Which Programme Would You Choose? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Life] >> College - Career



Message

-Justyna- -> Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 8:20:15 AM)

I am going to be doing my doctorate in Psychoogy this fall. The only problem is that I cant decide between 2 programmes. The first one is an online programme at Walden University. It would take me 3 years to complete. I would live with my mom and sister during this time. It would prepare me to get my liscense to practice etc.


http://www.waldenu.edu/Degree-Programs/Doctorate/18013.htm


Or the second one is from Alliant International University where I would live on campus and go to a traditional school. It would take me 4 years plus one year internship (I dont like that its that long because thats so much money to spend)

http://www.alliant.edu/wps/wcm/connect/website/Home/About+Alliant/Schools+%26+Colleges/California+School+of+Professional+Psychology/About+CSPP+Programs/Clinical+Psychology+PhD+Programs/Clinical+Psychology+%28PhD%29+-+San+Diego/

Which one would you pick? Any advice? Comments? Concerns?



Miss Giggles -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 8:33:00 AM)

I don't see how you could a doctorate in a distance learning setting.. and online .. can you clarify that? Where is the internship? Or do you do part of this program online and only go for the 2 week sessions.. I don't know.

There is an awful lot of research and mentoring needed to complete the coursework and thesis.



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 8:38:11 AM)

Sure Miss Giggles...I can clarify. [:)]

Basically when I called the online school they told me that I would have to do a residency where I would sit down with a counselor and my professors 3 times durng the three year programme and meet with them. They would guide me in the dissertation process and help me along. Each time I would go for about a weeks time and stay at a hotel where there would be conferences specifically for the dissertation process. I liked this part a lot. I thought it was really well-thoughtout and it made a lot of sense.



agapetos -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 9:30:52 AM)

Justyna, how would you do an internship with the online school? Surely if you intend to practice in psychology it would be to your advantage (not to mention your clients!) to have some exerience under the supervision of a qualified psychologist before you even think of starting to practice.

Perhaps what you need to be doing is approaching some places that employ psychologists and see what they think of each university.

Three years and a saving of $x may sound good... gonna be an awful waste if no one gives your qualifications a second glance though because you don't have any experience.



manda59 -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 10:30:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: -Justyna-
The first one is an online programme at Walden University. It would take me 3 years to complete. I would live with my mom and sister during this time. It would prepare me to get my liscense to practice etc.



Justyna, this isn't connected directly to the course itself, but the living arrangements. You've previously described your mother as impossible to live with, and, whilst living with her might seem better than your present arrangement, it could surely easily go wrong again and become just too difficult. Living with your mother and sister for a few months is likely to be hard enough, but three years sounds like you could surely easily prove just too much, from what you've said before.



manda59 -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 10:42:15 AM)

OK, now re the course itself. [;)]

The first thing that came to my mind when you mentioned the two courses was to see if both were accredited.

In the UK, in order to have a career in Psychology, the course(s) you do need to be accredited by the British Psychological Society. I imagined that in the USA, it would be similar, that the course would need to be accredited.

I looked at the Walden University link, and saw this at the bottom:

quote:


The Clinical Psychology specialization in the Psychology Ph.D. program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for psychology licensing exams. This specialization is designed to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state psychology boards. However, Walden University licensure specializations in psychology are not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and have not received designation by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register (ASPPB/NR), which are requirements for licensure in some states. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards at http://www.asppb.net/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3395 and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body.


I'd seriously recommend you look into this further, otherwise you could put all that time and energy in and end up with a qualification you might not be able to use.



agapetos -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 11:03:09 AM)

quote:

The first thing that came to my mind when you mentioned the two courses was to see if both were accredited.
Accredited, that's the word that I was looking for![:D]



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 11:49:28 AM)

Yeah I see your point. So everyone agrees that I should go to a traditional school? Which would be the second of the two choices?


Here is what Alliant International University says.....it is accredited by the APA.

"Accreditation
The PhD Program has full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association."

It would just take so long to finish, but I see that there are no short-cuts in life and I wouldnt want to waste time at an online uni. only to later find out that its not going to pay off in the end. I guess the second choice is better than.



agapetos -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 3:34:13 PM)

Are those the only 2 choices you have Justyna?



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 3:40:57 PM)

Yeah that I know of. I want to stay in San Diego because thats where my family lives. I can go else where, but I would be far from them. This way they are close by and I can help them and vice versa.



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 6:03:18 PM)

I can probably finish the programme faster since I will be living on campus..so that means I can go during summer and winter breaks..should be done earlier than the 4 years that it takes people.



manda59 -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 6:03:58 PM)

What about this one? I just did a google search and up it came:

Argosy University


(I haven't checked it in detail yet)



agapetos -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 6:14:17 PM)

Justyna, how much have you looked into this? What kind of therapy were you thinking of going into? Counselling psychology? Clinical psychology? Other?



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 6:32:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: manda59

What about this one? I just did a google search and up it came:

Argosy University


(I haven't checked it in detail yet)



Only problem with this one is that its not in San Diego.



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 6:36:14 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

Justyna, how much have you looked into this? What kind of therapy were you thinking of going into? Counselling psychology? Clinical psychology? Other?



