Poppetcat

The pretty campus is a well known school in this area, but the program I got rejected from (and am considering re-applying to) is brand new and SO FAR I don't see any indication that it's accredited, despite it being a stellar school in general and their PhD programs being fairly highly regarded. This program is an MA one, and they didn't have an MA in this field before (psychology). I'm hesitant. Even though it's a great school and has better connections, what's up with not being accredited? Someone asked about that during an info session and they said MA programs don't have APA accreditation. Which is true, they have CACREP or some other type, which they don't have. Were they hiding the ball by answering that way? It seems odd that they aren't accredited since it's such a good school otherwise. Makes me question that program after the fact... The office-building school is not that well known, but the professors/students seem to LOVE it, and stay very loyal to it, gushing about it and all. I've asked around and no one outside of the school seems to either know them or have a bad opinion about them, which might either be a bad sign or maybe they just don't stand out much because the pretty school is really big out here and takes all the attention away. Idk. I feel like I can easily talk up one or the other and start to convince myself to go one way, but then I switch sides and it seems like I should go the other way. I wouldn't be funded at all, that's normal for MA programs, right? Unless you get a scholarship or something, right? I feel pretty clueless right now, but figured I should ask.

Ok, this is kind of a shallow thing to care about... But I have always wanted to go to a real campus, like the classic beautiful brick or stone old campus with ivy growing on it. There's a school out here that embodies this. It's BEAUTIFUL. I love being there, it's everything I want in a school (in terms of the aesthetic and daily living part of things, although they're also a stellar school). The problem is, I was rejected from the program I applied to... I could reapply in the spring, after getting some more work experience. I don't really know why they rejected me, so I don't know if trying again would be fruitless. I got into another school though. It's in an office building, brand new, 2 stories, and located downtown right in the heart of the city. There's no cafeteria, the library is a single room (not this), there's a small student lounge that I'm sure no one really uses. It's fine, but it's just not the same. AT ALL. Should I stop being so shallow and go to the other school (assuming all things are equal, because that's a whole other consideration and I'd rather stay focused on the one at hand), or should I hold out (maybe defer if they let me?) and try to get into this dream campus school one last time? I know the answer seems obvious, but realistically, waiting a whole year would be tough for various reasons. I already got into the office building school (no more interviews or applications! yay), and there's always a chance I wouldn't get into the dream campus school a second time. So where then would that leave me? School-less. I can't move, so applying elsewhere and spreading my options out isn't an option. Any advice or creative thoughts around this problem? Please don't just lecture me on having shallow concerns, this is just one of my many considerations for what I should do...

I am looking into attending the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Antioch University in Seattle, but anytime I ask people (some ppl in the psych field and some locals who wouldn't necessarily know) what they think of them, they have all either known nothing significant about them or had never heard of them. Now, I know that's not a good sign, but I've done my homework, and according to my efforts at research (not sure what I should be looking at really), they SEEM like a great school. The problem is, why doesn't anyone in Seattle know that? It's a 3.5 year program, private school, and not cheap. But the people that work and attend seem to GUSH about it. They're accredited by CACREP, and they say they have no issues with placement... But why does no one know them? It's weird, right? They did used to be in an old run down building before they built an office downtown, and they're a liberal arts school, so maybe they just weren't noticed by the elitists and therefore overlooked by everyone? UW is the big school out here, so maybe they just overshadow them too much? I just want to know what's what before I decide to go to this school. Overall I have a good, but cautious, feeling about them. They seem to have a good focus on important issues (hence the CACREP accred). Anyone ever heard of them?? Have any advice about going to a school no one seems to have anything to say about? I'm scared, but also very into their program...

I just applied to two grad schools (masters programs), and am now moving about 15 min drive away to be closer to the school of my choice. It feels like a bit of a rash decision, since I haven't actually been accepted yet, but the apartment I'm moving to is bigger, prettier, and a little cheaper. When I was deciding whether or not to move, I asked friends about their commute time/routine, to establish if what I was signing on for was reasonable as an everyday commute. I got a lot of really interesting responses, and it made me want to learn more about everyone's commute routine. How they travel, how they spend their time waiting if they're taking public transit, how they deal with bad weather if they walk or bike. I'd love to hear more about everyone's commute (or future commute, if you're still in transition). Mine is going to be an 11 minute walk to my bus stop through a nice neighborhood, but some of it will be uphill unfortunately. I don't currently bike, but I'm considering starting since it might cut down the time a little (although maybe not, since there's hills). Once I get to my bus stop, I'll have about a 13 min ride to my stop on campus. Once there, I think the main building I'll be in will be about 4 min walk away. The only thing I worry about is the walk through the neighborhood after dark. It's a nice neighborhood, but the section with my apartment complex is not so nice, and the lighting right at my complex isn't great. :S That's what I most worry about. This is all depending on what program I get into (if any). But this is my ideal future situation assuming I get into my first choice... What's yours?

Not sure if this is the right place for this question, but I was wondering if anyone on here has a gradblr? I'm on Tumblr a lot and am trying to connect with more grad students (or soon-to-be grad students) who blog about their experience! Hmu.