Sarahmarie

I will try to cut to the chase but my story is a little involved so bear with me. I am an older student (32) and when I began searching for master's programs I had nothing hindering me from following my dream wherever it took me. As my application year continued, my father was diagnosed with cancer. At the last minute I applied to an in state school "just in case." I was accepted to my dream school, and several other out of state schools, but I chose to attend the in-state school because of my father's declining health. However, I still had to move 250 miles away for the program, uprooting my life as well as my significant other's. My father declined very quickly and passed away a month after classes started last semester. Two weeks later, my brother and his wife lost custody of their 2 children (a newborn and 3 year old). I was the only family member willing and able to take custody and I couldn't fathom allowing them to go into foster care. So I took them in. My mother moved in with us "to help" but she actually does very little to help care for the boys other than contribute financially. I am really for the most part the sole caretaker of these two boys. So I got through last semester admirably (Dean's list) but this semester I feel completely overwhelmed. I am really feeling the grief of losing my father and I didn't really have time to process it last term because of all the drama that followed. It is becoming more apparent that I will have these kids long term and my degree program is really designed for a full time commitment (13-17 hours per semester). I am tempted to take this semester off to regroup. But I don't know what to do afterwards. I have totally missed out on social bonding with my cohort and I feel like an outsider. They have been very nice and tried to include me but I just have no time. Any free time I get I use to sleep. I am not sure if I should go back in the summer or pursue my degree somewhere else where I can start over (I can transfer the credit I got last term) and find a program that will be better suited to my new "motherhood" status, maybe something part time or online. Wake Forest offers a very good online program and there are several others I have looked at. But the bottom line is I moved away from my hometown, dragging my boyfriend with me and while he is supportive of whatever I decide, I feel a huge amount of guilt for moving here for no reason. I know this is a unique situation but I will take any advice you can offer

Yeah I don't want to be the den mother...my experience is when you are young you have to make your own mistakes anyway. I just want to be comfortable and have a good working environment for the next few years. Judging by our Facebook interactions so far I think it will be okay! Thanks for all the encouragement and advice. Much appreciated!

This is an unfortunate opinion that keeps so many people from seeking help. Mental health counseling or "therapy" can be just as important to maintaining wellness as it is to fixing problems that already exist. It is enormously helpful to be able to talk and bounce ideas off a neutral person who can really put things into perspective for you. You can seek out therapy without being pathologized or diagnosed with something or prescribed drugs.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement....I know once I get there I will be fine. It is just a little anxiety provoking on top of the stress of the past six months - applying, waiting for results, choosing a program. I really do get along well with pretty much everyone so I am sure I will be okay. It is nice to have this forum to share fears, etc. Thanks for listening!

I am 32 years old and I am preparing to graduate from an adult program at a SLAC in my state. The college is very respected and the program I am completing follows the traditional residential program almost exactly, so I am not going to a degree mill or anything. I have excelled in all of my classes and thrived here. However, in many of my classes I was on the younger end of the age spectrum. As I prepare to move ahead, I thought I made the smart move for my master's program but now I am not so sure. We have a cohort of 15 and while I don't know everyone's exact age, we have formed a Facebook group and judging by everyone's profile, I am about 10 years older than most, if not all of them. Being older, you would think I would be wiser and have more self-esteem but I am concerned that I will be out of place and have nothing in common with these people I will be spending much of the next 2 years with. Does anyone have experience with this? How did you relate to younger (or older) colleagues? I mean I am not a fossil - yet. And I am pretty laid back and get along with almost everyone. I guess I am just nervous because I am pulling up stakes and moving my whole life and maybe getting cold feet... Any advice would be appreciated!

Not intrusive at all...it was a TC Scholarship. Not department specific as far as I know.

Didn't apply to Fordham but I declined my acceptance to TC and NYU over the weekend and I was offered some funding at both schools. I hope it frees it up for those of you still waiting on aid! Heading to FSU in the fall....Go 'Noles

I was accepted and declined the offer as well. Hope it helps someone Good luck to all!

Is anyone attending the SRHC in Tampa this weekend?

Looks like I will be headed there 99% sure!

I have been tossing and turning the past few days over my decision and I am gonna throw it out to you all and see if I can generate some advice that will help me decide. I am going for my master's degree in mental health counseling with the intention of going on for my PhD. Should I go with the expensive, well-known private university simply for the experience of going to "that school" and the connections I could make at that school and in that large city? This school would cost about twice as much (including living expenses, etc) although I was offered a scholarship that would cover about half of the tuition. Or should I go with the state school, also a good research institution, with the smaller, more intimate program, CACREP accreditation, cheaper tuition and living expenses, and basically all the sensible pros that would flag me down and say "COME HERE" My logical side says go with the state school. You can go with a big name for your PhD. But my loftier side says the private university has such name recognition that it would be worth it just for the networking opportunites and doors that might open because I went there. I am not saying that randomly...I have talked to a few alum of said school who have reported that they were offered experiences, jobs, and other opportunities that they don't think they would have gotten without that "name" on their CV. Plus, I get excited when I think of the "name" school - I just don't when I think of the state school. Sorry if this was long and rambling but any advice would be appreciated. Sensibilities or gut feeling?

I don't think it's unusual at all...I am just wondering where you are directing your inquiries? The graduate admissions office or the department itself? Whichever one it was I would try the opposite. My technique is usually to just keep calling numbers until I get a live person and get answers...but I am very impatient lol. Good luck!

*BUMP* How's the decision making process going for everyone? I am still trying to figure this out...tough choices to make here

Congrats and good luck to you! I don't think you can go wrong with Harvard!