restrictions): 2 pieces of checked luggage totaling 70 lbs with no individual luggage weighing more than 50 lbs, 1 carry-on weighing no more than 40 lbs, and a personal item such as a purse or book bag or laptop bag.
- Total weight per passenger on American Airlines = 110 lbs MAX plus your personal item

If you've gone through my packing list, it is blatantly obvious that everything I need/want to take is above and beyond 110 lbs. That being said, I chose Tropical Shipping as my preferred shipping method.


With Tropical Shipping, you can ship on a wooden pallet, in a crate, or in a barrel. Prices on the pallet and crate are based on cubic feet (length x width x height). However, if you ship in a barrel, the price (also determined by cubic feet) is fixed irregardless (yes, it's a word!!) of what you put in the barrel or how much it weighs. There are two options for the barrel. There is a 55 gallon barrel and a 75 gallon barrel. Their corresponding prices are listed below.





My cousin and I bought five 75 gallon barrels. Each barrel is approximately 4 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter. The total cost of shipping was $555.00 (or $111.00 per barrel). This may sound like an astronomical amount of money but we shipped FIVE barrels each weighing a few hundred pounds. It was really quite a good deal considering the amount of items we shipped (you saw the list!) and how much they weighed.

In case you were wondering, I mentioned in my packing list that I bought TSA locks for my luggage and barrels. The barrels have a hole on the lid that allows you to lock them. I opted to lock my barrels because I have some expensive items inside of them. However, I assume I will have to go to customs with the keys. I doubt customs will release the barrels without opening them and looking through them. This is an added inconvenience but I'd rather lock my barrels and be there with customs when they open the barrels than risk leaving them unlocked and having items "disappear."

Side note: See how ugly the barrels are? They are just made of plain, brown cardboard. Well, my mom decided it might be a good idea to decorate my barrels. While I was busy packing barrels, she took it upon herself to "decorate" the barrels I wasn't working on. I use the word decorate loosely because if you saw what my barrels looked like when she was done, you would have died either from laughter or shock. My mom bought TWO 675 count multi-colored reinforcement labels packs. She proceeded to sporadically place the labels one-by-one on each barrel. All 4 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter of the barrels have a yellow, green, red, and purple reinforcement label. Of course, this was done so that "I could easily distinguish which barrel was mine." To make matters worse, she thought the labels weren't enough and put her drawing skills to use. She drew a heart with "love Mom" in its center on one of my barrels and a drawing of what she says is my dog but I say is a Who from Dr. Seuss on another barrel. I seem to be blocking out what other "pictures" she drew on the barrels. Needless to say, I get to Tropical Shipping with my chicken pox barrels and NO ONE else has decorated their barrels. So Mom, mission accomplished because I will DEFINITELY be able to distinguish my barrels from the rest when I pick them up. Naturally, the man who came to pick up my barrels with the forklift was rolling over in laughter for what seems like minutes. Between gasps of breath, he managed to say, "I've been here 10 years and I have never seen anything like that." And I'm sure he never will. Thanks, mom.

Tropical shipping was also the best option for me because of location. I live in Miami and they have a warehouse in Miami (specifically Doral). I went to the warehouse and bought the 5 empty barrels, went home and filled them up, and took them back to Tropical Shipping. They do all of the paperwork and give you a shipper letter of instruction. You need to take that letter with you on the plane in order to be able to pick up your barrel in Dominica. Tropical Shipping ships every Wednesday and your barrels are delivered to Dominica the following Wednesday. They ship your barrels to Roseau, so you need to figure out a way to pick them up since Roseau is about an hour away from the school.

This is where I am at right now. I have no idea how I'm going to pick them up. On ValueMd, they say you can hire someone to go pick them up but I think I'd like to be there in order to make sure nothing goes missing. There have been stories floating around of items being stolen from people's barrels when the barrels go through customs. I'll be finding out in about a week when I get to the island. I'll keep you posted.

