Why All of the Books I Read in May Were Written By Black Men

Why All of the Books I Read in May Were Written By Black Men This is a guest post from Troy L. Wiggins. Troy is from Memphis, Tennessee. He was raised on a steady diet of comic books, fantasy fiction, and role-playing games. His short fiction and essays have appeared or are forthcoming in Griots: Sisters of the Spear, Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction From the Margins of History, The Mash-Up Americans, The Afrikana Review, Literary Orphans, and Memphis Noir. He currently resides in Memphis with his wife and their tiny expuptriate. Follow him on Twitter  @TroyLWiggins. ____________________ Back in February, K. Tempest Bradford issued a challenge to readers that nearly broke the internet. The challenge was simple: for one month, readers should take it upon themselves to seek out and read books that weren’t written by straight, cis white men. The goal: for readers to broaden their ideas and understanding of quality fiction while exposing themselves to authors and stories that they may not have considered. The backlash took a form that is familiar to anyone who reads speculative fiction and isn’t a straight white guy. Bradford was calledamong other horrible thingsa RACIST for deigning to omit white men from her reading. I’d heard of the challenge, and put a few pieces from the authors that Bradford suggested on my TBR list. My reading tends to skew diverse anyway, mostly because the literary magazines I enjoy make it a point to publish authors that aren’t straight, cis white men. Like all readers, I can stand to further diversify. While considering Bradford’s challenge, I began to think about my own identity as a straight, cis black Man, and how that assumed identity manifests itself in my reading choices. All too often, I realized that I find myself turning to black authors of all genders when I need a spiritual, cultural, and intellectual refill. The decision to read only black men for the month of May was spurred by the need to reconnect with my inner black man, and as the rallying cry of #BlackLivesMatter sweeps the nation, I realize that this month of reading was a necessary form of self-care. At the suggestion of a friend, I picked up Mat Johnson’s Pym, a witty tale that tackles some important investigations of race and identity through a recently-dismissed academic’s examination of Edgar Allan Poe’s racially bombastic The Narrative Of Arthur Gordon Pym Of Nantucket. Johnson’s culturally relevant wit was like a “Welcome Home” to my grimdark epic fantasy-scarred soul. Pym delivered on the fantastic as well, with gigantic white-skinned prehistoric monsters (dubbed “snow honkies”), a two hundred year old racist straight out of a Great American Classic, and a voyage to a mythical island where all of the inhabitants are black. May continued with Victor LaValle’s Big Machine, which introduced us to heroin-addicted, death cult survivor and chronic underachiever Ricky Rice, then made him a member of a historic paranormal investigation unit founded by a prophetic former slave. Immersing myself in Ricky’s story, watching him laugh and lust and cut to the quick was like a visit from extended family. Watching him and his comrades save the world was a balm to my world-weary spirit. A few days ago, I finished Bill Campbell’s Sunshine Patriots, which is a mind-bending book that takes identity, gender, faith, sex, and race, puts them in a military sci-fi pressure cooker, then boils the whole thing until it explodes. I found myself mesmerized at the creativity of Campbell’s worlds, and at his portrayal of characters in such unconventional ways. To enter into those worlds and see men and women of all ethnicities coming together, becoming a singular goal was inspiring to me, even as I lamented their too-familiar misfortunes. Even though I can’t claim to have chosen these books as part of K. Tempest Bradford’s challenge, I found myself challenged all the same. Pym  made me question the notion of assumed identity in general, even as those questions helped me reinforce my own identity as a straight, cis black man. Big Machine challenged me to remain faithful to my choices, and Sunshine Patriots reminded me that it’s okay to choose to fight, especially if fighting is what people expect out of you. I think that I made some good choices this month. Of course, I could have done better. I know that my reading would not have suffered had I chosen books written by black women. Jennifer Marie Brissett’s Elysium and Nnedi Okorafor’s The Book of Phoenix were released recently, and those would have been welcome additions. Instead of beating myself up about May’s choices, though, I think I’ll dedicate next month to books written by black women. And since it’s almost June, I have reading to do. ____________________ Book Riot Live is coming! Join us for a two-day event full of books, authors, and an all around good time. Its the convention for book lovers that weve always wanted to attend. So we are doing it ourselves.

