[humanser] preparing for grad school

[Kathy McGillivray]

I suggest talking with counselors you know and finding out what their 
experience was like in their programs. That's how I chose my graduate 
program in counseling psychology. I had several years of experience as a 
minister before going to grad school in counseling psych. I agree with the 
others that getting volunteer and/or paid experience can be helpful prior to 
grad school. On the other hand, my push for grad school was that my state 
rehab counselor knew I wanted to get a Master's and basically said, "If you 
want us to pay for it, you should do it now because otherwise we need to 
close your case." This was because I was working. He had a point and I was 
fortunate to have someone who knew my goals and cared enough to help me 
reach them.

Hope it goes well for you.

Kathy McGillivray
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JD TOWNSEND" <43210 at Bellsouth.net>
To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: [humanser] preparing for grad school


>
> Hi Sarah:
>
>
> Apply to the schools that best meets your needs for an education. 
> Personally I like the universities in urban areas because they have better 
> libraries, transportation and more apartments.
>
>
> Have you decided which type of counseling program you wish?  Social work 
> offers many options, mental health counseling offers a clear, but narrow 
> field, and marriage and family offers a slightly different framework. 
> Each one of these provides a state license to do psychiatric counseling. 
> This decision will end up being meaningful in your future.
>
>
> As for experience, volunteering is the prime option, but it pays poorly. 
> I worked on a telephone hot line for a couple of years.  My wife, also a 
> clinical social worker, supported her social work havit waiting tables for 
> years.  Any job that puts you in front of people works.  Some other folks 
> I know have worked in rape crisis centers, with a head start program, or 
> answered the telephones for a blind services office.
>
>
>
> Best of luck.
>
> JD Townsend, LCSW
> Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
> Helping the light dependent to see.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Sarah Meyer" <Sarah.meyer55 at gmail.com>
> To: "humanser" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 8:30 AM
> Subject: [humanser] preparing for grad school
>
>
>> Hello!
>> First off, thanks to Kathy and Rick for the welcome messages a few weeks 
>> ago!
>>
>> I am wondering how people determined which grad school to attend. What
>> factors did you consider in making your decisions? What should one do
>> to prepare for grad school? Are there any types of entry-level jobs in
>> which I could gain some experience that would help me in preparing for
>> a career in counseling psychology, particularly as I am entering a
>> phase between undergraduate and graduate education?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.
>>
>> Sarah
>>
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>
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