4 answers
Claudia
Student
Oxon Hill, Maryland
1
Question
Asked
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What do I need to know my senior year to prepare for picking colleges?
I'm a senior in high school, and I do an online schooling for credit recovery. I graduate in the spring, but have only recently decided that I want to go to college. I have very limited knowledge of what I should be doing to prepare to apply for college. I decided to major in psychology (BA), and pick my minor on which school I'm applying to. I want to be a family therapist, and I recently learned I'll need to get my masters for that. That being said I'm confused on how my undergraduate year would work. Do I have to do 6 years of school, and if not what would I be doing? I only have one person I could ask that would be able to help me with college information, but I don't know exactly how to ask or what I need to ask them. Any kind of light that can be shed on my situation would be greatly appreciated.
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4 answers
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
353
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
Hi, Claudia, you are asking an excellent question, and Brandon has given you solid advice. Adding my thoughts:
1)If you want to be a family therapist, you will need a 4-year degree. To apply, you will need to identify colleges to apply to, ask teachers for recommendations, maybe take standardized tests (SAT or ACT), arrange to have transcripts sent, gather information needed for financial aid, and fill out the Common App and any supplements. I am not sure about online schools, but most high schools have guidance counselors who could help you with these. If not, most college websites have checklists for what you need to apply.
2) You do have choices about when to apply. To start next Fall, the deadline for applying to many colleges is January and sometimes even February. So you could still apply. If that feels rushed, you could take a gap year and try to get some experience in a medical setting. Or you could take a half year off and apply to start in the Spring next year (not every college offers this)
3) Each college is a little different, but many have requirements to graduate in addition to requirements for your major. These requirements may involve becoming proficient in a language other than your native one, or taking writing courses, or taking a certain number of of science and math courses. You would pick courses every semester so that you can complete everything in 4 years. Colleges will have academic advisors and advisors in your major who could help you select courses.
I hope this helps and wish you luck!
Start researching colleges to apply to and noting their application requirements in some kind of document
1)If you want to be a family therapist, you will need a 4-year degree. To apply, you will need to identify colleges to apply to, ask teachers for recommendations, maybe take standardized tests (SAT or ACT), arrange to have transcripts sent, gather information needed for financial aid, and fill out the Common App and any supplements. I am not sure about online schools, but most high schools have guidance counselors who could help you with these. If not, most college websites have checklists for what you need to apply.
2) You do have choices about when to apply. To start next Fall, the deadline for applying to many colleges is January and sometimes even February. So you could still apply. If that feels rushed, you could take a gap year and try to get some experience in a medical setting. Or you could take a half year off and apply to start in the Spring next year (not every college offers this)
3) Each college is a little different, but many have requirements to graduate in addition to requirements for your major. These requirements may involve becoming proficient in a language other than your native one, or taking writing courses, or taking a certain number of of science and math courses. You would pick courses every semester so that you can complete everything in 4 years. Colleges will have academic advisors and advisors in your major who could help you select courses.
I hope this helps and wish you luck!
Martha recommends the following next steps:
Brandon Moore
Service Desk Engineer
10
Answers
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Updated
Brandon’s Answer
Claudia, as a parent of a son who just started school last year, I cannot stress enough to this generation make sure you are investing in yourself. Getting an education can be rewarding and successful. But don't do it because someone told you that it's what you are supposed to do. Don't do it based on someone else's idea of what they think you would be good at.
Focus on an education that will get you into something that will sustain you, and enjoy life. If those majors/minors are what you are passionate about great! Make sure that you know of all the places around your area that offer internships (paid of course your labor matters).
Now as far as specific requirements related to the medical field, obviously someone around here probably can answer that but I do think it would never be a bad idea to go to your local hospitals/clinics and see if you ask some of those doctors those questions.
Focus on an education that will get you into something that will sustain you, and enjoy life. If those majors/minors are what you are passionate about great! Make sure that you know of all the places around your area that offer internships (paid of course your labor matters).
