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I am in a counseling M.A. program and have a psychology department Graduate Assistantship. So, yes, they are available depending on the university.

It will probably involve a lot of investigation and cold calling on your part. I was contacted several years ago by the Lehigh valley health network. They had a state grant to research psychological well being in clients and they saw my resume, so wanted to bring me on. That's the only reason I know about it. Find out about government/state grants in your area and follow the trail to the recipients. Or just research hospitals and cold-call research departments outright.

As others have said, register with disability services. When you address it with your advisor let them know you do not expect it to affect your work at all, and are fully capable of the job at hand, but you just want them to be kept informed. Luckily, campus also have counseling centers now too, which can also help out. I was once pointed out that most people in graduate schools have anxiety problems. They harness some of the symptoms, such as the edginess and worrying about deadlines, to push them further. It's just not talked about, since it's the results that matter.

You are well on your way to being a strong candidate. There's also certain summer research experiences you can do listed here: http://www.apa.org/education/undergrad/research-opps.aspx If you can get involved in extra experiences, you have an even stronger application. Start networking in the field by going to conferences, connecting to research/workshops you see and like there, and pick up summer jobs/volunteer opportunities in what you want career-wise. That way, going out of undergrad, your lined up as the triple threat: number credentials (grades/GRE/etc), experience, and network. You'll have strong LOR, scores, and will be able to demonstrate a clear professional goal in your SOP. If your program offers it, take the graduate level courses. Mine offered a neuropsychology and behavioral modification grad level class. I was also able to get into an honors level evolutionary psych. Save your elective space for those more difficult courses. Also, for some extra practice, visit your career center for practicing mock interviews and vitae/resume building.

I'm so glad to see the responses on this thread. I'm about to do the same thing as bambi_86 (hopefully). Currently, I have it set up that I work long hours three days of the week (8:30 am- 9:30 pm MTH), normal hours two days of the week (8:30-4:30 WF) and switch off picking up extra work, attending to tasks, and having a social life the rest of the days. If I can keep this type of flexibility during my PhD, I'll be fine. I actually thrive on it more than a traditional 8-4 schedule.

I would suggest ONLY do the masters if you can get an on-campus graduate assistantship in something close to your goals (such as in the psychology/counseling department) and are able to peruse research from the ground running. The GAship will come with tuition waiver and experience, and the research experience will also give you that experience. However, if you can go straight to PhD, it is much preferred. The masters really only benefits those of us that are unsure about our direction, need better credentials, and/or have the willingness to dig deeper pockets for our debt. If you can jump that step by working, or even volunteering, in a research lab your interested in, you will get a similar results. As for taking classes study on your own time and take the psychology GRE instead. That will demonstrate your knowledge. You may also find it more beneficial to start going to conference workshops and putting those on your CV. Academic classes will be more expensive and might not transfer in the end and conferences help you network/get ideas.

I would suggest only go for the masters if your other credentials are not a solid as you want them to be, and you find a program that really matches your goals. Anthropology and psychology are cousin fields. If you decide to go another direction, there is enough cross over in the scientific style that going straight to PhD is reasonable. It sounds as though you want the MA program to strengthen your credentials and demonstrate your specific career path. With not having research experience, you will want a program that will offer you that possibility. If the professors at your chosen MA program will not offer the option to do so (even as independent study goals), then it won't help you as much as you'd like to think. Another possibility is to talk to professors about volunteering in their lab before another application year. Some will accept volunteers; some will not. You can also see if places besides academia offer research in death, dying and mourning. You may find summer research programs that do, or funded hospital studies.

Honestly, you're going to find that your scores more than qualify you. SLP is close enough to an undergrad psychology degree, that the cross over should be less daunting than you might think. What you're going to find that is that your statement of purpose, life experience, and letters of recommendation are key. I would suggest doing a semester worth of practicum/internship with a company (if possible), and working for a few months with your preferred clientele. This will give you in the field letter of recommendation. Do not knock the academic ones though. Did any of your research cross over into the SLP world? If not, many see if you can organize an independent research study. With your experience, you'll probably be more than capable of it. It will also give you an academic letter of recommendation in the field your passionate about. Lastly, a lot of people are talking about online. I suggest calling around to company HR departments and checking if they hire people from online degree programs. At one of my jobs, if they see online credentials, the application is put in the trash. Now, my job is not SLP, but direct care with mental illness, developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury. So, for yourself, call around and see what options are open to you. Online may be an Achilles's heel, and better to know before you start the program.

You may be crazy if you don't. ;-) I have a friend in my GAship who is going into practice first. He's a whiz and lover of statistics and research. We both weep over what will be his lack of research involvement as he explores that dynamic... and I fully expect him to be applying within two years to grad schools.

I teach an English Composition class, and I have had that question asked several times. Use to drive me nuts, and I eventually found a way to respond by reflecting back, "what grade, based on the rubric, do you think this draft deserves?" It's a good way to learn what they actually know in a critical thinking way. Usually I found that there was a disconnect, or misunderstanding about what the rubric was looking for. Many students can't explain to you what they "don't know" so, testing them on the spot lets you identify their weak-spots.

I'm having this problem on a college campus too! I feel like I'm the walking dead every 3-4 weeks!

I have no idea why I was initially 'interested' in psychology. I was 7 when I declared I'd be a "psychologist who's a writer." But, it never waned. I was originally interested in clinical/counseling with children. As I conducted undergrad research and took biology classes, I became more interested in neuropsychology, etc. Upon graduation, my creds weren't where I needed them, and life circumstances, I ended up working with psychopathology. I liked my clients, but realized I am so not cut out for just counseling. So, decided I wanted to go back to the research roots. In short, I've liked it all, and got a bit scattered in the center. But through teaching gigs, research gigs, and realizing I'm not interested in counseling, decided I'd rather research what I've been hands-on treating.

