What is the smart choice

[jmartinez81]

Im not going to bore you with extensive details so here is the skinny. My original graduate plan was to obtain a terminal masters degree in either social work or mental health counseling and later moving on to a counseling psychology Phd program.I didn't feel that my credentials where competitive enough to apply to a Phd program fresh of my bachelors. I recently got accepted into Pitt msw program and spoke to one of my research directors about the program and my transition towards a counseling psychology Phd. Apparently, if I went the msw rout most of my graduate credits would not transfer over towards the counseling psychology phd program ( mind you we where using UF as an example). I would pretty much have to start from scratch earning a second masters on the way. My question is this; Im in interested in research and practice, will most likely have an opportunity to research race and social issues at Pitt and have extensive practicum. I have always wanted to be a psychologist so now I am at a crossroads. Should I

go through a full phd counseling psychology program after msw ?

or

just got the lcsw rout and start working from there?

or

Instead of counseling phd go for social work phd?

or

try to some how obtain a lcsw while at a counseling psychology phd program ( seems like this would be almost impossible)?

Thanks in advance

[chaospaladin]

Im not going to bore you with extensive details so here is the skinny. My original graduate plan was to obtain a terminal masters degree in either social work or mental health counseling and later moving on to a counseling psychology Phd program.I didn't feel that my credentials where competitive enough to apply to a Phd program fresh of my bachelors. I recently got accepted into Pitt msw program and spoke to one of my research directors about the program and my transition towards a counseling psychology Phd. Apparently, if I went the msw rout most of my graduate credits would not transfer over towards the counseling psychology phd program ( mind you we where using UF as an example). I would pretty much have to start from scratch earning a second masters on the way. My question is this; Im in interested in research and practice, will most likely have an opportunity to research race and social issues at Pitt and have extensive practicum. I have always wanted to be a psychologist so now I am at a crossroads. Should I

go through a full phd counseling psychology program after msw ?

or

just got the lcsw rout and start working from there?

or

Instead of counseling phd go for social work phd?

or

try to some how obtain a lcsw while at a counseling psychology phd program ( seems like this would be almost impossible)?

Thanks in advance

You should select a PhD program with full funding.

[jmartinez81]

You should select a PhD program with full funding.

that will be one of my highest priority when the time comes

[LJK]

I don't know much about social work and counseling programs (or anything at all really) so I won't weigh in on your possible paths. But, even staying within cognitive psychology, not much of my masters work will transfer to my phd program. They won't likely make me take the same courses over again (except for statistics, but everyone doing research psych should just take statistics over and over again until it is driven home). I may get a few credits, but more likely I will just take different courses than I would if I hadn't already taken graduate level courses. So, you needing to start back at the beginning is not strange or unique to the course of action you have.

[jmartinez81]

I don't know much about social work and counseling programs (or anything at all really) so I won't weigh in on your possible paths. But, even staying within cognitive psychology, not much of my masters work will transfer to my phd program. They won't likely make me take the same courses over again (except for statistics, but everyone doing research psych should just take statistics over and over again until it is driven home). I may get a few credits, but more likely I will just take different courses than I would if I hadn't already taken graduate level courses. So, you needing to start back at the beginning is not strange or unique to the course of action you have.

Thats what one of my research directors told me, but my issue is would it be a financially sound decision. I know LCSW have open fields of practice and can make reasonable amount of money, I'm not to sure how much more a licensed psychologist would make.

The main issue is what I do with those 4-5 years after the MSW

-A. obtain lcsw and gain 2-3 yrs of experience

or

-B. go the psychologist rout