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I am writing here because I am having difficulty with making a decision in regards to graduate school. I would like some advice, heres a run down on whats happened to me through the process, I got turned down by all doctoral programs, except on the waiting list for Yeshiva University's PsyD program. I have gotten into three general masters programs so far at LIU, New School and Columbia and one Masters in MHC at Yeshiva University. I am very confused about where to attend. I am also waiting to hear from Hunter College and City University(Which is a Mental Health Counseling Program) If I got into either I would probably choose them since i am so indecisive and they are so much cheaper then private schools. Anyway as far as the four I have gotten into so far, I have mostly ruled out LIU(even though someone told me they have a decent psych program) the main debate is between New School, Yeshiva and Columbia-Teachers college.
My family seems to encourage Columbia because of the reputation of being Columbia but from what I've read here and in other places prestige of school isn't really a big deal with masters programs as most general masters program seem to accept most applicants. I always liked the little caveat the New School has where they accept people into their doctoral only from their masters program. I know this could lead to a very competitive enviornment but it's also a little entising to know that theres about a 40-50% chance of getting into their PhD program where as the average time you apply for one theres about a 15% chance. Yeshiva's mental health counseling is very expensive and I feel it's only meant if I decide I want to be a mental health counselor but it doesnt make as much sense if I am like 90% sure I want to go on to a doctoral program, however Yeshiva's PsyD and PhD program also gives advantages to students who attend their masters which is also a little I guess thing to think about. I know the biggest thing especially with a general masters is to look up the facultys research interest since I think it is the chance to get really good mentoring and research that will benefit more going into a PhD then a masters program itself will. Thats another problem is that when I look at schools I find a lot of them do similar research, theres not really one school that stands out.
This all leads me to the question of if it's even worth going to a masters program at all which I have recently contemplated as my grades are really good now(3.65 undergrad GPA, 3.85 Psych GPA) and I don't really think its coursework holding me back from acceptance to doctorals but rather lack of significant research experience, maybe lack of clinical stuff and stuff like that and I feel like going through all these courses if might just be a waste of money if coursework isnt really my weak area. I am really unsure what to do and was wondering if you could give me any advice or if you know who the best person to go for advice is, I did email the professor whose lab i have volunteered in so maybe he can be helpful. Thank you very much for any assistance anyone could provide.
My family seems to encourage Columbia because of the reputation of being Columbia but from what I've read here and in other places prestige of school isn't really a big deal with masters programs as most general masters program seem to accept most applicants. I always liked the little caveat the New School has where they accept people into their doctoral only from their masters program. I know this could lead to a very competitive enviornment but it's also a little entising to know that theres about a 40-50% chance of getting into their PhD program where as the average time you apply for one theres about a 15% chance. Yeshiva's mental health counseling is very expensive and I feel it's only meant if I decide I want to be a mental health counselor but it doesnt make as much sense if I am like 90% sure I want to go on to a doctoral program, however Yeshiva's PsyD and PhD program also gives advantages to students who attend their masters which is also a little I guess thing to think about. I know the biggest thing especially with a general masters is to look up the facultys research interest since I think it is the chance to get really good mentoring and research that will benefit more going into a PhD then a masters program itself will. Thats another problem is that when I look at schools I find a lot of them do similar research, theres not really one school that stands out.
This all leads me to the question of if it's even worth going to a masters program at all which I have recently contemplated as my grades are really good now(3.65 undergrad GPA, 3.85 Psych GPA) and I don't really think its coursework holding me back from acceptance to doctorals but rather lack of significant research experience, maybe lack of clinical stuff and stuff like that and I feel like going through all these courses if might just be a waste of money if coursework isnt really my weak area. I am really unsure what to do and was wondering if you could give me any advice or if you know who the best person to go for advice is, I did email the professor whose lab i have volunteered in so maybe he can be helpful. Thank you very much for any assistance anyone could provide.
