I’m a little nervous about getting into graduate school, so I have a chain of possibilities that I am planning to use.
In order of priority, my options are:
- Master of Arts in Clinical/Community Psychology (UNC-Charlotte)
limitations: only 5 students accepted - Master of Arts in Psychology – Academic Concentration (East Carolina University)
- Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (UNC-Greensboro)
note: will likely attempt to enroll for summer - Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts (Johnson and Wales University)
note: post-bac degree - Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (Fayetteville State University)
note: post-bac degree
I would obviously very much like to get into the Master of Arts in Clinical/Community Psychology, but since there are only 5 seats in the program for each entering class, my chances of getting into the program are quite low. The program is described as being “very competitive”. If this option falls through, I intend to utilize my 2nd option, the Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Academic Psychology. If I am able to get into that program, I will likely reapply to the MA Clinical/Community program next year in hopes of getting in. I will have to be careful with what I select to take though, because if not, I will end up with 12 to 18 hours that I can’t use for anything. I already know that anything beyond 6 hours will be lost anyway, but if its what it takes to impress a graduate school admissions panel, then I have to do it. The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies I can’t really say much about, as it isn’t really in my field of interest, but it would offer me the ability to explore numerous academic options including computer science, philosophy and psychology. Again, only 6 hours could transfer, but if I can improve my record to become more appealing to the admissions committee, then it is worth it. The two bachelor options listed are absolute last-resort fall back options. There is no benefit to joining those programs when it comes to getting into the Master of Arts in Clinical/Community Psyc program. The Culinary Arts degree is really more of a fantasy that would be put into motion if I have to resort to that option. Still, there is the requirement of being accepted. As a final option, there is the B.A. in Sociology which would be interesting, but still not put me any closer to the degree that I need, but unlike the Culinary Arts degree, it would put me on a track in which I would be destined to return to the social sciences. In some ways, that is less desirable than an excuse to activate the fantasy option, hence why it is at the bottom of the list. If I complete the Culinary Arts degree my path will change and I will not be in a position to return to Psyc (a very unpleasant thought).
Ultimately my plan is to complete the MA degree (any of the three, but with priority given as listed above), and then apply to the Ph.D. in Health Psychology (Clinical or Community option) for Fall 2013. The MA in Clinical/Community Psyc places me in the most direct path to enter the doctoral program of my choice.