leeners

Counseling Psychology Ph.D. at Fordham University ? Very happy that my third application cycle is finally over.

Fordham University, Counseling Psych PhD

Fordham University, Counseling Psych PhD

Fordham University, Counseling Psych PhD

Fordham University, Counseling Psych PhD

RELAX. Go on vacation!! Soak in this amazing feeling. Do minimal work until you start your program. It’s impossible to understand the amount of work a phd is going to be and you’ll really miss this time of not having any huge stressors/responsibilities. 
 
I left my post bac two months before I had to move for my program and went to California and Hawaii. I also read a lot of fiction books. 
 
Also, congrats everyone! You DID IT!! 

This is all incredibly helpful - thank you!
Career goals: I will be a licensed therapist with the LMHC but the research and larger impact would come with the PhD. I mention my professor's influence because I would never have considered it for myself, mainly along the line of "who do I think I am" kind of thing, not that I wouldn't want it. But because of that, it's all new to consider.
Thank you to all of you who responded - your feedback is really thought-provoking, which is what I was hopeful for.

Here! 
I am 42, a married mom of three teens. The eldest is at college here in MO, and she plans to stay and finish her degree.  The other two are still at home and will be relocating with us. 
I will be at least 47 by the time I finish my PhD, and I'm ok with that. I am a much more confident and capable person now than I was in my 20s or even 30s, and I know the life skills I've developed will be a huge help to me.  My mentors here at home have been nothing but encouraging, and the PI for my PhD program is already sharing information and excitement with me. If she says being an experienced parent can only be a help, I'm going to take her expert word for it.  
 

This is all incredibly helpful - thank you!
Career goals: I will be a licensed therapist with the LMHC but the research and larger impact would come with the PhD. I mention my professor's influence because I would never have considered it for myself, mainly along the line of "who do I think I am" kind of thing, not that I wouldn't want it. But because of that, it's all new to consider.
Thank you to all of you who responded - your feedback is really thought-provoking, which is what I was hopeful for.

Lol, well optimism is always good.
 
I wouldn't stress the Ivy thing, there's really no ranking system at PhD programs. It's more about fit and making sure you're productive in the ways that will suit your ultimate goals. 

So I'm not a mom (husband and I are holding off on kids until I finish), but I am considered an older student compared to the vast majority of my program-mates (30 and in my 2nd year). I also have a classmate who is a mom and I know she finds it very difficult to balance everything, and she is fortunate enough to have a lot of help.
I think the main thing for you to consider is what is your ultimate career goal. You said that you applied to PhD programs at the behest of your professor. Does your professional goal require a PhD or is the masters level licensure enough? Yes, you can get paid more as a doctorate level clinician. However, once you factor in the cost of tuition (it sounds like you were awarded some assistance but it isn't a full ride) and time spent out of the workforce and therefore not earning anything, you may just break even (or not even). Add in that you will likely not be contributing to retirement funds during your time in the program, so that can increase the amount of time you have to work before you can afford retirement. These are just some things I would consider when factoring in the decision. I know I thought about a lot of these types of things prior to applying because I was in a good and psych-adjacent career with a master's before I decided to quit to pursue clinical psychology. 

Dad here with an adult daughter living at home. 40s. 1st year clinical psychology PhD student.
It's going to depend on several factors.
How old are your kids? What kind of a support structure do you have? Partner? Family nearby? Financially solvent? Travel commitments for any reason? Ailing parents?
As PsyDuck90 said, what do you want to achieve with a PhD?
This is a highly personal decision. Are you looking to gauge the changes that might affect your family? Things will certainly change. I can't say what a counseling psychology PhD looks like, but a clinical psychology PhD is very different from the one semester I completed in a Mental Health Counseling MS. Way less writing, way more studying, far more presentations. Definitely stressful, but it's rewarding so far.

I will (hopefully) be in my 40s when I finish my PhD (I started college for the first time in my 30s) as well and I'm married with kids at home, also. Like you I am graduating with my masters this May. My spouse does not have a college degree, but he is supportive of my academic and career goals. I would sit down and decide if this is a goal of yours or not. It is of mine, I want to be academic faculty and do research- I need a PhD for that and it's an important enough goal I am willing to invest the time and effort despite being an older, non-traditional student.
Something that has been significant is the way we divide up taking care of the kids. I tend to be the primary care-provider in our home for the kids when it comes to things like staying up at night with sick kiddos. On the flip, he tends to be the one to take them to doctors appointments during the day. I tend to be the one that goes to the school events. He tends to be the one that sits down with them to help with homework. Etc... It's not perfect (for example, with the recent colds and flu that came through our town I averaged less than 3 hours sleep a night for over two weeks straight, that was really rough with it coinciding with traveling for a couple PhD interviews), but overall it seems to work out okay for us.

