Okay, next program question ... NYU General MA

[wdd]

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Has anyone else attended this program? I was accepted back on '05, but couldn't do it (financial blah blah blah ... moved to Chicago blah blah blah). I just revisited the web site, and it still looks good. However, before, I was into it because--on top of becoming a psychologist--I wanted desperately to live in NYC. Now I think I'm looking at it more practically, but I'd like anyone else's opinions on it, too.

Of course, I'm prepared (mentally, anyway) for the expense. It's about $40k, and there's no assistantship.

Thanks!

 

[paramour]

I am going to presume that $40K is per year, in which case, I would strongly recommend against spending that much money for a general MA. There are cheaper programs that will provide you with a quality education for considerably less. Unless they can guarantee you a lack of stress when (or if) you decide to apply to doctoral programs because they can get you in somewhere *guaranteed*, then I don't think it's worth it.

G'luck~

 

[wdd]

Oh, yeah, sorry, I should have specified. It's more like $40k for the entire program. $1080/credit x 36 credits = $38,800. Plus some fees here and there, etc. So, maybe $41k or $42k, plus books. There are scholarship opportunities, though, so maybe luck would prevail and take a little sting out.

I'm finding that the other programs I'm looking into for terminal MA or MS degrees are either cheaper (Depaul, at about $500/credit) or provide opportunities for assistantships (Villanova), but they offer no opportunity for clinical experience. And unfortunately, I have a relatively limited geographical range. At least I have no undergrad debt! My wife, on the other hand .............

I am going to presume that $40K is per year, in which case, I would strongly recommend against spending that much money for a general MA. There are cheaper programs that will provide you with a quality education for considerably less. Unless they can guarantee you a lack of stress when (or if) you decide to apply to doctoral programs because they can get you in somewhere *guaranteed*, then I don't think it's worth it.

G'luck~

 

[paramour]

Alrighty then--sounds a bit better. 🙂 Of course, you should also take into consideration cost of living differences between your current location and NY. Would you be able to easily afford expenses there, or would you need to take out even additional financial assistance to make ends meet? May not sound like a lot initially, but all that schtuff can easily (and quickly) rack up your debt.

If you are looking at general MA/MS programs, then I would actually find it odd if they did provide one with clinical experiences. Unless it's a clinical/counseling master's degree, then there is honestly no reason for them to be providing you with that type of experience--although you *might* be able to work something comparable in with an internship during those programs if you so wish to do so.

Something else to keep in mind is that if you are looking to apply to clinical doctoral programs afterwards, then research experience typically tends to be more important during the application process than clinical experience.

Cheers~

 

[wdd]

Oh, sure, and that's the reason I didn't go when I was initially accepted--I needed to go part-time, and couldn't find a job. Fortunately, I have a lot of options (lots of places to crash for free, for example) at this point, and can consider it seriously now. I know Manhattan really well, too, so I know where I can get a bite to eat on the cheap! Two words: Street Meat! 🙂

As for the clinical stuff, it's listed there as "fieldwork." I don't know if that makes a difference. Either way, post-MA, I'll be looking practice-leaning PhDs (e.g., Northwestern's Feinberg Med School program) or University-based PsyDs (Rutgers, Widener), so I would like/will need some experience in a practical setting, along with the necessary research experience.

Alrighty then--sounds a bit better. 🙂 Of course, you should also take into consideration cost of living differences between your current location and NY. Would you be able to easily afford expenses there, or would you need to take out even additional financial assistance to make ends meet? May not sound like a lot initially, but all that schtuff can easily (and quickly) rack up your debt.

If you are looking at general MA/MS programs, then I would actually find it odd if they did provide one with clinical experiences. Unless it's a clinical/counseling master's degree, then there is honestly no reason for them to be providing you with that type of experience--although you *might* be able to work something comparable in with an internship during those programs if you so wish to do so.

Something else to keep in mind is that if you are looking to apply to clinical doctoral programs afterwards, then research experience typically tends to be more important during the application process than clinical experience.

Cheers~