Anybody aiming for MA PSY Fall 2010

[johnmalcom]

This would be a good place to get to know each other and share some helpful information.

[jlee306]

Howdy! I am applying to Specialist in School Psychology programs for Fall 2010. A Specialist degree is one step above a masters and one step below a doctorals, just in case anybody is wondering. It is that way because after the two years of grad school work, there is a one year internship involved. I am worried about my SOP the most because I don't know where to start. I am also pretty scared to take the GRE, which I am taking on the 27th (Thursday after next). There is only one school that I really really want to get into!! I hope this thread gets going because it would be nice to talk to others going through the same thing and get to know others with similar interests.

[jhanson28]

Hello!

I too am hoping to get into a Psych related MA program but am having some serious reservations (and flashbacks from applying in 2008) about the application process. I feel I'd be happy in a Human Development and Family Studies/Sciences program or Applied Developmental Psych, as I'm very interested in social-emotional development.

When I applied in 2008, it was predominantly to HDFS Ph.D. programs. Obviously they are very far and few between and are very selective as a Ph.D. program. At that stage, I had taken my GRE (V: 550 Q:620 AWA: 4.5....I'm a bit of an anxious test taker) and had a really strong GPA (3.95/4.0) at a small private school in Chicago, had a year of research experience, spent a summer working with Juvenile Sex Offenders, and was in the midst of completing a certificate in Child & Family Studies. I thought my application was strong enough and assumed I would get into at least one of the 5 programs I applied to. Sadly, I didn't get into any. I was devastated and felt pretty unintelligent.

I feel my application would be much stronger today. I've since completed an honors senior thesis on fostering empathy in children, spent another year as a research assistant at Boston College, have worked at a Montessori school for nearly a year as a teacher's aid (if you're not familiar with the Montessori philosophy, it's predominantly about building children's independent learning, social skills, and positive emotional development). I may soon be working in a governmental program in Australia assisting under-privileged children and intend to retake the GRE very soon. But because of my previous experience, I'm now terrified to apply again! It was expensive. It was an exhausting process. One of the individuals I had writing a letter of recommendation was giving me a hard time about how many schools I applied to (and it was only 5 as mentioned!).

Anyone else feeling a bit anxious here!?

And why are you guys intending to pursue an MA versus a PhD? Time? Because of its focus on applied more so than research psych?

Thanks in advance!

[jlee306]

Anyone else feeling a bit anxious here!?

And why are you guys intending to pursue an MA versus a PhD? Time? Because of its focus on applied more so than research psych?

Thanks in advance!

I am very nervous about the whole application process! The SOP is kicking my butt...I really don't know where to start. I am taking the GRE on the 27th and I am scared about that! I have to get to know some professors a little better this semester in order to get some LORs. I also want to get on a research team this semester. So I pretty much have full basket and it worries me because I want to get into grad school sooooooooooo badly!

I am pursuing a Specialist degree instead of a PhD because in the field of School Psychology, having a PhD allows you to have a private practice or work in a hospital...which I'm not interested in. Having a Specialist degree allows you only to work in schools, which is where I want to work. The only differences in the two degrees is that a PhD:

1) allows you to work in more places,

2) able to conduct research (not interested in doing)

3) be called a School Psychologist (whereas with a Specialist degree you are called a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology or LSSP)

4) be called a Doctor

5) higher pay

Yes, those last 2 are real tempting to me, but I want to work within the school system and I don't want to do research after I graduate. It just makes since for me to stop at the Specialist degree since that degree would allow me to do all that I want to do. Another reason is that I am ready to be finished with school! I have been in school my whole life and need a break; however, I can see myself taking a class here and there for the rest of my life...whether it be a cooking class, art class, literature, etc. I am also engaged and my fiance and I are waiting to get married until after I finish school, or maybe before I begin my internship. Maybe one day, after I'm settled into my career and have my family going, I will go back for my PhD if it appeals to me.

[psych1]

I am going through the same thing, some aspects of the PhD are intriguing, but not enough right now to push me fully in that direction. I also don't have a lot of research experience going to a small LAC. I am interested in a couple of multi-cultural programs that have both PhD and Specialist and might apply to one PhD and see how it goes.

I am mainly interested in programs in the north east so it limits it to some degree. I am also struggling with my SOP, but at least am working on my CV for my LOR professors.

I unfortunately have to work to help pay my tuition and in this economy wasn't able to get positions, paid, that were as attractive an unpaid. I did work with young adults and older adults with disabilities but also had a cashier position to help save some more money. Unpaid internships just weren't going to work. I feel things will work out in the end, whether I have to take another year or settle for a school that isn't my first choice but partially (or fully!!) funded. The end result is working in the schools, doing what I know I will find enjoyable. Sometimes the path is curved but starting for me is the hardest!

[TexasMark]

I'll be aiming for I/O psychology for masters for Spring 2010! If not accepted, I will aim for Fall 2010