I came to OU from Illinois and more specifically southern Illinois and even more specifically, Carbondale, Illinois. Before you ask, I am not from Chicago because when I mean southern, I mean southern. It's basically Kentucky where I live so not that much different from Oklahoma, but doesn't look like farms or the prairie.
Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Like I said in my title, I am yet another pre-med student and am majoring in Microbiology after bouncing around between chemistry related majors. I'm pretty sure that I am going to stick with it because I enjoy it and switching now would be like voluntarily walking underneath the Bizzell clock tower. Only being a junior means I don't get to graduate at the end of the semester, but I do get to take the MCAT in March. Yay.
Another big thing coming up for me this semester is the College Bowl tournament, also in March. I'm the vice chair of programming so I'm basically in charge of the entire tournament and all the lead up events. If you don't know what College Bowl is, it's a pop culture trivia tournament with a team of your friends. The questions have a great mix so by no means do you have to be a trivia master. So if you're bored, go ahead and sign up ;).
I'm also a big sports guy and love to play tennis but playing outside here in 20 mph wind can kind of be a pain. Going to OU means that I have the opportunity to watch some incredible athletes and sports at one of the highest levels. I enjoy going to see different sports here and of course the football team. One of the coolest experiences that I have had was going the semifinal at the Rose Bowl and watching a crushing, yet fantastic, game. In high school I went to OU's final four game and witnessed another crushing defeat but in a completely different way. So after these games I am certain that my presence is a bad luck charm and the Sooners are doomed if I am there.
2018 Rose Bowl Game
Personal photo; Jan. 2018
Hi Jack, I was too a pre-med major before switching my major because chemistry got me good. However, I'm glad that you are enjoying your major. Good luck on the MCAT. My cousin took that last year so I know that test is very stressful. I also bid you luck in prepping for the College Bowl Tournament. How exciting that you are vice chair. I also agree OU has some of the most incredible athletes ever. GO OU!
ReplyDeleteGarden of the Gods: another gorgeous vista, Jack! I think you and I share the same taste in outdoor landscapes. And that is so cool about College Bowl! Keep me posted on details about that so I can share it in the class announcements. Now I am thinking how fun it would be to do a Storybook for this class that is College-Bowl styled, like "Trivial Pursuits of the Devas" or something like that. Let's hope you will bring better luck to College Bowl players than to OU football, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteHey Jack, I am on a pre-med track too! Thankfully, I am a senior and am done with the MCAT. I am sorry you have to take it, it is a very tough and long test but put in the work and you will only need to do it once. If you need any help or tips for studying just let me know. Also my friend founded a MCAT prep club which meets on Thursday evenings and they provide free material and tutoring. You got this and good luck man!
ReplyDeleteHey Jack!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to meet another struggling pre-med student. I am also a junior, and I am thinking about taking the MCAT in May. Life is rough. Anyways, that picture you have of the Garden of the Gods is absolutely beautiful! Do you like to travel? I'm not a huge sports fan, but I'm sure you're not a bad luck charm!!
Your classmate,
Joanna Yoon
Hey Jack! I enjoyed reading your blog post. I super jealous you got to go to the Rose Bowl game, still sad OU lost and even more sad we lost again this year year, yikes. Best of luck with your MCAT, I understand how important that is for you pre-med students. One of my good friends is taking it soon and I can not imagine having to be under that much stress.
ReplyDeleteHi Jack! I can definitely relate with "Yet another struggling pre-med" as I am a biology pre-dental major. It can be a struggle, but I believe it will all be worth it in the end. I also think it is awesome that you are a vice chair for College Bowl. I plan on signing up, so I hope I see you there!
ReplyDeleteHi Jack! I think it’s really cool how you’re pursuing a microbiology degree and planning on to go to med school. I’ve heard that the MCAT is extremely rough so good luck on that! I’m sure you can do it, just gotta study hard! Since you’re planning on going to medical school, have you thought about what field you would like to study in?
ReplyDeleteHey Jack! I think it is great you are finding a degree you enjoy even though you have an idea for your future plans. Microbiology is was on my favorite subjects from a fellow pre-health major! And I agree about being able to watch some top-tier sports being at OU. I actually want to go to a gymnastics tournament before I graduate as I hear they are one of the top in the nation and I always see OU students in the Olympics. Good luck on your MCAT!!
