Josh: I do have that DTR on Monday
Josh: and I’m prepping for that by actually writing out what might happen
Josh: it’s a short story
Josh: but not
Dorcas: huh
Dorcas: thats interesting
Josh: it helps me get a grip on what all I’ll need to be sensitive to when I get there
Josh: and it helps me phrase what I’m going to tell her
Josh: so I can phrase it well
Dorcas: do things like that ever work?
Josh: I don’t know
Josh: this is the first time I’m trying it
Dorcas: sometimes i find myself wording stuff in my head but it never makes it out of my mouth
Josh: mmm
Josh: I know what u mean
Josh: in this case, though, I figure that if I’m familiar with what I need to say, then I’ll say it and not overlook anything
Josh: it’d be disastrous, for instance, if I told her that I had feelings for her and neglected to also mention that if I’m not the one for her, it’s fine because I want her to be happy
Dorcas: mmm
Josh: plus theoretically it’d communicate some level of thought put into the whole thing
Dorcas: mmph
Josh: enough about me
Josh: how r u doing sis?
Dorcas: im rather tired
Dorcas: i just got back from work
Josh: people buy bears at 11 PM at night?
Dorcas: nope
Dorcas: store closes at 9
Dorcas: on saturdays, “closing duties” take a long time because the store is a mess
Dorcas: left at 11
Dorcas: missed the train by 30 seconds
Dorcas: had to wait for the next one
Josh: ouch
Josh: how long was that?
Dorcas: ~10minutes?
Josh: ah ok
Josh: but still
Josh: a hassle
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: during rush hour, the train comes like.. every 3 minutes
Josh: ah ok
Josh: so speaking as a naive “never lived in or visited NYC” guy, it’s safe then
Dorcas: safe?
Josh: i.e. you weren’t waiting in a subway station for an hour late at night for the next train
Dorcas: ah
Dorcas: no
Dorcas: and in terms of being safe, its not that bad
Dorcas: it does depend on where you are, though
Josh: mmm
Josh: u live in Queens?
Dorcas: broooooooklyn
Josh: ah ok
Josh: ur area is pretty good?
Dorcas: yup
Dorcas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bensonhurst
Josh: this is ur neighborhood?
Dorcas: yup
Josh: the first things I notice are the shootings that happened in 2006
Dorcas: i dont know about those
Josh: “In 2006, Bensonhurst experienced the most violence in years. 13 murders were committed in this neighborhood, they were carried out by drive by shootings, car bombs, and a mob turf war.”
Josh: of course, this isn’t cited
Dorcas: i know
Josh: not in ur area, I take it
Dorcas: ehhh
Dorcas: no idea
Josh: fair enough
Josh: ur neighborhood looks lovely, though
Josh: looks like you get a really awesome setting to look at
Dorcas: mmm
Josh: is this the case?
Dorcas: in my area its a mix of houses, small apartment buildings and businesses
Dorcas: everything is accessible
Josh: u like?
Dorcas: yes
Dorcas: thats why ithaca drives me crazy
Josh: b/c things are farther apart?
Dorcas: yeah
Josh: mmm ya that is annoying
Josh: ur way seems more community oriented
Dorcas: i cant drive
Dorcas: the buses arent frequent
Josh: u don’t have a license?
Dorcas: nope
Josh: wow
Josh: y not?
Dorcas: i just never did it
Dorcas: and i dont have a need to drive at home
Josh: true
Josh: is there a point where u’d get it?
Dorcas: ummm
Dorcas: the plan
Dorcas: is to get it this semester in Ithaca
Dorcas: my parents want to make sure i get driving lessons
Josh: in Ithaca? wow
Josh: i’m sorry, but i g2g
Josh: I need to turn in for church tomorrow
Dorcas: goodnight
Josh: night Dorcas
Josh: thanks for talking
Dorcas: tell me how things go
Josh: will do
Josh: it’s on Monday night
Dorcas: mm
Josh: so I’ve got some time
Josh: but yes
Josh: I will tell u
Josh: please pray
Dorcas: sure
Dorcas: will do
Josh: aight
Josh: adios, muchacha

