psyched_trojan2015

Thank you! It's the online format -- I'm based in Southern California!

Thank you! I honestly wasn't sure if I would get in after the group interview so I was pleasantly surprised. If you want to connect more, feel free to DM on here! Also, fingers crossed for you!

Hello, I don’t believe so! I applied early for the Fall 2021 term and did my group interview I think about 2 months ago. Have you followed up with them? Which terms did you apply for?

Just found out I got into Northwestern's Counseling@Northwestern program. Excited, but holy h*ll, it's so expensive. Seeing if the financial aid will bring anything to lower that steep price tag...

This falls into both psychology and education, so I'll post here – apologies if a thread already exists. If there's a better forum to repost this in, please advise. I wanted to see if there were any folks here who applied/committed to School Counseling programs (both standalone and with mental health component embedded) or other similar ones. This is to provide others an opportunity connect, discuss concerns/excitements, share career goals, seek advice on decision-making, etc. I was admitted to University of San Diego's 60-unit program for School Based Clinical Counseling (PPS + LPCC) and I committed! I requested to defer my admission to Fall 2022 so I can use the next year to save money, plan strategically, and sort things out. Really excited to pursue this dual track and I was thrilled to learn of my acceptance. After the group interview, I knew this program was the best fit for me. It's expensive, but I have some plans down on my road-map. What's your experience been?

Hey everyone! It's time to take the next steps in my journey of going into social work. I graduated from university recently in 2015, where I worked as a tech for a private substance abuse detox facility for about 5 months. I liked the job, but I worked awful hours that interfered with my schedule. Just recently in May, I got a position as a Case Manager, where I've been at for about 4 months now. I work with homeless individuals at a recup center, connecting them primarily with housing resources. Here's the deal. I've been getting burnt out due to the nature of my work experiences. I've worked part-time/full-time at residential treatment centers all throughout undergrad. I've already felt burnt out all throughout undergrad and never got a vacation or got to travel anywhere to celebrate. I regret not taking the decision to study abroad as an undergrad. Anyway, I plan to stay with the recup center job for a year, before taking a month vacation. By then, I'll have a new position waiting for me once I return, so I feel secure knowing that I have a safety net. But my question is: should I wait it out a little longer, gain more work experience, grow up a little more before applying? Or, should I just go for it and apply for Fall 2017 admissions? I'm torn because of my GPA senior year. My overall grades are not bad (3.43), but it fluctuates; freshmen year averaged at 3.73, sophomore year 3.50, junior year 3.93, senior year 2.86. I struggled with grades because I was experiencing a lot of ups and downs. The breakdowns became recurrent until I sought for help and got my life back together. Because of this drastic fluctuation in GPA, I was thinking of working for awhile in the "real world," for about 3-5 years before going to grad school. What's the rush, right? However, the thought of going back to school is kind of nice. I do miss learning new things in a classroom environment. However, I feel like I'm better off getting more experience in the field. I do have opportunity right now in getting more exposure in case management. It will be perfect experience for grad school. I'm kind of torn. Your thoughts?

Hi everyone! Been on here for awhile and read so much, and now I've FINALLY completed my undergrad at USC. I wont make this long, but I'm dead-set on obtaining my MSW after giving a couple years of gaining professional work and volunteer experience. Now, I've had a steady GPA all throughout undergrad (almost all semesters hovering from 3.5 to 4.0. However, I've had a bit of a hard senior year with my recently diagnosed bipolar disease and addiction problems. This semester, I only managed to get a 2.74 GPA (roughly two C+, two Bs), but honestly, I'm SO proud of that considering all I've gone through.I still managed to pass and I'm so grateful for it. I've been working in a detox house as a rehab tech, and this place has treated me so well. I'm already getting my certificate to become an alcohol and drug addictions counselor after a year of working there (all paid by the company), and I will eventually be able to perform case managing tasks. Honestly, this job helped me maintain my own sobriety and I can't see myself doing other things. I've talked to a bunch of my colleagues and all of them told me not to worry because experience, test scores and my own story will all count in the process. I just wanted to see what others on here have to say. My overall GPA will be around a 3.4, same for my major. I'm looking at all public schools in California, particularly Cal States and UCLA. Anyway, thanks for reading this. Good Luck to all prospective students!!