Clinical...i want to have my own practice someday. I have been thinking about it for the past few months or so. My undergraduate is in Psych...so its always been a part of me. Not to mention the things I went through myself that qualify me for the job. [;)]

I will meet with the counsellors to look into it more. I exchanged e-mails today with an admissions counsellor and I qualify. Everything is good, and I can start in Aug once I get all my paper work done. Of course they have to interview me etc, but at least I meet the criteria.



agapetos -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 6:40:52 PM)

Justyna, you may find this worth reading. It's about becoming a psychologist (requirements, studying etc). The man who wrote it, Raymond Lloyd Richmond, is a licensed psychologist in CA. While he does start with someone looking into studying in high school, he does go on to degrees and PhDs.



agapetos -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 6:51:29 PM)

Justyna, I have no doubt that you qualify academically but from the link I posted

quote:

University programs are highly competitive (something like 6 applicants accepted per year from over several hundred applications). Your application will be helped by excellent grades and some previous research experience—preferably, a published paper, if only as a co-author.

Professional schools are easier to get into, but they are very expensive. You will have to take out enormous student loans, or you might try to work while studying—perhaps even studying part-time. Also, many professional schools offer primarily the Psy.D. degree, reserving the Ph.D. (if they offer it at all) for a few, select students.

My advice in regard to making these decisions is to apply to many different programs. The application process, of course, is time-consuming and can become almost a full-time job for a few months. You will need to research the various programs, get their admissions requirements, take the GRE examinations if required, get application forms and fill them out, and pay the application fees—and travel to admissions interviews. You will receive many rejections, so be prepared, but the acceptances will help to shape your future choices.
You're already limiting your choice to one university.

quote:

But, in general, college should take four years. It will take about five years of full-time study after college to get a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree.
You're aiming to carry on through the summer. How are you going to fit work (to pay for your fees and living expenses) while you're studying full-time?

quote:

Then, after you earn your doctoral degree, it will take about two more years to complete your post-doctoral training hours and study for—and pass—two psychology licensure exams.


quote:

The failure rate of each exam is about 50%, and some individuals can spend several years just trying to pass both exams.


I am NOT trying to disuade you from going into psychology, but I am wanting you to really look into what it will entail.



manda59 -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 8:22:31 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: -Justyna-
quote:

ORIGINAL: manda59
What about this one? I just did a google search and up it came:
Argosy University
(I haven't checked it in detail yet)

Only problem with this one is that its not in San Diego.



Are you absolutely sure about that? I wouldn't have posted it if it wasn't in San Diego. (What made you think they weren't there?)

http://www.argosy.edu/locations/san-diego/default.aspx

I haven't checked the accreditation, but they most definitely have a campus in San Diego.



iluvatar -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/3/2009 9:20:51 PM)

What about UC San Diego?

-Dan.



myka -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/4/2009 12:45:35 AM)

It seems to me that you are more interested in counseling with people rather than in the research aspects of psychology; is that correct? If so, do you currently have a master's degree? There are also ways to be able to get to the counseling part of the practice while working toward the doctoral study.



manda59 -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/4/2009 5:49:09 AM)

Yes, I was wondering about a Masters too. [:)]



manda59 -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/4/2009 5:51:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: iluvatar
What about UC San Diego?

-Dan.



Justyna

UC San Diego do a PhD in Experimental Psychology, as Dan rightly says!



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/4/2009 1:11:50 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: manda59

quote:

ORIGINAL: iluvatar
What about UC San Diego?

-Dan.



Justyna

UC San Diego do a PhD in Experimental Psychology, as Dan rightly says!



Yeah I saw that....they also offer stipens that cover your costs..that sounds really awesome! This is exciting. Only problem is that I cant start this fall, I would have to apply now to start next fall...so where would I live? With my mom and sister for a year? Thats the only draw back I see. I can always live with a roommate.

Anyway..the UCSD programme sounds really great. Its from a UC so its better than the AIU one. I hope I get accepted. I will give them a call tomorrow when I get a calling card to call the US. Its a lot cheaper at a UC than a private University like I was looking at. This is excellent, I didnt even think of it,. thanks to all who checked for me.

Sorry Manda, I thougt Argosy University was not based in San Diego, looks like it is though.



agapetos -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/4/2009 1:15:57 PM)

quote:

so where would I live? With my mom and sister for a year?
Well at the start of the thread you were considering a distance course ~ and said that you would be living with them for the 3 years it took to complete.



-Justyna- -> RE: Which Programme Would You Choose? (6/4/2009 1:22:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

quote:

so where would I live? With my mom and sister for a year?
Well at the start of the thread you were considering a distance course ~ and said that you would be living with them for the 3 years it took to complete.



Yeah true.....but then Manda kindly reminded me how hard it is to live with my mom. I guess I am confused as to what to do when I get back to Cali...[&:]....so what else is new?

Ive been praying a lot about what to do when I get back. I really want things to work out. I prayed this morning and fasted as well (just one meal) to get an answer and clear direction from the Lord. It felt good. I like this UCSD thing a lot though.....it sounds really good and solid.



Page: [1] 2 3   next >   >>



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI