I'm a 45-year-old who for the past 12 years has been stuck in food service hell, and I'm looking to get out.
I've been applying off and on for the past 4 years, and gotten a few nibbles and a few offers for worse roles, but I'm looking to transition out of food service.
I'm currently back in college to finally get my Bachelor's (I only have an Associate's Degree) in Supply Chain and Operations Management. Should be graduating by August if things keep progressing the way they are.
I feel like someone who's tried every diet plan and had no results. I've had my resume and LinkedIn redone by professionals. I signed up for every job board website I can. I paid for LinkedIn Premium for a while. I use ChatGPT to help write cover letters. I've used AI job helpers. I apply and apply, and.... get nothing.
Now, I know the market is ass right now, but there's got to be something I'm doing wrong here. I've got experience in two branches of the military, IT experience, Banking experience, Retail experience, a bunch of management experience, helped open two brand new restaurants and saved another one from going bankrupt into the top store in the district. I feel like I can bring a lot to the table.
The only major failing I can think of is that I absolutely hate "networking". I don't know many people. I don't have friends at all, except for my wife. I'm one of those introverts who can function extrovertedly if needed, but really prefer not to. When recently asked for professional references.... I couldn't think of any outside my current bosses.
So, what should I be focusing on to move out of this "job" and into a "career"? My college is pushing more and more LinkedIn. Reading online, I feel like maybe my resume needs to be redone again. My own internal assessment of my failings say that maybe I need to network, but I don't even begin to know how to do that.
What's your take? What would you all recommend I work on to improve my chances?

Hello everyone,
I'm reaching out to this community for guidance and mentorship as I navigate my way back into the LiDAR engineering field. After being laid off 9 months ago, I've taken some time to reflect on my career and realized that I need to build a stronger foundation to achieve my long-term goals. With that in mind, I'm looking to restart my career as an engineer, specifically focusing on LiDAR systems.
Here's a bit about my background:
Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Geospatial Data Analysis and Remote Sensing applications in Construction (developed algorithms for analyzing point clouds data for quality control/progress tracking purposes, mostly used MATLAB and a little bit of Python, worked mostly with Terrestrial and Mobile Laser Scanning systems)
• B.Sc. in Civil Engineering.

Professional Experience:

• Innovation Manager (Modular Housing Industry): I integrated advanced data analytics into workflows to improve decision-making and operational productivity. I also led projects involving GIS and LiDAR for quality control in modular housing component mapping.
• Project Engineer (Construction): Managed projects involving 3D model coordination and VDC strategies using advanced geospatial tools.
• Graduate Research Assistant: Developed a groundbreaking LiDAR-based compliance-checking algorithm and implemented advanced LiDAR scanning technologies for construction quality control.

Skills:

• Proficiency in geospatial software such as ArcGIS and BIM.
• Experience with MATLAB and Python from my graduate studies.
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership abilities.

While my recent roles have been less coding-intensive, I have maintained a solid understanding of programming through MATLAB and Python. I am keen on enhancing these skills to better align with the technical demands of LiDAR engineering positions.
My Goals:

1. Re-enter the field as a LiDAR Systems Engineer or a related role.
2. Strengthen my technical skills in LiDAR technology and programming.
3. Gain insights from experienced professionals in the industry.

How You Can Help:

• Mentorship: I would greatly appreciate any advice or mentorship on how to effectively transition back into a technical engineering role within the LiDAR field.
• Resources: Recommendations on courses, certifications, or learning materials to refresh and advance my skills in LiDAR and related technologies.
• Job Search Tips: Guidance on how to tailor my resume and cover letters for LiDAR engineering roles, and any job search strategies that could be effective.

Thank you in advance for your support and advice. I'm eager to learn and grow in this field and appreciate any help this community can provide.

Hi all. I’m new to any sort of weight loss medication or any RX’s in general that aren’t short term anti biotics or anti virals. I just wanted to rant and share my woes or confusions. I’m nearly 250 pounds and 22 years old. I have PCOS. My BMI is over 40. was on a waiting list to be assessed for weight loss medication when I lived in Canada for over a year. In that time the doctor (in canada) gave me a weight management plan in the meantime. I moved to the states and was referred to their healthiness program on May 30th. Nurse practioner said I was most likely to be covered and gave me a month supply of 0.25 mg. I’m on my second dose now (lost quite a bit of weight / water weight awful nausea and vomitting the second dose but i digress), last week I got a message in my chart saying my pre authorization was approved. On Friday I got a call saying it was denied and that the insurance company would give me a reasoning as to why via letter. Come to find out the nurse said no to the question “has patinent tried a program before for at least three months” I told her I did. She asked me the following questions and I gave her the following answers: 1. Name of weight loss program if there was one “Weight loss management” 2. What diet you followed and how many months. April 2023- present low calories carb tracking , mediterranean and anti inflammatory diet 3. What kind of excersize and how was it tracked. 10,000 daily steps, 3-5x a week moderate to intense excerise lots of running and strength training tracked via apple watch 4. how much weight loss? 8 pounds since April 2023.
She said there is still a chance I can be denied and we will discuss compounded medications if so. I’m really nervous I’ll be denied and a bit frustrated the reason why I was denied is because she said no. I’m worried my answers won’t be sufficient. Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated.

Hi there! I'm a recent graduate (22 M) with a BSc in Automotive Engineering, living in Europe. During my studies, I completed a couple of internships with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. My first internship involved business analytics, and during my second role, I managed a small team of junior developers delivering simple digitalization projects for internal departments. Currently, I'm developing my skills as a systems/requirements engineer for ECUs at a prestigious OEM. However, I would like to develop vertically rather than horizontally, with the goal of becoming a Project Manager, Functional Owner, or Team Leader. To that end, I have applied for a Master's program in Management, as I find I have strong soft skills and a less technical engineering mindset.
Do you have any recommendations on how to accelerate my career towards that goal? How to climb that corporate Automotive ladder in a most efficient way? What should I focus on understanding better? Product life cycle? The complete path from requirements elicitation to the final steps of software testing? ASPICE? ISO 26262? Should I obtain a PMP certification? How deeply do I need to dive into the technical side of automotive product development? Perhaps you can recommend some good books related to this topic.
P.S. Sorry for my bad English, it is not my native language :)

This week’s vintage batch features European FPs from the 1930s-50s, most of which are piston fillers. Nibs range from a springy to Wet Noodle, including one dip-pen nib retrofit. As always, all are fully restored and ready to write.
 
ALBUM & TIMESTAMP
 
Pastable link: https://imgur.com/a/QtB5ctS
 
Condition (n.b.): All pens listed below have been disassembled, cleaned and restored with new sacs installed in the last couple weeks and seals installed in the last couple years. Each of these pens is guaranteed to fill and write as designed without leaks or other problems. Nibs have been adjusted when necessary to ensure that all lay down a smooth and consistent line.
THESE PENS HAVE NO CRACKS (except #3), CHIPS, PERSONALIZATIONS, LOOSE OR MISSING PARTS, BENT NIBS, MISALIGNED TINES, BROKEN/WORN OFF TIPPING, OR THREADING ISSUES.
 
Line Widths and Writing Samples: To provide buyers with as much information as possible, I have adopted the following line width standards: XXF (.1-.2mm); XF (approx .3mm); F (approx .4mm); M (approx .6mm); B (approx .8mm). Nib flexibility is determined by variation (max line width under pressure) and softness (amount of pressure). Flexibility designations based on variation generally run as follows for an XF/F nib: Semi-Flex (approx. 1mm); Flex (1.2-1.9mm); Superflex (2mm+). All line width measurements are taken with a digital caliper but should be considered approximations providing a general guide. Width may vary slightly depending on type of ink and paper used as well as amount of pressure applied. All writing samples are on Rhodia dot paper using Waterman Serenity Blue.
 
 
1. 1950s Pelikan 400 (Tortoise, celluloid, GPT, piston filler, 14k KM [F/M Ball] nib). This standard-sized model measures 4 15/16” capped. I assume that the Pelikan pen company requires no introduction here :) This is an example of one of Pelikan’s most celebrated vintage pens in tortoiseshell celluloid with transparent striations for viewing the ink level. Classic gold-plated cap band and Pelikan-beak clip. Two-chick Pelikan logo stamped in captop (see DETAIL PHOTO). This pen is a piston filler: to fill simply rotate the blind cap counter-clockwise until the piston is fully extended, submerse the nib, and rotate the piston clockwise until it comes to a stop. Blind cap is stamped KM, corresponding to the ‘M’ marking on the 14k Pelikan nib. The ‘’K’ is for ‘Kugel’ (‘ball), designating this nib as a ball nib, the tipping finished to give it a wider sweet spot for smooth writing at a wide range of angles. Though I wouldn’t call it a flex nib, it does have a springiness and buttery smoothness that’s quite nice. It lays down a smooth and consistent F/M line by the standards above (see WRITING SAMPLE). Condition: fine [C]. I’d describe this pen as more of a user. It’s been fully restored with a new seal and is guaranteed to fill smoothly to factory capacity without leaks. However, there’s an issue with the piston while unscrewing the blind cap all the way that makes the blind cap want to lift up and disengage when the piston is close to fully extended. The solution to this is simple enough: apply a little downward pressure to the piston when unscrewing the blind cap to extend the piston and it works just as it should every time (100% reliable). This has been factored into the price all the same. Barrel transparency is near mint with light yellow coloration and no staining (see DETAIL PHOTO). Gold-plated trim shows brassing to the bottom of the clip and a sliver around the bottom edge of the cap band as well as some nicks to the top edge of the clip tassie. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. Manufacturer imprints are deep and fully legible. A chance to own one of these with superb clarity at less than half the price they fetch on merchant websites. Price: $190
 
2. 1939-44 Pelikan 100 Wartime (green Binde, celluloid, NPT, piston filler, chromium nickel [CN] steel Oblique F/M-XF Flex nib). This standard-sized model measures 4 5/8” capped. During the material restrictions of WWII, Pelikan made several, short-lived changes to the 100. In place of 14k nibs they implemented Chromium-Nickel steel nibs marked CN. The gold-plated clip was supplanted by nickel-plated (so-called "reverse trim"). And the gold-plated cap bands gave way to no cap bands at all, the cap being either smooth or milled with decorative bands like this example. This wartime model is 100% original and correct, having all these features, including the original nib. It is made of celluloid with a vibrant green marble Binde. Pelikan two-chick logo stamped on the cap top (see DETAIL PHOTO). Barrel underneath is a transparent green for viewing the ink level. This pen is a piston filler: to fill simply rotate the blind cap counter-clockwise until the piston is fully extended, submerse the nib, and rotate the piston clockwise until it comes to a stop. The Pelikan CN nib is a Left-Foot Oblique (iridium is ground in a shape like your left foot viewed from above). Under normal pressure it lays down a smooth and consistent F/M on the cross-strokes and XF line on the down-strokes. And the line widens to a 3B+ (approx 1.9mm) under moderate pressure (see WRITING SAMPLE). Versatile variation and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it a great choice for shaded writing and expressive styles. And the tipping was smoothed by Rick Propas when this pen was restored, making it just as buttery smooth as a Pelikan 14k nib. Condition: near mint [B+]. This pen comes from my personal collection and is the result of hunting the best example I could find. Wartime 100s are rare and this one, which resembles an artifact from a time-capsule, took me decades to track down. Nickel-plated trim is pristine with no brassing or other notable wear. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other noteworthy blemishes. Barrel clarity is superb with no discernible darkening or staining (see DETAIL PHOTO). Manufacturer imprints on the captop are factory deep and even contain most of their original green fill. The only hiccup is that despite being restored 2 years ago by Rick Propas and only being filled 1-2 times since, this pen only fills to half capacity. And this despite the piston operating as smooth as they come. I’ve regreased the pen, but it hasn’t seemed to make a difference. Because this pen is more off a collector-oriented find, I’ve decided to list it anyway. You’d be hard pressed to find another example of this rare piece of Pelikan history in better cosmetic condition. Price: $450
 
3. 1930s Luxor Visible 5907 (red and translucent web celluloid, NPT, piston filler, 14k Two-Tone XF Super-Flex nib). At 4 7/8" capped, this pen roughly the same length as a Pelikan. Luxor was a German brand of the Hebborn pen company, founded in 1925 by former Kaweco employee Heinrich Hebborn and located in Heidelberg until relocating to Cologne sometime before 1937. In Richard Binder's words: "The company produced pens of high quality, and it was known universally by the name of its signature brand, Luxor, with designs inspired by the aesthetic of ancient Egypt. Sub-brands included Sphinx, Visible, and Grandvisible" (source). The company is credited with having designed the first telescopic piston mechanism, which Montblanc would famously incorporate into its own designs. Despite their high quality, there weren't very many of these pens made and Luxors are especially scarce finds in the US today. This Visible model is made of a stunning red and translucent web celluloid similar to that which Wahl-Eversharp used for the Doric. Unlike the Doric, however, the entire barrel is translucent to show the ink level and piston operation. The cap is also translucent! The celluloid pattern is complemented by nickel-plated clip in an elegant Egyptian motif and triple cap bands with one wider, knurled band. This piston filler holds far more ink than cartridges, converters, and lever fillers of the same size. It is filled by removing the blind cap to reveal the turning knob (see fillers photo), rotating the knob counter-clockwise until the piston is fully extended, submersing the nib, then rotating the knob clockwise until the piston is fully retracted. The pen is equipped with a beautiful 14k two-tone Luxor nib stamped with the pyramidal Luxor trademark. The nib is a Super-Flexible writer, laying down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a 4B+ (approx 2.3mm capped) under light pressure (see WRITING SAMPLE). Thin hairlines, strong snap-back and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it a great choice for calligraphic writing styles such as Copperplate and Spencerian. Condition: excellent+ [B+] aside from a hairline crack in the shank of the nib. The crack can be seen in the photos. It has no effect on the nibs performance or how it writes. And there’s no reason to think it’ll worsen unless the nib and feed are removed and re-installed (something that is only done on vintage pens for repair, not flushing). I’m happy to offer a one-year guarantee (no-questions return for refund) that this crack won’t get any longer. Nickel-plated furniture is remarkably clean, showing no brassing or other notable wear aside from a small spot of brassing on the bottom terminus of the clip. Red color is of an even shade across the cap and barrel. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes – scarcely even any miscroscratches. Barrel clarity is excellent but slightly ambered in comparison to the cap's (see DETAIL PHOTO). Manufacturer imprint on the cap is deep and fully legible. An uncommon and uncommonly eye-catching pen that also happens to be a lovely writer. Price: $290
 
4. 1940s-50s Oversized Stylomine 303 Retrofit (black, celluloid, NPT, accordion filler converted to twist filler, 14k XXF Needlepoint Wet Noodle nib). This oversized pen is massive, having a thick girth that doesn’t fit all the way into the slots of the slotter box and a capped length of 5 3/8.” Stylomine was a Parisian pen company founded shortly after World War I. Streamlined profile, clip, and font of the imprint exude the aesthetics of midcentury design. This pen is made of black celluloid with tapered ends. Nickel-plated trim in a deluxe configuration includes cool spring-loaded clip with a hallmark ‘Y Z’ on the right side. I wasn’t able to track this down, but it’s possible the clip is either sterling silver or silver-plated. In 1940 the company patented an innovative FP filling system comprised of a rubber sac shaped into a bellows and attached to a glass ink cartridge at the end of the barrel (see fillers photo). Referred to as an accordion filler today, the pen was designed to be filled by removing the blindcap and depressing the glass ink cartridge several times until the cartridge fills with ink. Since accordion sacs are no longer being made, I followed David Nishimura’s advice and restored this pen using a standard tubular sac trimmed at both ends. This essentially converted it into a twist filler so that instead of depressing the glass cartridge one twists it a little over 1 full turn to fill the sac as well as 1/3 to 1/2 of the glass cartridge. Thanks to the size of the pen, this retrofitted solution still allows it to hold about as much ink as a typical lever filler (e.g. Waterman 52). This pen came to me nibless. But I was able to find a serendipitous match in a massive 14k, iridium tipped E.S. Johnson #4 nib stamped ‘303’. This number matches the Stylomine model number on the barrel! Like all my dip pen nib retrofits, the nib and feed were modified to guarantee factory fit, flow, and performance, delivering the best of both centuries. That nib yields Flexible variation with Wet Noodle softness, laying down a smooth and consistent XXF line that widens to a 3B+ (approx 1.8mm) under minimal pressure – i.e. anything more than grazing the page (see WRITING SAMPLE). Don’t be fooled by the max line width. Needlepoint hairlines, effortless variation, surgically responsive snap-back, and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it an ideal choice for calligraphic writing styles such as Copperplate and Spencerian. Condition: excellent+ [B+]. Nickel-plated trim shows no brassing or other notable flaws. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes – scarcely even any microscratches. Manufacturer imprint on barrel is deep and fully legible with ‘Made in France’ slightly weakened. Price: $340
 
