Grad School? So I'm seriously considering going back to school. It had been floating around in my head for awhile now, but I guess it just kinda built to the critical point today. I've been working on this new project at work (computer model of thermal expansion) for a couple weeks now, and I've just been completely stumped as to how to solve it. And I was just sitting around at work today, and I got to thinking Man, I really hate this feeling of being so STUPID... you know, maybe I ought to go back to school.
But really, this grad school thing is just something I need to do for myself. I've been going through these feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness recently- like I'm just not a very well-rounded individual. So I guess as a part of some kinda broader personal self-betterment plan, I wanna go back to school. I think that doing this would somehow help me feel like a better person. I know maybe it's a little shallow, but I just need tangible accomplishments in my life that I can point to to know I'm not a worthless human being. =/ I dunno, I feel like maybe I wanna do this grad school thing for all the wrong reasons... like I'm worried that I may be more interested in a piece of paper than in actually learning anything.
But I guess part of me had always wanted to get a master's... eventually. The last part of undergrad had left such a bad taste in my mouth for schooling that I didn't think I'd be ready for awhile, but studying up for this FE exam recently made me realize that I can handle the studying again- my mind is mentally recovered enough. And I just feel like it's now or never... I'm not getting any younger. And I'd like to be long done with all my schooling by the time I'm 30. >_<
If I study something related to my current job, my company would pay for it (which is a definite plus). So I'm looking at an M.S. in either nuclear or mechanical engineering. The former sounds more interesting, but I'm afraid I'll be pigeon-holing myself into certain kindsa jobs later in life if I do cuz it's a lot less general. I dunno, I'll have to think about it. So yea, I'd be looking at night classes after work (it's TRUE: it's VERY hard to walk away from a nice paying job to go back to school- I don't think I could), maybe like 2 classes a semester, and finishing in the neighborhood of 3 years.
I started researching my options, and correspondence courses don't appear to be an option. And it looks like the only half-way legit school around these parts is the fourth-tiered UNLV. -_- I dunno, it's a little bit less prestigious than I was hoping for, but it's better than nothing I suppose. If nothing else, at least it makes it that much easier to get in, HAH. (Yea, my cumulative undergrad GPA was still pretty good, but any careful inspection of my transcript would probably lead to a raised eyebrow or two. o_0)
So I guess the first step is to start cramming for the GRE. Then I gotta write up a statement of purpose and round up some rec letters. The deadline for Spring admissions already passed, so it looks like I'm looking to start in Fall 2008. I dunno, I'm not sure if I'm planning to stick around town much longer after that, but hopefully the credits'll be transferable. Anyways, so that's the gist of my plan so far... it's in the works.
But really, this grad school thing is just something I need to do for myself. I've been going through these feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness recently- like I'm just not a very well-rounded individual. So I guess as a part of some kinda broader personal self-betterment plan, I wanna go back to school. I think that doing this would somehow help me feel like a better person. I know maybe it's a little shallow, but I just need tangible accomplishments in my life that I can point to to know I'm not a worthless human being. =/ I dunno, I feel like maybe I wanna do this grad school thing for all the wrong reasons... like I'm worried that I may be more interested in a piece of paper than in actually learning anything.
But I guess part of me had always wanted to get a master's... eventually. The last part of undergrad had left such a bad taste in my mouth for schooling that I didn't think I'd be ready for awhile, but studying up for this FE exam recently made me realize that I can handle the studying again- my mind is mentally recovered enough. And I just feel like it's now or never... I'm not getting any younger. And I'd like to be long done with all my schooling by the time I'm 30. >_<
If I study something related to my current job, my company would pay for it (which is a definite plus). So I'm looking at an M.S. in either nuclear or mechanical engineering. The former sounds more interesting, but I'm afraid I'll be pigeon-holing myself into certain kindsa jobs later in life if I do cuz it's a lot less general. I dunno, I'll have to think about it. So yea, I'd be looking at night classes after work (it's TRUE: it's VERY hard to walk away from a nice paying job to go back to school- I don't think I could), maybe like 2 classes a semester, and finishing in the neighborhood of 3 years.
I started researching my options, and correspondence courses don't appear to be an option. And it looks like the only half-way legit school around these parts is the fourth-tiered UNLV. -_- I dunno, it's a little bit less prestigious than I was hoping for, but it's better than nothing I suppose. If nothing else, at least it makes it that much easier to get in, HAH. (Yea, my cumulative undergrad GPA was still pretty good, but any careful inspection of my transcript would probably lead to a raised eyebrow or two. o_0)
So I guess the first step is to start cramming for the GRE. Then I gotta write up a statement of purpose and round up some rec letters. The deadline for Spring admissions already passed, so it looks like I'm looking to start in Fall 2008. I dunno, I'm not sure if I'm planning to stick around town much longer after that, but hopefully the credits'll be transferable. Anyways, so that's the gist of my plan so far... it's in the works.
posted by Dear Daniel at 9:00 PM
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