Today is the Day.

Well, friends… the day my classmates and I have been waiting for/dreading has officially arrived! Today is the day of our masters program comprehensive exams. Gah! To get our degree, we have to pass this test. We WILL all pass this test. Failure is not an option!   The test is 4 hours long (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and covers/integrates basically everything we’ve learned over the whole past 2 years. The format is as follows:

• Two “Nutrient” (aka biochem) questions — one will be macronutrient related (e.g. carbs, protein, fat) and one will be micronutrient (a vitamin or mineral) related. We get to pick one to answer. I’m feeling more confident about macronutrients, but we’ll see.
• Two “Chronic Disease” (aka medical nutrient therapy) questions — again, we choose the one we feel we can answer best. Examples of this will be talking about causes/pathophysiology, nutrition-related treatment, high risk groups, etc. for chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease… something along those lines. Epidemiology/data collection/statistics related questions can also come into play here.
• One Public Health question — no options for this question, just one. This question will involve reading some sort of fabricated community case assessment/report, and then either planning some sort of health-related intervention for the community, or being given an intervention and planning out goals/objectives and ways to implement it.

All the questions have multiple parts — we’re expected to spend an hour each on the nutrient and chronic disease questions, and two hours on the public health question. Whew! I spent yesterday doing some last minute studying and getting ready for today. After an early morning run followed by a morning of class, I came home and whipped up a late lunch.   I made a big salad of mixed greens, store bought tabouli, tomatoes, green pepper, sprouts, and some tuna salad (made with greek yogurt/mustard) that’s buried under it all.   I had some strawberries on the side for dessert.   While I was making lunch yesterday, I went ahead and packed myself a lunch to eat during the test today, too. I used a big double serving can of tuna to make lunch, so I saved half and made myself a tuna sandwich for today. On toasted bread so it doesn’t get soggy, of course!   I topped it with sprouts and spinach and popped it into a ziplock bag. Must buy more tin foil!   I also packed some grapes…   And one of my Vegan & Gluten Free Granola Bars (click for recipe). OBSESSED with these!! Have you made them yet? 🙂   All together now! I put it all into the fridge in a plastic bag so I can easily grab it and throw it into my purse this morning on my way to the test.   I spent this morning reviewing some material at my little apartment gym — 50 minutes on the elliptical reading over notes, and 20 minutes doing strength training/abs/stretching. Feeling good and ready to get this over with! I had the weirdest dreams last night about the test — the usual where you’re late, or don’t know anything on the test, or waste all the time and then try to do the whole thing in 5 minutes… etc. Gotta love that. Please wish me and my classmates good luck! I can’t wait until 3 p.m… our entire class has plans to immediately storm the bars on Franklin Street. Don’t wait up. 😉 Although I at least have to attempt to come home at a decent hour so I can pack — I leave early tomorrow morning to fly to DC for another wedding! Happy Friday, everyone!