PhD Decision Advice

[PsychologyFan]

Currently I have a BA in Psychology. I was a student getting my M.S.Ed in Mental Health Counseling and completed 30 credits. However, they cut my funding. I contemplated whether I should stay in the program, and after speaking with students who were finishing up the program at that school, I realized that the majority of students graduated from this school left wishing they had gone somewhere else. So I made the personal decision of taking a semester off and figuring out if I should continue with the program by paying out of pocket or find another program.

In the long run, I would like to do some form of counseling and also would like to work as a University level professor. As such, I have decided to look into several PhD programs in NY. I've narrowed it down to NYU, Columbia, and City College of NY. I am taking to GRE's in November and my GPA as an undergrad was 3.6. My GPA as a masters student was 3.75.

I want some advice, if there are other schools worth considering, and whether I have a shot at getting into a PHD program. Its important to me to find a good program and Im worried those 30 credits I took as a Masters student may work against me!

Edited October 13, 2010 by PsychologyFan

[docdocgoose]

I think it depends on what you did while you were in that Master's program, and if you're reasoning for leaving makes sense to the decision team. Financial reasons are perfectly acceptable, especially if you were being funded and then the program cut your funding. I got my first Master's in School Counseling, then went to a second Master's program to complete courses for licensure in my state. At the interview for one PhD program, they asked why I only completed part of that Master's program and they were content with my answer, and I got accepted into the program. Do you have research experience? If you want to teach at a University, you will have to be involved in research a large amount of your time. You could always apply to the Master's program at one of the schools you're looking at for the PhD, and get involved in research there, and then apply for their PhD program. This works well for some people at many different schools, but some schools only take a small selection of applicants from their own Master's candidates.

[docdocgoose]

"your"