Dorcas: cool
Josh: how many cousins?
Dorcas: see that’s the unfortunate thing
Dorcas: a lot of the ‘kids’ couldn’t make it
Dorcas: and then last minutely..
Dorcas: my mom’s cousin (who is about 23) put his hand through a light bulb and couldnt come
Josh: put his hand through a light bulb….
Josh: O_O
Dorcas: yes
Dorcas: um
Dorcas: apparently, he’s really tall and one of the ceilings is really low in their house
Josh: oh ok
Josh: I thought you meant he did it intentionally
Josh: like one of those mad scientist types
Dorcas: and um…. he was putting a shirt on? and not paying attention
well
Dorcas: he called up his parents (who were at THEIR house on LI) at like 6:30 am and says “i cant come, I’m bleeding profusely”
Josh: lol
Dorcas: so he got patched up but couldn’t drive
Dorcas: so in terms of kids, it was just me, one first cousin and one of my mom’s cousins
Dorcas: (who is 16)
Dorcas: although my aunt is like.. 36… so we chill with her
Dorcas: (can you tell? my family is complicated)
Josh: every family is complicated
Josh: Tolstoy said that every happy family is alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way
Dorcas: we have some big age gaps
Dorcas: which is why my mom’s cousins are my age
Dorcas: and my cousin’s husband is the same age as my uncle’s wife.. .
Josh: look, it ain’t too bad until you have an uncle who’s younger than his nephew
Dorcas: well
Dorcas: we’ll see which couple has kids first. . .
Josh: so how many relatives came out to this?
Dorcas: 19 altogether
Dorcas: including some in-laws
Dorcas: i.e. people who are not at all leongs
Josh: ah
Josh: still
Josh: 19?
Josh: impressive
Dorcas: really?
Dorcas: that’s missing a lot of the kids
Josh: to get that number of people in the same area at the same time is impressive nonetheless
Dorcas: hahaa
Dorcas: we do it at least once or twice a year
Josh: still
Dorcas: your family doesnt do that?
Josh: on my Dad’s side, we have one uncle and four aunts
Josh: w/ their own kids, of course
Josh: they’re all very busy
Josh: we usually don’t get all of them in one location at the same time
Josh: if we do, that’s a miracle
Dorcas: do they live nearby?
Josh: most live in NJ
Josh: two of them live in MD
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: we’re all in NY and NJ
Josh: mmm
Josh: so u all r close then
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: and we made it a tradition early on to get together for stuff
Dorcas: my mom’s immediate family gets together for thanksgiving and christmas
Dorcas: and then the whole family gets together for chinese new year
Dorcas: which i cant go to when i’m at school
Josh: ah
Josh: still, that’s really neat
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: its gotten harder because everyone is growing up
Josh: meaning, they want to go away and aren’t as committed to the ideal of family?
Dorcas: not that they aren’t committed..
Dorcas: my brother is in LA . . .
Josh: ah so the distance factor then
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: like.. Christmas we’re all back for
Dorcas: but other events, it doesn’t always work out
Dorcas: i gotta go
Dorcas: opening shift tomorrow
Josh: fair enough
Josh: night Dorcas
Dorcas: :]

Dorcas: hey there
Josh: evening, Dorcas!
Dorcas: or somehow.. good morning!
Josh: eh
Josh: morning ain’t morning until 4 AM
Josh: in my opinion, at least
Dorcas: hahaaa
Dorcas: do you usually stay up that late?

12 minutes later

Josh: sorry about the late response time
Josh: no
Josh: generally not
Josh: however
Josh: I occasionally do so
Dorcas: <shrug>
Josh: ??
Josh: you don’t like 4 AM?

