Counselling Psychology MeD at OISE? Some advice would be appreciated!

[MeaningfulLife]

This is my first time posting here, and I wanted to ask about the MeD degree in Counselling Psychology:

http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/aphd/Prospective_Students/Programs/Counselling_Psychology/Program_Overview/MEd(CE)/index.html

Minimum Admission Requirements

• An appropriate bachelor’s degree of any background or discipline, with a grade equivalent to a University of Toronto B+ or better in the final year, from a recognized university.
• At least one year of relevant experience.

I'm studying at McGill - I was doing Honours International Development and Political science for two years. But I've been working as an RA and I think I would really love to be a counsellor.

So I dropped political science and am trying Psychology now.

My GPA is exactly 3.3 but I wonder if 3 years of RA-ing will be okay for experience?

I have two more years and so I want to ask what I should focus on? Getting more support experience or making my GPA higher?

Have you gotten in to the program, do you know of anyone who has? What was their GPA?

Any insight would be great! Hope you have a great day.

 

[Generic_Applicant]

From my understanding, an MEd doesn't require much research experience because it isnt a research focussed program. A friend of mine got in two years ago having done only an undergrad thesis, psych specialist, and probably about 3.7-3.8 GPA.

Keep your GPA high and work on getting great recommendation letter. Maybe even volunteer in a relevant area to build experience/ connections. Good job on the early start.  

[MeaningfulLife]

Hi! Thank you for that information! They say they only see the GPA for the last year of undergrad? Is that actually true?  Would you happen to know?

[Applicant#1000]

If they have said so, then yes they will just look at your last year's GPA

[Applicant#1000]

As for experience, definitely look into counselling related volunteer and work experience (like crisis hotline or at abuse centers). Also work on boosting your GPA. Even though the minimum requirements are B+ or higher in last year, they usually accept someone with A or A-

[Generic_Applicant]

Yes, usually it's either the last one year or two. if they have said last one year, then that's right. And like Applicant #1000 said, higher the GPA, the better (but that's a given)

[MeaningfulLife]

Thank you for that! Would you happen to have insight on the MeD program at OISE? I've heard that it's difficult to find work after, and that a lot of people end up working part time for Kids Help Phone!

[Generic_Applicant]

I can't give you any for sure answers but the one friend who completed the program has had some trouble finding work but a lot of people in her cohort have found work. So it's hard to generalize. I also know some PhD's who are having a tough time. So it's usually hit or miss. 

I think what works best is networking, no matter the degree

[MeaningfulLife]

That's what I had heard as well, and was worried about. It's 45 people in one class for the year, and there aren't many counselling psychology programs in Ontario other than the one at Western so I was wondering why it was being difficult to find work! :/ 

PHD's are having a hard time finding work? But aren't you a certified psychologist with an Edd? And I though that was the creme de la creme of job search, I guess I was wrong, lol.