Career change- stressing & panicking

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi everyone. I’m really in need of some advice and perhaps even peace of mind. I’ll try to keep this short. </p>

<p>I’m a young teacher (2nd year) that is completely turned off by the job. I never imagined the amount of politics and garbage that I would have to deal with. I guess it’s kind of naive. I am truly sick of the grade inflation, the games that administrators play and parents that threaten lawsuits for everything. </p>

<p>I’ve decided that I want to pursue biomedical engineering. I know this isn’t in the engineering forum but I’m looking for advice from knowledgeable adults that have gone through career changes. My parents did not attend college so they’re not too sure about going back to school. </p>

<p>I’ve done many hours of research and tried to get in touch with a few engineering professors with no luck. Fortunately, I discovered this forum. The main question is- should I get a 2nd bachelor’s or try for a master’s? Some say a 2nd BS is a waste of time and others say it’s impossible to get into a decent MS engineering program w/o a BS in a related field. I’m just so lost and stressed right now. I only have a few classes that can even be considered as prereqs: calc 1 and 2, statistics, and physics 1. I graduated w/ a 3.75GPA and a degree in education.</p>

<p>Other questions that have kept me up at night- What are some reputable biomedical engineering schools? I know the USNews rankings can’t really be trusted. Should I take prereqs at a community college first to save money? I found the LEAP program from BU. Is BU a good school for engineering? Are schools even open to accepting students for a 2nd BS? Would I really need to retake the SATs for this?</p>

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<p>The answer is ‘it depends’. I did a 2nd BS degree even tho I could have gone straight to grad school. But it was a year of prerequisites versus two years for the BS degree, tuition was laughably low, so I stuck the extra year, then continued on to grad school for a couple more degrees. </p>

<p>It all depends on how much you can stay at your current job and if you’re limited by geography. If you can stomach it for 2-3 years you could go slowly on the prereqs and work full time (take summer classes, etc). If you have a decent urban university nearby (i.e. lots of night classes) it won’t be as difficult). </p>

<p>In either case I would think you need a Masters degree, so you’re looking at 2 years prereqs, plus 2 years MS degree, full time. That’s a long time either way so I would talk to grad advisors where you’re interested; profs, not right away. If the requirements call for an undergrad engineering degree to get into grad school, then you don’t have much of a choice.</p>

<p>You can also look at ‘related’ fields like medical informatics. Not quite biomed eng, but in the healthcare loop.</p>

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<p>I don’t see any reason not to use USNWR as a rough guide to colleges known for their BioE departments. It seems like a good starting point to me. You should also narrow down the area in the country where you’d be willing or like to go so CCers can offer recommendations in that area. You can also check with the individual colleges to see what their requirements and competitiveness would be for their masters program. You can sometimes find the basic requirements on their website.</p>

<p>I don’t see why anyone would say the second BS would be a waste of time as long as you don’t have to repeat basic courses. IMO having two BS degrees for the sake of it is somewhat of a waste of time (unless one simply wants them both) but in your case you’re talking about getting a particular BS for your chosen field which is different.</p>

<p>I don’t know how the individual colleges would view that re admissions. esides getting info from CC here you should contact some of the BioE departments of the ‘School of Engineering’ at the particular colleges you’re considering and ask your questions and see what they say.</p>

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<p>HK- I did the LEAP Program at BU many, many years ago. It is a great program Bu has a great eng program. I had an undergrad in chemistry and went on to get my masters in plastic eng. Not at BU - It was too intense for me, but it is a wonderful program, especially if you can do it FT. You will have to make up some undergrad classes depending on your undergrad major, but it is doable. </p>

<p>Go for it! Do not waste any more time doing something you do not love. You have 40, yes 40!!! more years of work on front of you.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the responses already. I’m located in NYC so there are definitely tons of schools around. </p>

<p>At this point I am pretty much too late to make fall admissions so I think I will work another year full time and save as much as possible to pay for the schooling. I’m willing to move if necessary.</p>

<p>How do employers view “late starters” in general? Are there repercussions regarding age even if I’m only a few years older than others entering the job?</p>

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<p>Everybody gave good advice but out of curiosity is there some reason you think you want to study bioengineering? You don’t want to jump into something else that makes you miserable. Especially since you’ll be paying for it.</p>

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<p>^^^On this note, I know Biomedical engineering is a “hot” and well ranked program at Georgia Tech but I am also hearing about many kids switching out during Freshman year because of the rigor. Have you consider teaching in a different area, subject or grade? I will always be grateful for my daughter’s wonderful IB teachers in high school. They seem to mostly dodge the politics and really enjoy teaching and the students.</p>

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<p>How are your math skills? To land in a strong program, you’ll need strong math SAT scores. If you are looking at a year before re-launch, consider taking more math at a CC. Also, you can get some basics out of the way now. Did your first degree include biology? chemistry? calculus? statistics? Taking an evening course or two could be a great way to get moving.</p>