27 minutes later

Dorcas: sorry
Josh: np
Dorcas: my sister was using my computer
Dorcas: to look at sheets
Dorcas: i don’t particularly like 4am
Dorcas: at some point my brain shuts down
Josh: that’s precisely the fun of staying up that late!
Dorcas: errr
Dorcas: maybe
Dorcas: but i don’t usually have nights when its okay to not get sleep
Josh: true
Josh: same with me
Josh: that’s why you must EMBRACE those nights when they come
Dorcas: :]
Dorcas: so what do you do at 4AM?
Josh: sit and talk with friends
Josh: enjoy late night foods
Josh: prepare to watch the sun come up
Dorcas: somehow
Dorcas: there’s always the too rational side of me that says
Dorcas: “you have free time, why not sleep”
Dorcas: “this food is going to make you sooooo sick”
Josh: I know
Josh: but
Josh: I think of it this way
Josh: if you do things rationally all the time and don’t do anything irrational once in a while, life will be plain vanilla
Josh: and who knows? sometimes doing something that is seemingly irrational actually is good for you–better than what you anticipated
Josh: doing things out of the ordinary adds spice to life
Dorcas: hahaha
Dorcas: i like rational
Dorcas: makes me less anxious
Josh: ah
Josh: but that all depends on your POV
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: i’m sure
Dorcas: i tend to just be a little ball of anxious
Josh: I see
Josh: y?
Dorcas: i dont know
Josh: y worry?
Dorcas: <shrug>
Dorcas: because nothing ever seems to go right
Dorcas: look
Dorcas: i know it doesnt make sense and it won’t help
Dorcas: but i still do it
Josh: I gotcha
Josh: I’m sorry
Josh: if I am doing so, I don’t mean to come across as critical or superior
Dorcas: you don’t
Dorcas: but i’ve heard it all before, you know
Dorcas: let’s just say it’s gotten better
Dorcas: i actually eat now
Dorcas: i should go
Dorcas: i need sleep
Josh: I understand
Dorcas: family reunion tomorrow
Dorcas: :]
Josh: oooh
Josh: good or bad?
Dorcas: gooood
Dorcas: out in long island, near the hamptons
Dorcas: my mom’s uncle makes steak to dream about
Josh: awesome
Josh: in which case, I hope you have an awesome trip
Josh: and will pray for you to have an awesome time
Dorcas: :]
Dorcas: why thank you
Dorcas: good night!