5. 1930s Big Ben (grey shell, celluloid, NPT, piston filler, 14k XF Flex nib). This standard-sized model measures 5 1/16” capped. Big Ben was a trademark of the Benzion Trading Company of Copenhagen, Denmark. The company was founded in 1933 by Niels Benzion, who had worked for the Wahl-Eversharp. A pen of cosmopolitan origins, the Big Ben has a piston-filler patented in England (hence the cap imprint) while the pen was made in collaboration with H. Hebborn & of Heidelberg, Germany. That is why this pen so closely resembles the Luxor above. This particular example is made of celluloid in a grey shell pattern resembling that of a 2nd-gen Eversharp Doric complemented by nickel-plated clip in an elegant Egyptian motif and triple cap bands with one wider, knurled band, and decorative bands at the ends of the cap and barrel. This piston filler holds far more ink than cartridges, converters, and lever fillers of the same size. It is filled by removing the blind cap to reveal the turning knob (see fillers photo), rotating the knob counter-clockwise until the piston is fully extended, submersing the nib, then rotating the knob clockwise until the piston is fully retracted. Big Bens came with two different 14k nibs depending on when they were made and for what market: a nib stamped ‘Big Ben’ in cursive font; and a nib stamped ‘1st Quality’ in the same distinctive font. This pen is equipped with the latter. That nib is a Flexible writer, laying down a smooth and consistent XF line that widens to a 3B+ (approx 1.9mm) under moderate pressure (see WRITING SAMPLE). Thin hairlines, strong, snap-back, and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it an excellent choice for expressive and shaded writing. Condition: excellent [B]. Barrel transparency is superb with no staining and a yellow coloration (see DETAIL PHOTO). Nickel-plated trim is clean with no brassing or other notable wear aside from a tiny spot at the bottom terminus of the clip visible under a loupe, a couple spots on the lower cap band that have lost some of their original luster, and thinning of the plating on the blind cap’s thin decorative band. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes - scarcely even any microscratches. Manufacturer imprint on cap is deep and fully legible. Price: $330
 
6. 1930s Orion Everlasting 552 in Box with Papers (Black and Bronze, celluloid, GPT, lever filler, 14k XXF/XF Flex nib). This standard-sized model measures 5 1/4” capped. Orion was Danish company (located in Copenhagen) that imported quality pen parts from Germany and England and assemble the pens in Denmark. In 1933 they changed their name to Miller Pen Co., a writing instrument importer that exists to this day. This pen comes in its original factory box with exquisite paperwork (see DETAIL PHOTO). It’s made of the same black and Bronze celluloid Conklin used for the Endura, complemented by gold-plated trim with elegant, Art Deco clip stamped ‘Orion’. Flexible 14k Orion #2 nib lays down a smooth and consistent XXF/XF line that widens to a 3B+ (approx 1.8mm) under moderate pressure (see WRITING SAMPLE. )). Thin hairlines, strong, snap-back, and reliable flow over its full range of flex make it another excellent choice for expressive and shaded writing. Condition: excellent [B]. The only noteworthy flaw on this pen is brassing to the center of the clip over the Orion trademark. Trim is otherwise pristine with no noteworthy flaws. Celluloid surface is smooth and lustrous with no deep scratches or other notable blemishes - scarcely even any microscratches. Manufacturer imprint on barrel is deep and fully legible. Price: $240
 
 
 
Shipping: Pens purchased on the weekend are mailed on Tuesday. Otherwise they are mailed within 2 business days of payment. All pens that do not come with their original boxes are packaged in PVC or thick plastic tubes to protect them in transit. To CONUS locations the following shipping options are available:

• USPS First-Class with tracking for $5 Due to the delivery delays that continue under postmaster general DeJoy, I strongly recommend that the Priority shipping option be chosen. All packages will include full insurance (covered by me). Rest assured that a full refund is guaranteed (issued through Paypal) in the event of a lost parcel and you will not have to wait until I receive a reimbursement from the USPS.
  
• USPS Priority with tracking for $9
  

International Customers: Please contact me for shipping quote if located abroad (delivery confirmation required). (Note: due to the issues stated above, my international shipping options are currently limited. PM for more info). Please do not ask me to commit mail fraud by altering the declared value of a pen for customs. Not only am I registered as a business but shipping insurance is based on declared value.
New York Customers: For tax purposes, I am now required to add an 8% sales tax on any sale made in the state of NY. If your shipping address is in NY state, please let me know before payment to receive an adjusted total. Discounted shipping is included for NY State residents to help defray the extra cost.
Ordering: Pens are placed on hold for the first person to reply to the thread and PM me with firm request to purchase (no chat DMs please). A request with the words “I'd like to purchase [pen number]” would be best to avoid confusion), to which I’ll reply with payment details. Please note that a message inquiring into a price discount does not suffice to place a pen on hold. If I haven't received Paypal payment within 24 hrs after a hold is placed, then pen(s) may become available to the next person.
Payment, & Guarantee: Payment by Paypal only. All pens are guaranteed to be in the condition in which I've described them. If I've missed something objectionable or the filling mechanism is not fully functional, the buyer may contact me up to 7 days after receiving the pen for a full refund (issued once I receive the pen back in the same condition as sold). Buyer must ship the return no later than 2 weeks after it was delivered to receive a refund. I've sold pens online for over a decade. Please check my past listings here as well as on the classifieds and historical sales forums on FPN (username: Estragon) and FPGeeks (popcod) for some of my previous offerings.
 
 
OTHER OPEN LISTINGS

• Superflex Pilot 53R Koi
  
• Vintage Montegrappa Extra Edacoto
  
• Waterman Nurse’s Sets
  
• Off-Catalogue Sheaffer Stubby Balance Lifetime
  
• Psychedelic Bayard Excselsior
  
• Waterman Taperite Citation
  
• Conklin Enduras, Nozac
  

hello i’ve recently just finished my semester of college and would like to take advantage of having a bit more free time! that being said my listening has improved greatly (thank you for your comments on random listening post Rimuroo, Siyasaben, and Smithereens1) but i’ve noticed that my speaking is far behind because i don’t use it as much (my speaking is not at all the level of a beginner but i do so much listening in spanish that it makes sense)
that being said, like the title states, what has been your experience with these programs (or a different one that i didn’t list) and would you recommend it?
i do plan on doing a more trip after graduating and going to a language school but i’d like to sharpen my skills in the meantime! any input helps, thank you so much!!