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<p>Since you are in NYC, have you considered taking your prerequisites at CUNY-City college? [Department</a> of Biomedical Engineering - CCNY - CUNY](<a href=“http://bme.ccny.cuny.edu/]Department”>http://bme.ccny.cuny.edu/)<br>
The tuition is relatively low, as others have stated, you can take classes in the evening, weekend summer while you save $ for grad school. Keep in mind most of the grad school FA is in loans, so if you can stock away some $ the less you will have to borrow.</p>

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<p>Sybbie gives good advice. There’s very little financial aid for a second bachelors and you don’t sound like you have a trust fund. Take the classes you need at a CUNY and then apply for a masters. BME is very competitive, so you will need strong math/science skills/grades. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Also, are you a math or science teacher. If so, have you thought about relocating? Teaching isn’t the same everywhere – and you might land in a better spot. NYC is a very expensive city to remake oneself in, I would suspect.</p>

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<p>Have you considered changing schools via the open market hiring system (coming this spring). Do you teach at the Elementary or JHS/HS level? Bkyn Tech has a bio med major (along with a vast array of other engineering majors) for HS students. Perhaps you can reach out to someone there in order to get a teaching position (the upside is that you do not have a lot of years in, so chances are strong that another principal would absorb your salary). </p>

<p>Consider finishing your masters (which would give you an ~ $9k salary bump from your base on your current line. It would be more because you would have more time in). You could do your 30+ above the masters in anything (then take the engineering courses to not only increase your pay, but to give you options when you do decide to make your move)</p>

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<p>Keep in mind that there are politics and garbage associated with any job and at anyplace that you work. It is one thing, to leave teaching because you don’t think that you are well suited for the profession, however, if you are leaving teaching because you don’t like the work politics, then I hope that you are independently wealthy and you will never have to work again. As long as you work and will have to deal with people, you are going to have to deal with people that you don’t like or situations that you may find are less than ideal. I don’t think that there is a working parent here who has not at one time or another mentally annihilated a boss or co-worker. However, because we do have adult responsibilities, we don’t always have the luxury of flipping our job the bird.</p>

<p>One of the things about growing up and navigating the world of work is learning how to deal with people, unpleasant situations and office politics. I think as parents, I don’t think that we discuss these issues with our kids and how to navigate these situations. we have taught our kids, that everything is going to be hunky dory and they will never have to deal with adversity.</p>

<p>What’s your plan? </p>

<p>Do you have any debt from your current undergrad education? When do you plan to make this move; in 2 years, 4 years? </p>

<p>IF you were to be admitted to the LEAP program at BU, cost of graduate tuition and fees for 2 years will cost you ~$82,692. </p>

<p>[Boston</a> University College of Engineering Admissions Graduate Tuition and Fees](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/eng/admissions/grad/tuition-fees/]Boston”>http://www.bu.edu/eng/admissions/grad/tuition-fees/)</p>

<p>Then you need to have some place to live. How are you going to pay for this (please do not say that you are just going to take out loans to cover the whole cost)?</p>

<p>While BU states that they give generous need based tuition assistance, what constitutes “generous”? Would you be eligible for need based aid considering that the first year, they would be using your income from work (~50k) to determine your eligibility for need based aid?</p>

<p>I think that you need to come up with a concrete plan as to how you are going to make this work with out accumulating 100K of debt.</p>

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<p>I agree with the posters who said politics are part of any job. If you enjoy being iwth the kids and the main parts of teaching - why not try another school system or a private school before you jump into a whole other career. You may find another environment is totally different. I am not sure where the jobs are in biomedical engineering but can imagine they may be just as beaurecratic.</p>

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<p>My advice to all new teachers is to stick to your room and stay out of the teachers lounge. Be cordial but always professional and keep a professional relationship with co workers. Never discuss your private life.</p>

<p>It takes awhile to learn the dynamics of any job. Ears open , mouth shut. </p>

<p>What courses will your teaching job actually pay for you to take? Can you use these to accumulate your core science classes you are missing? Can you get a MS in science (for free) and then use this to get am MS in bioengineering later?</p>

<p>Sometimes just taking the steps towards change makes your current situation tolerable.</p>

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<p>You would probably need the bachelor of engineering (not a BS) or the equivalent course work to sit for the professional engineer (PE) license. Getting the Bachelor of engineering may be all you need to become employable. You may not need the masters. OTOH, you may be able to find a masters program that will give you a masters of engineering, provided you take the required undergraduate engineering course. The point being, it is likely you will have to take undergraduate engineering courses in either case. I got a masters from an engineering program but it is not a masters of engineering, it is a MS from the engineering department. Technically, I am a scientist, not an engineer. </p>

<p>I agree with the others who have said you need to really consider what you don’t like about teaching. Do you dislike actually standing up in front of the classroom and dealing with the students? Or is it really the administrative stuff that is annoying? If you still love the teaching, maybe look for a different job before you throw in the towel. If you don’t love the teaching, then switching careers is the way to go.</p>

