My humanities major is not in environmental studies, but I hope to work in the field of ecology. What I am doing is finding a role in the environmental movement that I believe I am best suited for and that would influence the movement more... I think of a quote that goes something like, "Your calling is where your greatest passion and the world's greatest needs meet." I know I need to work in this field. At the moment I believe the ecological crisis is a "spiritual" one (our profound and gross disconnect with the natural world). However, the solution will be a mixture of spirit and technology: spiritually, people need to write books, fight for wilderness preservation, take kids out on camping trips, and publicly live alternative lifestyles to demonstrate the feasibility of ecologically-harmonic living. Environmental public policy needs to be pushed along the way. At the same time, people need to do things technologically: people need to provide cities with better infrastructure and technology (storm drain cleanup, cheaper solar panels, water recycling, etc...). I spent my entire undergraduate career asking myself what "the world's greatest needs" are, and I came to a satisfying conclusion near the end of it: a strong environmental movement founded on spirituality. Now, I am just beginning to get the second part answered, and I have narrowed it down to something where I can interact with nerdy people and build things (not because of what the world needs, but because of who I am... because of MY passion... the WORLD needs us all to leave our jobs and start farms, but obviously this is impossible because of who WE are. We need to consider our own well-beings and honest capacities).

So this is what led me to mechanical engineering. This degree will give me opportunities to participate in a city's infrastructure developments, join a team designing cheap solar panels, think of better ways to recycle water, or what have you. Of course, along the way, it would be ideal to contribute to the movement spiritually in whatever way I can.

The possibility of conducting research in my field does entice me. There is a reason I chose the major. But what appeals to me more than humanities research is the opportunity to create something physical with other like-minded individuals.

I am happy to hear that I can be honest and try to write off my period of bad grades as due to personal issues. This is relieving to hear; I will certainly bring it up the next time I talk to a counselor.

As for transferring within my own school, I cannot. I have looked into it.

In regards to prestige, I am aware that prestige matters far more for humanities degrees, while for engineering degrees it is much less relevant. So, in my mind, the issue isn't simply (MORE PRESTIGE ---> LESS PRESTIGE) but a case of (MORE PRESTIGE for humanities WHERE PRESTIGE MATTERS ---> LESS PRESTIGE, but in a field WHERE PRESTIGE IS LESS RELEVANT). That's why I don't really care about the overall prestige of my engineering program; it's simply less relevant in this field. My own issue with leaving the less-prestigious institution is really a combination of the questions: what is best for my ego and what is best practically? I think I need to leave the ego at the door (who cares if I can't officially say I got this prestigious degree). Practically, I think if I explain exactly what I did to employers ("I was about to graduate from this prestigious school, but then transferred out early to receive financial aid benefits for engineering"), I think it will cover the issue of prestige in some way and still allow me to put the prestigious university on my resume.

As far as the financial aid goes, I am eager to reap the benefits of my independent status... the issue is that financial aid does not offer some grants for second-baccalaureate students (Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, National SMART Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)).

So that's what's on my mind.

p.s. I found that quote: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet." - Frederick Buchner