Wow, thanks so much for all your guys' help! I didn't expect so many good advices from different people. After giving this a close thought, I've decided to just take a year (or two) off after December. I've realized how exhausted I am from trying to finish strong academically. It would probably be best if I just work and form better connections with people who actually can help me later down the road. Plus, the extra year means more time to study for the GRE. I just don't want to feel rushed, as it seems that is what everyone at my class is doing. But you know what, forget it. There's no rush to all of this. I need to go at my own pace, and my priority is to finish school strong right now. Thanks so much EVERYONE!

Hi everyone!!! Man, I've been lurking and posting on this site for awhile now, but it's senior year for me and the time to decide to apply is coming up soon. Does anyone on here know if there are any disadvantages applying directly after undergrad? I actually graduate this December, so it will be perfect timing for most of the applications. I'm slightly nervous since most people on here have a huge list of experiences that seems to directly relate to MSW programs. For me, I do have experience...but most of it is research-based with a couple of other types. I hate to make this into a chance thread, so I'll just cut to the chase: I have volunteered at the medical center of my university for a semester, mainly conducting prescreening studies and handling administrative work. I also did another semester of research but for a communication research lab on campus, performing content analysis. So, that's one full year of research. I also taught middle school students as a student instructor through an educational program at my uni, which was hard but seriously rewarding since I was placed into a very poor, run-down area. Huge culture shock for sure, but so enlightening. Then there's my current job as a administrative assistant at the language center I've had for two years. I really like the job, lots of good professional exposure to administrative setting in academia. I JUST got a part-time job at a mental health center as a part-time Residential Assistant, which I'll stick with for at least a year until I apply to programs. Grades...3.7 cumulative, 3.95 Psych major at a great school in SoCal, and I'm sure I'll do just fine on the GRE..but this whole emphasis on students with years and years of experience is making me wonder if it's worth applying for the next round. Based on the snapshot I provided, am I considered competitive for MSW programs? I'm particularly aiming for UCLA and Cal. I really want to stay in California. But I'm looking into UMichigan as well since they have a concentration for human sexuality. Also, some programs do not ask for GRE, but I'm still taking it anyway. Should I wait like 2-3 years after I graduate to work and get more "experience," or should I just apply and go for it? How much experience is enough? Aren't the essays important too? My long-term goal is to become an LCSW in LA (hopefully) and specialize in human sexuality. Thanks so much everyone!!

Hi everyone, I'm curious, have any of you discussed about personal mental health issues in your applications? I know it's something to be very weary of, unless the application specifically asks for it. I'm just wondering because I've been experiencing major depression since junior high, and just recently was diagnosed with ADD. I'm particularly nervous about my transcript because of two classes I ended up dropping because I was in a really bad state of mind and I was afraid of jeopaordizing my GPA at the time. I have a 3.6 overall, and my major is at a 3.8. The two classes I dropped, one unrelated to major, but the other one was a class that falls under my major, which is Psychology. It's not a requirement, but an elective. I'm retaking it next semester and I'm determined to ace it, I was just in a bad place and didn't want to risk getting C/D but now i've picked myself up. I don't plan on going to grad school for Psychology, actually. I want to get an MA in American Studies and then go to law school afterward. I'm so paranoid that grad schools will look down on me because I dropped a Psychology class, am I worrying too much? Do you ever discuss your mental health in grad school applications? The last thing I want to do is to come across whiney and blame my mental health issues on my decision to drop those two classes. I just want to come across humble and to state that I've learned to cope with these set-backs in better ways that wont interfere with my ability to get work done. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hello, I'll be applying to graduate schools by next Dec., which gives me some time to think about how I stack up with others. Just a little background: GPA is 3.6, major (psychology): 3.85. I'm predicting by the time I apply, I'll have an average of 3.6-3.75 for my overall and 3.7-3.9 for major. I have experience working in a lab for a semester at the medical school, but the research topic proved to be unreflective of me ultimately. I'm joining the honors program starting next semester, so this will help me get invovled with more in-depth research, possibly with another lab and produce a 30-page thesis. I'm feeling a little better about this than before! I didn't enter college thinking I'd be interested in Criminology, but it's been something I've always found unique in my major, after taking classes in both Criminal Bx and Forensic Psychology. I'm looking particularly at the specialized research aspect of the field; I'm interested in research of juvenile delinquency and crimes of youth. But I wonder if I'll be well-prepped for MS in criminology? I'm specifically eyeing the one-year Upenn program. I have yet to take the GRE, which I will do over the summer. For this uncertainty, I'm unsure if I'll be well-prepared for PhD programs. I would hope to enter a graduate program directly after my undergrad though... What do you guys think of this situation? Thanks!