<p>At your age, you have plenty of time. Taking a class or two in engineering during the summer may be a good way to determine if you really want to be an engineer. The classes can be very difficult (not trying to discourage you but you have to really want to do it). Even though it may be too late to formally enroll, you may be able to be an non-matriculating student for the summer to get a first taste. As others have said, call the admissions people at college of interest, not professors. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Most engineers do not have or need a PE in order to find employment. I believe this is a correct statement. Let me know if it is not. here is an interesting article on it</p>

<p>[To</a> license or not to license That’s the Question](<a href=“http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/may99/features/tolicense/tolicense.html]To”>http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/may99/features/tolicense/tolicense.html)</p>

<p>Teachers are reimbursed for classes leading to a masters degree. I would figure out which core science/math courses I could take that would cut down my time in any engineering program and take these classes while still being employed. It will also help you figure out if you like this course work.</p>

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<p>At the NYC DOE, unless you are in the teaching fellows/teach for america or in a license area where there is a shortage the DOE is not going to reimburse you for your masters. </p>

<p>The good thing is that when it comes to getting your certification, it does not matter if you attend CUNY or if you attend Columbia. Once you meet your requirements the salary for a teacher with 2 years experience and a Masters the salary ($57,276) is the same whether that Masters is from CUNY ($345/credit $4,105 a semester) or Teachers College, Columbia University ($1231/credit $14,772 per semester, full time 12 credits ).</p>

<p>However, I do agree that OP could get his masters in Math or science and become certified in a different subject area, and do his 30 credits above the masters in Engineering to obtain a second Masters.</p>

<p>the DOE will pay for Masters in shortage areas: Bilingual Special Education, Monolingual and Bilingual Speech Language Pathology, Monolingual and Bilingual Visually Impaired and Bilingual School Psychology. </p>

<p>The scholarship program offers uncertified candidates a traditional path to certification by way of a Master’s degree in a traditional teaching or clinical shortage area. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.teachnycprograms.net/getpage.php?page_id=59[/url]”>Teach NYC;

<p>In addition, scholarships and loan forgiveness are available in the following speech and clinical school positions:</p>

<p>Monolingual and bilingual speech and hearing handicapped</p>

<p>Bilingual school counseling, psychology, and social work</p>

<p>Since we are off this week ;), perhaps OP could use his/her time to further research some options.</p>

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<p>

Yes, that’s true. A license is pretty much a must for a civil or structural engineer, or if you want to do electrical engineering for major construction. In those cases you will be required to stamp off work and typically won’t get far without the license.</p>

<p>Many engineers workin what are called “exemt industries”. I worked in aerospace and semiconductors for 20 years and never met aPE or many people who even knew what a PE license was. </p>

<p>I’m not even sure if there are states with Bioengineering PE licenses. I’d have to look that up. THe one person I knew with a PE and bioengineering degree got licensed in both Mechanical and Electrical engineering just for the fun of it. He was a pretty sharp guy.</p>

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<p>It does seem kind of strange that I’d pick BME. I started undergrad with dreams of becoming a doctor but many people around me discouraged me from it b/c of the cost of medical school and the # of years I’d be in school/training. So, I gave up that idea after freshman yr. and decided on teaching but I still kept reading articles about neuro. Neuroscience and neuroengineering have been my dream job areas since high school when my grandmother (is like a mom to me) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I read all I could about the subject. </p>

<p>I teach industrial arts/technology. I picked it b/c I knew it’d allow me to move around and make things. I’m ashamed to admit it but teaching seemed like an easy way out. I’ve come to realize that I do like making things and hanging out with kids but I really don’t like teaching them. I dread waking up and I can’t wait to leave. The job doesn’t fit right but I will always be grateful for the skills that teaching has taught me. </p>

<p>My teaching story:
I started teaching at a 6-8 school w/ an incredibly wealthy population. The kids were well behaved, pretty fun and sometimes acted entitled. The parents were a nightmare and the administrators micromanaged everything. For my 2nd year, I changed schools and boroughs. It’s a community of middle class families with some (~20-30%) in the upper middle. The kids are less well mannered and care much less about academic success. The parents are also a nightmare but for different reasons. The administrators give teachers a lot of freedom but tend to bend over for every parent that complains about anything. </p>

<p>My plan:
-Take prereqs at CUNY or CC*
-Apply to a MS in BME program w/ reasonable tuition</p>

<p>I know I will have to pay for everything myself but I have no debt at all from undergrad. I went w/ the school that offered a full ride. I’ve been saving as much as possible since I began working and I live at home as well. </p>

<p>I think BU is just too expensive for me. Someone mentioned that I better be independently wealthy which I’m not. That really struck me. I will pick the school that has the best return investment so I will cross off the private ones that are just above what I can afford. I think I would be able to work PT as a tutor while studying to bring in some money. </p>

<p>*Does anyone know if it’s okay to take undergrad prereqs at a CC or do I have to take prereqs at the grad school I choose? How can I decide on all the prereqs if each school has somewhat different ones? Is it possible for me to attend a top 50 BME program despite my background?</p>