DrStudentDentist

In undergrad, I had a lot more time to sit and hand write my notes. I’d get all the fanciest Japanese pens with fine tips and sit writing and rewriting - feeling oh-so-cute. But that’s not the case in dental school. I don’t have time in class to exchange out my black pen for my purple pen in order to accentuate a certain point or to put a post-it flag next to what I want to remember. I realized that I was seeing note-taking as an end in itself instead of a means to remembering the material. So in light of that, I stopped the fancy highlighting and pink stars around key materials and have opted instead to use my laptop for note taking. Not only is this a much faster means of retrieving the information I need when I need it, it keeps all my work in one central location. Also, it satisfies my goal to go paperless.

I shot out an email to my class with the below information so maybe I’ll see more laptops in class on Monday. I also thought this might be of interest to anyone out there who owns a laptop and uses it for their academics.

Here is a screenshot of my Anatomy & Histology notes (click to enlarge): 

If you want a more notes-on-the-slides approach, try this:

1) Download the powerpoint presentation.

2) Right click to bring up the option: Convert to Adobe PDF.

3) Save File in a designated folder.

4) A PDF of the powerpoint presentation will now be produced and opened in a new window. You can now delete the powerpoint file as it will be redundant.

5) At the top is the toolbar - click on Review & Comment. First option: Add Sticky Note. That will open a post-it like comment box that you can take notes in.

6) Drag Sticky to the desired location.

7) Keyboard shortcuts for even faster note taking in class!
Ctrl and 6 - brings up new sticky note
When the sticky icon is clicked, clicking Esc will close the sticky
Ctrl and S - saves PDF …. make sure you do this from time to time!

Our school laptops came equipped with Adobe Acrobat 8 and I’m not sure if Adobe Reader comes with the option of commenting. I’ve quoted that question from Adobe website’s FAQ, below. If you don’t have a full version of Adobe, you can still create PDF’s by downloading the PDF creater from download.com whereby you can use the print option to create a PDF.

Q. Can I edit a PDF file using Adobe Reader?

A. No. You cannot make permanent changes to PDF files using Adobe Reader; however you can perform many edit-like functions using Adobe Reader if the author has enabled these functions using Acrobat 7.0 Professional. For example, you can highlight text and add comments on sticky notes. If you’re looking to create and exchange documents, collect and compare comments, and tailor file security to distribute reliable and polished Adobe PDF documents, look into using Adobe Acrobat software.

I’m 4 days into my classes. So far, I’ve already done a wax up of #10 (right maxillary lateral incisor) and drilled on a learn-a-prep. I’ll have to upload pictures later.

We received our assignment to do a wax-up of #10 and I’ve redone it twice and finally my third attempt is looking like a real tooth and not some disgusting mass of colored wax. I was told my wax up looks really good but after spending 10 hours on it, I’d hope it does. I was also told I’m spending too much time on it and that I can’t do that if I hope to keep up. Perhaps … since I’ve stayed up until 2 am for the past two nights working on it. I guess that’s also the reasoning behind “dental school is a marathon, not a sprint”. Well, since I had the time and have found it surprisingly fun to do wax ups, I don’t really mind.

Other than that, the week has been mostly introductions and orientations into the course.

Saturday July 13th … computer orientation.

I started the day off at the sim lab as part of the 2nd batch of students to attend computer orientation. The first batch started at 8am while I got to sleep in and went in at 10am. We received out Dell Latitude D630s with Windows Vista and a whole bunch of dental related software installed onto the computer.

The orientation was held in the sim lab and although I joked about them showing us how to drag a file or turn on the computer, there was actually very helpful instructions on how to get onto blackboard and other school related websites. That and we had to check off all the stuff we received.

The laptops are very cool and I’m able to keep everything in one place but they are annoyingly slow and outlook, which is what I use to keep track of my life, has a tendency to freeze and become unresponsive. Aside from that, I like having this laptop around and I’m gonna see how long I can keep up being, for the most part, paperless.

I had to wait for computer orientation day to get my brand, spanking new laptop since my desktop of 3 years is slightly kaput.