Hello all, I'm sure some of you have seen me post on here, but I want to raise another question I'm curious about... If I'm interested in going to grad school to obtain a PhD Social Psychology, what type of research would benefit me most? I understand the question depends on the program itself and the applicant's interests, but I've been questioning what I, myself, want to get out of my undergrad experience. I'm a junior at my school (some private uni in top 25 on usnews for a more superficial idea) and I'm majoring in Psychology. I thought I wanted to get a PhD in Clinical Psychology or an MSW, so I got an RA position at the medical school that studies smoking cessation effects and the role genes play in it. While the experience has been good so far, I'm becoming more interested in the field of Social Psychology...the behaviors, etc. My goal is research criminal behavior (morals, personality) and improve intervention programs for particular juvenile delinquents, but more on the academia side, as opposed to clinical. For this reason, I'm interested in finding work that is more qualitative based. At my current lab, I'm hoping to stay at least year (or until I graduate) and hopefully have a co-authored piece published and presented. I've decided not to apply to programs directly out of graduation because I'm going to burn out. So, I'm thinking about taking a year or two off to focus on research and dabbling more into the realms of social psychology. As of now, I'm focused on maintaining my grades and taking classes in SPSS to make myself more marketable. I have an overall GPA of 3.5 and a Psychology GPA of 3.7. I haven't taken the GREs yet, but I will be in the future (don't really want to mix all that while I'm still an undergrad!). I'm hoping to also have an honors thesis done by graduation on my topic of interest (morals, personality, and its function in criminal behavior, particularly high school students in the LA county). Okay, so I guess my concern is: are there any Social Psychology programs that are more qualitative-based? I find myself gravitating toward this aspect of research over quantitative. Also, I hate to turn this into a "chance" post, but am I on the right track? I feel so stressed! Thanks!!

Purplescarves, It's really comforting to hear about your personal experiences with applying, and knowing others who have applied as well. Thank you for that. As far as direct service experience, I'm in the application process of volunteering at a crisis intervention center for a anti-domestic violent organization in LA. I'd be trained for 65 hours, become certified and commit at least a year to answering calls and handling situations. I'm nervous, but also excited to be directly working in this area!