Major Rivers That Flow North

A common misconception about rivers is that they all flow south. Perhaps some people think that all rivers flow toward the equator (in the Northern Hemisphere) or that rivers like to flow down toward the bottom of north-oriented maps. Whatever the source of this misunderstanding, the truth is that rivers, like all other objects on earth, flow downhill due to gravity. No matter where a river is located, it will take the path of least resistance and flow downhill as rapidly as possible. Sometimes that path is south, but it is just as likely to be north, east, west, or some other direction in between. Rivers That Flow North There are countless examples of rivers flowing northward. Some of the most famous are the worlds longest river, the Nile; Russias Ob, Lena, and Yenisey Rivers; the Red River in the United States and Canada; and Floridas St. Johns River. In fact, rivers that flow north can be found all around the world: Athabasca River, Canada, 765 milesRiver Bann, Northern Ireland, 80 milesBighorn River, United States, 185 milesCauca River, Colombia, 600 milesDeschutes River, United States, 252 milesEssequibo River, Guyana, 630 milesFox River, United States, 202 milesGenesee River, United States, 157 milesLena River, Russia, 2735 milesMagdalena River, Colombia, 949 milesMojave River, United States, 110 milesNile, Northeastern Africa, 4258 milesOb River, Russia, 2268 milesRed River, United States and Canada, 318 milesRichelieu River, Canada, 77 milesSt. Johns River, United States, 310 milesWillamette River, United States, 187 milesYenisey River, Russia, 2136 miles The Nile Image Source/Getty Images   The most famous river that flows north is also the longest river in the world: the Nile, which passes through 11 different countries in northeastern Africa. The rivers principal tributaries are the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The former is the stretch of river that begins at Lake No in South Sudan, while the latter is the stretch of river that begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. These two tributaries meet in Sudan, near the capital city of Khartoum, and then flow north through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. Since ancient times, the Nile has provided sustenance and support to the people who live along its banks. Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, referred to Egypt as a gift of the [Nile], and there is no doubt that the great civilization would not have been able to prosper without it. The river not only provided fertile farmland, but also facilitated trade and migration, allowing people to travel more easily through an otherwise harsh environment. Lena River Of Russias mighty rivers—including the Ob, the Lena, and the Amur—the Lena is one of the longest, covering over 2,700 miles from the Baikal Mountains to the Arctic Sea. The river stretches through Siberia, a sparsely populated region known for its harsh climate. During the Soviet era, millions of people—including many political dissidents—were sent to prisons and labor camps in Siberia. Even before Soviet rule, the region was a place of exile. Some historians believe the revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, after being exiled to Siberia, took the name Lenin after the Lena River. The rivers floodplain is known for its snow forests and tundra, habitats that are home to numerous birds, including swans, geese, and sandpipers. Meanwhile, the freshwater of the river itself is home to species of fish such as salmon and sturgeon. St. Johns River The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida, running up the eastern coast of the state from St. Johns Marsh to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, the river drops only 30 feet in elevation, which is why it flows so slowly and tranquilly. The river feeds into Lake George, the second largest lake in Florida. The earliest people to live along the river were likely the hunter-gatherers known as Paleo-Indians, who inhabited the Florida Peninsula over 10,000 years ago. Later, the area was home to Native tribes including the Timucua and the Seminole. French and Spanish settlers arrived in the 16th century, and it was Spanish missionaries who later established a mission at the mouth of the river. The mission was named San Juan del Puerto (St. John of the Harbor), giving the river its name.