Josh: first off, it’s ok Dorcas
Josh: I like listening to what you have to say
Josh: to answer your question
Josh: pretty good overall
Josh: but
Josh: well
Josh: I am learning how much of a jerk I am
Josh: or rather how much of an inconsiderate jerk I am
Josh: which is a good thing to learn so I can counter that
Josh: mostly because of talking with Yukika, obviously
Josh: I’m waiting to hear back on two job potentials
Josh: and I also got a quick meeting with a really-hard-to-meet MD-PhD who heads an Orthopedics department, and he’s circulating my Resume/CV throughout the department to see if there are any jobs for me
Josh: currently am reading through Judges and Acts, which is a nice combo and actually pretty applicable to me right now
particularly since I’m reading about Samson right now
Josh: anyway, there is the volley of info
Josh: your move, ma’am
Dorcas: whoa
why are you a jerk?
Josh: b/c I don’t ask about her feelings when I should
Josh: specifically
(and I really don’t know how to write this w/o it coming off as complaining, but I’ll try)
Dorcas: ?
Josh: last night, we had a quick phone convo
Josh: things had been awkward between us for a while, so we were calling to talk and see what was going on
Josh: turns out she thought I was mad at her, and I thought she was mad at me
Josh: she asks why I thought she was mad at me
Josh: yet I didn’t ask the same question of her
Josh: instead I just told her that I wasn’t mad at her and explained why I had done what I had done
Dorcas: mmhmm
Dorcas: maybe this is just me
Dorcas: but.. i don’t think its THAT bad
Josh: it’s not
Josh: but it is something that I must improve
Dorcas: she could have just volunteered the information
Josh: she isn’t that sort
Josh: she wants to be asked
Dorcas: ew
Josh: ?
Dorcas: i don’t like myself when im passive-aggressive
Josh: you view that as passive-aggressive?
Dorcas: hmmm
Dorcas: a little bit
Dorcas: i feel like…
Dorcas: if she wants you to know what she feels… she can quite easily just tell you…
Dorcas: theres no point in being pouty and waiting for you to ask
Dorcas: if you did something to make her upset, yes its your fault..
Dorcas: its WONDERFUL if you know to ask… but if you don’t, i don’t think its that bad..
Josh: fair enough
Josh: but still
Josh: it is an area for improvement
Dorcas: sure.
Josh: sometimes, though, I do worry that I care more about my own feelings than hers
Dorcas: it also frustrates me when people are TOO concerned about hurting my feelings or stressing me out…
Josh: what is too concerned in your books?
Dorcas: when people won’t tell me what they really think…
Josh: hmmm
Dorcas: or won’t ask me to do something because they know that it scares me
Josh: hmmm
Dorcas: (a lot of things scare me)
Dorcas: i can’t change the way people think or feel, but i’d like to know it
Josh: I see
Josh: so more openness
Dorcas: “it’s not your job to keep me safe”
Josh: ah
Josh: you’ve given me a lot to think about
Dorcas: mmkay
Dorcas: i don’t really like girls
Josh: you don’t?
Josh: y?
Dorcas: ummmm
Dorcas: because they do a lot of illogical things
Josh: so do guys
Dorcas: yeah…
Dorcas: but..
Dorcas: i think… i just had a lot of guy friends in high school..
Dorcas: because i didnt quite fit the… “average high school chick” mold
Josh: eh, there’s a mold like that for guys too
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: i guess i snagged some good ones
Dorcas: maybe i tolerate a video-game obsession more than a shoe-shopping obsession
Josh: hahaha
Josh: so does my sister
Dorcas: hahaa
Dorcas: as long as i don’t have to hear about it

Dorcas: meh
Dorcas: now i have to actually PICK my schools
Josh: how many r u going for, again?
Dorcas: who knows
Dorcas: i wanted to be under 15
Josh: and u have right now?
Dorcas: its not so much the numbers
Dorcas: as it is a question of “is this feasible/logical”
Josh: hmm
Josh: studentdoc.com not helping any?
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: i tried it
Dorcas: it tells me i’m not competitive for anything
Josh: not even for Medical School 1?
Dorcas: well
Dorcas: that’s not what i mean
Dorcas: i don’t have any schools that i’m “very competitive” for
Dorcas: huh
Dorcas: i’d never considered Medical School 1.
Josh: it’s one of the lowest ranked medical schools
Josh: but it’s very easy to get into
Josh: and it’s not that bad

1 hour later

Dorcas: my mailman looks like eagle eye cherry
Josh: you know, I actually didn’t know who that was until a Google search ago
Dorcas: oh
Dorcas: well he only had one song that anybody knows about
Dorcas: “save tonight”

24 minutes later

Dorcas: so what constitutes “rumbling”?
Josh: “rumbling” as in my GMail status?
Josh: well
Josh: there are a few things I have to do