Now as far as specific requirements related to the medical field, obviously someone around here probably can answer that but I do think it would never be a bad idea to go to your local hospitals/clinics and see if you ask some of those doctors those questions.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1913
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Claudia !
I am very happy that you have the interest in going into a field of work that will help many people in an important way. Well, no one can say exactly how your undergraduate years would work. It would be that you would major in Psychology and the regular Bachelors Degree takes four years if done full time, consecutively. You've already found out that a Masters degree is required. Normally, full time, that is indeed an extra two years. You would than go for your License. I left a link below so you can expand your awareness of how that works.
About being a family therapist, you can take courses in college about various aspects of therapy, so you will be learning human behavior as a whole and than when you graduate with your Masters and become licensed, you can apply to jobs as a family therapist. You can minor in sociology - the study of groups of people - which will also benefit a specialty in family therapy. Remember that you will always be having individuals as clients and your education will expose you to and offer an understanding of behavior which you can than apply to therapeutic counseling for families, group, couples and individual counseling. The Family Therapist aspect will come into play by you directly applying to job opportunities for that type of position. You can also explore on line any specific trainings that may focus only on family therapy. You'll be learning a lot about history, theories, models, techniques and the formation of the science while you are in college.
Always feel free to ask questions here at Career Village because we are all happy to help you out with advice. You can also visit a college and ask questions of the Dean, Admissions Dept., and students in the Psychology Department. Do not hesitate to explore all the information you are wondering about.
Best wishes to you as you move onward and upward !
https://www.verywellmind.com/psychologist-accreditation-and-licensing-requirements-2794924 License Requirements for Psychologists
I am very happy that you have the interest in going into a field of work that will help many people in an important way. Well, no one can say exactly how your undergraduate years would work. It would be that you would major in Psychology and the regular Bachelors Degree takes four years if done full time, consecutively. You've already found out that a Masters degree is required. Normally, full time, that is indeed an extra two years. You would than go for your License. I left a link below so you can expand your awareness of how that works.
About being a family therapist, you can take courses in college about various aspects of therapy, so you will be learning human behavior as a whole and than when you graduate with your Masters and become licensed, you can apply to jobs as a family therapist. You can minor in sociology - the study of groups of people - which will also benefit a specialty in family therapy. Remember that you will always be having individuals as clients and your education will expose you to and offer an understanding of behavior which you can than apply to therapeutic counseling for families, group, couples and individual counseling. The Family Therapist aspect will come into play by you directly applying to job opportunities for that type of position. You can also explore on line any specific trainings that may focus only on family therapy. You'll be learning a lot about history, theories, models, techniques and the formation of the science while you are in college.
Always feel free to ask questions here at Career Village because we are all happy to help you out with advice. You can also visit a college and ask questions of the Dean, Admissions Dept., and students in the Psychology Department. Do not hesitate to explore all the information you are wondering about.
Best wishes to you as you move onward and upward !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Shelisa Henley
Child Psychologist
44
Answers
Warner Robins, Georgia
Updated
Shelisa’s Answer
Good Morning!! Blue Ribbon Dreamers!!!!
Thank you for your Question!!
It is a Super One!!!
What do I want to be in life!!
Select what you want to be in life!! Ex. Doctor or Lawyer
Select The College that has what you want
To be in life
Check The College for applications deadlines
Ask your Department Head of your career choice about your
Undergraduate Plan.
Hope this helps you all
There is plenty room in the world
For Bright Stars
Good Luck!!!!🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Thank you for your Question!!
It is a Super One!!!
What do I want to be in life!!
Select what you want to be in life!! Ex. Doctor or Lawyer
Select The College that has what you want
To be in life
Check The College for applications deadlines
Ask your Department Head of your career choice about your
Undergraduate Plan.
Hope this helps you all
There is plenty room in the world
For Bright Stars
Good Luck!!!!🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