Graduate School~
Well.... given the current status of my job...and the fact I may not have it long, I am thinking I need to start considering graduate school now..so that in the event I wind up w/o a job...I can work in the field I hold a degree in!
I did not realize that in order to start next fall....I must apply NOW! Good thing I checked..orelse, I would have been set back another year!
I am applying to:
NYU
Rutgers
Fordham and
Momouth
I need a school that offer a clinical trak because my area of speicalty will be Clinical Practice..... Really the only or best school for that is NYU, which is VERY expensive and not so easy to get to. Their 27 page application is also due Feb. 6th!
Rugters has an area of focus on clinical, but it is said to be weak..and is combined w/administrative and research...which I have absolutely NO interest in!
Fordham has a clinical trak, but is also hard to get to...however they are the MOST flexible school.
I really think I am heading towards Momouth...go figure...it was my school of choic right out of HS...funny how things work out.
I am heading this way because the program seems to work best for me in the shortest amount of time. Plus...their website was the most easily accessed and they were the only ones willing to discuss the program w/me over the phone. A very nice Director of the Gradeuate SW Program sat on the phone w/me to hear my concerns and needs....and told me all about what program would work best for me.
They have a clinical trak, which is in the area of couples, family, and children... not 100% what I wanted...I really wanted pure strong clinical...like diagnostic, assessment, mental health, and various forms of therapies....but I can get that alone the way on my own as I go..I basically already have.
Why I like the program???
A. I can drive to it and park :O)
B. It fits my current work schedule well
C. The classes sound interesting and not repetative to what I just had
D. I need two electives and there are two I would like to take: Substance Abuse
and Diagnosing the SW Client
They are one of the only schools who offers two advanced standing programs:
One is 15 credits per semester (including feild) and is completed in two semesters
I think this will be a bit much for me, working full-time or 29.5hrs.
TWO and the one I will lean towards....
Is a 1yr program. It starts in Fall (which gives me a nice break and FINALLY a summer off) and wraps up the following Spring.
I will begin in Fall and take only two classes. That spring only two Classes again. Summer I have an option...to only intern or intern and take 1 elective to get out faster (which I will do). Then in the next fall..I take two classes and intern and same in spring...then I graduate!!!!!
The classes are on Tuesdays from 430p-10p and that is my new day off!
I need 18-20hrs/wk internship (other schools are 21hrs) and I can easily do that on my other days off Wed/Fri or Monday in the day before work.
This program seems to make the most sense as far as working w/my life style and not absolutely killing myself.
Also, they told me they are very flexible in making the internship work around my schedule..this I have got to see!
It seems like a very professional school that is available to its students.
Their is an open house on Feb 11th and guess what...it is a night I have off of work.
The ducks seem to be in a row w/this school.
However.........I have had my heart set on NYU from the start. It is my dream school. :O(
This is because I am VERY, VERY clincial...I just can't help it...it is just me.
At the Pet Bearevement conf...all Cheryl kepts saying to me was...OMG, you are so damn clinical!!! hee-hee.
I am thinking it is foolish to apply to so many schools...because each charge a 50-75 fee to apply. Also I have to pay for my transcripts from school and Rutgers wants 3!!!
There are CRAZY essay requirements...NYU wants 6pages...very specific..and the letters of rec. requested are VERY specific....as to from who, and what they want to know.
Oh...Momouth also offers scholarships to those w/very high GPAs. I am 4.0 for SW and 3.98 Overall!!! (should be a damn 4.0 if it was not for the moran sociology prof who refused to give As to build character).
So that is the plan for now....
I have requested my application for Certification. It should arrive soon...have to fill it out, get finger printed, get some passport photos, have the form notorized, pay the 75 fee amd return the form. I will then move from a BSW to a CSW (certified SWr).
After my 1.5yr graduate program at momouth I take a licensing exam (VERY hard exam..70 is passing, average score is 74)....then I am a LSW and can work in a private office as a therapist. I must work there for 3000 hrs under direct supervision (2yrs and no more than 3yrs) and then be re licensed (a 2nd VERY hard Clincal exam) as a LCSW. Then I can open my own practice and take 3rd party billing....which I wont do...but I can work anywhere and do anything...I will basically be equiv. to a Clinical Psychologist! :O)
I did not realize that in order to start next fall....I must apply NOW! Good thing I checked..orelse, I would have been set back another year!