I know this post wasn't exceptionally entertaining but I sure hope it was helpful. And if you're interested in that "Guide to All Things Ross," then feel free to download it from the link below.

http://flyupload.flyupload.com/?fid=4574757

May As Well Teleport Everything I Own..

I think there's something to be said when you're shopping for Medical School in the camping/survival department at Wal-Mart and Sports Authority. Putting together my packing/shopping list was a rather daunting task. Since my cousin and I will be living together, our family has spared no expense when it comes to our comfort. Below is my (and my cousin's) personal packing list.


School Supplies
- dry erase board, markers, erasers, cleaning liquid
- Book bag (that can hold my laptop)
- GOOD set of headphones for Mediasite
- pens, pencils, highlighters, coloring pencils
- note cards w/ rings, note card box
- hole puncher
- stapler and staples
- six 2-inch binders and two 3-inch binders
- calculator
- ruler
- post-it notes
- 2 sets of dividers
- 4 small notebooks
- loose leaf college-ruled paper
- planner for assignments
- printer with cartridges (2 black & 1 color), 10 reams of white paper, USB cord
- Two Combination Locks (there are lockers on campus)
- Cardboard Filing Boxes (I plan on reusing binders so I bought filing boxes to keep notes
organized)

Medical Supplies
- Littman Lightweight stethoscope
- blood pressure kit
- short lab coat for the White Coat Ceremony
- 2 sets of scrubs (Anatomy lab meets twice a week)
- eye chart
- pen light
- reflex and neurological hammer
- 512 and 256 tuning forks
- box of dissection gloves, goggles, and face masks for anatomy lab
- basic dissection kit with a scalpel, blades, scissors and forceps/tweezers

Kitchen Supplies
- 16-piece set of glass cups
- 18-piece dinnerware set (6 person seating including dinner plate, salad plate, and bowl)
- a set of utensils (forks, spoons, knives) and the tray to hold them
- 6-piece set of steak knives
- 3 cooking knives and wood block
- cutting board
- salad spinner
- small deep fryer
- Magic bullet blender, chopper, and juicer
- 6 ice trays
- small toaster oven
- bottle opener
- oil can for leftover cooking oil
- frying pan splatter guard
- digital thermometer
- strainer
- baking pans
- A flame starter for lighting gas stoves
- Ziploc bags (large and small)
- small (4 cup) rice cooker
- a kitchen-in-a-box set including measuring cups, spoons, can opener, whisk, cheese grater, potato peeler, a different spatulas
- a cooler with a few Tupperware (I thought this might be useful for anything that needs to be kept cool on the way home from grocery shopping)
- Cooking seasonings
- PUR Water filter (PUR is better than Brita because it removes microorganisms from the water Brita doesn't) and replacement filters


First Aid Kit/Medication
- Multivitamin and/or protein powder
- Antacid
- Pepto-Bismol
- Antibiotic Cream
- Antihistamine (Fast Acting) i.e. Benadryl
- Antihistamine cream (Caldaria)
- allergy medication
- thermometer
- ice bags
- Band-Aids
- Ace bandage or other support bandage
- Bug (mosquito) repellent with deet
- Hydrocortizone ointment
- Dramamine
- Over-the-counter medications such as Advil, Imodium, etc.
- 2-3 month's supply of any prescription medication you may need
- aerosol machine w/ albuterol ampules (I have asthma)

Toiletries/Personal Hygiene/Personal Care
- Shower cap
- small amount of make-up
- perfume/cologne
- small amount of jewelry
- razors, shaving cream
- feminine hygiene products
- soap, loofah or washcloth
- toothbrush, tooth paste, mouth wash, floss
- face wash
- deodorant
- hand sanitizer
- baby wipes
- lint roller
- Sewing Kit with extra white and black thread
- Hair : dryer, iron, brush and comb, headbands, hair bands, hairspray, gel, mouse, shampoo, conditioner
- Nails: nail polish, nail polish remover, nail clipper, nail file
- eye mask for sleeping
- set of earplugs for studying and sleeping
- Sun block lotion
- Cotton
- Q-tips