Hi there. Looks like the last post asking about living in Fresno is from a few years ago, so figured I'd reach out and get a more current opinion.
TL;DR - New grad nurse and chef considering moving to Fresno, wondering about air quality and nice apartments (1/1) with patio/balcony in good neighborhoods with walkability close to parks/markets/cafes/etc. Wondering: What do you like about Fresno? What do you not like about Fresno?
My wife just graduated nursing school, passed the NCLEX, and officially has her license in CA to start working as a nurse. We're looking at moving to Fresno since there seems to be a lot of nursing gigs there. I'm a chef and food writer and thinking of possibly opening a restaurant (would probably start by doing pop ups). We live a pretty simple lifestyle and enjoy farmer markets, art galleries, museums, cafes, parks, canoeing, swimming, and trying new restaurants. Not big drinkers, but I do like sipping on mezcal and dark beer from time to time.
As far as weather goes, we're pretty flexible because we've lived all over the place (PNW, South Korea, FL). I understand that Fresno gets hot, but we've endured intense summers for most of our lives, so that's not really a big deal for us. From what I understand, Fresno's heat is on the drier side, which sounds much easier to live with than the sweltering humidity we've endured in FL and Korea. I am wondering about the air quality in Fresno, though. How often does it get hazy? How would you rate the air quality in general around the area?
What areas/neighborhoods should we look at for apartments? We don't have kids and we're just looking for a simple but nice 1/1 with a patio/balcony in a good neighborhood that's fairly walkable with some cafes, parks, and shops close by.
Any recommendations/tips are greatly appreciated. Cheers and thanks for your help.

This is my first reddit post, and I'm just looking for any insight that someone who has gone through the application process might be able to offer me, either words of encouragement or a reality check. I've always been interested in going to medical school, but recently decided that I'm focusing my efforts on applying to UK schools exclusively. Based on my own lack of knowledge and some doubt that has been cast on me by a few people in the past (the haters), I feel like I'm crazy enough for thinking I am qualified to compete for a seat in grad-entry medicine as an international applicant, so I figured there must be someone with experience as an international applicant who would know more than me, and if i'm qualified given my experience. Every one of my friends here in the USA think I'm a great applicant, but I know that our perspective is far different from anyone who has been through the UK admissions process.
I have a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering through an honors program (3.9 GPA) from a top public school for engineering, and one of the 5 largest schools in the entire country. I also completed traditional 'pre-med' courses alongside the degree (chem, biochem, physiology, etc.). I'm still here doing a master's in biomedical engineering, where my focus is in medical devices and injury biomechanics. In undergrad, I held leadership positions in a few different university organizations (which im sure is irrelevant in applications), and completed a few internships and co-ops outside of school, one of which was with a medical device testing and validation company. I also completed a 2 year capstone project, where I worked with local trauma surgeons to develop a new device for a surgical procedure, where I gained vast experience in medical device regulation and shadowing experience from the surgeons and their residents. As a result of the project, my team obtained a provisional with my name on it (hoping to have a patent completed soon), and I've continued learning a lot about medical device regulation.
The first year of my masters was focused on leading a research project using postmortem human body donors to study automotive impacts for developing safety criteria, where I gained unique experience with human subject instrumentation and testing, as well as vast experience with human dissection and autopsy for post-test injury analysis, and subsequent data analysis and processing. This next year of my masters will be focused on working as a 'research fellow' outside of my classes with a local children's hospital under a pediatric surgeon, where I'll be shadowing various surgeons and OR staff in order to do the beginning stages of background research to create new ideas for pediatric-specific devices and procedures, where I'll mostly be shadowing in different children's hospitals and presenting new ideas/difficulties that surgeons face.
Outside of school, I've gained shadowing experience with surgeons, residents, PAs, PCAs, nurses, and paramedics as ive been trying to create a picture of the entire continuity of care of a patient between different staff, from the moment a patient calls 911, goes through the ER, all the way to discharge. I also have completed roughly 200 hours of volunteering (half of which are in the ICU of a local childrens hospital where I clean toys and hold/feed babies who do not have present guardians to hold them). I have yet to begin studying for the UCAT, but I have the (ambitious) idea that I would score between 2900-3000 based on my diagnostic tests- though I still have about 2 months to begin studying and reviewing. I'm visiting England to take a look at all of the schools I plan on applying to next month, and have connected with at least 2 students in current medicine programs to chat with about their experience while I visit, but I've been unable to get responses from any admissions staff regarding if I meet the standard qualifications for a grad-entry applicant.
I am wondering if anyone out there would have any idea whether this brief summary of the bulk of my relevant experience would make me stand out as an applicant among the extremely competitive international graduate-entry students. I have a really strong passion for research in medicine, and would describe my ideal role as a physician-scientist where I could do bench-to-bedside research, and I think that schools in the UK would offer the best education for me, especially considering that many schools offer study-abroad options, and would surround me with other students who are driven by the same values that I am. Huge thanks to anyone that took the time to read this😁

I've been applying to jobs for about 6 months in preparation for my internship ending (which happened about 2 months ago now). I (23F) have applied to around 100 jobs so far, most entry level and have heard back from probably around 10 and interviewed for 2. I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I graduated about a year and a half ago.
Without sounding too cocky, I know I'm highly qualified. I have several past supervisors who are willing to give me glowing recommendations, I'm hardworking, a quick learner, have a BA and a BS with departmental honors in one of them, was a part of my college's honors program, graduated early with a 3.8 GPA, had past internships at recognizable companies, experience in research in both fields I majored in (both social sciences), etc.
And yet... I can't seem to find a job let alone hear back from anyone. I've even tried using my connections from past internships with dead ends. I applied to my local grocery store and they rejected me right away. I live in a pretty big city but I can't find a job or get many interviews. I'm constantly updating my resume to make it more computer-friendly, always write custom cover letters, and so on.
What am I missing? Has anyone had this experience and gotten out of it? I'm just so frustrated but clearly something isn't working.

I'm in the 4th year of my Ph.D program right now. My advisor in my current Ph.D program wants me to graduate ASAP due to budget issues with my current program. I previously got a Master's at Appalachian State in Experimental Psychology and have reflected on the experience lately (feel free to see my post history on the App State subreddit if you wish to learn about the fiscal details and why I chose the program. Long story short, they offered assistantships, but they didn't waive tuition at all). Since I got next to nothing out of my Ph.D, I'm reflecting on what I got out of my Master's in Experimental Psychology.
I entered the program in Fall 2018 and graduated in December 2020. I graduated later because I had to rewrite my thesis due to COVID won't be something I'll pin on my department at all. No one could predict the outcomes of COVID so it is what is there.
Anyway, I enter the program and my advising is minimal to none. My advisor read my drafts and things I sent him, but he wasn't really paying attention to whether I kept up on what I needed to do to gain admission to a Ph.D program in Experimental/Cognitive Psychology. Those topics were only really broached if I asked him. Furthermore, when I asked him if I could reach out to any of his previous students, he told me he was only still in touch with just one of this students. So, my networking opportunities and branching out professionally were next to none. Many others I knew in Experimental programs (or a rough equivalent) had advisors who had connections. The program director and my advisor had no such connections. I also didn't get any relevant work experience over the first summer of my Master's either nor did I bump up my GRE scores to be competitive for a Ph.D program when I should've gone above the 60th percentile for all of them. My GPA was also apparently too low.
I had a low GPA for a Master's (3.48 and I even took one non Psychology course) due to a bad first year I had largely due to untreated dental issues (I had to get two root canals and even took finals at one point with dead teeth). Fortunately, my advisor and program director's letters of recommendation backed me up on that issue. I even got a C+ in core course, which thankfully counted for credit in this case and I still graduated in my case.
Furthermore, someone who was a valedictorian in her undergrad and had solid lab experience prior to the program (she even turned down a clinical program for the one at App State) never completed the program due to constant disputes with her advisor and advisor retaliating to an extent by not signing anything. She worked an outside job as well to pay tuition and hid it for a while until she got caught working by faculty and was told to not do so despite working on multiple research projects and was instructor of record for a whole class. She also had all As and one B.
I often never learned things were a problem until they were too late as well. For example, I didn't know that working on other research projects was essential to show independent skills a Ph.D program would want. My advisor also openly said he never read those end of semester summaries, which would've helped him steer me accordingly.
You may be wondering why I didn't broach topics that may have been a concern. I didn't because I wasn't even sure what was a red flag and what wasn't throughout the program. All I knew is that someone who had low grades in their bachelor's had to get a Master's to be competitive for a Ph.D program. In other words, I thought completing the degree was all it took. I had no idea of how many other things I had to pick up.
I will say that I had a feeling something was up when the second year of the program came along and I was the only one with just a 10 hour assistantship. I'll never forget when someone came up to me and went, "Do you have an assistantship with [advisor's name]?" I replied, "Yeah." Their reply, "Well, at least you have that?" There was a 1 credit hour non mandatory TA class that was required for students to become a TA the following academic year. Everyone other than me took it (even the ones who weren't sure if they wanted to TA or not) because I was under the impression I'd have to teach a whole class. Turns out that wasn't the case and many of them did once a week lectures for lab components of a regular course, which I'm confident I could've done in hindsight. Doing so also meant a high enough stipend to where I wouldn't have had to borrow from my parents at the time. I will admit that part of it came from the autistic urge to keep things similar too (I am clinically diagnosed autistic) and not change too much.
Towards the end, my advisor was told to give feedback from the committee to me that Ph.D programs are "trial by fire" and that things would change. Especially with advisors and that "sometimes they're a colleague, sometimes they're a co author, other times you don't know." I was also told to have short, concise presentations as well. I should note that I got a B and B+ in both Spring seminars (1 credit hour once a week courses) because I got Cs on presentations both years. I had the lowest grades on those. I wanted to improve on those but I was seemingly marked down for every little thing.
For what it's worth, I got a poster for a conference out of the experience in 2019 (even if I could in 2020, those conferences were shut down due to COVID).
I realize some of this is on me, but here we are now. There was a general psychology (not experimental) MS degree that gave me full funding that I turned down and was next in line for funding from the Cognitive and Social Processes program at Ball State (program no longer exists). I wish I went to one of those two programs instead! I realize now that Master's to Ph.D admission isn't so much about the speciality as it is the thesis and the quality of it. It stunk a ton and I'd recommend applying to Towson or other similar programs with more funding.