Josh: 1) make sure things are okay with Yukika*
Josh: 2) get back on the ol’ job hunt (i.e. continue setting up meetings)
Josh: 3) make sure to remember the skills I learned at Otakon
Josh: 4) continue working on a few important side projects
Josh: 5) spiritual life
Josh: so basically carpe diem and excellence for God
Josh: had a peaceful break for a few days at Otakon, and now it’s time to Charge
Josh: this is the rumble
Dorcas: hahaa
Dorcas: awesome
Dorcas: what kind of jobs?
Josh: one is a Patient Care Assistant job
Josh: basically I work with nurses and help them with treating patients
Josh: though it requires a month-long course prep beforehand
Josh: and the pay is pretty low
Josh: but the experience is amazing
Josh: the second one is a clinical research assistant job with an orthopedic surgeon
Dorcas: ooooh
Josh: who’d also let me shadow his patients
Josh: but that’d be part-time
Josh: those are the two potentials
Dorcas: sounds pretty cool
Josh: and I have a meeting with a BIG-name MD-PhD at a medical school who’s the head of the Orthopedic Surgery department there next Tuesday
Dorcas: hmmm
Dorcas: so how do you gently/politely tell someone to get off their butts and find a job?
Josh: depends on the person
Josh: not me, I presume
Josh:
Dorcas: HAhaa
Dorcas: no, not you
Josh: family member?
Dorcas: nope
Josh: friend?
Dorcas: mmhmm
Dorcas: actually, you probably know him
Dorcas: Adam*
Josh: OOOOHHH
Josh: well
Josh: how close are you to him?
Dorcas: so you know how… when we talk about my guy/dating issues?
Dorcas: and i expound on the importance of communication?
Josh: yep?
Dorcas: he’s the reason why
Josh: this is the dude?
Dorcas: <rolls eyes>
Josh: still on good terms, or is exasperation taking its toll?
Dorcas: oh
Dorcas: we’re on pretty good terms
Dorcas: it all happened freshman-sophomore year
Josh: so there’s water under the bridge now
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: well he moved to Columbus, OH in June
Josh: what is he doing?
Dorcas: uhhh
Dorcas: playing video games
Dorcas: i mean..
Dorcas: he isn’t active about getting a job…
Dorcas: or about figuring why he’s in Columbus in the 1st place
Josh: how precisely did he end up there, then?
Dorcas: God told him that’s where he’s called to be
Josh: he got this confirmed with other people?
Dorcas: he’s supposed to be there to minister to the gay community
Josh: ah
Josh: he’s a lone ranger? he didn’t get teamed up with other ministries there?
Dorcas: not that i can see
Josh: mmm
Dorcas: he’s involved at the vineyard there
Dorcas: but that can only go so far
Josh: indeed
Josh: well
Josh: to actually answer your question…
Dorcas: i talk to him every few weeks
Dorcas: but nothing changes much
Josh: ah
Josh: well
Josh: take what I say with a pinch of salt
Josh: but I don’t think there’s anything you can do
Josh: aside from praying for him
Dorcas: it just frustrates me, i guess
Josh: mmm
Josh: I know how that is
Josh: that’s unfortunately where you must let go and let God
Josh: only He can really move him to action
Josh: and if Adam’s His kid, He’ll do it at the right time
Dorcas: i guess
Dorcas: i think the other thing that bothers me… is how silly the things he IS doing are…
Josh: I know
Josh: nothing wrong with them as long as they’re in balance
Josh: but u do wish he’d be more concerned about things that’ll last
Dorcas: pretty much, yeah
Josh: one word for ya
Josh: Samson
Dorcas: Samson?
Josh: what u were mentioning just reminded me of him
Josh: he was terrible in terms of priorities, but God used him at the right times and at the right moments
Dorcas: <shrug>
Dorcas: sometimes i wonder why i invest so much in someone who thinks so differently than i do
Josh: hahaha I know the feeling
Josh: I think maybe that’s the point
Josh: b/c if we didn’t, we’d be like the world: hanging around and caring just for people that are like us
Josh: I think that’s a true test of whether love is of God or not
Dorcas: HAhaa
Dorcas: actually.. i think we are very much alike, it just..somehow comes out differently
Josh: mmm
Josh: but that’s probably because of subtle personality differences
Dorcas: <shrug>
Dorcas: whatever
Josh: sorry I don’t know if I’m helping or not
Dorcas: oh you are
Dorcas: it’s just that..it doesn’t entirely matter what causes the differences or whatever
Dorcas: they are just there
Dorcas: and i need to be conscious of them
Josh: gotcha
Josh: conscious as in remembering them when you talk to him?
Josh: or conscious as in dealing with your frustrations?
Dorcas: i think both
Josh: I gotcha
Josh: do u pray through ur frustrations?
Dorcas: usually only if they affect me directly
Josh: ah
Josh: so this would or would not qualify?
Dorcas: would not
Dorcas: unless he really does never get a job
Josh: that would affect u directly…how?
Dorcas: i don’t know, actually
Dorcas: the thing that set off the painstaking process of DTR during sophomore year
Dorcas: was.. when he told me to move to Columbus with him
Josh: O_O
Dorcas: EXACTLY
Josh: but that’s all over now, right?
Dorcas: the DTR process?
Dorcas: apparently, he said that to a lot of people
Dorcas: however, they were mostly guys
Josh: no I mean as in there’s no interest on ur end or his now
Dorcas: pretty much
Josh: so it can’t directly affect u anymore
Dorcas: but this year, i’d decided that i would keep OSU medical school open as an option
Josh: sure
Josh: but
Dorcas: for generally, the same reason that im applying to VCU and possibly UPitt
Josh: oh ok
Josh: so u’re saying that it’d directly affect u because u could be going to the same area as a friend who,
Josh: most unfortunately, won’t be pursuing his spiritual calling and thus not as strong a spiritual friend for u if u go
Dorcas: yes
Josh: now I comprendo
Dorcas: that and, being in close proximity to him, the temptation to smack him upside the head would be considerably harder to fight
Josh: ah ok
Josh: well
Josh: if I can give the brotherly advice
Josh: it doesn’t affect u directly YET. it will if u get in.
Josh: so until that time, don’t worry. it doesn’t directly affect u
Josh: but even still, pray through what you’re upset about now, even though it doesn’t directly affect u
Dorcas: mmph
Dorcas: you know what its like?
Josh: yes
Dorcas: yelling at my computer screen while we chat?
Dorcas: oh
Dorcas: that was a rhetorical question
Josh: oh ok
Josh: my bad
Josh: yelling? why?
Dorcas: hmm
Dorcas: i.e. i type relatively level-headed responses
Dorcas: meanwhile, i’m yelling at the screen because i can’t help it.. but it does nothing
Josh: mmm
Josh: now I think it’s directly affecting u
Dorcas: oh
Dorcas: i don’t mean now.
Dorcas: haven’t done that in awhile
Josh: oh
Josh: we = Adam and u?
Josh: not we = u and me?
Dorcas: ooooh
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: Adam and me
Dorcas: sorry
Josh: now I understand
Josh: brb