Management - 7125 Words

BSTR/294 IBS Center for Management Research MTV Networks: The Arabian Challenge This case was written by Debapratim Purkayastha, IBS Center for Management Research. It was compiled from published sources, and is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. 2008, IBS Center for Management Research. All rights reserved. To order copies, call +91-8417-236667/68 or write to IBS Center for Management Research (ICMR), IFHE Campus, Donthanapally, Sankarapally Road, Hyderabad 501 504, Andhra Pradesh, India or email: info@icmrindia.org www.icmrindia.org BSTR/294 MTV Networks: The Arabian Challenge â€Å"[†¦] MTV has a penchant for†¦show more content†¦While launching MTV Arabia, William H. Roedy (Roedy), Vice Chairman for MTV Networks and President of MTVI, said, â€Å"Tonight‟s [November 16, 2007] MTV Arabia launch show celebrates one of the most important landmarks in MTV‟s 25-year history. MTV Arabia will reach the largest potential audience of any MTV channel outside the United States. MTV is proud to celebrate the voice of the Arab youth and through our global network we can showcase what this rich and diverse culture is all about to new audiences around the world.†5 BACKGROUND NOTE MTV (short for Music Television), which pioneered the concept of a cable music channel, was launched on August 1, 1981, and marked the commencement of the cable TV revolution. It was promoted by Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company, a joint venture between Warner Communications and American Express. In 1984, the company was renamed MTV Networks (MTVN) with its operations confined to the US. At the time of its launch, the MTV channel primarily catered to those in the 12 to 24 age group, airing heavy-metal and rap music. However, over the years, it also launched many sister channels such as VH-1(short for video hits one) which was formed in 1985 to play light popular music; Rhythm and Blues (RB, for jazz, country music, and classics targeted at the 18 to 35 age group; and Nickelodeon6, which was launched in 1977Show MoreRelatedManagement : Management And Management1504 Words   |  7 Pagesassuring an organization to be able to run smoothly is called as Management. Managers are capable to make decisions that will impact an organization in every phase. These decisions vary from employing new staff to taking a company public. Management is not an easy task, and good managers are highly respected. Management is like investment. Its main purpose is to extract the most out of every resource available in the organization. Management can be called as achieving targets in such a way that all theRead MoreManagement : Management And Management Essay1740 Words   |  7 Pagesproposals, and compliance training must meet the standards and requirements of both organizational structures, requiring Mr. Aranda to be fluent in both organizational cultures. Mr. Aranda was chosen for this project due to my observance of his management capabilities over the past twelve years. Mr. Aranda was an engineering technician who then earned a BS in business, resulting in being promoted to Engineering Manager, which enabled me to observe his triumphs and failures, and watch the evolutionRead MoreManagement Theory Of Management And Management937 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen used in company management. However, management of company could not be effective if only rely on theories. In fact, a good company development requires not only suitable theories selection but also consistency with practice in appropriate organization environment. 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This paper narrows down to evaluateRead MoreManagement And Functions Of Management1063 Words   |  5 PagesManagement in business and associations is the capacity that facilitates the endeavors of individuals to achieve objectives and targets utilizing accessible assets proficiently and adequately. Management includes planning, arranging, staffing, heading or steering, and controlling an association to achieve the objective. Resourcing includes the arrangement and control of human assets, budgetary assets, innovative assets, and regular assets. Administration is additionally a scholarly teach, a socialRead MoreQuality Management : Management And Management932 Words   |  4 Pageslines, it became more commonly understood that quality management may help organizations to repeat work less often, as the initial product or service that was delivered, was of a higher caliber, resulting favorably for the company as well as for the client. 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Thomas Jefferson Dbq Notes Free Essays

Jessica Turro Hunter Torres 9/24/12 Period 3 The declaration of independence By Thomas Jefferson Argument – * Thomas Jefferson â€Å"Necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth , the separated and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation† * Thomas Jefferson wanted all colonies to have freedom of speech, being entitled to their independence and their rights. Evidence * â€Å"We hold these truths to be self –evident – That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness. † * â€Å"†¦. We will write a custom essay sample on Thomas Jefferson Dbq Notes or any similar topic only for you Order Now driving their just powers from the consent of the governments; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute its power in such form as to them shall seem most like to effect their safety and happiness. * â€Å"WE THEREFORE, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the supreme judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions , do , in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies , solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. Appeals * Pathos- â€Å"that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by t heir creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. † * Logos-â€Å"the history of the present King of Great Britian is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these seas. * Ethos- Rhetorical Strategies Analysis * Thomas Jefferson uses ANAPHORA as a rhetorical strategy within his speech repeating â€Å"He Has†. * Thomas Jefferson has a frame with in his speech he begins with stating his argument of human rights and ends with his argument. How to cite Thomas Jefferson Dbq Notes, Essay examples

