Hello all!! Seems I missed a great conference. That seems to be the story of my life, always a day late and a dollar short. No worries though! Now that I have found you, I think I will stay. 
So a little about myself: I have been an EMT since I was 20, my very first real job at 17 was working as a admitting rep in my local small town hospital. I have been through being a MA, surgical assist, and basically being the right hand of a couple ortho surgeons in California. Now I am working on finishing my BS in neuroscience at Tulane University! I have been going to classes on and off since 2001, when I graduated from high school. That makes me the very appreciated age of 30. I am hoping that I can get myself together after being torn apart by applying to med schools, here’s hoping to get into Tulane Med!! It’s the goal, but LSU is a close second. I am new to New Orleans, but I never want to leave. My fiancé just got offered a spot on the NOPD (yes I know scary!)
Anyone here that has any tips on getting that very special letter from either of these schools have any words of wisdom?!? That would be greatly appreciated.
Much love to all you that decide to go this road, it’s a tough one but at the end we will all be proud of ourselves.
Michelle
Welcome! I’m sorry you missed the conference, but so glad you have decided to post.
You asked for tips … Trying to sum up what I’ve learned on my own journey, which started in 2009, would take an entire book … a book which I will write someday. Rather than ask for general tips or words of advice, it might be more helpful to you if you ask specific questions - are there things you are struggling with? Unsure of? Dying to know? Afraid to ask? Curious about? Please, post! I can guarantee that there are others with the same issues, and you will undoubtedly generate great discussions that will benefit more people than just you.
By the same token, each of us has a different story here on OPM, and we all bring something to the table (including you). We’re all here to help each other. You will have advice or encouragement to offer others as well, and I hope you will do just that … that’s what makes this site so wonderful.
OK, so I did think of one tip for you - something that Gonnif (who runs OPM) tells EVERYONE.
Rule 1: Take a breath.
Go from there.
This tip may seem simplistic, but I found that DO’s are very different from MD’s…though there seems to be a future convergence. I also found that I would like to try and become a DO. For more info on DO’s, see American Osteopathic Assoc. at www.osteopathic.org.
Another good tip was that the Government as well as private industry is willing to provide deferred loans to medical students. You can get information on loans from gladvisors.com - They offer a pay-for-service as well, but there is free information there.
Keep a log of your journey…especially your epiphany moment when you knew you wanted to become a Doctor.
Get a mentor. If you don’t have one, look up the NAAHP (naahp.org). They have volunteers who will advise you.
Hope this helps.
Thank you so much!! This road is a long one, but it will be worth it in the end.
I love your idea of keeping a log of this journey. I might begin that. It would have been very beneficial for my application.