I don't have kids but will be starting my PhD at 37, so you're definitely not alone (even though it can definitely feel like we are ?)

I am 30 years old and have a soon to be toddler at home. I will be starting a PhD in the coming year. I have found that quite the contrary to what people say, being an “older” student and a mother has made me a better student and researcher. I have had no choice but to prioritize things and accomplish them rapidly without delay. I have been working in research for 5 years now and have realized that people with more life experience make better academics in general. I know it may seem intimidating to be in a different phase of life than other students but I think you’d be surprised that there are more of us out there than you might imagine. ❤️ 

*raises hand*
I'm almost mid-30s and will most likely start a second master's this year, with the goal of reapplying to PhDs in 2021. If all goes well (and it won't take two more rounds to get in), I'll finish by early 40s. I also have a spouse that I'm dragging half  way across the world (again). I'm pretty worried about job opportunities for him and also losing the close support of family and friends. 
I question myself often on this decision. I guess sometimes you just have to "jump". I'm also debating whether it would be a good idea to consider starting a family in the later years of a PhD. Anybody have any experience with that? As in, how hard was it go manage baby and research? I would be ok with the program taking longer to complete, I would just be scared of getting kicked out since you're not as "productive" I guess. 
It's nice to get a chance to talk to people in similar situations on here, since most of similarly-aged friends have no idea why we are doing this to ourselves lol :))

I am on my second career and am finishing up my MS in Mental Health Counseling this May. At the behest of one of my professors, I applied to PhD programs for Counseling Psychology and lo and behold, got in with my first choice professor as POI and a graduate assistant-ship that will cover 2 classes/semester.
Issue is, I have two kids at home and am already in my 40s. Best case scenario, I won't finish until I'm 46; worst case scenario, about 82. 
I would love to hear from other parents (moms in particular) if you have done, or plan to do, this. My life not withstanding, it would be a no brainer to accept; but unfortunately I don't live in a vacuum and need to consider impact on my family to make my decision.

I am on my second career and am finishing up my MS in Mental Health Counseling this May. At the behest of one of my professors, I applied to PhD programs for Counseling Psychology and lo and behold, got in with my first choice professor as POI and a graduate assistant-ship that will cover 2 classes/semester.
Issue is, I have two kids at home and am already in my 40s. Best case scenario, I won't finish until I'm 46; worst case scenario, about 82. 
I would love to hear from other parents (moms in particular) if you have done, or plan to do, this. My life not withstanding, it would be a no brainer to accept; but unfortunately I don't live in a vacuum and need to consider impact on my family to make my decision.

Thank you both!! I'm shocked!

Good for you! I was between him and MM for application. 

It was Monday morning. 

School: Columbia University 
Type of Program: Counseling Psychology PhD
Acceptance Date: 2/14/20
POI: BV
 
Dreams. Come. True. 

This might be the best topic but screw it:
 
what happens after your acceptance?!?!? I’m so bored now and all I want is to talk to people in the program and hear back from my new advisor. 
 
PS to everyone venting about the challenges of getting in. This is my 3rd run. Every year I’ve improved myself and you can too!!!!
2017-5 applied, 0 interviews
2018-9 applied, 3 interviews
2019- 21 applied, 9 interviews, 4 acceptances, 1 waitlist.
 
if anyone needs advises, let me know. I can look over your stuff if you need insight for next year

School: University of Kansas
Type of Program: Counseling Psychology-Ph.D
Acceptance Date: 2/3/2020
My #1 choice ?. If anyone else accepted. Message me
 
 
School: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Type of Program:Counseling Psychology-Ph.D
 
Acceptance Date: 2/6/2020
ah! My #2 choice lol. I applied to 21 programs and got my top two spots. Looks like I did something right. For anyone who interviewed for POI SW, I have pulled my application and it’s all yours ?
 

School: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
Type of Program: Counseling Psychology PhD 
Acceptance Date: 2/11/20