Posts Tagged student aid
Psychology Graduate Programs
You can earn a graduate degree, Master’s and doctoral, in Psychology either through a regular grad school/university or through an online college.
Before applying you should do thorough homework about the schools, their curriculum, reputation, teaching approach (some schools are research-oriented whereas some schools emphasize coursework and practical training), financial aid, and career opportunities after completing the course. “Graduate Study In Psychology”, an annual publication of the American Psychological Association, is a mine of information on schools, courses and career prospects in psychology in America. Almost all reputable schools contribute to this book.
To enroll for a graduate program you should have a bachelor’s degree with a high GPA from an accredited college. You also need to get an excellent GRE score and prescribed number (generally three) of recommendation letters from your undergraduate instructors. Any research/work experience in psychology would be an added advantage.
Many schools require the applicant to write a comprehensive Statement of Purpose (SoP) justifying his/her candidature, career aspirations, why s/he wants to study from that school and why s/he chose a particular program.
Though a bachelor’s degree in psychology is very helpful, it is not compulsory. If you can convincingly demonstrate your interest and your ability to succeed in the area, admission should not be very difficult. You can ask your undergraduate professors to vouch for your capability to do justice to the course in their customary recommendation letters. Before applying, you can also try taking short-term certificate courses in psychology to prove your interest.
Grad schools are very selective in filtering the applications, since psychology is a niche area. The admission rate is less than 5% in some leading schools. You should apply to at least 4-5 schools of first choice, and another 4-5 schools of second choice. You should also finalize funding sources before admissions. Student aid websites provide the necessary information about funding; many universities, too, help through fellowships and assistantships.
A Master’s degree takes around two years and a doctoral degree 4 to 6 years to complete. Students who want more clinical training and are not very interested in research can go for a PsyD, “Doctor of Psychology,” instead of a traditional Ph.D. But it is an expensive program and admission is much tougher.
Psychology offers a wide range of career openings. The American Psychology Society, American Psychological Association and various other organizations list the latest job openings.
Research, teaching, clinical/criminal psychology, social counseling, organizational behavior, employee training and development, industrial relations, change management, leadership development, quality of work, organizational development etc. are some of the major work areas. One can be a full-time employee or a consultant.
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Non-Traditional Student – Returning to College
With the economy in recession and heading towards depression workers feel a greater pressure to keep their job skills up to date or even learn a new trade. With rising unemployment, employers can pick and chose the workers with the best and most current skills. And these workers are able to demand a higher salary then their less educated peers. A college degree is often required for a promotion or certain management positions. The United States Bureau of Census states that a college degree can increase your lifetime earnings by more than a million dollars.
Many colleges now cater to adult students, also referred to “non-traditional students,” by offering more flexible schedules. You can now complete your degree, such as the Masters of Business Administration, by taking classes at night or even the weekends at major universities. Others options include a combination of weekend, evening and online courses to accommodate the schedules of busy parents and people all ready in the workforce.
Online universities have become extremely popular option for earning your degree. Online degrees are now the first choice for a growing number of adult students. Online programs often try to simulate the classroom experience with chat rooms and discussion groups between students and professors. This option allows students to study when it is convenient for them such as after the kids go to bed, after the husband goes to work or during a break at work. Online schools vary their start and stop times to allow you to customize your schedule around your busy life.
Non-traditional students can qualify for financial aid like any other student. To qualify for federal financial aid they must be enrolled at least half-time. Two full credit classes will usually fill this requirement, however the amount of aid will be less than a full time student. Their schools must be accredited to participate in Title IV programs in order for them to be eligible for federal financial aid. It is always best to make sure any program you are enrolling in is regionally accredited, especially online.
Once a non-traditional student is enrolled in a fully accredited program and is taking enough credits to qualify, he or she then applies for federal financial aid which includes filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. The FAFSA is available at your college and online. While the FAFSA is primarily for federal financial aid it is also used to determine your eligibility for some need based scholarships.
To qualify for government grants, a student must demonstrates financial need. The great thing about grant is, unlike loans, they do not have to be paid back. Also for low-income students,The Perkins Loan program provides loans at extremely low interest rates that are paid back over a period of ten years starting nine months after finishing school.
College students must take care to maintain at least a “C” average and half time status or they may lose their eligibility to receive government loans and grants. Students also have to take courses that relate to their major or federal aid will be cut off if the student exceeds 1 and 1/2 times the number of credits required for the program.
Non-traditional students should always work with their financial aid officer at the college. It is important to check with the financial aid officer often to catch any issues with your application early. The counselor can help them with their FAFSAs and other forms. Any mistake on the form will delay approval.
A good motivated financial aid officer works with students to find private scholarship money. It is also important to do scholarship research on your own. There are private scholarship search companies, but students should be able to do this task themselves for free on the internet or through their financial aid office. Most scholarships will be for traditional undergraduates, however, there are many scholarships targeted for the non-traditional student.
Some employers offer a tuition reimbursement benefit for continuing education. The benefit depends on the employer some will pay for any accredited program while others must be job related. The amount of the compensation also varies from full tuition to just partial compensation. A student should check with the human resources department at work to find out the employers policies.
Some private trade schools try to pressure students into enrolling prior to the students knowing how much financial aid they will receive per semester. One way to avoid this issue, is to go online and get a rough estimate of your financial aid package. Your financial aid officer should be able help you get this estimate before you start classes. It is important to focus on the cost of attending, not just the aid being received, as the loans will need to be paid back.
Finally, it is imperative that you know the school’s policies if you have to drop a class or withdraw completely. If there is an emergency or a change in family or work, some students may find that they cannot continue to carry a half-load of college work. If the student does drop out it is important to know whether the tuition will be refunded in part or in whole . Keep in mind that even if you drop out you are still required to pay back your student loans.
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