Things I Didn't know...

In my mad search for wanting to travel/work/study abroad, I finally checked out some of the CDC resources...and I was pretty taken aback at some of their guides. For people like me interested in the envrionment and biotechnology, there are career guides listing types of jobs and locations and companies. There's even quite a large guide called "Living and Working Overseas". For some people I know who are looking to travel as well, there are smaller guides on volunteer programs that are an alternative to peace corps, which may be not exactly what will make you find your way, but would be a wonderful starting point. I've actually talked to a lot of international people who would like to be working for companies from their country but in the US, and there is rather large directory of such foreign firms in the US as well.

When it comes to finding jobs outside the country, it's difficult at a school like WPI, where most engineering majors tend to stay pretty local after graduation. It's also difficult for life science majors, where Boston seems to be the meccah of biotechnology and bioengineering. Many other options exist for me though- even within the US, if that's what it comes down to. And that is good to know. If I want to travel, I recently found out that San Diego is also a big bio-science hub, so California (which, let's face it, might as well be a whole new country) is definitely an option.

But as far as living and traveling and working abroad goes, it's great to have a good starting point. Luckily life science majors have some time before they can start job hunting, and hopefully that time will give me the leverage I need to get where I want.

Remember how I said I started writing a few weeks ago? that's all I got so far....I don't know why I have no time to do this. On the other hand, I keep meeting people who have written like ten personal statements already and are almost all set with their applications...whatever will I do...


But I did find out today that the CDC can even evaluate your personal statement- I definitely did not know that. I mean, I'm going to have them check out my resumes and things before I include material from that into my applications, but I certainly didn't think they would read my essays too...that's great news. Because I'm going to need a ton of feed back!

It seems like since applications for grad school are due for most US schools, people are scrambling to get theirs done. Good thing I have some time...things to do this week are:
-Finish writing personal statement (FOR REAL!)
-Ask Registrar's office for multiple copies of transcript
-Reminder emails to professors I asked for recommendations (believe me, professors are worse than students and more often than not also wait until the last minute to get papers in on time...especially busy ones, like the ones doing biology research...)
-Make appointment with counselor as soon as I finish personal statement for advice and feedback

Yay! Maybe setting goals will get the ball rolling for me :)

Starting to Write...

SO last weekend, I decided I needed to get a start on writing my personal statement...take a guess where I went to start that...in Harvard. Probably the most random decision of my life- I went into Boston just for a change with no specific purpose in mind, and I wandered around Harvard Square with a cup of coffee hand, and then..well, I decided why not go into Harvard, find a quiet spot and get to work. Definitely got some good work done, and it was pretty relaxing. Writing about yourself can get tedious though, which it did....so I quite after a while.

Haven't really looked at it otherwise, but I have looked at the rest of my application yay! I'll be applying to the Cambridge Gates Scholarship. Cambridge apparently has the most funds to give away so if you ever want to apply there, make sure to apply to this program- it covers all their trusts and funds through one application and all you have to do that's extra is a personal statement and a couple of write-ups about your exracurricaulars and all that jazz. I'll be applying for a Masters, so I'll have some time to write these things up, because the deadlines are later than for a PhD. SO I guess that's what Thanksgiving break is for...and here I was thinking it would be about enjoying my tofurkey (yes I know it's wrong not to eat a turkey on Thanskgiving-I'm spending it at a vegetarian house, so please don't judge)....

Talking about yourself is weird....

So I've given out reference letter forms to my three referees...hope to get them back in time. I've given them over a month to write them, which is pretty good timing I hear.

Started working on my personal statement- this is the weirdest thing I've ever had to do. Talking about myself to complete strangers, my dreams and aspirations and past experiences...yes, different from a blog because I'm talking myself up a little, trying to convince someone why I'm worth it. So I looked back at some past journal entries, essays and looked up some tips on how to write these essays. It's a step toward getting started right? I also realised my application is going to go nowhere sitting on my desk in the office I work in- so I've finally got ahold of them, looked through them and started filling them out, even though it's incredibly intimidating.

Apart from all of that, MQP is eating my life- there are so many mistakes to be made in labs, so no wonder Bio students take at least a year or more to complete their MQPs. Good thing I'll be taking off from here soon....

I definitely need to look for jobs though. I'm going to update my resume and look through JobFinder this weekend...let's jope I find something :)

If anyone ever says to me senior year is a breeze...um, they're LYING. I've been living in lab for so long now...yes, living, becuase I might as well be...I have had barely any time for anything else. Thankfully I managed to get some research done on schools and will be getting my reference letters out to professors this week. Good thing most of those school deadlines are later for Europe and Australia...yay!
The next thing I need to work on is my personal statement...like asap. I got a lot of good suggestions from friends. One said write down your thoughts every morning or night for a few weeks, and look for the most consistent pattern. Another said just write-everything...it doesn't have to be a statement, just write about yourself and aspirations and stuff. Then narrow it down from there...pretty good ideas. Now if only I could get started on them...

My Fall Break...not much of a Vacation...

So...since I've been really indecisive about my future I decided to sit down and really research a lot about zoology programs around the world. I e-mailed all the professors in related fields I know, and asked for their advice. So far...I've come up with some good schools I'll be applying to...sweet!

Also, since I was sticking around Worcester, I went into lab...oh, everyday. It's a lot of work but it's super exciting because it looks like I've made a lot of progress toward something that might be a big deal in the future in terms of finding cures for diseases and whatnot...that's helping society right? Kind of, eventually...and it makes me happy. This 'breakthrough' of sorts of course means now I'll have to be in lab all the time...even weekends(which I've been doing this break, btw). I guess it's okay though..especially if it turns out to give me a sweeeeeet MQP and a scientific paper (keeping my fingers crossed).

Next week when school starts I'll make sure to look up European schools and scholarships at the CDC office...there's tons of binders I always mean to look at and I never do. Need to stop procrastinating...it's crunch time for applications...wish me luck!!

:)

Taking Steps...Slowly

So um, I realize that even if I want to be outside the US, taking a job will mean facing the real world (yeah...not so ok with that). So maybe that's plan B, let's say. I woke up this morning thinking about what I like, and I really like wildlife conservation and management. But I think I'll start at zoology first. I've been looking at some programs around the world-some in UK, some down under, and they all seem pretty interesting. The application deadlines are a little later than most US schools, so I got a few weeks to really delve into the matter- good thing we got a term break coming up :)

I also didn't see that the CDC has a lot of resources I could use-in the office itself. So if I want to check out some bio-related programs, I could take one of their several binders or books on masters' programs related to zoology and environment and things like that- sweeeeeet :D

Anyways, so I guess I am taking the right steps towards what I want to do...it's just...slower than most people. But I guess that's ok. I'd rather take a little time and get into the right program than rush things and end up in a school or program I don't like.