<p>When it comes to applying to grad school, is it best to apply tons of schools like medical school?</p>
<p>For dealing with parents: read up on fear aggression (see dog training materials). When someone is barky, ask yourself “what are they afraid of?”. Many times parents have tremendous pressures and getting you in line relieves their fears. </p>
<p>I’m reading “Crucial Conversations” and the businessmen authors talk about how to be firm and respectful at the same time – because you and the parents all want little Tiffany to soar in life – the end goal isn’t the problem – it’s how you get there that can be problematic. If you mastered that quadrant of your current career it would pay dividends no matter what you choose to do next.</p>
<p>And, no. It is not good to apply to a “ton” of graduate schools – think of planning to go to a lovely concert. Does it make sense to buy a “ton” of tickets? Or is it smarter to really think and research so that you get tickets to the performance that will speak to your heart?
Truthfully, there are several concerts that you’d love and many that would be ok and a few that would be . . . not worth your trouble. Self knowledge combined with research leads you to a choice that satisfies.</p>
<p>Let me give you some perspective here. My first job was computer programmer in a medical research center while a student of Civil Engineering in my native Elbonia. I learned that in a medical research / health care environment, at least in Elbonia, doctors and PhD’s rule, and if you’re neither, best of luck. You’re ‘staff’, whatever that means. If you’re going to work in a research environment, the politics and backstabbing you’ll see make schools look like (pun intended) kindergarten. </p>
<p>If you work in the industry, it’s very unpredictable. Office politics are office politics regardless, and 21 CFR (federal regulations overseeing pharma etc) are quite lengthy and complex… So, it’s not like a particular individual would have a BIG impact. I’m in a parallel industry (consumer electronics) with lots of similar skills. We have some people who moved back and forth to medical device manufacturing and back, it’s stable for now, but panacea it is not. Smaller companies that do a lot of the hiring and firing are not very stable, and large companies are not hiring much either…</p>
<p>I stand corrected on the PE. My experience is in the design area - civil, structural, environmental - where a PE is required.</p>
<p>To the OP: sounds like you have a good plan to change careers. Does not sound like teaching is for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>I suggest that you pick out a couple of possible MS BME programs, and contact the graduate admissions office to find out what the required and recommended background is. Do you need a BS degree in BME or a closely related field? What are the prerequisites? Does it matter where the prerequisites are taken?</p>
<p>Without a science or engineering BS degree, I suspect it will be quite difficult to get into a highly ranked BME program. However, as a non-traditional student, your biggest concern will probably be affordability and practicality rather than ranking. The plan to take some prerequisite classes part-time at a local public university seems like the best way to get started, especially if the university offers a BS in BME, which CUNY does. Perhaps you could start out as a non-degree seeking student at CUNY and take a few classes part-time. I especially recommend to take an Intro to BME class. Take the opportunity to get advice from the BME professors about recommended education and career path.</p>
<p>Let’s say I contact the grad admissions, find what I need to take and do so accordingly. There is still a chance that I will be rejected from the school. I could contact several schools and find the requirements. What should be done if the prereqs differ? For example, one school requires cell biology but one does not. Would it be best to take it anyway? </p>
<p>I just want to take some time here to say a big thank you to everyone that’s replied and helped me with this. Thank you for lending a hand to a complete stranger! Thank you for finding information and links. Thank you for just reading my rant and letting me vent.</p>
<p>Today the principal reprimanded me and said “take the academics out of your class and just let the kids make things”. This is a prime example of why I do not want to teach. </p>
<p>I have been thinking about attempting to get an entry level job in the BME industry even if it’s just stapling papers (okay, perhaps not that pathetic) so I can at least see the environment. Any suggestions or advice on this?</p>
<p>OP, be aware that “politics and garbage” exist in every workplace, in every field. Different kinds, different amounts, but it’s always there. There will always be people who are hard to work with, bosses who you think are incompetent, procedures and policies that make no sense to you. I’m not saying you shouldn’t change fields, but don’t do it just because you think it’s all hearts and flowers over in the world of BME.</p>
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<p>Ok, since DOE schools are closed this week, it sounds as if you work for either a charter school, catholic or a private school in NYC. Perhaps your environment isn’t the right “fit”.</p>
<p>Because you still gotta eat, don’t cut your nose to spite your face. If he wants you to teach the kids how to make things, then do that while updating your resume to do something else (whether it is to transition into the NYC DOE, go to another school or seek out another profession). If you want to work for the city, my recommendation is to keep visiting the website to look out for new schools that are opening in the fall. With students getting decisions from the first round of high school application process, there will be open houses for the supplemental rounds. Even though the process is to sell high schools to students and their families, they may be worth checking because you will meet Principals and administrators and it could be a networking opportunity.
If you go to the NYC DOE, you would get Jarema credit for your time spent teaching outside of the DOE.</p>
<p>[What</a> is Jarema credit? How may I apply for it? | United Federation of Teachers](<a href=“http://www.uft.org/faqs/what-jarema-credit-how-may-i-apply-it]What”>What is Jarema credit? How may I apply for it?)</p>
<p><a href=“http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/B015A65A-2C7F-4DFC-B4B9-1A3EA75A0065/0/ApplicationforReduction.pdf[/url]”>http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/B015A65A-2C7F-4DFC-B4B9-1A3EA75A0065/0/ApplicationforReduction.pdf</a></p>
<p>In the meantime, if your plan is to pursue a BME, consider taking courses as a non matriculated student this summer at City College, while applying for January admissions. Some of the CUNYs are still entertaining applications for fall admissions </p>
<p>[Open/Closed</a> Colleges for Fall 2012 - Undergraduate Admissions - CUNY](<a href=“http://www.cuny.edu/admissions/undergraduate/prepare/open-closed-fall.html]Open/Closed”>http://www.cuny.edu/admissions/undergraduate/prepare/open-closed-fall.html)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cuny.edu/academics/programs.html[/url]”>http://www.cuny.edu/academics/programs.html</a></p>
<p>type in biomedical engineering</p>