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| << February01, 2004 - Starfish: Unfulfilled Love, Fulfilled, Nell Berry |
February02, 2004 - Starfish: Barney, Al Batt >> |
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Greetings, Ripplemakers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Finally I Understand: The Series Part VII: The Rejection Letter Though I graduated from university with a Bachelor's in psychology and a grade point average of 3.58 which meant that I had graduated with honors (cum laud) I still did not make the grade required for clinical psychology. For the clinical psychology programs in all the best universities in North America, only the top 5% of students need ever apply. A grade point average of 4.00 and the dreaded G.R.E, (graduate record exam) were the two most important requirements of the selection process. I had already missed the mark for the grade point average because of my statistics and research methods marks. I had A's in every other subject in the program. I also failed badly on the G.R.E, when I did so poorly in the math and logic sections. To help me plot my career choices, I made an appointment to see the director of psychology for the undergraduate program, at Concordia University. He strongly advised me to choose an alternative route for graduate school. According to Dr. Gray, I just was not going to make it in clinical psychology unless I choose a very small university somewhere. I needed to stay in Montreal and therefore go to one of the bigger universities. Being a single parent and poor to boot, I was not about to relocate. I needed the support system that I had right here in my own city. I therefore decided to go the route of Plan B. Plan B was to apply for the masters program for Counseling Psychology at McGill University; right here in my city. I was relieved to find out that the grade point average was not as strict, only a 3.00 was needed, and I had 3.58. In addition, though the G.R.E was mandatory to sit, it was the last criteria looked upon during the selection process. Volunteer work or actual work in the field was much more important for the selection process in this program. I had prepared myself well during my undergraduate degree by doing volunteer work. I knew that I had everything necessary to enter this program and I was so hopeful. I was elated when I was granted the interview. Though I was nervous, the interview went well as far as I was concerned and the possibility of being accepted to this program looked very promising from my standpoint. Then the letter came back, I did not get in. I was shocked and disappointed. I knew I had everything it took for the program. Again, Dee was there at my side with her roommate Pat. They agreed with me that I had everything it took for that program but perhaps the other applicants had more. Where I had volunteer work perhaps others had actual clinical work etc. There may be a myriad of reasons why I did not get in and none of them had to do with my ability they told me. They were also quick to get out the graduate program booklet and get me on track to choose a different course of action - Plan C. I really believe I would have fallen apart if it were not for Dee and Pat who kept my morale high. After a bit of exploration we found a program that I could apply to that was similar to the Counseling Psychology program that I wanted so badly. What we found was a diploma degree in Family Life Education. I could do the degree and re-apply the following year for Counseling. Although I was not convinced that I should re-apply to Counseling since I was rejected once, they told me that I must re-apply. Many people are refused the first time around but eventually are accepted to graduate programs after re-applying. At least in the meantime I had a program in Family Life Education that I would be doing. This program in turn would look good on my resume when I re-applied the following year. In other words the university would know that I just did not curl up and die. I was determined to get the education that I wanted come what may. I applied for the Family Life Education Diploma and I was accepted. The first term was a cinch. It actually was very easy. My undergraduate degree was a lot harder than this program. So in the winter term I transferred over to the Masters degree for the same program. By the time that the deadline for re-applying for the counseling program came around again I was not sure if I was going to re-apply. I now lacked the confidence needed. Again Dee and Pat sat me down for a good chat. What did I have to lose? I was in a masters program that I found was okay but not really what I was looking for so what harm would it do to re-apply to the program that I really wanted? I really couldn't disagree with that logic and I went for it. This time I made it. I was accepted for the Counseling Psychology Program! I asked the secretary what had made the difference this time as opposed to the last time and she told me that one of my professors in the Family Life Education Program, Dr. Bill had recommended me. It just so happened he was the director of the Counseling Psychology program at the time. I had no way of knowing who the professor would be when I selected that Family Life Education course. I did not even know who the director of the Counseling Department was at the time. There is no doubt in my mind that this was indeed heavenly intervention set in motion to help me realize my dream. ?© 2003 by Carol Roach --------------------- About me: I have a Masters in Counseling Psychology. I have written for several newsletters including this one. I run my own newsletter and I will soon be publishing my book - Picking Up the Pieces: A woman's Journey. If you would like to comment about this story feel free to contact me at: winterose @ videotron.ca ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May you be blessed today Bob Johnston Editor / Publisher ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** If you like Starfish, please recommend it to your friends and help us grow. ~~~~~Important Information~~~~~ To subscribe to Starfish, visit our web site at www.ripplemaker.com, click on "Starfish" and then click on "Subscribe" **** **** **** To cancel your subscription, send a message to: starfish@ripplemaker.com with "Cancel Starfish" in the subject **** **** **** To contribute a story for starfish, send it to: Starfish@Ripplemaker.com **** **** **** To view archives (past issues), click on "Read Archived Stories" from the Starfish Page at www.ripplemaker.com **** **** **** If you encounter a problem, please send e-mail to me at Starfish@ Ripplemaker.com |
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| << February01, 2004 - Starfish: Unfulfilled Love, Fulfilled, Nell Berry |
February02, 2004 - Starfish: Barney, Al Batt >> |
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