Anyone else having nagging doubts about grad school?

[Rivi]

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[gmundell]

You're young, even by the time you finish the Doctorate, you'll have LOTS of time to live. As far as joining the Marines goes, you can still join WITH a PhD and work as a psychologist as a Marine. I think they even have tuition reimbursement - look into it. Only you know if psychology is for you, though. That's a question you'll have to answer yourself - but something made you apply in the first place, right?
g

 

[FranklinR]

I got accepted into a great Ph.D. program and I am pretty excited about it. However, several things are really bothering me about taking the jump into the Ph.D. program:

Good. Graduate school is a commitment of a chunk of your life, and if you didn't have second thoughts - well, I for one would be wondering about your first thoughts. I'm not advocating not going, of course.

- I am still kind of young (24) I can't say that I know myself well enough to really determine if this pursuit should be the rest of my career. It seems like that will be the case after I have invested 7 years of graduate school into this.

I'm not entire sure what you mean here. As in literally, I'm not sure what you're saying. Are you expecting to be more certain when you're done? You'll be more committed, but you may or may not be more certain. I'm suspicious of certainty.

Also, it doesn't have to be 7 years if you're focused.

Also, there's no reason to believe you'll be doing this for the rest of your life. That's not a reason not to do it.

-My interests are so broad. I am still kind of finding myself in all of this. I always wanted to join the marines. I wanted to experience that part of life. I am never going to have that opportunity if I go into this. I have thought about declining the offer and joining the marines, but then, if I do that, I will lose a lot of my knowledge and counseling abilities. I may never have this chance again.

The military is accepting older people now (not that I'm saying 31 is old), so even if it took you 7 years to get through grad school, you could (in theory) still join the Marines after. Your Marine experience would be pretty different at that point, of course. Grad school at 31 is a lot easier to pull off than the Marines at 31 (or at least a lot more common). The military might well want you to pursue psychology anyway, by the way. These options are not so much apples and oranges as they are apples and the color blue.

I guess I am concerned that I am going to get stuck in something that might not be my true passion. Maybe the idea of a "true passion" is bull**** anyways. I always hear people say that "If you find the right thing, you will never work a day in your life." I can't say that about grad school. I can't say that about my internship. I certainly enjoy it most of the time though.

If you find something you enjoy all the time, you have probably suffered brain damage. You aren't going to get stuck in psychology, because a PhD isn't a lifetime commitment. It's just not. You could get your PhD then decide you want to be a plumber (pays better). Poof! Get some plumber training and there you go. And grad school isn't what you're going to be doing the rest of your life. It's temporary.

I guess really my main concern is that there is so much out there that I haven't experienced, so much I just don't know about the world and even myself. I am not going to have any opportunities to experience any of that in grad school, perhaps the rest of my life. Can anyone relate at all? Any doubts going into this field and becoming a psychologist?

There is a lot out there that you haven't experienced. That will always be true. You are going to have a chance to experience a lot of that in grad school, though, and after. Graduate school isn't a nunnery/monastery*, and neither is life as a psychologist.

I feel like this isn't even a tiny bit helpful. It is a big decision. Anyone who says they never had any second thought, or they always knew that this was what they wanted... well, I'm a little afraid of that person. Don't let the fact that you have doubts make you think that this is the wrong choice. Think through those doubts, and feel through them as well.

*unless you go to school in a nunnery or monastery.

 

[Aggieanthony]

I can relate quite well, actually!

After I graduated with my B.A., I joined the Army. I wanted life experience as well, feeling like a scholastic journey alone isn't quite enough for a "full" life.

I look back on it with mixed feelings, honestly. There are some very good things about it, like learning how strong you really are, giving a little back to your country, making life-long friends, and of course, tuition assistance and the new "MGIB", the 9/11+ Veterans education fund.

BUT, the flip side is being 4 years behind my peers. People I graduated with in 2004 are now putting the finishing touches on their PhD.s., are in med school, or have been in industry for a couple years and are building careers; however, I'm just starting.

I hope that helps, if you've got any specific questions feel free to PM me.

