Need help deciding if I should accept.

[bryannach]

I am in my final year of my undergraduate degree in Psychology and was a bit unsure of my direction when I initially applied, so I only applied for a Masters of Early Childhood Studies which I have just been accepted into. After a lot more thought, I've realized I would like to do work with children and families in a more clinical setting as opposed to educational, especially those dealing with chronic illness. So this would lead me to do Child Life Studies/Masters of Social Work/School & Child Counseling. However, I am too late to apply for those this year and intend to do so next year. So I am stuck, do I take the 1-year MA in Early Childhood Studies which is related and use that to strengthen my application, or should I spent the year upgrading a course or two and working/volunteering to strengthen my application? Would doing the 1-year MA in ECS and then applying for the above programs make me look unfocused/disorganized, or will it help?

Edited April 7, 2016 by bryannach

[CaffeinatedCounselor]

I don't think it makes you look unfocused/disorganized at all and it could help your application if your BA grades are not strong. I can see a progression from BA Psy to an MA in ECS and an MSW with a goal of working with children. What I will say, though, is the one-year MA may not be the best way to prep for MSW programs. With an MSW, because you have a BA in Psych (if you've done well) you have enough of an educational background--the new MA doesn't add much on that front. You want to prove your mettle in the field for MSW programs. Can you secure an internship or a job of some sort within the field that is related? Maybe BA-level caseworker positions? Some type of field work? Is there an adviser in your psych department who can point you to internships/fieldwork placements? 

Edit: Also, keep in mind that if you need your MA to boost your grades, you may not have any new grades by the time you apply for MSW programs if the deadlines are December-ish (although I think many have later deadlines). You'll also be applying to grad school while you are adjusting to a new program...which may or may not be something that you feel comfortable with. If they money is there, you could potentially use the one-year MA to gain a new professional network and land an internship that gets you to an MSW later. Does doing this MA get you to a dept. with more resources?

Edited April 7, 2016 by CaffeinatedCounselor

[COGSCI]

I don't think one year MA would be all that helpful if you are planning on applying to MSW programs for 2017 intake. I would rather start working/volunteering in social service organizations and save your money (I'm assuming MA is not funded?) 

There are 1 year BSW programs that might still be open for 2016 fall start. I would look into that as well