Happening quickly

Today I recieved some more information about Boston University's LEAP program, which allows people with a non-engineering degree to take basic engineering classes before entering the Master's program.

This is something I never thought existed, and surprisingly enough it's exactly what I was looking for... The thought of having to go back to school for a second bachelor's for engineering PLUS then pursuing a Master's would not only be ridiculously expensive, but also keep me in school way longer than I'd hoped for. I was turned off from that path, and luckily (as I explain in this post) I found a better alternative.

Anyway, I found out that I could apply this fall for the Spring 2016 semester, which is really great since it means less waiting.

However... It means less time to get myself ready.

Checklist for applying:
Fafsa
GRE
Letters of recommendation
Fill out and pay for application
Cross fingers

Financial checklist:
Better paying job(s)
Save more money
Find and apply for all the scholarships and grants

Moving:
Downsize
Decide between RA/CA and living in a form v. seeing if I can get a job as a teaching or research assistant to get costs covered. Or both?
Downsize more

The good thing is, I feel so much more ready, knowledgeable and cognitively present in this process, something that I didn't necessarily experience when I entered undergrad. I feel like I let school happen to me as an undergrad, but I have a readiness and enthusiasm this time around that I feel really good about.

Wait, did that really just happen?!?

"I have a bachelors degree but I want to become an engineer" 

That was my google search today. 

This was not the first time I've searched this topic, but it must have been the first time for this particular string of words, since the 1st link to pop up brought me to this Q&A page. 

As I read the OP's question, I was unsure if the comments would lead me to the answer I was looking for, but then again none of my other search methods were fruitful. I stuck with reading through the comments, taking some of the advice with a grain of salt since most of them were suggesting the OP take any entry-level job, figure out what he really wants to do, then go from there. (I have another post with my summation of useful advice and my reactions)

Aaaaanyway, so one commenter laid the golden egg right in front of me: a link to Boston University's Late Entry Accelerated Program. 

EXACTLY the type of program I've been wondering exists since my original investigation into the engineering field back in December 2013 (yes it's been that long). 

Holy cow. I can actually feasibly do this. 

Summary of recent job search - Part 2

Job Search & Applications

So as a spin-off of the Park Ranger jobs, I also went back to looking for job openings at places such as the Liberty Science Center, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Zoo, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, and other similar places that would offer jobs that would utilize my education degree and allow me to teach science in an informal setting. Getting to work at places I admire was another incentive.

As a part of my search I used AdventureJobs.com and wikipedia (yes they have a page for that) to identify nature centers and science museums, and used a google form I created myself to compile all the information. This was a solution to my problem of endless searching and an infinite number of tabs I would have to return to; instead, all I did was copy and paste information about the company, the place, the position, and a link and I moved on to the next company. 

Through this process I also applied to all 6 locations of NatureBridge, a summer camp in Massachusetts, Sierra Nevada Journeys, The Franklin Institute, and an aquarium in Georgia.

I then got the inspiration to possibly follow my childhood dream of working with dolphins, and found a lot of rehabilitation and research centers in Florida with various openings. Even with the discovery of open positions, I found myself considering taking volunteer or internship positions.*

Interviews & Rejections

So here are my totals as of 2/13/2015:

• Applications: 77
• 67 Park Ranger
• 6 Nature Bridge
• 2 camp/nature centers
• 1 museum
• 1 aquarium
• Interviews: 2
• 2 camp/nature centers
• Rejections: 25
• 23 Park Ranger
• 1 camp/nature center
• 1 aquarium
• Still-Hopefuls: 50
• 44 Park Ranger
• 6 Nature Bridge
• 1 camp/nature center
• 1 museum

Man, is it tough to keep applying to the Park Ranger jobs when I've only heard back positively from a living person for one out of 67 applications. Sheesh. At least I've got the process down to ~15 minutes so it doesn't take that much of my soul. 

Stopping to reevaluate

*Reflecting on my job search now, I realize how off track I was getting with my search for a new path.

I talked with my mom yesterday and she made the point that I got off track and that I wasn't really pursuing something that would take me further towards a career (because I was looking for part-time/seasonal work). I agree completely - I found myself wondering what I would do after the summer season ends for all the jobs I was applying to, and realized I didn't have much of an answer besides "working in a restaurant or other part-time, non-fully committal line of work".

Not saying that those jobs are ones to avoid, but for someone who feels that need and drive for something that can become a stable career with benefits, I wasn't heading on the right track.

Part of the conversation I showed her a list of all the jobs I've considered/am considering, but that's a post for another day. But this conversation finally led to...

New Focus

I feel like I can say with more confidence that I would like to pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering and Technologies, since the topic has interested me throughout the years and I feel like I would not only enjoy the challenges but that I would fit well in the field.

It's definitely different from the job searches as of late, but being realistic about the jobs I'm applying to I'm not sure I'd be happy with constantly being in a state of searching for a job when the season is over.

More about this pursuit in other posts...