So Day 1 of dental school was on Friday July 11th, 2008. I woke up at 6:15AM to get to school by 7:30AM breakfast. I decided to try a new bike route to school  - Sutter Street instead of Pine Street. Sutter is a no go as far as early morning biking as I had to step off and walk up one of the hills. That was not only inefficient but also a monstrous blow to my self-esteem. So Pine Street it is.

 Breakfast @ Cafe Cagnone (UOP’s Cafeteria)

 The Rat Pack of Deans

I started off the day being handed a folder of papers while walking into UOP’s cafeteria. Breakfast was provided for both the DDS and IDS (international dental school) students. With 150+ people waiting on line for breakfast, 30 minutes was not enough time for breakfast. Plus, I spent a lot of it shaking hands with my fellow classmates. I ended up bringing coffee and a bagel into our next event of the day - welcoming speeches by Dean Ferrillo and staff.

Here are some notes I took of Dean Ferrillo’s speech:

• Class of 2011 is working with traditional textbooks and some digital material
•  3100 applicants to UOP for 2008 cycle for 142 seats
  • 175-180 accepted … 75% accepted students chose to attend UOP
  • Dean Ferrillo is not involved with the selection process - he does read the applications
  • Numbers: 3.4 GPA & ~20+ on DATs (22 avg)
  • Looking for students with a commitment/passion about people & engaged in community activity
    • Personal note: I was asked about any volunteer work during my interview. I cited my involvement in the NYC MS Bike Tour and raising money for this cause as an example.
  • current class: 51% male & 49% female
  • average age: 24-25 with a high: 36
  • 35 from UOP Stockton
  • IDS: 400 applied for 22 seats
• UOP values humanism as opposed to militaristic way of teaching
• Values:
  • innovation
  • reflection
  • collaboration
  • stewardship
  • philanthropy
• 97-98% of graduating class donated to school despite loans

Other notes:

• There is mandatory health insurance that you must enroll in even if already covered under another policy (i.e. parents’)
• Office visits: $20 copay
• ER visit: $2000 deductible
• Can tack on dependants; or subtract during the year
• Avg Total amount of loans: $241,319
• Estimated monthly loan payment: $2,875
• Loans will be disbursed July 25th

I signed my names on the dotted line, officially matriculating into the class of 2011 in the Registration part of the speech as well as confirming that I’d pay the school my dues during the Kit Payment confirmation part. The financial aid speech was, no offense to the speaker, the most boring part of the morning. I understand the information is important but much of it is highly redundant and could have been cut short by handing out a 6 slide/page printout of the powerpoint presentation. After the speeches, I went on to lunch where 1/2 a wrap, chips and drinks were provided.

After my belly was full, I proceeded up to the Sim Lab where I discovered my sim lab seating assignments and where the student kit awaited my opening. I wished and prayed and hoped I would get a window seat and …. I GOT ONE! Those seats are most seriously coveted by all and for good reason. The only thing behind me is a giant sheet of glass facing the rest of the world where I can turn to and daydream in case dental school gets on my nerves. The only negative of that would be in the case of an earthquake that shattered the glass so quickly that I can’t run for cover before it comes tumbling down upon my head causing some horrible, awful, terrible physical deformity … but … let’s pretend my legs are super fast. In any case, without a path behind me, there won’t be anyone strolling by and carelessly bumping into me while I diligently work away on my 17th wax up. In any case, there isn’t much any one can do as far as seating arrangments so I would’ve been grateful anywhere I ended up, it’s just now I’m happy and grateful.

Student kit opening was a bit overwhelming for me. We had 2 big boxes of equipment and materials to sort through, check off, and put into our lockers. It wasn’t until I talked to some 2nd years that I realized they felt the same when they went through it.

After all that, I still had to pick up the 3 boxes of books at Pacific Housing. Now that all that is done with, I feel like quite the House DDS with ~27 books on teeth sitting on my desk. Then the day ended with more meet and greet during happy hour at the local Mexican restaurant.