Persuasive Speech On Saving For Retirement Essays -

Persuasive Speech On Saving For Retirement Persuasive Speech on Saving for Retirement Dateline: 08/17/98 In virtually every business college, you will have to take some form of speech/communication class. Here's a persuasive speech with a format that Business Majors Guest Writer Allen Yamazaki used for his Speech 251 class. You can also learn about saving for retirement at the same time. Saving for Retirement General Purpose: To persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to start saving for their retirement Central Idea: Starting early to save for retirement has many benefits over Social Security Introduction: I. (Attention Getter) Only 2 people out of the 19 responses I got from the survey have started saving for their retirement. A. This is understandable because most of us? probably?think that retirement is something that is eons away. B. Because we are college students, our school? schedule only allows us to work part time. C. Between the 2 people that has started saving for?their retirement, one person currently? works full time.? And this person also is? participating in their employer's?profit sharing program or 401K plan. And this person? also owns stocks. This person already has a good start. II. (Credibility Statement) I myself have started saving for my retirement by starting an IRA. III. (Reveal Topic) You simply cannot rely on Social Security to support you in your Golden Years. You can never start too early to save for your retirement. In fact, the earlier, the better. IV. (Preview) Today I will discuss Social Security and why the current system is not working, ways that you can start saving for your retirement, and the benefits of saving for your retirement instead of relying on Social Security. (Transition: So let me start by discussing Social Security and why it is does not work) Body: I. Need Step A. First I will explain what Social Security is. 1. Social Security is a Federal program where they take a percentage from all of the wages earned by workers in this country. 2. The money that is collected is put in a trust fund that provides a monthly income for? retired?workers . 3. These benefits are also partially available to? the spouse of the deceased beneficiary, and it?provides benefits for disabled workers. B. According to the article from The Heritage? Foundation Issues 98: The Candidate's? Briefing Book,?there are several problems to the current Social Security system. 1. Social Security gives a poor rate of return. The rate of return varies from person to? person. For instance,?for the best case? scenario, a married couple with two? children and a single earner receives only 4.74 percent?if the earner was born in? 1932. However, most of us?were not? born in 1932 so that percentage? decreases to?less than 2.6 percent for? those born in 1976. Single men do the worst when they only have a rate of? return of less than half a percent. 2. People are becoming more dependent on Social Security.? Today, Social Security? benefits are the primary source?of income? for almost two thirds of all retirees. 3. People don't know their rate of return on? their Social?Security taxes. A worker has no clear understanding?of the yield on his or her investment in the Social? Security program. 4. The trust fund is running out of money.? By 2012, the Social Security trust funds are expected to start paying?out more in benefits than it collects from taxes. Why Because people are living longer, more? people are retiring?early, and women of? today are having less children.?Which? means that there will be less people in? the workforce?to pay for the increasing number of retirees. (Transition: So now we know that it is not wise to depend just on Social Security when we retire. There are, however, other things you can do to better prepare yourself for retirement. I will focus on investing your money in private investments-particularly IRAs and Stocks) II. Satisfaction Step A. The IRA 1. Only 6 people of the 19 surveyed knew? what an IRA was. 2. IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account 3. Basically, what you can do with this? type of an account is?deposit a maximum of $2000 every year and you will? earn

Eunotosaurus - Facts and Figures

Eunotosaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Eunotosaurus (Greek for original noded lizard); pronounced you-NO-toe-SORE-us Habitat: Swamps of southern Africa Historical Period: Late Permian (260-255 million years ago) Size and Weight: About one foot long and a few pounds Diet: Unknown; possibly omnivorous Distinguishing Characteristics: Small size; wide, shell-like ribs About Eunotosaurus The ultimate origin of turtles and tortoises is still shrouded in mystery, but many paleontologists believe that these shelled reptiles can trace their ancestry all the way back to the late Permian Eunotosaurus. The striking thing about this prehistoric reptile is that it possessed wide, elongated ribs that curved around its back, a kind of proto-shell that one can easily imagine evolving (over the course of tens of millions of years) into the giant carapaces of Protostega and Meiolania. As to what kind of animal Eunotosaurus itself was, thats a matter of debate; some experts think it was a pareiasaur, a family of ancient reptiles best represented by Scutosaurus. Recently, researchers at Yale University made a major discovery that cements Eunotosaurus at the root of the testudine family tree. Technically, modern turtles and tortoises are anapsid reptiles, meaning they lack characteristic structural holes on the sides of their skulls. Investigating the fossilized skull of a juvenile Eunotosaurus, the Yale scientists identified small openings characteristic of diapsid reptiles (the vast family that includes crocodiles, dinosaurs and modern birds) that closed up later in life. What this means is that anapsid testudines almost certainly evolved from diapsid reptiles some time during the Permian period, which would rule out the proposed pareiasaur origin mentioned above. Given the hypothesis that Eunotosaurus was ancestral to modern turtles, what was the reason for this reptiles elongated ribs? The most likely explanation is that its slightly rounded and expanded ribcage would have made Eunotosaurus harder to bite through and swallow; otherwise, this foot-long reptile would have been easy pickings for the large, predatory therapsids of ifs southern African ecosystem. If this anatomical bulge gave Eunotosaurus even a slight edge in survival, it makes sense that future turtles and tortoises would improve on this body planto the extent that the giant turtles of the later Mesozoic Era were virtually immune to predation as adults (though hatchlings, of course, could easily be gobbled up as they emerged from their eggs).