8 minutes later

Josh: back
Dorcas: :]
Dorcas: so the other day, i was in the New York library
Dorcas: and in their store
Dorcas: they had these.. cuff links made with scrabble tiles
Dorcas: and i thought it was genius
Josh: wow
Josh: that’s pretty funny
Dorcas: there are people on ebay selling all sorts of scrabble jewelry

*Names have been changed

Dorcas: how was the con?
Josh: beautiful
Josh: I learned how to para para (club dance), play Go, become a samurai, do shiatsu massage, etc.
Dorcas: errr
Josh: I also attended the Q&A for a famous Japanese voice actress, attended a rave, helped organize the official Game Show….
Dorcas: how DO you become a samurai?
Josh: the list of fun stuff I did goes on and on
Josh: first, you must be born into a samurai family
Josh: second, you must begin martial arts around 12 or 13
Josh: with your first real battle in combat around 15 or 16
Josh: your parents must be kind, but firm–forcing you through many experiences so that you will know how to handle any situation
Dorcas: hahaa
Dorcas: sounds familiar
Josh: e.g. they’ll leave you outside in the cold, send you to spend the night in a graveyard, etc.
Josh: you then wear a certain type of clothing and armor
Josh: wear a pigtail
Josh: must be well-grounded in Bushido
Josh: and you learn skills beginning with pole fighting and ending in archery
Dorcas: ooooh
Dorcas: pole fighting
Josh: well, that’s a poor description
Josh: it’s a pole with a blade on the end
Josh: don’t know what the term is
Josh: the goal is to grab ur opponent from far away, bring him to the floor with the pole, and then stab him to death
Josh: Samurai were originally intended for archery
Josh: so they were supposed to be more skilled at long-range fighting
Josh: emphasis on supposed to be
Josh: when you learn archery last, you typically aren’t that good
Josh: hence why most samurai were terrible shots
Josh: anyways
Josh: yes
Josh: most informative
Josh: met a lot of old friends
Josh: including an old childhood friend I hadn’t seen in a LONG time
Dorcas: wow
Josh: ya
Josh: so was really nice
Josh: and the Dealer’s room was AWESOME
Josh: so much cheap merchandise (which i purchased for friends)
Josh: so very awesome
Josh: how are u doing, sis?
Dorcas: im okay?
Josh: just ok?
Dorcas: hmmm
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: today was very rainy
Dorcas: and i’m tired
Josh: busy day at work?
Dorcas: surprisingly, yes
Josh: really?
Josh: not too many people usually buy bears?
Dorcas: not that
Dorcas: i was just expecting it to be quiet
Dorcas: because it was raining really bad in the morning