I'm already pretty easily identifiable (IF YK ME IRL NO U DON'T!!!!) so this'll probably be my last post before I switch to another account, but posting this in case this helps anyone bc ik I had really low confidence going in! Keep your chin up, you never know what might happen c:
Demographics

• Gender: F
• Race/Ethnicity: East Asian
• Residence: Bay Area
• Income Bracket: too high to qual for any fin aid LMAO
• Type of School: public, competitive, ~500/class
• Hooks (Recruited Athlete, URM, First-Gen, Geographic, Legacy, etc.): None

Intended Major(s): Computer Science for all public schools + a few privates, interdisciplinary but focusing on CS for the rest of the privates (like Humanities & Engineering for MIT) cuz my essays all focused on intersections between CS & humanity anyways
Academics

• GPA (UW/W): 4.0
• Rank (or percentile): N/A
• # of Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/etc.: 12 tests reported (by the end of senior year), 6 taken by the start of senior year
• Senior Year Course Load: AVID tutor, Journalism, AP US Gov & AP Microeconomics (1 sem each), AP Physics C: Mech + E&M (1 sem each), AP Stats, Alg 1 TA (he was my AP CS teacher), AP Lit

Standardized Testing
List the highest scores earned and all scores that were reported.

• ACT: 35, reported everywhere
• SAT: 1550 superscore, didn't report
• AP (all 5s): Chinese, Psychology, Calc BC, Chem, Phys 1, CS A

Extracurriculars/Activities
I don't want to be too easily identifiable, so I'll leave some of these very vague or combined. Others are directly copied lmao

1. Game jam! (lead host since 11th, 501(c)(3)): Negotiated sponsorships ($100,000+ in prizes), recruited 1500+ participants & 30+ judges from 70+ countries, made websites, led team for 5 game jams
2. School's game dev club :D (pres since 11th): increased member retention, made lessons, etc.
3. Competitive programming (club (VP) & my own stuff)
4. Game developer (indie studio & my own stuff)
5. Journalism (editor-in-chief in 12th)
6. Research (Junior -> senior year summer. I barely did anything)
7. COSMOS (game dev cluster in 10th)
8. Sports med (only submitted to MIT, as my 4th activity): interned under our athletic trainer since 11th, helped act as her substitute in the beginning of 12th when we had no AT

Awards/Honors
List all awards and honors submitted on your application.

1. PVSA Gold (this was won through the game jam stuff)
2. National Scholastic Press Association 1st place (won't mention which category cuz that's too easily doxxable) <- I think this one wasn't won until after I submitted EAs
3. USACO gold
4. NSPA again! 3rd place this time
5. MVP/league award in volleyball

Letters of Recommendation
Soph. year lit teacher: 10/10, she literally gave me my Common App idea. Love her so much Soph. year physics teacher: 8.5/10, I think he's really nice but I definitely wasn't as close to him as I was my lit teacher so I'm not sure about his rec letter.
Principal (acted as my counselor LoR): 6/10, she didn't really know me well and probably wrote something generic. But she did choose me (and like 50 others) out of our class so that might mean something?
Art teacher: I'm guessing 11/10 because I got into every school his rec letter was sent to. (UCSB CCS, MIT, UPenn)
Interviews
My MIT one sucked LMAO. Interviewer was probably annoyed with me (I basically begged her to stay overtime so I could show her a puzzlehunt puzzle) and I forgot to mention an important activity.
Northwestern and Cornell were really good, both were really informal. NW, he asked me a bunch of stuff about high school (he was deciding which one to send his daughter to) and expressed admiration about some of the stuff I did/my "professionalism"(?) overall. My interview was the first one my Cornell interviewer did and he stayed WAY overtime. On Valentine's day too. Super cool guy. They were really sweet! Spoiler alert I was rejected from both lol.
Everything else was pretty average.
Essays
Common App was about empathy (I trauma dumped 4 times) & how it got me into game dev. Why us/major was about my research (it's the perfect intersection between CS & humanity; I always wrote that I loved both, even if I was applying CS), community about game development/my game jams, leadership about journalism (that one time our advisor blocked the publishing of an issue bc it depicted tampons lmao).
Added a few quirky things to some of my applications (mainly the private schools), like electing my cat for president or an attempt at an emoji or some random stuff like that.
I spent my summer writing CA & UCs, then refined them later. I put in a bunch of effort for EAs, then burned out after my REA rejection and dropped a lot of RD schools lmao :') some of my RD essays I felt like I threw but they were almost all reused.
Decisions (indicate ED/EA/REA/SCEA/RD)
Acceptances:
CS majors:

• Northeastern (RD) -- 1 semester abroad
• Georgia Tech (EA)
• UMaryland (EA)
• UMich (EA)
• UWisconsin-Madison (EA)
• Purdue (EA) -- accidentally applied CE instead of CS so I got accepted into engineering
• ASU (pretty early on)
• UC Santa Barbara College of Creative Studies
• UC Santa Cruz
• UC Davis
• UC Irvine
• UC Santa Barbara
• University of Toronto (RD)
• California State University San Francisco -- after I got rejected from Cal Poly SLO, they automatically redirected my application here

Non-CS majors (felt that interdisciplinary majors were more suited to my profile, and I'm more interested in them anyways :)):

• MIT (RD)
• UPenn (RD)
• Waterloo (RD) -- technically applied CS & Software Engineering, got the latter but not the former (was offered Math Honours instead of CS)

Waitlists:

• UC Berkeley -- applied CS so I don't think I'm getting in

No deferrals! :) (other than USC bc they don't reject EA)
Rejections:
CS majors:

• Cornell (RD)
• Stanford (REA)
• Northwestern (RD)
• Columbia (RD)
• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (RD)
• UC Los Angeles
• UC San Diego
• University of Washington
• UT Austin (EA)
• UIUC (EA)
• University of Southern California (EA)
• UNC Chapel Hill (EA)

Interdisciplinary majors (all "create your own" majors unless otherwise specified):

• Yale (RD) -- CS & Psychology
• CMU (RD) -- BCSA
• Duke (RD)
• Caltech (RD)

Additional Information: Had a few extra activities & links to some of my games. I also submitted a portfolio to every school that would take one.
Wanted to post just to say that college apps are hella random! Good luck to all the juniors & below :DDD you can ask me anything & I'd love to give advice (survivor bias though...) but I'll be off this account in ~a few weeks just cuz it's got so much doxxable info on it (again if yk who I am no you don't!! please 😭).
Super grateful that I was given the chance to be among such cool people at MIT, will be heading there in the fall (though I also loved GT!) <3

I see a lot of posts where people assume failure if they only make it to their state school. This is simply not reality.