UOP is so progressive and it looks like the even the dean has a started a blog. So far there’s only been two posts but I’m excited to see what Dean Ferrillo has to write about. I like that he’s using a blog to get his message out and I’d encourage him to keep at it, after his much needed relaxation, of course.

San Francisco is such a fun, free place to live. The atmosphere here is so easy going and besides being a major city, it’s nothing like living in New York. There’s some talk about living as close as possible but that’s really a matter of personal preference. I live a mile from school; I absolutely love the location of my building and pretty much everything about my place.

Here’s a picture of the view from my balcony:

The last minute hunt for housing was one thing I wanted to avoid. I didn’t want to wait for the Pacific housing lottery to drop the bomb on me that I would be homeless with a month to look for something. Now that I’m seeing a fellow future classmate go through the hunt, I’m glad I put in that little bit of effort early on to secure a place of residence. Finding housing in any big city is not a fun endeavor. Many people are renting because of the housing slump and so in addition to sky-high rent, everything goes fast. However, there’s not too much to finding housing in SF and here’s five housing tips I’ve learned along the way.

1) Start early!

There is nothing worse than the gut wrenching thought of not having a stable place to live. Starting early allows for some leeway in the event places get snapped up. Additionally, you can wait for a price that works better for your budget. But if you cut it close, well, beggars can’t be choosers.

2) Craigslist is your best friend.

Craigslist was started in San Francisco. It’s very popular here and this free site is a godsend for students looking for a central location where people post potential housing. You can also slap up a free ad in “housing wanted” in case there are renters looking for tenants or roommates. With that said, be honest with yourself and whomever you’re rooming with, if it’s not a match, it’s not a match. Personality clashes mid-year or during finals week when stress levels are high are no fun and can be avoided.

3) Google maps is your second best friend.

Map everything. Get to know the different neighborhoods; i.e. Tenderloin is not a great such a pretty place to live. Remember, there will be days you come home after dark. Safety is something to think about. Also, housing that’s too far can be a hassle if you have no mode of transportation to get you to school. If you’re thinking about a vehicle, see point #3.

3) A parking spot is a luxury.

If you have a car where parking lots are the norm and street parking is a never, make sure you brush up on parallelparking before you get here. That skill will get you far. That and a 5 lb bag of quarters. Meters can run you $0.25 for 10 minutes and up to $0.25 for 6 minutes. As of now, there is a waiting list for a monthly parking pass at the Japantown parking lot.

Otherwise, nix the car and walk, bike, scooter or bus your way through dental school. Those are all economical and aside from the scooter, healthier alternatives for commuting. Personally, I will be biking to class. There is a bike cage at the garage by the school for free bike parking.

4) $900/month is awesome, awesome, sweet deal. Period.

5) And no matter where you rent, know your rights as a renter.

Having been screwed out of security deposits and had locks changed on me before move-out day, I know how awful landlords can be. So if you are looking for housing, make sure you read up on what you are entitled to as as a tenant: San Francisco Tenants Union

I think this vacation is making me soft. So, in my attempt to get back into the dentistry mindset, I found this depressing little article “Who Would Ever Go Into Dentistry“. It’s got all sorts of nuggets of motivation perfect for me to feel like I’ve made the right career choice to throw my heart and soul into for my short stay on this planet.

She starts off with,

The joy of changing a person`s life by creating a beautiful, healthy smile is one of the intangible rewards of being a dentist that can`t be measured.

But then goes onto,

Anyone who thinks dentistry is not physically taxing is greatly mistaken. While the fatigue that comes from a day of physical labor generally can be overcome by a good night`s sleep, the fatigue that arises from the mental and physical stress of producing dentistry seems to be cumulative. Carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic back problems, and hypertension abound with dentists. Some days, you feel as if you are swimming against the current all day.

Awesome.

Some people have a very limited “opening” capacity; some have tongues the size of car hoods …

Ah, the lovely use of metaphor.

The depression deepens

You’re a positive one, Mr. Grinch.