Dorcas: oh?
Dorcas: Vera* didnt tell you?
Josh: no
Dorcas: 29Q
Josh: ah I gotcha
Dorcas: its like.. an awkward range?
Josh: ya it’s like enough to make you every-so-slightly competitive for 2nd tier medical schools, but only ever-so-slightly
Dorcas: what makes a school 2nd tier?
Josh: my apologies…it’s a personal ranking
Josh: 1st tier = top medical schools
Dorcas: HAhaa
Josh: 2nd tier = “middle” schools (i.e. not the best, but competitive enough)
Josh: and 3rd tier = shoe-ins
Dorcas: just to compare your perspective with mine…
Dorcas: whats (Med School 1) for you?
Josh: 1st tier
Dorcas: ok
Josh: (Med School 2) = 2nd tier
Dorcas: (Med School 2) was like.. one of the last schools i put on
Dorcas: i still need to cut my list
Josh: how many is it now, and how many do u want to get it down to?
Dorcas: i wanted it to be under 15
Dorcas: i havent looked at it lately
Dorcas: but it was at 18 last time i poked at it?
Dorcas: but i might shift things again
Dorcas: i.e. stop the “wishful thinking”
Dorcas: such as (Med School 3)
Dorcas: ;]
Josh: have u met with a medical school’s admissions office?
Dorcas: no
Josh: I would do that if I were u
Dorcas: ?
Dorcas: explain
Josh: I only did it this summer, and I’m kind of kicking myself for not doing it earlier
Josh: they explain logistically what they look for, and what are potential weak points in you as an applicant
Dorcas: ahhh
Dorcas: that unnerves me
Josh: they’re also good for direction
Dorcas: <sigh>
Josh: eh, better to go in with open eyes than blind?
Dorcas: i dont know
Dorcas: right now i feel like i dont have any strong points
Dorcas: that i didn’t clinch anything
Dorcas: i didn’t do badly. just not stellar
Josh: I won’t inquire about your exact GPA, but is the same true of that as well?
Dorcas: 3.4
Josh: hmmm
Josh: that is very tricky
Dorcas: yup
Dorcas: i guess i have the chance to clinch the essay…
Dorcas: also.. no so surprisingly, my best section was the verbal reasoning
Josh: gotcha
Josh: well
Josh: you could clinch the essay
Josh: but
Josh: it may not matter depending on the school
Dorcas: ?
Josh: I’ll tell you what I know about (Med School 1), after a long and detailed talk with a very friendly admissions officer
Josh: they get thousands of applicants
Josh: so they don’t have time to look through all the essays
Josh: so what they do
Josh: is throw out all (and I do mean all) applicants with a GPA less than 3.7
Josh: not because they’re any worse, but they have to do something to narrow the pool
Josh: they’ll also do the same with MCAT scores as another round of narrowing down
Josh: now, granted that’s (Med School 1)
Josh: a 1st tier school
Josh: but the basic problem is the same for all medical schools: too many applicants, so they have to do something to narrow down the numbers
Josh: not trying to discourage you, but that is something to consider
Josh: you know about studentdoc.com?
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: i was just about to go there
Josh: what’s your clinical experience like?
Dorcas: i was a clinical research intern with an ophthalmologist last year
Josh: over the summer?
Dorcas: yeah
Dorcas: i interviewed patients for a research project
Josh: any other experience?
Dorcas: no
Dorcas: i kept getting turned down for internships
Josh: no volunteer work?
Dorcas: the ophthalmology work was volunteer
Josh: ah I gotcha
Dorcas: it just feels like i never get to catch a break
Josh: ?
Dorcas: meh
Dorcas: never mind
Josh: if u want to talk about it, that’s cool, but if you don’t want to, that’s cool too
Dorcas: it’s the same thing like i said before
Dorcas: i keep coming up short just a little
Josh: you’re bothered b/c you don’t see yourself as an exceptional applicant?
Dorcas: i dont know…
Josh: ah
Josh: unfortunately, I need to go
Josh: I’ll pray for ya though
Dorcas: thanks