Hi everyone! I'm currently a junior (actually, I'm a sophomore, but I'm only like 4 credits from being a junior due to credit articulation when I transferred) and my major is Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I was really interested in pursuing a PhD in either Clinical or Counseling Psychology, but I've been recently looking into pursuing my MSW because of its versatility. I'd be concentrating in Mental Health/Counseling for my MSW. Furthermore after obtaining my MSW, I hope to take the LCSW exam in order to practice. Now, the question is: where do I start? I've been in academic/research mode, so I'm new to the MSW realm. As of now, I don't really have relevant work experience that pertains to Social Work or Mental Health because I was previously a film major. But I'm looking to get on it very soon! I'm planning to get involved on-campus with Social Behavior research, so I hope that's a good start. I'm also going to visit my university's health center to look for any volunteering opportunities. Right now, my GPA is a 3.5 (it used to be a 3.7 at my previous school...i know, but I made a huge jump-as far as prestige goes). My grades for this semester will probably result around a 3.2-3.5 GPA. Will one "off" semester have a huge impact on me? It's just that I've been working two part-time jobs to pay off my rent, and on top of that commuting and taking on school work as a full-time student. It's getting really hard, but I'm starting to become better at managing my time. However, I know I can graduate with at least a 3.5, and I have about two more years to do it. How important are grades for MSW programs? I really do hope to stay in either California or New York because that's where family's at. Honestly, this is all I have as of now. What does it take to get into reputable programs like UCLA, Columbia, CAL, USC? I'm at USC btw. I don't wish to stay here past my undergrad, but I'll do it if it comes down to it. Any tips, advice? Thank you!

Hello again! I posted here maybe two months ago regarding a double major in Psy and Comm; math minor. I've ultimately decided to devote my time with just Psychology as my major. I've been learning different subfields of Psychology in my intro course and one thing that really interests me is Clinical/Counseling, particularly the study of psychotherapy for mental health and disorders, as well as the effects of positive psychology. I'm seriously looking into applying to PhD programs for Clinical/Counseling (haven't decided which is best for me), but I'm feeling very...what's the word...incompetent. The reason I feel this way is because I switched my major to Psychology pretty late compared to the rest of my Psy peers. Now, as a junior, I really feel like time is winding down and I need to get myself together if I'm getting serious about this. Furthermore, I have a lack of research experience. I know it's normal for me to have little-to-no experience because I just got into the undergrad program, but I can't help but feel really behind. As of now, I'm trying my best to get myself familiar with my undergrad department. I've already introduced myself to my professor and we're getting to know each other. I'm also looking at some of the faculty's research topics on the school's website and hoping to find some assistant position in a lab if they're looking for any students who want to get involved. I've been looking at some of the grad school's cohort and glancing through the grad students' CVs. Man, I really feel like I need more time to get my CV together. Especially for PhD programs; they're super competitive as you all know. In honesty, I'm not sure if I'll have enough experience to get into a PhD program by graduation (which is in about 1.5 years). I'm going to try my best to take advantage of the opportunities offered at my campus, and if things work out the way it should, I should have a 3 or 4 research experiences and a publication (or two -- McNairs Scholars program). But the last thing I want is to apply to programs and get rejected from all of them due to lack of experience. I was thinking about applying to some MA in Counseling Psy program, work for a few years to get more experience, and then apply to PhD programs. BUT the money issue... I don't come from money, and my undergrad tuition is all paid for by grants and scholarships. I'm not really O.K. with taking out massive loans for a place like Teacher's College; PsyD is also not an option. My professor, who is also a clinical psychologist, told me getting in is about fit, but I feel like I'd be inadequate by graduation. Why am I letting this get to me?? I find the field of psychotherapy and studying the dynamics fascinating, and I would love to get into it, but I'm just kind of lost right now, especially because I was preparing for a completely different field before. I honestly don't know the best route for me. Also, I want to stay in either California or New York (the city) because I have family in both states, which would make the living situation a lot easier. I know I should be talking about this issue with my professor, but I want to read what you all have to say since everyone on here is so helpful! Thank you so much for reading this!

Again, thanks so much for all your continuous advice! It's really helpful and comforting to hear of so many serious and thoughful answers. I just signed up for my GE (general education requirements) courses in Psychology. Feels great to actually feel excited to take a class! Also, with the minor deal, I've decided to minor in Math instead. It's a total of 36 credits, but I figured I could get back into it and do well...plus it would give me a better foundation for future research opportunities. I'll likely take some Statistics and CS courses for my minor electives.

Thanks for all your helpful advice! So, I've actually decided to stick with Psychology instead of double majoring because I just don't think it's worth the extra two years and $$. My school offers only a BA in Psychology, so I'm actually thinking about minoring in Statistics to set myself up for a career in research, if I decide to pursue that realm. I figured I'd spend the next year or two researching, volunteering and preparing myself for a good graduate program instead of taking on corporate communication internships. IO psychology seems interesting to me for sure, but I'm also very eager to explore clinical/counseling psychology as well since I really enjoy one-on-one interactions. My uni offers one of those progressive degrees for Psychology -- I was wondering what's the catch? These programs where you obtain your BA+MA in five years seems almost too good to be true. Does it hold you back in any way if you decide to get your PhD?

Wow, what a year. I've taken the time to sit back and put things into perspective thus far into the summer and I've decided to make a complete switch with my studies (and career goals). Here's the thing: I started out as a Film major, but I've quickly grown to dislike it. I still love film, don't get me wrong, but I'm not quite sure if this is the field I want to get into for a professional career. I then switched my major to Communication (an emphasis on Organizational/Interpersonal). All awhile, I dabbled in social sciences like Sociology and Psychology, and finally realized how much the latter intrigues me. I'm an incoming junior this fall (high school class of 2011) and I'm now finally realizing what I want to do. Kind of sucks how much time I've spent on something I'm not so passionate about after all. I've thought about soley majoring in Psychology, but I fear my job prospects will be quite narrowed with it. So, I've decided to stick with my Communication degree while also pursuing my Psych degree. The university I attend has a renown Communication program, so I plan to take advantage of the network and resources. Because of this reason, I feel like majoring in Comm is somewhat of a safety net for me as far as jobs go. However, my long-term plans include grad school. I'd like to eventually go into the field of psychology. The idea of researching in this particular field fascinates me, and I feel like I can think of it forever. As of now, I'm just starting off, so I still have to search for internships, volunteer and research positions. If I double major, I'll be in school until Fall 2016, quite possibly into 2017. So, it's definitely going to take some time and money as well. I guess my question is: is it worth it to double major? I'm really worried about what comes after I graduate...the time I need to take the GREs, or further research, embark on publications, etc. -- will I be able to find a job to support myself as I gain more experiences? That's where I "think" the Comm degree will come into use, especially because I've been able to snag interviews with large media corporations already. I've also figured that a dual degree in Comm and Psych can be useful for a career in advertising/marketing and I/O psychology later down the path. However, what I ultimately want is to either work as a business psychologist or a clinical one. Ultimately, what's holding me back is the time it would take to obtain both degrees. Is it really normal for undergrads to take up to 6 years to graduate? Once I'm out, I'll likely either apply for MA programs in Psych, OR work in corporate communication or get involved in more research work (or both) for 3-5 years until I apply to PhD programs. I apologize for rambling; it's 4AM here in Los Angeles and I'm flustered by my crazy and restless mind. Any advice on my studies or on my career goals would be very helpful. Oh, I definitely need some knowledgable guidance right about now...(thanks in advance!).

Hello, I'm using my friend's account, so don't be confused with any previous posts. I really like the serious forums members here... I'm currently an up-and-coming junior at USC as well, working on my B.S. in Policy, Planning and Development. I'm also taking the Non-profit specialization route. I spent my first two years dabbling and totally focusing my time in the film school, even taking on an internship, but now I must start from scratch because it's not really what I want in life. I'd love to work or even manage my own non-profit organization and work in Education Policy (MPA/MPP) but I'm also interested in Social Psychology. I'm not sure if I have room to minor because the B.S. is so jammed packed...I don't think it's worth staying an extra semester for a minor. I'm actually going to be involved in a research project next summer and I get to formulate my own topic, so I hope to combine my two interests together to publish and present at a conference; it's going to be great! I guess I'm asking for general advice for applying to grad school for my intended career path(s). I know GPA is important, so I'm keeping my best to maintain at least a 3.5. I've been on the Dean's List since I've started college...my cumulative GPA is a 3.54...I'm sure it will stay or even improve by the time I graduate. As far as GRE scores go...well, I don't really know. I'm positive I can achieve at least a 1200 with practice. Again, I'll be taking on the research next summer, which should be interesting. And I'll be taking on another internship at a nonprofit organization to fulfill my degree requirements. I'm also close with my Latin and Sociology professors, both of whom said they'd write me recommendations. I'm going to work on getting close to a Psych and my Policy course faculty members. I hope I'm on the right path so far... For grad school, I really would like to go elsewhere. My advisors tell me to apply to USC again...but I want a change of pace. I'm thinking about Berkeley for the Education Policy route...but I'm very interested in Teacher's College, Columbia. If I went into the Psychology route, would it be reasonable for me to get my PhD? What can you do with an MA in Social Psychology? Thank you for your time in reading this long post!