Could you imagine her as dean of a dental school? She’d give some awesome speeches. “I know you guys have all heard the rumors about dentists and suicide rate because well, it’s true. Every. Single. Word of it. And I’m not trying to depress you guys but you should really be depressed already because well, you know, some patients have tongues the size of car hoods and if that isn’t enough to scare you then how about carpal tunnel? or back problems and add hypertension to your soup of possible crippling ailments that’ll befoul you. There! But don’t let that scare you now.”

But then she’s like, “Enough! Enough” and has this Dr. Thibodeau bring in a possible ray of hope for the profession.

As a private-practice dentist, assuming you have not entered into any indentured servitude contracts with some insurance behemoth …

Okay, don’t sign any papers with those wily insurance companies. They don’t really love me. They just love my hands of gold and dental license. Got it.

You decide whether to be a nice person or an SOB.

This one I like. Alright, I pick B! B! Latter, please. Thank the heavens I chose dentistry.

I think the article was meant to inspire but I’m not really getting that from it. Fortunately, I’m going to a beautiful dental school with good lunches and big chocolate chip cookies, where the sim lab is gorgeous and the students are happy. I get to live in San Francisco and, and, and there’s a chocolate waterfall surrounded by giant marshmallows in the main lobby. Okay, so that last one is a fabrication but whatever, it’s keeping my dream of going to the perfect dental school alive. Alright, I’m going to get a head start on the carpal tunnel and hypertension - even before dental school! I ooze dedication.

34 more days and counting!

Oh and seems the 1st years were assigned their little sibs. It’s their last week as 1st years as well. I’m excited for them! I’m curious to see who I was assigned to. Hopefully it’s someone easy going and down to earth. I made some silly comment on my preference form in the additional comments section about wanting someone with a sense of humor and proceeded to display my own sense of humor by ending it with: Thank you Match.com Big Bro/Big Sis Coordinators. Hilarious, I know. Then I failed to specify whether I wanted a guy or a girl because I was supposed to get back to that but never did and then left out my phone number so to avoid any chance of clarification. So it’s going to be a surprise. Well, gender isn’t important so long as they’re healthy. Right?

Dental school starts in a month! O em gee. There isn’t much going on for school. Some of the first years have put together and mailed out a welcome manual. It’s all spiral bound with pictures and detailed descriptions of everything from administrative boring stuff to what to do around town. They even have a hand drawn map with local eateries. The whole thing is very professional looking and super cool.

The financial aid office (love them. seriously.) has been working to get us our aid information. They’ve accommodated me and my ever changing mind without any hint of exasperation on their voices. As far as hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, well, I’m not without hesitation to sign my way into so much of it but I know it looks and sounds scarier than it really will be when I graduate. I’m not religious, but I guess what I feel likens to what Christians like to say “God will provide”.

Since I last wrote, I’ve moved into my apartment which is about a mile from school. I’m giving up my car and plan on commuting by bike. I’ve found myself a beautiful fixed gear on craigslist. It’s my first fixie and having taken it out for a spin to get used to the constant peddling, I’m excited to give it a try on the hills of Frisco - not on California Avenue though; I don’t think my knees would love me if I did. Anyone I’ve told this plan to has given me the disapproving, sucks-to-be-you looks but well, I’ll see if it really sucks to be me in a month. And I suppose even if it does, I’d be too proud to say anything anyways.

I don’t have internet access and I’m leaning towards not getting it as it’ll cost close to $50 every month. That and I won’t really get to use it since I’ll be in the dental school building except when I go home to sleep. I think that’s an expense I can spare at the moment. Nothing but emails and my social life on the web anyways and I know that’s going out of the window when school starts; I exaggerate, of course.

I have yet to furnish my apartment. I currently sleep on an aerobed and all my worldly possessions are lying on my floor except my new bike. That gets a nice spot in the hallway, with the six pairs of shoes I never wear but have out for show. This isn’t quite the way I envisioned finally living on my own but well, it’s only been a week.

