Counseling and mental health

[Bianca999]

Hi everyone ：）

I just found this forums and I'm not familiar with it. And I have several questions.

I'm applying for counseling programs in Fall 2013.

My major is Library Science which is not close to counseling.....and minor in Public Relations which is not close to counseling too.... But now I really love this major and want to study it as a graduate student.

Here are some numbers:

My gpa : 3.8/4.0

GRE：verbal 152 Q 163 AW 3.5 not good....

Toefl: 105

Experience: Asian Games volunteer, writing letters to a poor left-behind child in a poor area in China (encourage her to live happily) , volunteer teacher in two communities with volunteers from AIESEC last summer, volunteer teacher in Nepal this summer for two weeks, an internship in a company which is helping employers to do psychological assistance to their employees.

Here are some schools I'm interested in : Upenn, Colombia TC， University of Minnesota twin cities, University of Wisconsin madison， Boston College， William&Marry, NYU Do you have any other school suggestions?

I'm not confident with my GRE but I have no time to take a test. So I want to put more time on PS, RL and essays. If you also apply for this major, could you please give me several suggestions on writing PS? Because I'm now crazy about it....I do not know how to show the best me....especially I do not have so much relevant experience.....

THANKS ：）

Edited November 14, 2012 by Bianca999

[carlyhylton]

Definitely wait for someone else to comment... I'm not at all familiar with the application process to Counselling programs.

But I would think that you really need to get some ground work in psychology!

Do you have a substantial amount of Psychology courses?

If you don't I would think that you would want to have some for your sake, even if you could get admitted into a grad program!

If not you could do a post-bacc program. You listed Colombia (Teacher's College) as a school of interest (not sure why). Colombia offers a post-bacc program in psychology.

I would also assume your volunteer experience is irrelevant. Again I'm not familiar with Counselling program protocol but if you were applying to a more general program I think it's pretty safe to say that you shouldn't even list any of it.

You would probably also want to get some relevant experience.

[denimfan]

Are you applying for the 2012-2013 cycle? Not to be a downer or anything, but if I were you, I'd take a year or two off to better prepare your application. If what you have posted above is as far as your credentials go, I'd say your chances of getting in are close to none. You have listed ample amount of volunteer and clinical experiences in the helping sector, and this is good. But in reality, Ph.D. programs look more at your research experiences/interests and academic prowess. You have good GPA so no worries there, but your GRE is lacking, and since you have a degree in Library Science, I'd recommend you take the Psychology subject GRE to show the schools that you have knowledge in various aspects of clinical and counseling psychology. What's more, the schools you have listed are super competitive and top schools. You will definitely need extensive research experience to have any chance of getting an interview. If you are applying for the 2013-2014 cycle, then you have about a year to enhance your credentials and I think the major areas for you to work on would be the GREs and research experience.

[Specs]

Would you be interested in a master's degree? I would suggest taking a look into counseling or clinical psychology. If you are set on a PhD, you could go for a masters now (make sure it's an MA, with a thesis and research opportunities). I wasn't sure of a specialty, so I obtained a Master's degree first, and I am glad I did