I truly appreciate all the help. You all are right - I shouldn't plan my life out too specifically...at least not yet. I've been meaning to study abroad in London (LSE) for Econ and Sociology before I graduate from SC and I want to go out there in the workforce and actually experience the media industry before I apply to grad school. That's so interesting both of you felt like you didn't really know Sociology upon the start of the program...very interesting insight.

Hi everyone, I'm a sophomore at USC and I just recently realized that I have a knack for my Sociology classes - and I love it! I have an amazing professor here from Berkeley and she really inspired me to start my own research papers and publications. I'm primarily focused on culture/media, and how these socially influence our desire to conform or to distinguish ourselves from the so-called "mainstream" pack. I'm currently working on a research topic that revolves around Western media influences on South Korean culture...pertaining to the proliferating rate of plastic surgery (eyelids, etc.) amongst our current generation students. Anyway, I did an internship last year at a film studio, which gave a nice glimpse into the entertainment industry and the social behaviors of the workplace environment...that's basically the epitome of my realization of wanting to pursue higher ed in Sociology. My question is, am I preparing myself well? I have a 3.51 cumulative GPA, but I plan to bring this up as close to a 4.0 as possible. My major (Sociology) GPA is 4.0 thus far. I'm actually applying to the progressive degree program (BA/MA joint program) because I hope to actually work in media after graduation for a few years before applying to graduate school. With hard work, I know I can score well on the GRE...I plan to get at least a 1300. Given my interest in media sociology, which programs shall I look into? Any tips and advice? Thank you.

I know there are a lot of threads on these, but I'd rather not hijack one. I'm currently a freshman, Critical Studies (Film Studies) student at USC and thinking ahead of my path post-grad. I'm currently interning with a film company right now and my experience hasn't been the best. This experience, however, has led me to another internship at a bigger film studio, so I explore the technical aspect of film post-production for Spring semester. Interning has led me to the conclusion that I'm much more geared toward the academic field of Film Studies, but I would love to research and work for a film advertising company, or possibly manage, teach & write. If I do decide to go to grad school, I'd love to study in a program with a rigorous, philosophical approach to film, as opposed to the technical approach (like USC). I'm really interesting in pursuing the topics of queer cinema, composition, and industry business of film. I know University of Chicago, Columbia, and University of Wisconsin-Madison have some great film studies department. I know for sure I'd like to go to graduate school away from the west coast, since I was born and raised here (not in LA, but I'm familiar with Washington, Oregon and California). I think it would be enriching to explore the country and experience change for once. My first semester here at SC went well...not great, but good. I'm probably going to end up with a GPA of 3.3-3.5. I know I can do much better and get around a 3.7+. I'm still trying to balance internship, work-study, commuting, paying for my own rent/bills, etc. I'm confident I will do much better in the following years. In the meantime, is there anything else I can do to prepare myself for grad school? I'll probably end up studying for the GRE around my junior year, so I really don't want to stress over it now. Are internships valued at graduate school? Observing the workplace environment at both small to big film organizations have influenced me a lot in what I want to study, too. Ideally, what kind of stats do these graduate programs seek for? I'm not asking for chances, just any inputs and advices. Thank you in advance.