psychgrad15

Seemed to work for Maggie Gyllenhaal...

"Why didn't you apply to Harvard? Everyone applies to Harvard, just to see."
 
Apparently, I did not know this. Just to see what?

Good luck! I struggled with the same choice and ultimately decided to go the CACREP route (LPC) as opposed to the APA route. For me, as someone with a husband with a successful corporate job, it came down to practicalities. There were no APA-accredited programs anywhere near me, and relocating made no sense for us. In addition, I'm far more interested in clinical practice as opposed to research, so that was the impetus for the decision. I start my Masters program this month, and plan to go on to earn a PhD in counselor education (to work as a supervisor/clinical director and have the option to teach if I want to) after that. Good luck to you!

Sometimes..it makes you feel stupid..
 
A reply I got from Texas A and M..
 
Howdy Applicant!PLEASE BE PATIENT..

"What are you going to do when you graduate?"

You still haven't heard anything? Gosh, when will you know?

When I got my first official acceptance (which is most likely the program I will attend), I was at an informal dinner as part of an interview weekend for another university.  The acceptance was also to the highest ranked school I applied to, so that definitely brought by confidence up for the interview.  The only bummer was that I couldn't really shout the news to anyone in proximity...would've been a bit of an awkward situation haha.

I am in my final year of undergrad, and I had the craziest semester juggling a job, internship, coursework and finding time to do graduate applications. I was so focused on getting this done, and getting that done I never really even gave so much thought to what if I get in and what if I don't get in?!?! Now it's winter break and with all this free time all of this anxiety has started rushing in and I'm kinda freaking out. 

I currently have MA in Counseling Psych and LPC and there is a lot you can do with it. A lot of my cohort have private practices, some work in community centers, at risk schools, or university centers. Some work in research and do therapy with more clinical populations - including myself. One is even a psych consultant for a business college. I am applying to Clin Psych PhD programs because I want to be a professor in CO. There are not many universities in CO so it is very competitive to get teaching positions here - however have a friend in Chicago that has LCSW from U Mich and teaches at DePaul. It is not impossible to teach or do research with LPC so it comes down to time, money (loans), and creativity to get yourself in the job you want! Good luck!!

After careful consideration, I have decided to accept your offer and enroll in the [PhD or MA] program at [X] University. I look forward to joining your department.

They will tell you what else needs to be done after you send that.

California has one of the highest rates of MFT counseling individuals per capita, so it can be very difficult to get started because there are already 10 counseling office on any busy street. I think it might be helpful for you to get more active/more experience with the LGTBQ community, then from that figure out what role you could see yourself in for this community. This will also make you look more attractive if you apply to graduate school, because you'll be bringing some experience in.
 
The Psy.D. seems like a good fit for you if you ultimately wanted to end up being a counselor at that level, but they are ridiculiously expensive ($100k) with very limited financial support. There are other options with less financial dedication, such as life coaches, etc. that are aimed in the same direction but don't require that level of education or subsequent student debt.
 
Another good idea might be to look at non-profits that work with this community, and contact them to obtain some advice about the education needed to work with this population. If they are all Psy. Ds, you could apply now and just give it a shot!
 
Best of luck!