Sweden is quickly approaching

Du gamla, Du fria
Thou ancient, Thou free

I'm working strong, hard, and long on this presentation. I realize how wrong that sounds now that I've written it out. But I am working on the team's presentation for next Monday in Sweden. Things are moving along...far from smoothly. Thursday and Friday Mike will be working with me on the slides perhaps the last times I'll work on them before they fly out. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Excited that I get to be working on something so prestigious. This presentation is going to be presented to over 50 individuals from around the world - Denmark, Ghana, the Netherlands to name a few. So far I've worked on this and an article (which I'll hopefully be getting money for). The best part is that I'll be getting my name on them.
How great is that? A post graduate college student getting her name on presentations and publications. I'll also be working on publications of my own, they'll have focuses in the Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice realm. This is really is an enriching opportunity for me, regardless of what my mom and aunt say about it being too cushy of an internship. It would feel really wonderful to get published. I would love to get my fiction published (and of course finished) first, but this would almost be better. These articles would possibly be published in Criminal Journals or something like that - at least that's what I'm hoping.
It is depressing to know that Mike will be leaving for Oregon soon. Yesterday was his last official day at college. He'll still be assisting the Family Center on certain things. I'll then be working under Dan and Vivi. I still have yet to meet Vivi. She's still on maternity leave; she had a baby girl. Well I should try getting back to work.
Do you think if I drive a black SUV, people will think I'm part of the FBI?

Mood: Working! Working! Working!
Thoughts: I hope I can get this presentation done before Monday (Sept 7), and that its good
Watching: Criminal Minds season 2 - Gideon is writing his farewell letter for Reid to find, suspenseful
Drinking: Oceanspray Cranberry juice
Wish I Was: Outside in the pool soaking up some sun and my daily dosage of Vitamin D

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

Forensic Psychology...I think its what I want to do

Found this site while I'm supposed to be doing some editorial work while at my internship. I'm editing a chapter for a book publication on Functional-Family Therapy. It is interesting considering I have never edited anything to this level importance (the most I've done was in a short-story writing class in college). I can't really write too much about it now. I might have to be leaving early unexpectedly, but I'll report more on it later when I get back home.

Mood: Busy bee in slacks and heels, and slightly hungry
Reading: FFT article
Drinking: Water
Wish I Was: Napping or swimming in the pool =[