A Revelation

Happy New Year everyone! Lets hope 2010 is better for us than 2009 :)

So I've come to a major crossroads in my education path. I have my BA in Psychology and did an internship as a Research Assistant. I had thought of getting my Masters in Forensic Psychology, but right now I don't think that's what I want to pursue. For the second time in my life I've had someone tell me that I should do what tickles me (Not exactly verbatim but close). The first was Joe Vlah at an orientation before my first year at Flagler; the second was Kenneth Glass (he owns an Antiques store in Downtown Stuart). He picked me for an artist. A good guess :) Art and writing I do for fun, to unwind from a stressful day or workout a problem. I couldn't do it as a school choice. I don't think I'd find it enjoyable after awhile, you know? So that of course got me thinking...Do I really want my Masters in Psychology? I don't really want to do therapy or counseling, and I think I know I couldn't work with abused children. I don't want to get into the medical aspects like Psychiatry. I wouldn't feel comfortable in handling people and medications. Being a researcher isn't the most glamorous of fields but it certainly is interesting but I don't want to be stuck inside, in a room with no windows...maybe if I had a window it would be a consideration. I'm not really great with numbers or even science for that matter.

So yeah...I've been thinking that while I find Psychology interesting and what have you. I don't think I would enjoy it in the long-run. So what do I want? I want to wake up everyday (well the majority of most days) and enjoy having to go and do what I do. Something I'm compassionate about. Something that makes me smile so big I could blot out the sun. Something that hopefully I won't be stuck in an office all day for. One word can sum up my passion:

Wolves
It's always been at the back of my mind. I was a wolf on the beach when I was little; digging holes, running around on all my hands and knees, and yes I think even howling while in my leopard print bathing suit. There are wolves everywhere in my room. I even like to howl with my dog...who I'm certain is more wolf than we think.

I don't know exactly what I want to study in the wolf realm but I want to work with them, be their human voice and educate those trying to kill them off. Palin unfortunately I don't believe can be rehabilitated in this effort and I have a more colorful image of how I would like to immerse her in what she's been a part of. Its kind of like an intense form of flooding or exposure therapy...but more violent >.>

Now I just have to concentrate and figure out how to go about this...which means I get do a school search again. Yay. If I thought finding Forensic programs was hard enough, this should make for a fun challenge. I'll be writing about my new endeavors over at Stay in the Woods

So Where Do I Go From Here?

I'm at the point in my life and career path where I'm starting to ask questions that could possibly open too many door and not have the inkling of where I should go. Do they make GPSs for this sort of dilemma because I need some direction?

I've started looking into graduate schools, now that my internship is underway, and their forensic psychology programs. I've been doing a little more research about the itself as well. This is where my problems start to arise. Some schools offer MA/MS in Forensic Psychology, while other campuses off it at the Doctorate level (PhD or PsyD). There aren't too many schools to begin with that offer the program but I have found quite a few. Thus, begging the question: Should I pursue the Masters program or shoot straight for the Doctorate?

From what I can gather so far, it would better me to have the PhD/PsyD than the MA. However, the MA is only 2 years of school and more than likely less costly than the doctorate, depending on the school of course. I’ve also looked into the possibility of pursuing the Criminal Justice track as well. Some of the schools I’ve found that offer the Masters program in either Forensic Psychology or Criminal Justice:
1. American International College – MS Forensic Psy
2. Argosy Univ.-College of Psychology & Behavioral Sciences – MA Forensic Psy
3. California Baptist Univ.-School of Behavioral Sciences – MA Forensic Psy
4. The Chicago School of Prof. Psych. – MA Forensic Psy
5. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ.-Univ. College School of Psych. – MA Forensic Psy
6. John Jay College of Crim. Jus.-City Univ of New York – MA Forensic Psy
7. Marymount Univ.-School of Education & Human Services – MA Forensic Psy
8. Mass. School of Prof. Psych. – MA Forensic Psy
9. Seattle Univ.-College of Arts & Sciences – MA Criminal Justice
10. Univ. of Denver-Grad. School of Prof. Psych. – MA Forensic Psy
11. Univ. of N. Dakota – MS Forensic Psy
12. Univ. of S. Carolina – MA Criminal Justice

With these schools and others that I’m going to look for I think I’ll just end up sending them a letter with my inquiry either by “snail”-mail or e-mail. It is the best route I think I can take as of right now. Include in the letters will be questions about tuition and costs, admission requirements (GRE scores if required, letters of recommendation, application essays), etc. It couldn't hurt and it could show them that I’m taking an active step in furthering my career (how bs does that sound huh?). Whether or not I want to go to these schools I think I might as well apply to most if not all of them.

That’s all I can think of for right now. I’ll think of something to get me out of this career slump!...

Mood: always hungry (I have a Cinnamon Raisin bagel here somewhere) and confuddled
Thoughts: Where is D. Feaster? He said he’d been in around 11AM….Maybe that’s him now…
Reading: Graduate school programs on Forensic Psych.
Drinking: Water
Wish I Was: Outside where it is sunny...well probably not today since it is stormy