I am applying to:
NYU
Rutgers
Fordham and
Momouth
I need a school that offer a clinical trak because my area of speicalty will be Clinical Practice..... Really the only or best school for that is NYU, which is VERY expensive and not so easy to get to. Their 27 page application is also due Feb. 6th!
Rugters has an area of focus on clinical, but it is said to be weak..and is combined w/administrative and research...which I have absolutely NO interest in!
Fordham has a clinical trak, but is also hard to get to...however they are the MOST flexible school.
I really think I am heading towards Momouth...go figure...it was my school of choic right out of HS...funny how things work out.
I am heading this way because the program seems to work best for me in the shortest amount of time. Plus...their website was the most easily accessed and they were the only ones willing to discuss the program w/me over the phone. A very nice Director of the Gradeuate SW Program sat on the phone w/me to hear my concerns and needs....and told me all about what program would work best for me.
They have a clinical trak, which is in the area of couples, family, and children... not 100% what I wanted...I really wanted pure strong clinical...like diagnostic, assessment, mental health, and various forms of therapies....but I can get that alone the way on my own as I go..I basically already have.
Why I like the program???
A. I can drive to it and park :O)
B. It fits my current work schedule well
C. The classes sound interesting and not repetative to what I just had
D. I need two electives and there are two I would like to take: Substance Abuse
and Diagnosing the SW Client
They are one of the only schools who offers two advanced standing programs:
One is 15 credits per semester (including feild) and is completed in two semesters
I think this will be a bit much for me, working full-time or 29.5hrs.
TWO and the one I will lean towards....
Is a 1yr program. It starts in Fall (which gives me a nice break and FINALLY a summer off) and wraps up the following Spring.
I will begin in Fall and take only two classes. That spring only two Classes again. Summer I have an option...to only intern or intern and take 1 elective to get out faster (which I will do). Then in the next fall..I take two classes and intern and same in spring...then I graduate!!!!!
The classes are on Tuesdays from 430p-10p and that is my new day off!
I need 18-20hrs/wk internship (other schools are 21hrs) and I can easily do that on my other days off Wed/Fri or Monday in the day before work.
This program seems to make the most sense as far as working w/my life style and not absolutely killing myself.
Also, they told me they are very flexible in making the internship work around my schedule..this I have got to see!
It seems like a very professional school that is available to its students.
Their is an open house on Feb 11th and guess what...it is a night I have off of work.
The ducks seem to be in a row w/this school.
However.........I have had my heart set on NYU from the start. It is my dream school. :O(
This is because I am VERY, VERY clincial...I just can't help it...it is just me.
At the Pet Bearevement conf...all Cheryl kepts saying to me was...OMG, you are so damn clinical!!! hee-hee.
I am thinking it is foolish to apply to so many schools...because each charge a 50-75 fee to apply. Also I have to pay for my transcripts from school and Rutgers wants 3!!!
There are CRAZY essay requirements...NYU wants 6pages...very specific..and the letters of rec. requested are VERY specific....as to from who, and what they want to know.
Oh...Momouth also offers scholarships to those w/very high GPAs. I am 4.0 for SW and 3.98 Overall!!! (should be a damn 4.0 if it was not for the moran sociology prof who refused to give As to build character).
So that is the plan for now....
I have requested my application for Certification. It should arrive soon...have to fill it out, get finger printed, get some passport photos, have the form notorized, pay the 75 fee amd return the form. I will then move from a BSW to a CSW (certified SWr).
After my 1.5yr graduate program at momouth I take a licensing exam (VERY hard exam..70 is passing, average score is 74)....then I am a LSW and can work in a private office as a therapist. I must work there for 3000 hrs under direct supervision (2yrs and no more than 3yrs) and then be re licensed (a 2nd VERY hard Clincal exam) as a LCSW. Then I can open my own practice and take 3rd party billing....which I wont do...but I can work anywhere and do anything...I will basically be equiv. to a Clinical Psychologist! :O)