I recently wrote an e-mail to a friend of mine. I decided to post an adapted version of the email here as well because I would like to hear what you think. This is something that has been weighing very heavily on my mind for the past few weeks.
I am planning to go to grad school for clinical psychology. I am in the process of applying to a handful of doctoral progams and will be taking the GRE in 3 weeks. While I like to think I am an intelligent person, the measurements schools use to assess my intelligence and probable success as a student indicate that I am about as dumb as a rock. Like I said, I am taking the GRE in three weeks and I really do not expect to do super well. And I don't say that in a pessimistic or dramatic way but in what I see as a logical and realistic way. Also, my GPA is not stellar. I have about a 3.1. The schools I am applying to fit into three categories: probable, possible and long shot. Again, looking at my situation in what I believe to be a logical way, I think there is a possibility of getting rejected by every school I apply to. But let's say I get into one of my "probable" schools. They are not renowned or well known but expensive nonetheless. When I graduate I will be a psychologist, yes, but one that graduated from a school that no one has heard of but cost a pretty penny. Am I stupid to go to one of these schools? Am I stupid to incur the debt that accompanies an education these days? In all honesty, I don't see that I really have any other options. If you were in my shoes what would you do? The only thing that has kept me from giving up (beside my desire to be a psychologist) is something my brother Cooper said. Like many of us in the Swenson clan he has been dealing with depression and anxiety and has met with two different psychologists, one that graduated from BYU, the other Penn State (both great programs) but both Doctors did not accomplish much with my brother. He pointed this out to me and said he thinks that what makes a good psychologist is the actual person and not the school they went to. I do believe that I would be a good psychologist. I believe that I could really help a lot of people. I believe that I have talents and an intuition that cannot be taught in a school. All the schools I am applying to are APA accredited which for me is a non negotiable. But most lack name recognition. It would not bother me to graduate from a school that no one has heard of but I do wonder if it would hurt me. This a decision I will make with a lot of prayer. I would also love to know what you think.
I do want to add that I am fasting and praying for miracles and I am trying to be faithful and trusting.
3 comments:
My advise Cody(for what it is worth)would be to go with the most inexpensive school you can find. Then work your tail off to get good grades and more importantly good internships/mentors. Jake always says that the status of the college only matters for your first job. After that it is about reputation and resume. I would say that particularly with psych, word of mouth will be far more important that the name on your diploma. If you keep your schooling debt down, it will give you far more options to decide what you want to do when you are done. Love you and will be praying for you to ace the GRE.
You say it yourself--you have talents and intuition that cannot be taught, and in the real world that matters more than where you went to school. Trust me on this. I've worked with amazing attorneys and I've worked with crap attorneys, all of whom have gone to Ivy League, state colleges, and everywhere in between. And I can tell you that where they went to school is not an indicator of their ability.
I think you need to go for it and don't look back.
P.S. I'd listen to Cooper. He seems to know what's up.
Post a Comment