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I can't decide

post #1 of 9
8/18/08 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
I want to get my master's degree. It would be in my best interest to go ahead and start working on it. I renewed my teaching certificate in 2005, which means it is current until 2010, but then I will have to take some classes to renew it again. If I am going to do that, then I may as well take some graduate classes and work toward my master's degree and renew my certificate at the same time.
The problem is I don't know what I want to get my master's in.
I am thinking about school library media or school counseling. I can't decide! Then I wonder if I want to go back into education at all. I was thinking of getting my master's in psychology and doing therapy.
Any thoughts, insight, suggestions, ideas?
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post #2 of 9
8/18/08 at 1:49pm

Re: I can't decide

That is wonderful, Tammy!

What interests you the most? I found the key to trying to decide what to do is ask what you would be more happy doing. So based on what you said in your post what would make you the happiest?:

-Sitting down with students or people in general helping them come up with solutions to their issues

-Helping people choose books they would like or need...and do you like research?

-Teaching children

What can you see yourself doing?

I'm actually trying to go through this right now myself. I am still researching the profession of academic advisor. I might even look into being a college recruiter or doing something with marketing for a university. So I'm trying to decide if I see myself being involved with a university.

Best wishes in your decision!!
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post #3 of 9
8/18/08 at 2:20pm

Re: I can't decide

Good luck, Tammy!

For me it was easy, I wanted to be a diplomatic advisor on cultural affairs or to work in an archives. If they were more hospitable here, I would be voluntering in the archives.

Historical research is my passion. Which do you like better? Things or people?
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post #4 of 9
8/18/08 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 

Re: I can't decide

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace View Post
Good luck, Tammy!

For me it was easy, I wanted to be a diplomatic advisor on cultural affairs or to work in an archives. If they were more hospitable here, I would be voluntering in the archives.

Historical research is my passion. Which do you like better? Things or people?
I guess it depends on which things and which people I am dealing with!
Actually, here's what I know about myself:
I don't want a desk job. I need variety. I like being in charge, but not necessarily being the boss (that's why teaching worked well for me--I was in control in my classroom, no one was constantly nagging me or on me, and I could choose what we did each day, etc).
I love people and do have a servant's heart.
I am leaning LESS toward doing the media degree mainly because I don't want to hassle with the bureaucratic end of that job--dealing with county funds and budgets and lack of funding. I love reading, don't mind doing research or helping people do research, but I don't think being a media specialist is necessarily right for me.
Education is appealing in that I would have summers off, lots of time off at the holidays, etc. I love teaching, but there is way too much work involved in being an upper grades teacher, especially an English/Language Arts teacher. Too much planning and way too much grading.
Psychology interests me the most, I would love to do Christian counseling. I have found an online program through a university in Alabama where I can get my master's degree. It's a Christian college, too. That would honestly be my first choice. I just don't know what it would mean for me career-wise as far as benefits and retirement would go. I also don't know how much money I would make or what the potential for growth would be unless I earned my PhD, which I would love to do, but I am not sure I am smart enough.
I like the idea of school counseling. I think it would be a good compromise between the two things I prefer--being in education and doing therapy. The only thing is that I would have to leave the Christian aspect behind if I worked in a public school, which I probably would. I don't know if I would want to work in a Christian school or how many opportunities are available for counselors at parochial schools.
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post #5 of 9
8/18/08 at 3:10pm
Thread Starter 

Re: I can't decide

Oh, and Cheryl, I think working in marketing for a university or college would be great! When I was in college, I worked part time in the office of development and alumni relations, and that was so much fun! It was a great job!
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post #6 of 9
8/18/08 at 4:26pm

Re: I can't decide

Do you have any parochial or Christian schools nearby? If so, maybe it wouldn't hurt to go in and talk to one of the counselors there and kind of get an idea of what their days are like.

I plan on talking to a local academic advisor sometime (just need to make the call or email) to see what the profession entails.

It's all about looking at different resources to research what you might want to do. People. Books. The internet might even have some forums/discussion boards of Christian school..or private school...counselors.

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post #7 of 9
8/19/08 at 12:45am

Re: I can't decide

Tammy, I have my masters in Elem. Edu. but am in the same dilemma about my Sixth Year Cert. I wanted to get it in counseling or school psychology. But even though I have a BS in psychology I'd have to take an entire year off to do an internship to do either (in CT at least) to be certified. So they are out of the question for me. They can not be done while working and going to school. It's like a medical internship--fulltime. So I'm looking at library media specialist (which is also a very involved internship), classroom specialist (don't want this one (basically a another degree in what I alrwady have) or Administration (which is called Educational Leadership here now). I'm leaning towards Educational Leadership. It's such a tough decision.

I would opt for something that would open more doors for you. You could always do reading speacialist too. I forgot that one. That never interested me. It seems too limiting and not somenitng I would like to do for the next 20 years. Check endorsements when dealing with Christian schools. Not all of them carry endorsements. Ours refuses to carry any state certs. or endorsements (our church academy and our state Christian college). Personally I see nothing wrong with it but if your looking for certificaion just check into it.
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post #8 of 9
8/19/08 at 12:50am

Re: I can't decide

Good Luck Tammy! I don't really have any advice.
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post #9 of 9
8/19/08 at 9:43am
Thread Starter 

Re: I can't decide

Abby, that's my dilemma, too. I want to do school psychology, too, but in Georgia, you have to have your Specialist degree to be certified for school psychology. In order to get the degrees I need, I would have to attend classes and do an internship full time in the final year, which means I could not work. I just can't do that.
I don't really think I want to do a media specialist degree. My best friend from college did it, and loves it, but she handles all that budget stuff and lack of funding better than I would.
Reading specialist doesn't appeal to me. I am afraid this push for reading education will be a trend that will fade over time.
I don't want to do Ed. Leadership, either. School administrators in GA deal primarily with angry parents, discipline problems, and incompetent teachers. Principals and APs in GA are also 12 month employees.
Thanks for the advise on Christian Schools. The college I am looking at is Ambridge University. It used to be Southern Christian University. It's in Montgomery, Alabama.
I really don't want to work at a Christian school, I don't think. If I were going back in the classroom, that would be a different story, but to do counseling, I think I will have to go with public school. Most of the Christian schools in my area do not even employ full time counselors, and if they do, they only have one or two and the turn over is not very high.
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