ReplyDeleteHi Jack! As a Social Studies Education major where not getting a 100 is actually pretty difficult, I cannot sympathize with your scientific career choice. I am so sorry you have to take the stupid test, but I hope you do well. I am actually the president of IGC and we were just now looking into pairing up with College Bowl for an event next semester! I am very sorry you feel like a bad luck charm! I mean, you could be right, you could be single-handedly crushing OU's chances of ever winning anything. But there's a high probability that's not the case.
ReplyDeleteHi Jack!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry too much about the MCAT. Keeping a calm mind and being dedicated to the test will help you succeed in the end! There are so many amazing sources on campus now that Dustye has been in charge. I wish I had her last year in the process. It will definitely pay off in the end so stay focused and work hard! You can definitely do this. I look forward to reading your blog throughout the rest of the semester.
Hi Jack,
ReplyDeleteI wish you good luck on the MCAT, I am lucky and only have to take the GRE. A friend of mine is stressing himself out so much because he will be taking the MCAT soon. I can't imagine handling classes and the amount of extra studying for the test. That's why I scheduled my test for the middle of summer. What career are you aiming for? Do you have something specific in mind?
Hi Jack,
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to meet you. I know you said the part of Illinois where you're from is basically like Kentucky, but that is so cool that you are from a different state. I always enjoy hearing about people from different places, and feel like we can all enrich each others lives by meeting different people! I have never been to Illinois, but many of my friends have and they loved it. It's pretty awesome that OU brings people together from all over the state and country. I hope you have a great semester!
Jack, I am a fellow pre-med individual and I feel your pain. You have my deepest condolences. Good luck on the MCAT as your date is quickly approaching! I enjoy the outdoors as well and enjoyed your picture of the Garden of gods in the Shawnee National Forest. That looks super beautiful and I hope that I can go there one day. Good luck on all your studies this semester!
ReplyDeleteHi Jack,
ReplyDeleteWow, it is super cool that you are from Illinois, even if you are from South Illinois (haha). What made you want to come to OU?
Also, I totally feel you about switching majors. It can be hard to find the right one off the bat, but you seem to be in a good place right now, so best of luck this semester and your College Bowl!
Hi Jack,
ReplyDeleteI think it's really cool that you're from Illinois. I like reading these blog posts because it's interesting to see how everyone comes from different places. It's also awesome that you decided to do pre- med. I have a lot of friends that are pre-med and I've heard that it can be tough. I'm glad that you found a major that you're dedicated to!
Good luck on the MCAT, Jack! I always hear the nightmares from current med school students about how grueling it is. As a Chemical Engineering student with a goal to get into med school myself, I feel your pain. But if you stick through with it, it'll be worth it in the end! I'll keep my eye out in the next decade for a Jack Wood, MD, when I need to go get a check up!
ReplyDeleteHi Jack, it is nice to meet you! There are definitely a good amount of people in this class that are either from a good distance away from OU and or majoring in some medical science. I liked how you made it clear not Chicago, unfortunately that is pretty much the only thing I associate Illinois with. I was also there at the Rose Bowl and am still bitter till this day, what a day!
ReplyDeleteHey Jack, I found your title of this quite funny as I was pre-med before switching to pre-PA and it is so relatable. I think everyone comes into college with a set goal in mind and its nice to see you are still sticking to it this far, I am definitely rooting for you! It seems you are very involved and that is great and will definitely help you prioritize in the future, which I am sure you will be successful in!
ReplyDeleteHi Jack!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the MCAT! One of my roommates is pre-med and has taken the MCAT a couple of times and I have seen how much she studies for it so I can tell that it is difficult and you must be studying so much to prepare for it! I also love watching OU football- my dad went to OU and I grew up living around Norman and going to football games, it's a hard thing not to love!
Hi Jack,
ReplyDeleteI am an out of state student to, it definitely sucks being far away from home but the way you described it sounds like at least the culture is the same. I am also a Microbiology major but I am no longer a pre-med student, I am going for a masters of public health. I feel the same way about microbiology, I jumped around from biochemistry and biology and ended up loving microbiology. Good luck on your MCAT!
Howdy Jack,
ReplyDeleteI am also a junior pre-med, so I get the struggle. Good luck on your MCAT! I also love the sports that go on around OU. I have pretty much traveled all over the states of Oklahoma and Texas to see the football games. Luckily enough I am from Texas, so I got to go to the Cotton Bowl game and the Big XII championships! I also played Tennis in high school, but I unfortunately do not get to play much anymore. Good luck on the ladder half of your studies this semester.