Questions to Ask During Your Medical School Interview

Questions to Ask During Your Medical School Interview Interviews are all about questions- not only for the applicant but for the interviewer as well. Most medical school applicants spend a great deal of time considering what they might be asked and how they will respond. No doubt about it, you will be grilled during your interview for medical school. Although tips for applying to medical school abound, many med school interview candidates dont realize is that the interview is also a time to ask questions. In fact, you will even be judged on the quality of your questions. Asking good questions is important because it shows that you are informed and interested in the program. More importantly, it is only by asking relevant questions that you will gather the information needed to determine if a particular medical school is right for you. The admissions committee is not just interviewing you. You are interviewing them. Too often candidates take the position that they will attend any school that admits them. Remember that you need to choose a program that is a good match for you. It is only by asking questions that you can accurately determine that. What Not To Ask One caveat about asking questions: Remember to do your homework. You should already know a lot about the program. Your questions should never ask about simple information that can be gleaned off of the website. You are expected to be aware of such materials. Instead, your questions should probe and follow up on what you have already learned. Never ask any personal questions of the interviewer either- unless they specifically relate to how that person enjoys the environment, classes or professors of that med school. Steer clear of questions whose answers dont help you understand the program better or that delve too deeply into the person sitting in front of you (though polite questions like how are you? are completely fine in conversation). This is your chance to get to know the school, not the interviewer. That said, it is important to tailor your questions to your interviewer. For example, ask questions about the quality of life  that the interviewer, as a resident of the school, would know the answers to.   Curriculum and Evaluations One of the primary reasons to choose one medical school over another is the courses offered specifically in that program. Therefore it is important to ask if there are any special programs for which this medical school is notably special. Its even better to ask about specific programs youve researched on the school website or course catalog.   Since most medical programs are slightly different with how they handle clinical application years, it is also important to ask the interviewer to describe the curriculum during the pre-clinical and clinical years and if there is any flexibility in the coursework (how many  electives  are offered and the timing of the courses). What makes this program different than another similar program youve discovered at another school? What difference is there in teaching style? Questions like these will help you determine if the medical school youre applying to is the right fit. Evaluation of students can also be drastically different from one institution to another. If the website or course catalog does not specifically cover the topic, you should ask your interviewer how students are academically evaluated and what the course of action is should a student perform poorly. How does the school assist students who do not pass? Clinical evaluations, similarly, can be carried out differently from school to school, so you should also ask about their process for such.   The future of students attending this particular med school can also help you determine whether or not you can achieve your goals as a student by attending. Asking how do students from this  medical school  perform on the National Board Examinations (percentage-wise) and which residency programs the recent graduates were accepted to can shed some light on the likelihood an education at this program will improve your chances of getting into the residence of your choice. If you have a narrower idea of where youd like to attend medical school, perhaps asking what clinical sites are available (rural, urban or private) and if students are permitted to do rotations at other institutions will provide more insight into the programs offerings.   Resources and Faculty-Student Interactions Speaking of resources, it is important that at the end of the interview you understand exactly what tools the program has to help you along in your college career. Ask about the library and electronic journal database access- is it, in the interviewers opinion, adequate for all the current medical information you will need. Further, what computer and technology resources are available to students? It is critically important, especially in modern times, that the program offers adequate resources, so dont hesitate to ask for clarification on any of their availability.   Also, finding out what kind of academic, personal, financial and career counseling services are available can help you better understand how well the program cares for the individual needs of its students. If you are a minority or special interest group, you may want to know the diversity of the student body and any support services or organizations for ethnic minorities and women the school may offer. If you are married, asking if there are services available for spouses and dependents will alleviate some of your concerns with family issues.   