Messed up the first time around

tesIII
Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:17:11 +0000

I know, another selfish and ill-advised request for advice. But that’s why I need the help so bad- because I’m clueless.

I earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma 2006-2011. BMusic in Composition and BSci in Neuroscience. It was fun and I did well. Magna cum Laude designation, GPA was 3.68. I was a participator, but according to passion rather than ambition. I played in the symphony and performed in/produced recitals, and worked on a long, hard research project. No honor societies or pre-professional orgs, which bore me to death. Awards like “Best Funk Contrabassoonist” instead of “Farty McHighFlyerson IV Scholarship for Excellence in StudentLeaderGenerousGeniusSchoolSpiritEtcship”

I’ve realized, out here in the job market, how bad I blew it. I had fun and pursued what I was interested in instead of thought about my future. I believed the idiots who say “do what you do best and the road will reveal itself to you. The world needs a one-of-a-kind scientist-composer, not another competent, interchangeable professional.” This is a tragic lie. I hold no grudge against those that told it to me, they were just trying to brighten my day, but I would ask you to NEVER tell anyone something similar. They might take it to heart and be as screwed as I am.

Now I want to be an engineer. There are lots of jobs for engineers. I’m smart enough to be an engineer. I like engineer-type work, solving problems, design and implementation, identification of failure modes, that sort of thing. S’great! I would succeed and enjoy my life. And not live in my parents’ house. Sigh.

BUT my bachelor’s degrees are not in engineering. I don’t think I can get into an MEngr school with what I’ve got. So I guess that means I have to go get ANOTHER bachelor’s degree, this one in engineering. I’m full of questions: will the fact that I already did a full slate of GenEds be any help at all? Will it still take 4 years and $100k?

I’m looking for any ideas and suggestions. Seriously, anything you’ve got to say. Even if it’s not nice.