Clothing/Accessories
- nice outfit and shoes for white coat ceremony
- pajamas
- hats w/ lots of brim
- Sneakers and workout clothes
- Flip flops (a few pairs)
- Crocs
- Poncho/rain coat
- bathing suit
- Socks
- Underwear
- Belts
- lightweight shirts
- shorts, pants, jeans, etc.
- One large Sweater (classrooms are very cold)
- Sunglasses – 2 or 3 pairs
- A set of sandals with straps for swimming and/or hiking (mine are from Sketchers but you can also get good ones from TEVA and Merrell)

Bedroom/Bathroom Supplies
- 4 Bath towels
- 1 bath rug
- 3 washcloths
- shower curtain with vinyl liner and rings
- bath mat
- Cup to hold toothbrush
- light comforter
- light blanket
- hamper
- waste basket
- different size cubbies and boxes for storage
- collapse able garment bag for under the bed
- easily assembled wire storage units
- over-the-door towel rack
- Office Chair from Ikea
- Table (bedside) Lamp
- Desk Lamp
- Clothes hangers
- 2 sets of Pillowcases, flat sheets, fitted sheets
- pillow and mattress covers (pillows and mattress' are used)
- Mattress pad (may be useful since most mattress' are made of foam)
- mosquito net (some apartments don't have screens - this may be useful to keep bugs away from you while you sleep)
- Personal items to make a comfortable home ( I brought picture frames and candle holders and my cousin brought a small fountain)
- Battery operated clock (I brought my iHOME because it has a battery back-up system and it charges/plays my IPOD)
- A small lamp that clips onto the bed's headboard
- Set of 6 collapse able boxes for storage in drawers

Entertainment/Media Supplies
- iPOD, iPOD charger, and earphones
- digital camera and case
- video camera and case with extra tapes
- dvd player, DVD's, and DVD case
- Vonage phone
- blank CDs and/or blank DVDs
- Speakers for computer
- Laptop, warranty/paperwork, charger, TV Tuner, sleeve
- At least a 1 GB flash drive (You can also use your iPod but if you're anything like me, it's already full)
- DVD Games: Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, Deal or No Deal, and Family Feud

Miscellaneous Items/General Items for the Home
- A GOOD umbrella
- Extra batteries in all sizes
- Power surge cord
- SEVERAL extension cords
- outlet extender
- Scuba Diving/Snorkeling equipment
- Duct and scotch tape
- bungee cords
- Cleaning supplies
- light bulbs
- moth balls
- iron
- small ironing board
- small battery-operated fan
- Multi-tool and pocketknife
- candles and matches
- clothes line and pins
- air fresheners
- luggage tags
- a travel scale that weighs luggage up to 50 lbs
- TSA locks for luggage and barrels
- small battery-operated generator (it has two plugs and can power for about 4 hours)
- small collapse able shopping cart (kind of like a tiny dolly) for groceries and laundry
- Mag-Lite Flashlight (for the home) and a smaller flashlight (for your book bag)
- basic tools: hammer, pliers, nails and screws,screwdriver, wrench, etc.
- space saver bags (you can vacuum seal clothing, towels, and bedding to save space)
- Poker set and board games

This is what I can remember off of the top of my head, though I am sure I forgot a few things here and there. I know this list is long and some items may seem ridiculous, but I imagine everything will come of use at one point or another. The way I look at it, Dominica will be my home for a year and a half. I feel that the more comfortable I can make my apartment in Dominica, the less homesick I'll feel, and the more focused I'll be on what I'm there to do - become a doctor.

A Whole New World

In less than 13 days, I will be boarding a 6:25 AM flight from my home in Miami, to my new home in Portsmouth, Dominica. I will be moving 1,400 miles from home to study medicine at Ross University. And I won't see home for approximately 16 months. And so it begins...