In terms of faculty-student interactions, you may want to know how each advisor is assigned and what the working relationship with students is throughout the program. This typically includes work on faculty research, so you may want to ask how that gets assigned and if students are given the opportunity to design, conduct and publish their own research.   Financial Aid Medical school can be expensive- very expensive- so asking about what kinds of  financial aid are offered could be imperative to the pursuit of your medical school degree. You should ask the interview how common it is for students to have unmet needs in their financial aid package  and how these students come up with the extra funds. Perhaps someone is available to assist  students with financial aid, budgeting, and financial planning?   In any case, it is important that before you finish the interview you have a bit more comfort in how you will manage to pay for your tuition and degree. Asking a variety of questions surrounding financial aid, including clarifying exactly what the expected cost of tuition will be, can help give you this piece of mind.   Student Involvement Its important to remember that you are paying for your education and you alone are responsible for making the most of your education. One of the best ways to ensure this (other than choosing professors and courses suited best to you) is to get involved on campus and in the program itself. Ask your interviewer what medical school committees have student representation and what opportunities exist for students to provide program feedback and participate in  curriculum planning. This will allow you more freedom to influence your program to most benefit your curriculum goals. Similarly, the student council or government involvement may be an important question to ask.   In terms of the valuable on-the-job experiences that will go toward future residence applications, community service also plays a key role in your education. You may consider asking if most students are involved in those activities and which community service opportunities are available to students. It might even be a requirement of completing your degree, so its best to ask the interviewer exactly how the program regards and encourages student involvement.   Campus Policies As a student entering the medical field, you should understand the importance of an institutions response to medical emergencies and virus outbreaks. Consider asking your interviewer what the protocol is for dealing with student exposure to infectious diseases. Are vaccinations provided against Hepatitis B or prophylactic AZT treatment in case of a needle-stick or accident? There are many more campus policy questions you could ask depending on your lifestyle, career goals, and medical needs as a student. For instance, if you are a student living with a disability, you might consider asking if  disability insurance  is provided by the school. If you hope to fast-track your degree, you may ask about the possibility of taking on a heavier course load. Inversely, if you are working full-time and hope to only enroll in night classes, you may ask what the campus policy is for attendance and when courses are offered, specifically. If you anticipate a loved one passing or needing critical care and you are forced to leave school, you may ask what the grievance procedure is for the institution. Location and Quality of Life If youre relocating to the area for school- especially if the interview happens to coincide with your first visit to its location- you may want to ask specific questions about the city and campus standard of living. Asking what the housing facilities are like and if most students live on or off campus is perfectly acceptable as long as the information has not already been provided on the website (do your research first). Even personal lifestyle questions like what the neighborhood is like and what kind of stores and restaurants are around are okay to ask in this vein of questioning. Commuting may become an issue if you choose off-campus housing. You should ask your interviewer if a car is necessary and what public and school transit options are available if you choose to do so.   Questions to Ask Yourself The answers the interviewer gives to all of the above questions should serve to give you a better understanding of what being a student of the medical school will entail. Once youve completed the interview, its time to review your notes and ask yourself a few questions that will help you decide if the program is truly right for you.   Start with the core curriculum and education program offered. Does this school provide training in the type of medicine you want to practice- primary versus specialized care, urban versus rural practice, academic medicine or private practice education? Is the program specific (or broad) enough to meet the needs of your professional goals? Do you like the professors youve researched or heard about in the program? These questions will guide you to the most important facet of choosing a program: is it the right fit for me? If yes- and you have more than one yes program- you should then examine how you feel about the school itself and the neighborhood youll be living to attend classes. Compare the perks and disadvantages of attending each of the programs that suit your educational needs. Will you be happy at the school? In the neighborhood? If youve answered yes to all of these, youve found the program for you!