Other than that, I’m incredibly grateful to have a place to live in SF. I’ve spent the past few months reflecting without the stresses of school looming over my head and I can’t help but think how fortunate I am to have a roof over my head and the opportunity to chase my dreams and accomplish my goals. And sometimes, as scary as it have to have school start, I’m excited for this new chapter in my life to begin. No rush though.

About three weeks ago, I planned a spontaneous trip to Germany and Austria. With the start of school a few months away, I knew there wasn’t going to be a better time than this summer. It would be the first time I traveled alone to a foreign country and now that I’m back, I can tell you it was awesome! I have to agree with the advice given by others before me that traveling will change your views on life. Being the super nerd I am, I’ve read books and watched shows about travel and it wasn’t until a good friend chided me that I was living a second hand life that I realized, that’s exactly what I was doing. Well, no more of that.

Traveling is a bizarre thing. Besides the beautiful sight seeing and feeling of independence, it opened my eyes to what I was like in a new and strange environment. For example, there were 3 days I was so homesick, I wanted nothing more than to go home. With just a week left of my trip, I was ready to buy a plane ticket home … (see? independent!).

So for those who want to travel for whatever reason, you might want to check out CouchSurfing. It’s exactly what it sounds like: you message potential hosts about the availability of their couch or mattress or whatever they have. If they do and are okay with hosting, you stay there for some agreed upon number of days. Some hosts are cool with you leaving them to do your own thing, while others may want you to spend time, talk and get to know them. I had intended on couch surfing only a few days of my trip but enjoyed the experience so much, I ended up ditching my hotel plans and couch surfed the entire time. Of course, this isn’t the path for everyone. It takes a pretty open-minded person to go for it, I admit. Still it’s a great way to meet people and maybe even save a few bucks since that’s one less hostel night.

In the world of pre-dental school happenings (so you guys can keep up with the time line of all this): Financial aid award letters were mailed out a while ago. I didn’t get them until I got back to the States. They’re due back in the financial aid office next week. Also, Big Bro/Big Sis applications were e-mailed out. I printed that and snail mailed it back to the coordinators.

Yesterday was Pacific Pride Day at UOP Dental School. I joined in the festivities and I’m glad I did. It was a good chance to meet some future classmates and tour the grounds again. The day included getting to know a handful of future classmates, talking to a few pre-dents about my own pre-dental experience, and even waiting on the Dr. Dugoni and Dean Ferrillo sign-my-book line and yes, I did get them to sign my book.

***

I started this post earlier this morning and just couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I thought it might have been writer’s block but after some thought, it’s become apparent to me what it was.

Pacific Pride Day was just like any other day touring a dental school, which is exciting all by itself. The school does everything to put its best foot forward and it succeeded, though I may be biased since I love Pacific and all that is Pacific. Everything about yesterday was great. I walked into the whole thing super pumped and super excited. I met some professors, some actual dental students, and about 10 of my future classmates. Everyone was totally easy going and nice. Aside from my antics and characteristic foot in my mouth moments, things went peachy.

By the night’s end, I made it to my new apartment in San Francisco. Maybe it was the bare rooms or that it was so silent in my new apartment while the city was alive around me or that I just came back from whirlwind meet and greet but I found myself exhausted. And right then, it hit me like a mack-truck that I was going to start school in a little under 3 months. Again, that could just be my typical jump-the-gun and start freaking out many months too early; I’d like to think I’m preparing myself emotionally for the transition. Whatever it is, my no-good, self-serving emotions got the best of me all night and into this morning, tainting my otherwise, pleasant PPD experience.

Here are some pictures of the events here:

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Breakfast superstar style.

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Pacific’s gorgeous Sim lab

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Dean Ferrillo giving a speech.

Those boxes hold some good lunches. This isn’t your run of run-of-the-mill dental school, you know. And yes, I can be bought for a good sandwich and a chocolate chip cookie.

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Classroom

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Presentation for the SCOPE program at UOP. Looks like fun.

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This was not part of PPD but took this in passing. A shot of the Pacific Apartments from afar. Aesthetically, not the prettiest building but financially, some good housing.