If Only Summer Could Last Forever...

The two week break we had was much needed, but not quite long enough in my opinion.  We started classes today and I can already tell it is going to be a very busy semester.  However, it can't be much worse than the two semesters we have already completed up to this point.  Our schedule is pretty demanding with 17 credit hours and each week looks a little like this:

PATHOLOGISTS’ ASSISTANT SCHEDULE

FALL 2015 (8/17/15 – 12/11/15)

First Year Students

TIME	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
8:00					PHYSIOLOGY 743
8:30					3084
9:00	PATH 693			PATH 648
9:30	ADVANCED		GROSS ROOM	SURGICAL AND
10:00	MICROANATOMY		(AM SESSION)	AUTOPSY PATH	MICRO 702
10:30	2149			7608	G17
11:00	MICRO 702	MTEC 465		MTEC 465
11:30	G17	2157		2157
12:00			PHYSIOLOGY 743
12:30			3084
1:00	PHYSIOLOGY 743		PHYSIOLOGY 743	MICRO 702	PHYSIOLOGY 743
1:30	G17		G17	G17	G17
2:00		MICRO 702		MICRO 702
2:30
3:00		GROSS ROOM	GROSS ROOM	GROSS ROOM	GROSS ROOM
3:30			(PM SESSION)
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30

Just to clarify, we are on a schedule for gross room and have four rotations throughout the semester.  It isn't as daunting as it looks on the schedule, but with the course load, we will have very little free time.  To elaborate more on the classes we are taking, PATH 693 is Advanced Microanatomy, which will go over how pathologic processes affect various tissues and how the tissues differ histologically from a normal specimen.  MICRO 702 is Microbiology and we are taking it with the dentistry students, so we have a little bit of a bigger class than just our normal 16.  Physiology 743 is exactly what it says it is, physiology.  We are also taking this class with an auditorium full of other graduate students, which is hands down one of the largest classes I've taken in my undergraduate and now graduate career.  MTEC 465 is Medical Laboratory Management and finally, PATH 648 is Surgical and Autopsy Pathology, which expands on the Anatomical Techniques we took in the spring.  It'll be a nice review before we are released to our rotation sites starting in January.

Of course I am excited about classes, but even more excited about football season starting soon.  I always have to think of all the fun things I can do to distract my mind from the craziness of school.  The undergrad school I went to didn't have football, so I missed out on that experience and I'm glad I have the opportunity now to make up for it! Let's Go Mountaineers!