*Name has been changed

Josh: work behind the counter?
Dorcas: normal sales associate things
Dorcas: greeting, stuffing, clothes dept. cashiering
Dorcas: they switch us around
Dorcas: everyone is supposed to know how to do everything
Josh: wow
Dorcas: we’re a big store
Dorcas: the new york one is the flagship store
Dorcas: and we get lots of tourists and visitors
Josh: oh nice
Josh: so it’s a relatively “easy” job that’ll give you time to do the med school application stuff, I take it?
Dorcas: no
Dorcas: its more like
Dorcas: this is the job i landed when i didn’t get those internships
Dorcas: and knew i needed to spend time studying for the MCATs
Dorcas: so i stopped my job search after a few days
Josh: ah ok
Josh: do you enjoy it, though?
Dorcas: mostly
Dorcas: theres a new-ish store manager
Dorcas: and he’s very goal oriented
Josh: not people-oriented, I take it
Dorcas: welll
Dorcas: yes
Dorcas: but
Dorcas: hmmm
Dorcas: it goes something like this
Dorcas: happy employees=>happy customers=>better sales
Josh: ah
Dorcas: also, =>returning customers
Dorcas: etc
Josh: ah
Josh: so not as high sales means not as good employees, to him?
Dorcas: hmmm
Dorcas: i dont know entirely
Dorcas: but chances are, someone’s not going to buy their teddy bear a pair of shoes unless someone offers them…?
Josh: haha
Dorcas: its the kind of store where you can’t just let the customer browse
Dorcas: seriously
Josh: oh no
Dorcas: shoes, socks, underwear, sunglasses
Dorcas: rollerskates
Josh: O_O
Dorcas: which, of course, attach to regular shoes
Josh: please tell me that the bear doesn’t have iPods
Dorcas: i’m sorry
Josh: NOOOOOO!!!!!
Dorcas: they call it “iPaws”
Dorcas: you push the buttons
Dorcas: and it plays music
Dorcas: cellphones
Dorcas: wheelchairs
Dorcas: oh gosh, they have wigs too
Dorcas: i reallllly dont like those
Josh: hahahaha
Josh: why can’t you just let people decide for themselves whether to get those things? (rhetorical question)
Dorcas sends a link to the iPaws product page
Josh: dorcas, why must you make my gut hurt so?
Dorcas: hahaa
Dorcas: hey, they make what will sell
Dorcas: and kids will go for it
Josh: true
Josh: but it should be one of those things where it’s available, but not pushed
Josh: imo
Dorcas: basically, its a sales goal to have people spend $50 at their transaction
Josh: evil evil evil
Dorcas: hey
Dorcas: it’s their own problem if they cant put themselves on a limit
Dorcas: and be aware of it
Josh: I suppose
Josh: still, to tempt them with it
Dorcas: <shrug>
Dorcas: 2 years ago, when i bought luke… i got 2 outfits and a pair of shoes to go with him
Dorcas: came out to about $53
Dorcas: its not hard to hit 50
Josh: fair enough
Josh: I’m sorry, but i g2g
Dorcas: good night
Josh: night Dorcas