Anthony

 

[CDub2008]

As far as joining the Marines goes, you can still join WITH a PhD and work as a psychologist as a Marine.
g

As a former Marine, wanted to make sure you know that you can NOT practice psychology as a Marine. The Navy provides all of our medical treatment - including mental health. Actually, at most stations, it will be civilian clinicians that provide mental health treatment. You can certainly go into the Corps with a PhD, but why would anyone want to...

 

[compassionate1]

Hi,

I did not think I was going to share this here... But if it would help anyone, then it is worth it.

I had a tough week, which was sort of "dark night of the soul", considering all of my possibilities, my motives for each etc. and then, this weeked I had a powerful dream:

In my dream, I am about to embark on a trip, a nature hike. I am excited about this opportunity ( I love hiking!) and go to my room to get ready for the day. I can't decide what to wear. I take out of the closet, one outfit after another but nothing seems right ( It is spring outside. Are the cold winter months to blame for the extra few pounds that stand as a barrier between me and the beautiful collection that is in front of me? I can't remember if that was a factor in the dream but know that it is soon to be in reality!) Someone walks into the room and suggests putting together two separate pieces, a top and a skirt. ( rich colors of brown and orange. The skirt is beautiful and expansive). I find it refreshing; I would not think of this combination but I do like it. I am not sure if this is the outfit I ended up wearing, but at last -- I am dressed for the day and ready to set on my journey. But I take a look outside, and alas! realize with a start that it is evening already and soon would get dark. The day is gone, and there is a feeling of sadness and disappointment for that which will never be....

Compassionate1

PS To me this means that making a choice, some kind of a choice, ANY choice -- is better than making none. Perhpas, in life we more often regret the things we have not done, rather than those that we did. Having to choose one road to travel is part of our mortality and is the essence of our humanity. Some of us are fortunate to have travelled on more than one path, and relish in our versatile experiences. Others, get so flustered by the sheer necessity of choosing that it immobilises them and they are left spellbound by the many possibilities. And then it is night....

With deep respect and empathy for the important decision that you must make and the road that follows...

Compassionte1

 

[deleted176373]

As a former Marine, wanted to make sure you know that you can NOT practice psychology as a Marine. The Navy provides all of our medical treatment - including mental health. Actually, at most stations, it will be civilian clinicians that provide mental health treatment. You can certainly go into the Corps with a PhD, but why would anyone want to...

This is true, but Navy psychologists are being attached to Marine units. So you can still be part of a very dynamic organization while not being a Marine and enjoy some incredible experiences. So Rivi, you can do just about anything you want, it's just a matter of making it fit together. Get your Ph.D and don't look back. In the long run, you'll be able to do whatever you want. Life doesn't end at 30, or 40, for most of us.

Navy psychology opportunities are quite good and expanding. I was accepted into the Navy as an Ensign at 40, so don't worry about your expiration date too much. If you have an APA accredited Ph.D in psychology and want to go into the Navy to work closely with Marines, you can find a way to make it happen either as an intern or as a licensed provider.

Mark

 

[ClinicalPsycPhD]

I think it is up to you what you decide, but just to let you know getting a PhD is really hard work and not something you want to get into if you don't love what you're doing. I have always known I wanted to be a psychologist but after going through all the stress of applying to internships this year even I was debating if getting a PhD was worth it. It's a lot easier to be a counselor and get a masters degree if you don't want to invest as much time. All of my peers and I have considered dropping out at some point because of dissertation stress etc, so you really have to love it in order to stick it out.

 

[texgirl5660]

I know you said you're only 24, but Im actually only 21 and am doing the program. I love psychology and I too have other interests, but think about it, I mean you don't HAVE to do it the rest of your life and you also have plenty of time left to do other things. I mean you'll be what 30? that's still a long time left....i say go for it and i hope i don't get any **** for this, but you could always try it out and if you HATE it, you can always quit....although you didn't hear me say that.... good luck!!!!!!

 

[psykate09]

You make it seem like grad school ends your life! You can totally still do fun things in life! You can take a sabbatical and do whatever, plus you'll probably have more money to do so than you have now. I don't really know about the military that much, but there is an air force base near me that hires psychologists all the time.

I want to go to grad school because I like learning, especially psychology, and school is something I'm good at. I know it will be hard work, but grad school is like having a "real" job... either one is going to be hard work, and at least with grad school you come out with more education.