• Most people go to state school. There are exponentially more people graduating from state schools than from the T20 - just look at the small class sizes for most of them. These will be the vast majority of people you end up working with.
  
• Most people cannot afford the T20. Unless you are rich or poor, these simply aren't an option for most people.
  
• Undergraduate doesn't have to be your last degree. You can be a prestige whore for grad school, where you'll only need to pay for 1 or 2 years of outrageous tuition.
  
• Graduate schools don't care that you went to state school. They only care how you performed. It can be a lot easier to stand out at State U then at HYPSM. This means good recommendation letters from professors, along with better grades with (generally) less effort.
  

I will give you a few success stories, of course anecdotal yet clearly not out of the ordinary.
First is my brother, who started as an honor roll student at a Big 10 university (not Michigan or Northwestern). By his junior year he was failing out and withdrew. After working for a couple years in telecommunications, he was laid off. He enrolled at Excelsior in New York (remote) and took exams to knock out credits to complete his undergrad in general studies or some other worthless major.
He used Petersons.com to find graduate programs at top universities with high acceptance rates. A couple examples would be Yale forestry (back then ~70%) or Harvard MPA (generally ~50%). While he was rejected from most programs, he received an offer from Rice University and eventually completed his Masters from there. He now makes $250k/year in Houston.
Second is my friend's son who recently attended Texas A&M. He majored in logistics through the business school and graduated with a 4.0. This sounds impossible, but there are two key points here. 1- Texas A&M doesn't have +/- grades, so a 90 is an A, and 2- his major was in the business school. Before graduating he applied for the MIT scholarship MIT Supply Chain Excellence Awards - SCM. He was one of 5 from Texas A&M that year to win the scholarship award, and will be attending MIT for graduate school next year.
Third is myself, who started at a Big 10 university with a 3.0 by the end of Freshman year. By junior year I had lost a lot of money on the stock market and had to work full time. After a two year break from school I went to community college at night before enrolling at the same Big 10 uni. I worked my tail off and ended up with a 3.9 in my last 60 semester hours. After a couple years of (voluntary) unemployment I somehow got a job at an investment bank, doing trade related support. I got them to pay for Stanford graduate classes through the SCPD (Stanford center for professional development). After 6 classes and a 4.0, I stopped due to my company not being a member company with Stanford. I enrolled in a third rate MBA and quickly finished the degree.
Years later, after the pandemic, I finally got around to applying to graduate programs. I was accepted to Berkeley (MIDS/data science), Penn (MCIT), and NYU (Tandon/Cybersecurity). The combination of my last 60 hours grades and the 4.0 in graduate school seemed to make a big difference. I never thought I could get accepted into schools like this with my crappy first few years GPA, but it's how you finish, not how you start.
TLDR: don't worry if you didn't make it in to a T20. Just do the best you can at your state school. If you get excellent grades, even if not until your last 2 years, you can still make it into a top graduate school!

Hey everyone! Exciting news for future nurses!
I wanted to share an awesome resource I’ve found for NCLEX prep that’s been super helpful for me and my peers. If you haven’t already checked out Archer Review, you definitely should. They have a lot of different products and test banks that mirror the Next Gen NCLEX structure.
What I love about Archer Review is that it's really interactive with videos, test banks, live reviews, and it tracks your progress. It was recommended to me by 2023 new grad nurses, and most of my peers and I are using it now. My friend, who graduated cum laude, realized too late that having the right resources makes all the difference.
Use code COMBO30 to get a discount on their SurePass Combo. It’s not as expensive as some other resources out there and has been really conducive to success.
If you need more info, click the link below. Let’s all ace this exam together! 💪🏾🎉
🔗https://nurses.archerreview.com/nclex-rn/sure-pass?ref=ytmxnwi
Good luck everyone!

I just got a rejection notice because I simply left Part 1 Item 5&6 blank unchecked.
Also refer to other previous reddits:
https://www.reddit.com/USCIS/comments/1c503mc/i140_petition_was_returned_after_adding_asylum/
https://www.reddit.com/USCIS/comments/1brieg6/do_i140_petitions_of_eb2niw_and_eb1a_pay_asylum/
https://www.reddit.com/EB2_NIW/comments/1cnypri/hi_guys_i_am_resubmitting_my_petition_after_it/
I just want to make sure that EB2 NIW self-petitioners should mark I-140 (new form as of 2024 April) Part 1. Item 5 and 6. correctly. That is, EB2 NIW self-petitioners are considered 'NOT a non-profit organization or a governmental research organization' (so NO to Item 5) and 'to employ 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees' (We employ zero, so YES to Item 6).
I know that both questions are quite confusing....as it's tempting to leave both as blank. I'm not an employer nor an organization. But I guess this is more about how to classify self-petitioners as 'discounted' asylum fee payer.
This is confusing but clearly mentioned in the official USCIS guidance.
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-uscis-fee-rule
Employment-Based Forms and Fees
Q. Do self-petitioners also pay the Asylum Program Fee, and, if so, do they pay the full amount of $600?
A. An individual self-petitioner would pay the reduced Asylum Program Fee of $300 when filing Form I-140 as an EB-1A noncitizen of extraordinary ability or as an EB-2 with national interest waiver. On Form I-140, such self-petitioners must select Yes in Part 1, Question 6, to indicate that they currently employ a total of 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
When an individual beneficiary of a Form I-129 or Form 1-140 petition is a part or sole owner of the petitioning entity, then the Asylum Program Fee depends on the petitioning entity’s number of employees and nonprofit status, as is the case for any petitioning entity or individual.
On Form I-140, select Yes in Part 1, Question 6, if you currently employ a total of 25 or fewer full-time employees. Select Yes in Part 1, Question 5, if you are a nonprofit organization.
On Form I-129, select Yes in Part 5, Question 15, if you currently employ a total of 25 or fewer full-time employees. Select Yes in Part 1, Question 6, if you are a nonprofit organization.
Btw it is recommended to send checks rather than using credit cards with G-1450 because sometimes credit card transactions can be denied (banks/card companies think it's a fraud) and your application would be rejected. This can be also found in other reddits.
For my new package, I sent two checks: one for I-140 form fee ($715) and the other for I-140 asylum fee ($300 for EB2 NIW).
Also, I knew that I f****d up with the asylum fee right after I sent the application and just sent another one before I got the first (rejected) application back today. The rejected package includes a green letter that USCIS sent, which says the green letter should be included in the new package, which I obviously didn't.
Will this be a problem? I just sent the new package anyway because I also found that I made a typo on my own birthday :(

Hi,
I graduated with a degree in English language teaching, but I don't plan to pursue a career in teaching. Here are the options I'm considering so far:

1. Game Design and Development

I’ve taken game design courses in the past and designed games, which I really enjoyed. I have a strong interest in game design but currently lack knowledge of the development aspect. I am considering enrolling in a master’s program related to game design and development. From what I’ve researched, there are master’s programs available in this area that do not require a related bachelor’s degree.

1. Foreign Trade Specialist

This profession was recommended to me by an acquaintance who mentioned there are many positions available in my city. He suggested taking the necessary courses from the Chamber of Commerce. He said that after I completed the necessary courses, I could easily get a job. However, it seems that most foreign trade specialist positions in my city require a bachelor’s degree related to this field and at least B2 level proficiency in a foreign language other than English. Therefore, I need to learn another foreign language and possibly obtain a master’s degree in this field to improve my job prospects.