You always have the option to try and 'connect' with that classmate on a social media such as LinkedIn, and just get rid of all professional/classmate contact on your facebook. That will at least separate out that frustration, and you can tell the classmate that you just wanted to separate your platforms going into your "professional life." It's a common enough occurrence. You can also discuss the matter with your classmate in person, and your concern that their use of FB might affect them professionally in the future. But, depending on the insecurities/etc of the classmate, that may only hurt the situation instead.

One of my general guidelines is start actively sending out applications and conduction interviews 3-4 months before I'll need a job, and that's if you are a textbook 'ideal' candidate with good interview skills.

Talk to the universities about graduate assistantships. You'd be surprised how many are actually available to masters students. It's not just a PhD thing. However, don't expect a living stipend. Just tuition waiver.

If you decided to go, consider doing an independent study research project. This will allow you to explore your own research project anyways, and discuss that on the PhD level. It won't be as strong as a thesis, but it will certainly demonstrate your committment to an idea/direction.

You should be able to talk to your fiancee about the best way to have children. It's a major life event they need to be a part of, after all! I've talked to my boyfriend about it seriously. We haven't talked about timing, other than I want to have children mainly after graduate school. I'm okay with the idea of waiting to have kids until I'm early-mid thirties. We might re-visit the idea if the PhD program is less intensive than I imagine, but I don't want to saddle him with the bulk of the work. I'd rather be able to support the child as well. I'm lucky where his work is as an artist, so he's okay with having an at-home studio. That way we can have one stay at home parent, but he'll still have a career.

Thank you for the feedback.

Try to only use Craigslist as a final source. Your university should have off-campus housing threads you can use. Then, at least, you'll have a better funnel. Craigslist usually is where you find more of the scam artists, trade "in-house care+ other services for free rent" etc. I've found 1 good roommate that way, but seem the only one I've known with good luck on there. >.<

Now, as a caveat to the "don't apply to online programs" distance learning through a brick and mortar university seems like it carries more respectability. For instance, I have a friend perusing her MA at Drexel University. But, because she lives an 1 1/2 from them, she takes mainly their online classes. Over the course of her studies, she is able to go on campus for some classes, but the majority are done that way.She is in education, and not in psychology, so her field is different. For her fieldwork and observations, she's able to outsource to other schools. If you conduct research, or want to gain more research before applying to a PhD (which would probably be a vital addition to your CV), you're looking at needing at least 1 day on campus to conduct the research itself, review with your advisor, etc. And most MA programs are not heavily invested in research, so you may need to fight to even get a research project in the program. Really, a gap with gaining some professional experience wouldn't hurt you at all - especially in the clinical setting.

I'm 70k and growing (one more year to go in my masters program). There is no guarantee that you'll come out of this with a job that makes bank, or pays of your loans quickly. I know too many MA qualified social workers/counselor a who are slotted for part-time so companies don't have to pay for them. Good news, the MA offers you the credentials to do a job that might lead to a less stress enduced life. Loan companies also try to work with you, as long as you contact them and explain what's going on. It's a gamble, but only you can decide if you're willing to take that risk

My first paid job was in undergrad. Worked with autistic children. I went to an internship fair, talked up the company, and made the email/set info immediately. I then checked up two weeks later, and once a week consecutively after... My first full-time paid job, I searched online, foun a direct care facility near by as walked in to ask about jobs. They had no openings, but had a book of all locale providers. I contacted every provider in that book (in travel distance). Kept notes on when/what type/dated to follow up. I had an I interview at one of these locations a month later (group interview), followed up a week later, and got the job. In short, assertiveness & persistence with a few lucky breaks in between.

I don't know about the academic world, but in the professional world, some companies see an online program and it automatically goes in the reject pile. My old job was one of those. It sifted out a lot of applicants.

You may want to examine more options before you narrow your choices so distinctly. Only two schools seems awfully narrow, and doesn't give you many choices. Education is great. However, you don't want to specialize in something later on that you realize is completely wrong for you. A general M.A. can get you into a better academic standard for your PhD, but it won't give you that hands-on experience either. I suggest a few resources to consider: A PT direct care job: TSS work, rehabilitation counselor, direct care worker, etc. Benefits include counseling experience, resume building, awareness of interests, possible tuition reimbursement, money in the pocket These jobs can also be flexible and incorporated into your schedule as you complete the M.A. degree. Looking into if the New School can get you a Graduate Assistantship- especially in the psychology department. Benefits include teaching and lines you up to complete your own interest if you take advantage, awareness of interests, possible tuition remission 20 hours a week, typically If you do these both jointly, they can help you out with building your credentials and figuring out your career path. However, they will not stop you from adding on a ton of debt. Keep that figure in mind, and what will be realistic for you down the road.

So, for a little bit of additional income, I returned to my old FT job as per diem (flex hours & I make my own schedule). I'm there to fill in at a schizophrenic group house when need be. Well, yesterday I'm told that I'm losing three shifts because of someone they're hiring. Okay, a little miffed, but I'll make do. TODAY I hear that I need to somehow squeeze in a HIPAA training, only offered the next 3 Tuesdays in a row, because licensing is coming up in two months, and they only offer the bi-annual training at that time. To make it more fun, Tuesdays I work 10 am-5 pm as a graduate assistant, with 5-8 pm class. Training begins at 10 am, and is only 1 1/2 hours from my office. No big deal.