Dear Anita

It’s good to have a special soul like you in my life. I applied to three universities: Stockton University, Rowan University and Rutgers University. Stockton University has accepted me and I have been working on financial aid applications with them. For Rutgers University and Rowan University, they are still awaiting my Spring semester classes to make admissions decisions. I have finished most of my classes exams and papers and only have a Chemistry II lab exam and Chemistry II lecture exam this week. There is only three days left of the Spring semester and then summer Physics course runs from May 20th through June 25th. I have prepared my notes for the summer course as well as the two exams coming up this week. I have been talking  to Ocean Crest members that help me with stress. My Ocean County College LGBTQ members help each other study for finals which is very helpful. I am hoping that after my Spring semester grades are sent, I will hear good news from Rutgers University and Rowan University. I think Rutgers University is my main choice because it offers the genetic engineering career I am interested in and there is a cancer research center that I hope to work at. Rowan University is a smaller campus than Rutgers University and offers the same genetic engineering major, but there are lesser lab research places than Rutgers so that is my second choice. As for Stockton University where I’ve already been admitted, I like the natural surroundings and the campus offers a cozy atmosphere. Stockton University is the smallest and they only have one main lab research center on campus, but it’s still pretty cool. The lab at Stockton University is small and doesn’t have many people, but researchers can study DNA molecular structure there. Although Stockton University does not have the genetic engineering degree that I am interested in, their molecular biology degree is similar and the one lab on campus allows students to learn about cells and DNA which is what genetic engineers do. Stockton University says I can enter in as a Molecular Biologist for my undergraduate studies and work in the lab and for my graduate studies transfer my credits to genetic engineering. In addition they have a partnership with Rutgers University, so if I go for Molecular Biology at Stockton University as an undergraduate study, then I can apply to Rutgers University for genetic engineering as my graduate study. It sounds good and I am considering that option, but I still want to see if Rowan University and Rutgers University will accept me so I can jump straight to genetic engineering without having to do a minor degree. Over Spring break (March 19th-25th), I finished some Chemistry II lab reports and my Art History museum presentation. March was a busy month with midterms and college applications, but I managed to get most of my assignments done. I had more exams in April especially in Anatomy/Physiology II and the colleges that I applied to were sending me emails about documents that they needed so I was working on sending them. I took my Art History final, US History III final and Anatomy/Physiology II final May 9th and handed in my US History III paper on the impact of railroads on the economy and Civil War. Mostly this week is studying for Chemistry II, my last final and preparing for summer classes. Since Spring semester ends May 15th and summer course starts May 20th, there’s not much of a break. The good thing is that in the summer I only have one class as opposed to the six classes I have for the Spring semester. I am looking forward to completing my credits at Ocean County College and transferring because I will be living either on campus at a four year university or nearby away from my parents. I may seek some internships so I can make money and save for therapists as well as transitioning. I am excited, but it’s a lot of work filling out papers for colleges, working on assignments and studying but I am feeling hopeful. It will take five days after the Spring semester is done before my grades are posted so I can send them to Rutgers University and Rowan University and it takes two weeks for the universities to make a decision once the grades are sent to them. So I’ll probably hear from Rutgers University  and Rowan University around late May, early June.

Thank you for much Anita for being the beautiful soul you are. I am grateful to have you in my life. Hope you have a good week ahead and blessings to you in all your life’s endeavors. Take care of yourself and best wishes to you!