1. Translation and Interpretation

To become a certified translator or interpreter in my country, I need to pass notary exams. However, I am concerned about the long-term viability of this profession due to the increasing capabilities of AI in translation.

1. Getting a Job in the IT Sector

In my mind, I am also considering enrolling in a Master’s program in Management Information Systems (MIS) and developing my technical skills to secure a job in the IT sector. So far, without having developed a background in this field, I am unsure of how feasible this option is. I have also heard that the demand for junior developers is very low in my country. Nonetheless, there are many other positions that MIS graduates can fill.

Hi everyone,
I'm currently a sophomore looking to transfer and need advice on choosing between three offers: Ohio State University for CIS, Purdue University for CET, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities for CS (BA).
Post-graduation Goals:

• Interested in both employment and pursuing a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
• Plan to graduate in two years, so flexibility in course selection, manageable course load, and strong research resources are important factors.

School Considerations:

1. Ohio State University (OSU)
   • Pros: Good overall reputation and ranking, nice urban environment.
   • Cons: CS and HCI strengths are average.
2. Purdue University
   • Pros: Excellent school ranking, strong reputation and ranking in CS.
   • Cons: Few transferable credits, CET focuses on hardware, which doesn’t align with my interest in HCI research.
3. University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMN)
   • Pros: Good CS program, strong HCI research resources.
   • Cons: Slightly lower overall ranking compared to OSU and Purdue.

Any insights or recommendations based on these factors would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,
I (international student living in Canada), just graduated with a bachelor in Marketing last May, and now in a very tough decision between 2 career opportunities that I’d like to listen to your inputs.
A bit about me: Right after graduating from Marketing major, I started working as a Performance marketer (Google/FB) in a small local marketing agency (< 10 head counts). My clients are also small local businesses. So I learn a lot about performance marketing (Self-learning honestly) and small agency operation from my current work. After a year of working here (and got a raised from $50 to $60k), I feel the need to explore further career opportunities, maybe learning from bigger and more established organizations. I like the creative sides of marketing, but I am actually better and tend to enjoy looking at the data and numbers a bit more. My ultimate career goal though, is to build some sort of business (Agency, B2C, B2B etc) for my own.
First opportunity: After 4 months of applying (Feb till May), I finally got an offer. It’s a marketing coordinator position (But the title is marketing specialist) for a B2C E-learning company with $70k/year salary.

• The pros:
  • Salary increase
  • I get to work with 1 brand only, so not at the mercy of clients like when I am on agency side
  • The company is bigger with different marketing teams, so I might learn a more structured ways of doing things.
  • I got to move from working with small local services clients to a bigger, internet-based, more scalable business. While the company is not known by everybody, it is quite popular within its own niche.
• The cons (Maybe)
  • The role is marketing coordinatospecialist for a brand. So I’ll be doing everything from writing email and creative briefs to coordinating video shoots and testimonials. I don’t hate these at all, but also I am not sure if I love or am good at these (Especially the writing part). I am not sure how I feel about moving from a more specialized job (Paid Ads) to a more general role.

Since it’s still a new job opportunity, I decided to take the job right away. NOW HERE'S THE CURVE BALL
🤯 One day right after I signed the contract, a (somewhat) new opportunity arises.
Second opportunity: In February 2024, I applied for a rotational marketing program and got in. The program stated that the start date is July 1st. However, after that congratulations email in Feb, from Feb till May, even though I reached out via email 2-3 times, they did not respond back to me regarding the program next steps or any details. Hence, I decided to continue my life as if the opportunity didn’t exist.
Righttttt after I signed the contract with the first opportunity, guess what, the rotational program got back to me last Friday, Jun 7, stating that the program will start on July 1st.
About this program: The program will allow me to work as intern (even though the title is “specialist”) at 3 different companies in 1 year (Each company I will work for 4 months).

• The pros:
  • I get to work at 3 big brand names. They are all well-known companies nation wide so great to have on my resume at an early stage in my career!
  • I get to work different positions. The program is not super structured. So I can tell my manager at each company that I’d like to explore different things, and they might be able to help. So I can potentially do marketing analytics, product marketing, etc. things that I always want to explore
  • The biggest pros is the network. Working at these big companies would allow me to know so many more people at the top of the industries in these companies. Past program participants told me that the mentors in the program are current Heads of these companies, and very well-known in the industry. They can help me to get all the right connections that I need to kickstart my career. I've talked with 2 Heads in my interview to get into the program. And I know that I can learn a lot from them.
• The cons
  • While the intern salary is low (56k), the biggest cons is the fact that the workplace is ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY. So if I take this, basically I’ll have to uproot my entire life here, find a new place and move across the country to an entirely new city in just 3 weeks, with no preparation on both ends.
  • I am currently sharing a 1 year lease in a place with my boyfriend. The apartment is small but we both love it. If I move, we’ll have to break the lease, my bf might have to move elsewhere since he can't afford the apartment himself (I also recommend that worst case scenario I can pay part of my rent even though I don’t live there so we don’t lose the place and they won’t have to move out)
  • Another thing is my status here in Canada. With how things change recently, in order for me to stay long term here, I will need to acquire permanent resident status within the next 2 years (Until 2026). My bf and I are planning to do a common law sponsorship, in which a critical criterion is we’ll have to physically share a place together for minimum 1 year until February 2025. (A back up plan would be for me to learn and be fluent in French within 1-1.5 year, with absolute 0 French knowledge, which I heard is very hard to accomplish to learn a new language to that level within a year). If I move across the country now, I would lose the common law option, and have only 1 option of learning French left. If I take the first opportunity, then I can stay with my bf, and get a permanent status in 1-2 years.

Overall, the second opportunity is a great opportunity if it had not been for the timing now. I am really contemplating between the 2 opportunities, and I would love to listen to your thoughts!
Thank you so much in advance