My name is Melissa and I went to the University of Miami for my undergrad. I did well and my GPA was very competitive alongside research, volunteer, and work experience. However, I took the MCAT the first time and my score was less than earth shattering. Regardless, I applied to Ross University and surprisingly got in along with my cousin and boyfriend of two and a half years. So, that pretty much catches you up to where I am - 13 days and counting.

I can't even begin to describe the torment of getting ready to go to school in a different country. With every new errand or shopping excursion, I can't help but ask myself in a panic, "what have I gotten myself into!?" To give you an idea, these are a few things that I have found myself doing in the past few weeks to prepare for Dominica:

1) Ross requires proof of a round trip ticket. They wanna make sure your butt gets in and gets out in 16 months. Cost of round trip ticket to Dominica = $730 (and that's a GOOD price).

2) The Visa application - You need to submit a chest x-ray radiology report , a copy of your HIV results, proof of your Hep A and B immunizations, 6 forms to be filled out by your doctor (basically saying you're healthy, STD-free, and not insane or mentally retarded), 2 visa applications, 2 very flattering passport photos, a letter of good conduct from your local police department, a copy of your passport, and a $40 international money order. Super fun...

UPDATE: In case you were wondering, vaccines cost.. A LOT! My Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccine cost my mom a whopping $240. And the doctor was kind enough not to charge his usual $60.00 office visit. My boyfriend's doctor charged him $547.00 for the whole works including the chest x-ray, immunizations, lab work-up (the full spectrum, from cholesterol to STD's), and consultation. However, the only glitter of hope is if you go to your local county's health department. Vaccines there are MUCH cheaper and you can do your HIV and STD tests there. Definitely call them and ask about prices before you shell out hundreds of dollars at a private practice.

3) Financial Aid - if you're on your way to medical school or thinking about going, GET READY for the raping that comes with paying for medical school. Tuition alone for first semester at Ross is $12, 950. Then add another few thousand for your flight, housing, and the cost of living. As you read this, I currently sit $22,944.39 in debt for my FIRST semester (I repeat, semester, not year). Of course, this money comes from a combination of Stafford and Grad Plus loans. Therefore, I took out the maximum for the first year. In my opinion, better to have lots of money left over than to underestimate and end up living with random island person in a shack. Enough of the debt-talk... it's too depressing.

4) Housing - where do I even start? While searching for housing in Dominica, you quickly come to appreciate how comfortable we have it in the United States. First off, there is no central A/C. Many places don't even have A/C. One landlady I spoke to said, "students here just crack a window and the breeze is enough." Yea, right. I imagine this is if you live right on the water or in a mountain somewhere. Then, you may be lucky to find a place with a washer. But scoring an apartment with a dryer is like finding liquor in a dry town. You have to dry your clothes outside on a rope or drying rack. Good luck ever getting it to dry in the humid air. Also, there are no street numbers. Everything is located on Moo Cow Trail, Banana Trail, Lizard Trail, Other-ridiculous-name trail, etc. I am so not even kidding about this. And then if you think you have found a nice place (by searching on the Ross Housing website) then you're forced to send a deposit without seeing it. As you can imagine, that is a HUGE gamble. And that is exactly what I had to do. Luckily, I have a pretty good idea of where I'll be living thanks to a very kind landlord who sent me about 50 pictures of the place. Yes, this tri-colored house is where I'll call home. And believe it or not, it's actually one of the top places to live around the school. These are the Coco Mango Apartments. Try not to laugh too hard but feel free to pity at any time...




5) In my next post, I'll share with you my packing list, costs, and general information about the adventure that is getting your stuff shipped to the island. I'll leave you with a picture of the barrels you ship your things in.


I hope I've given you an idea of what it is like to head out to Ross. You may be thinking alongside me "what did she get herself into?!" But I promise, it gets much worse (which I'll detail more later). However, it also gets much better. Despite all the headaches and money-hemorrhage, every now and then I stop to think of the incredible opportunity lying before me. This school and this place will give me the opportunity to be an incredible doctor and to meet other people that are genuinely passionate about helping others. In the end, I hope it was all worth it. But, I guess that is something you and I will find out little by little.