BU Counseling Psych

[laurjorg]

I've been accepted to a multitude of schools, and right now am between Boston University, Harvard and Columbia. BU gave a generous package, and I am likely going to obtain a GA. I have not heard about funding from Harvard.

For any current BU Counseling students out there-what are the best/worst parts of your program? Coming from a non-psych background, I don't have much support with choosing schools. I'm doing my emphasis in school counseling, and I love the research professors are doing and the positive psych/strengths emphasis. I'm just not sure what the job outlook is, and a little worried about the lack of emphasis on multicultural perspectives.

Advice/comments? Thanks!

[sackofcrap]

This may or may not be helpful to you. I am not attending the graduate program at BU, but I went to BU as an undergraduate in psychology. During my senior year, I happened to take the class called "Children at Risk" which you have to take in the school counseling track of the program (http://www.bu.edu/academics/sed/programs/counseling/edm/). I took the class because I was planning to go into school psychology. The class was a mix of graduate students from the counseling program and upper level undergraduates. I thought that it was very well taught. I found the material interesting and all around, I thought it was a good class. If that class was a reflection on the program, then I would give it 2 thumbs up. 

As far as job outlook goes, I would think it would be just as good as the job outlook is for school counseling in general. Looking at the Occupational Outlook, it seems to be about average (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm). If you're looking to work outside of the schools as well, that employment outlook might be a little different.

[dancedementia]

I do research in two of BU's Counseling Psychology labs and am friends with a few of the doctoral students. Can't speak for the classes, but the professors are AMAZING. Everyone is very willing to help, pushes you to publish and actively encourages you. Super open minded, lots of room for you to explore your own ideas (there's not a lot of "here let me assign you a project" going on). The practicum sites in the Boston area are unparalleled - one of my friends is at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders; another is at Mclean. These are top institutions with superb training. Who's your POI?

Edited April 16, 2016 by dancedementia

[laurjorg]

@dancedementia Thanks for your input! I'm actually going for my Masters, not Doctorate so I don't have a POI. I am going towards the school counseling track. I also see your program is of Higher Education, and I am hoping to be able to go into Higher Education with my Masters in Counseling. I'm currently between Teachers College at Columbia and BU.

@sackofcrap Thanks so much for your input! I'm deciding between Teachers College and BU still, just hoping that a job along with the program will make my decision for me.