Aspiring Major: Mechanical Engineering
Demographics: White, Out-Of-State, Mid-Low Income ● Hooks: First-Gen, ROTC, Underrepresented State, Rural Resident, <50% Race at School
Stats: - 11 APs: Psych, Seminar, Lang, Push, World, Physics, Lit, Calc BC, CSP, Research (Capstone), American Gov (Possible Self-Study PreCalc, Stats, CSA to make 14, or 15 w/ Physics CMech) by graduation - 3 CCs: Elementary Spanish I, PreCalc, Stats (Possibly taking INFO#### (PreReQ), Java I w/ AP CSA, CPP I & II to make 7 CCs by graduation) - 12 Honors by graduation - GPA: 3.75UW / 4.5W - PreACT (Freshman): 29Math/30Sci/30Eng/24Read - MAP Math/Read (Freshman): 282/255 - ALEKS Math Placement (Sophomore): 85%
Extracurriculars: - ● Instruments & Composition: - Passionate Multi-Instrumentalist (Drum Set, Piano, Guitar, Cello) and Composer - Wrote, led, and performed a Marimba Duet that won 1st place and an "Outstanding Ensemble" award at local Solo-Ensemble Festival, and a Superior Rating (I) at a District Music Contest, being recognized and commended by judges. - 1x Music Letter (only offered at prior school), Percussion Section Leader, teaching incoming Freshman instruments and nurturing their abilities - Jazz Drummer and Pianist, awarded "Outstanding Solo" on each at State Jazz Festival. Also played guitar and bass guitar in Jazz Band. - Attended, auditioned, and performed at a Jazz Camp at [college], a reputable college with an international jazz program endorsed by many legendary jazz figures/groups such as The Count Basie Jazz Orchestra, Gordan Goodwin's Big Phat Band, and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. - Freelance Musician and Composer for various online projects, primarily in the video game industry. - Music used in two indie films, with one being presented at [state] State Thespian Festival, and winning an award with recognition. - ● TheateMusical: - Inducted Honor Thespian to the National Thespian Society - Played notable supporting roles in Plays and Broadway Musicals, as well as filled tech positions primarily in the design aspect of the production (graphics/publicity, scenery) - Improv Team that competed at State - ● VEX Robotics: - State Finalist Freshman Year - Nationals Runner-Up
Activities: - ● Community: - Speech Campaign: spoke at 6 Schools across the state, 500+ listeners. Posters put up at each, advocating for a break in social norms. Surveyed school and gathered all data for a presentation and medalled at state for an FCCLA STAR Event. - Gave a motivational speech on MLK Day about chasing your dreams that was televised and recognized by the Mayor. - The Pink Lemonade Project: Indie Film+Book project where I created the music as well as designed the videography + video editing, lighting, locations, Characters, and assistance in Story and script writing. This project aimed to expose a local summer camp and the effects of a toxic authoritarian system via abuses and etc. - ● General: - Volunteered at a company that designs, creates, and tests Brewing Machinery internationally - CPR and AED Certified - I intend to commit to the military w/ ROTC Scholarship on a 4-6 year contract following graduation/obtaining desired degree - Non-Competitive Powerlifting, 300 Wilks Score - ● Programming & Roblox: - Self-Taught Luau/Lua5.5+, Python, C/C++, Type/Javascript, Haxeflixel, CSS, very minor html - At the age of 10, I had my own business that operated on Twitter, creating 3D Graphics (via Blender, Photoshop, and After Effects) for individuals and games, such as wallpapers, profile icons, and thumbnails. I then transitioned to a broad spectrum of skills acquired through the passion of game creation on Roblox - Formerly a Lead Developer for an indie game studio known as '[studio]', which was a project known for creating fun games for children, that gathered 1 million group members, and over 75 million game plays through a platform known as Roblox. These games generated a collective $70KUSD over the course of their popularity combined (20% of revenue was cycled back as advertisement funding). Through this community that was developed, we were able to raise over $6.5KUSD to help fund small indie projects from other smaller development groups. - Among many other games I created music for, one in particular is worth noting: 'Doors', amassing 4.9 Billion plays since 2021, has reached the screen of nearly every kid that is playing video games today. - Collaborated with popular online celebrities (YouTube, TikTok) on making games and experiences for their communities, some of which have billions of views and millions of followers. - I am a contributed developer to other popular games and projects with 2.6 Billion collective plays. I fulfilled various roles in these projects, such as game design, Front and Back-End programming (Luau/Lua 5.5+ & Typescript), 3D Artwork/Video Animation (using programs Blender, Photoshop, Premiere Pro/Sony Vegas, and After Effects), Music Design, Character & Object Animation, Architecture, and Voice Acting. Many of these games are a major source of income for the developers involved, such as "My Restaurant!" (of which I did 3D & 2D graphic design for), a game with ~800M plays, created by a studio known as BIG Games, which is the highest grossing development group on the platform. I connected to these groups and Studios through the Roblox Dev Forum, a company known as "Hidden Developers", Twitter, and my personal website. Through these projects, I nurtured my passion to create, and developed several solo passion projects for my own personal enjoyment. - Bug Tested various other games over several years, solving issues for experiences that went on to have hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. I am also a former member of the Official Roblox QA Team (before it was disbanded), which tested upcoming features to the platform. I have since been very active on their Developer Forum, helping all creators (young and old) solve issues and create awesome games. - Although my game development has slowed, I am currently working on a large game that will show the hardship of Schizophrenia and Social Outcasting through intricate storytelling. I intend to release this game on multiple platforms, such as Steam. - Created a Roblox Plug-in that detects Backdoors and vulnerabilities within games, preserving user data and game integrity. This plug-in has been used by nearly 300 developers thus far. - Created my own file syncing program using C++ via Visual Studio Code, that analyzes computer folders for identical information and can delete it or sync data from one folder to another (if not identical). This program has been used by my friends, but I did not publish it online. - Created a Discord Bot with custom commands for the Interbyte Studios Community server (18k members). This application allowed the community to interact and have a recreational token and minigame system for engagement and bonding. This bot was initially created in Python, but was then completely revamped in Javascript via Node.js (with some minor html for some special features.) - Created a customized theme for Canvas and Roblox using the "Stylish" extension, coded in CSS. - Utilizing BetterDiscord, I created my own lock screen for the Discord application to protect my computer from siblings and/or any environment I am working in. This came with a customized theme among other features, such as a built-in Spotify controller (play/pause, skip, and tuning into what others are listening to), and it synced up with my Discord Bot in my own server, allowing me to see the statistics (account age, user ID, etc.), and possible rule infractions of a given user within the community. This was coded in Javascript (Node.js), CSS, and HTML (for embedding purposes). This served to speed up the moderation and disciplinary side of my community, but also improve the efficiency of the Discord application.
Awards & Honor Groups: - x2 Academic Letter, Top PreACT at School - Outstanding Solo-Ensemble Award w/ 1st Place for self-composed, led, and performed Marimba Duet - Superior (1) Rating at District Music Contest for Marimba Duet - x1 Music Letter (only offered at former school) - Outstanding Jazz Soloist Drum Set at State - Outstanding Jazz Soloist Piano at State - Nominated Ambassador of Music (International Program) - All-City Percussion - All-State Jazz & Concert Band Acceptance (Committed to Jazz) - [College w/ International Jazz Program] Jazz Band Performer - State Finalist VEX Robotics (Freshman) - Nationals Runner-Up VEX Robotics (Sophomore) - Honor Thespian
In essays I hope to write about my aspirations to create The Iron Giant and how Robotics is an art. I am also planning to write about how my downfall in Freshman and sophomore years re-shaped the way a school district functions forever, and my recovery and discovery of ambition.
I'd like to know what colleges would accept me (I really want a shot at T30 or so) and what would be good for me. I would also appreciate any and all advice for my resume and what I should do for LORs, or any aspect at all.

(F27) Looking for some advice as a Canadian citizen looking to possibly relocate to the U.S. to work as a new graduate Registered Nurse.
I was born and raised in southern Ontario and currently live in a small town. I love living here but the cost of living is becoming almost impossible to afford to buy a house, start a family, etc.
I was just offered my dream job here in Ontario. It is a full-time position in an area of nursing that I’m passionate about, but it’s not an area where I’ll be using a lot of “hands on” nursing skills.
I have also been offered a position in a nurse residency program in Fort Wayne, Indiana in med-surg. Keep in mind, I’ve never visited Indiana but have visited other states and love the U.S. and have dreamt of living here/working here as an RN once I graduated.
I think the residency program would be great for me as a new graduate, trying to gain some confidence in my nursing skills. I didn’t get any hospital clinicals throughout my RN program so I’m really lacking confidence and critical thinking skills. The hospital also offers relocation assistance, sign on bonus, tuition reimbursement, etc.
Alot of my family and friends have encouraged me to move to the states once I have my RN because of the pay, quality of life, etc. However, I’m really torn because I know it would be a big leap to move out of my comfort zone and walk away from a dream job to an area of uncertainty.
Anyone else been in this situation or have any advice/suggestions?

(F27) Looking for some advice as a Canadian citizen looking to possibly relocate to the U.S. to work as a new graduate Registered Nurse.
I was born and raised in southern Ontario and currently live in a small town. I love living here but the cost of living is becoming almost impossible to afford to buy a house, start a family, etc.
I was just offered my dream job here in Ontario. It is a full-time position in an area of nursing that I’m passionate about, but it’s not an area where I’ll be using a lot of “hands on” nursing skills.
I have also been offered a position in a nurse residency program in Fort Wayne, Indiana in med-surg. Keep in mind, I’ve never visited Indiana but have visited other states and love the U.S. and have dreamt of living here/working here as an RN once I graduated.
I think the residency program would be great for me as a new graduate, trying to gain some confidence in my nursing skills. I didn’t get any hospital clinicals throughout my RN program so I’m really lacking confidence and critical thinking skills. The hospital also offers relocation assistance, sign on bonus, tuition reimbursement, etc.
Alot of my family and friends have encouraged me to move to the states once I have my RN because of the pay, quality of life, etc. However, I’m really torn because I know it would be a big leap to move out of my comfort zone and walk away from a dream job to an area of uncertainty.
Anyone else been in this situation or have any advice/suggestions?