So here I am, back from the blogger dead. Like a blogger zombie, so I know my sister in law Lindsey should like this. I have been terrible at keeping people updated, so I wanted to start off with one of our recent major events: Tanner graduating.
It may seem like I am just bragging about Tanner, in some ways I am, but also, most people (myself included before going through it) have no idea what the process is to become a doctor. This post is not meant to deter people from choosing to go into medicine, but just to show all the hard work it takes. Tanner once had a lady that thought it was a master's degree, two years of grad school and you're done! Wouldn't that be nice? Unless you were the patient, than it would be terrifying. It started with Tanner working on his undergrad degree at the U, having to take all his classes, plus the pre-reqs for med schools, extracurriculars, volunteering, medical experience, etc to help his application. A year before graduation, he had to take the MCAT, an exam that qualifies you for med school and the score determines where you can apply and your likelihood of getting in. Then there are applications, thousands of dollars spent, if they want to keep you as an option, they send you a secondary application, which is the same thing, but they get to charge you another application fee. Then he had to hope for interviews and face some major rejection. It was heartbreaking to watch. These poor guys (and gals) are all over-achievers who are used to being recognized for their hard work, and then have to deal with people telling them in a skinny little envelope that they aren't good enough, or worse, you simply never hear anything from them after they get your money. Tanner was so disheartened through so much of this process, I wish we had been more prepared and known that everyone goes through the same thing. Then there are whatever interviews you get, paying the money to fly to them and stay in a hotel, it was exhausting. Finally, he heard he was accepted at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He hadn't even planned on applying there, but they sent him an application, so he filled it out.
We never in our wildest dreams thought we would end up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! We then moved with our 5 month old baby and left our families for his schooling. The first two years are intense classes. While you are so glad you are in med school, you immediately realize that you have to get back in application mode because if you want to match in a competitive residency, you need a strong application. So he found more service opportunities, did a summer research internship full time, and had to continue research once school started again. You aren't allowed to work during med school, so most of our income from student loans, That definitely was a challenge.
At the end of second year is the first set of boards and Tanner started studying daily for it about 6 months before he took it. Second year was definitely the hardest year of med school in my opinion. The month before boards Tanner started having severe headaches and his doctor couldn't figure out the exact cause. It didn't help he was so stressed because if you don't do well on boards, it limits what you can even try to go into. He tried several medications and had to take his boards while still in pain. Thankfully he got through it and then had a wonderful two weeks off until he started his third year rotations, which is when they get to work with actual patients. They still take exams and assignments through all of this. Many rotations Tanner worked long hours, but always made time for us and helped me with the kids as soon as he got home. He also had a very demanding church calling. During third year, you try out what you like and have to decide on what kind of doctor you want to be and will be applying for residencies in that specialty next year.
Once fourth year starts, you start the application process for residency. If you think it is easier the second time around to do applications, it is still just as crappy. Thankfully interview offers were better this time around, but every rejection still left Tanner feeling down. We had to take a loan out just to cover all his traveling expenses for interviews. They offer the days they offer, so you plan your schedule around them. Tanner was gone for two weeks straight when he first started interviews early in December. He didn't get back to us until a few days before Christmas. He still had scattered interviews throughout the next month.
Whoever gives you an interview, those are the only options you have to put on your rank list for residency. The rank list is a list you make of what residency/program you like most down to the least. The program makes their own rank list, so you hope that your top choice lines up with them having you as a top choice. Interviews usually end in January, then you keep doing rotations and wait until end of March for Match Day. This is the day that you find out where you have "matched," or been accepted into a residency.
March day was so exciting, everyone was so happy and energized. Tanner's class had about 200 students, so you wait until they call everyone's names one by one to get your little envelope telling you where you are going. We had our kids with us and Tanner let me open the envelope. It almost didn't register as I read out loud Baylor College of Medicine -- Houston, TX. It was such a rush. Then, if you are moving like we were, you have to start figuring out where you'll live. When you have 6 weeks to graduation and are poorer than you have ever been in your life, this can get pretty stressful.
Before leaving, I got to see Tanner graduate, which made the countless hours of studying, working away from his family, worked holidays, anxiety, etc, all worth it. I was working part time to supplement our income throughout all of med school, so Tanner was helping a lot with the kids too when I was out working. I have to just say how proud I am of Tanner and all his fellow graduates for getting through med school. As I watched him walk across that stage and heard them all "Dr. Tanner Fullmer," I admit there were tears streaming down my face. It hit me how much we have gone through and how much we have grown together and as a family.
We are always having people tell us, "you are going to have so much money." Yes, we will have good job security, and one day it will be a good paying job. We are grateful for that, truly. But it is a long, hard road. We are now in for five years of residency where Tanner basically makes less than $10/hour based on the hours he works and likely a fellowship for a year or two after that, which is to further specialize. After that, you make more money, you just have to pay back a ton of student loans. That being said, I am so happy we have gone down through this road together and wouldn't change anything about it. We have grown so close as a family and learned to get out and find our own traditions. One of the most important lessons we've learned is to find the good in every situation and to really appreciate the time we have together. Milwaukee will always feel like home in many ways, we raised both our children there so far, made so many amazing friends, and learned a lot about ourselves. As we start this next chapter, I am so excited for what the future holds and the wonderful memories we'll make. Congratulations Tanner, I love you and couldn't be more proud!
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| I love how fun this guy is, throwing his cap in the air |
