I copy and pasted this from NEY because I know that a bunch of y'all are psych students and wanted some more opinions.
I'm getting closer to finally graduating, so I'm trying to get a plan together. I know that plans change based on various cofactors, but I'll reassess the situation if that occurs.
I'm going to have my BS of Psych. BF and I are planning on getting married after I graduate. He will already be out for about 2 years.
Our main public university has a distance learning school up here in the upstate. The actual university is about two hours or so south from where I live, so I would have to move down there.
I'm thinking about a Masters of Social Work. That's a year and a half worth of classes, if I don't do any during the summer.
They also offer a Certificate of Graduate Study in Drug and Substance Abuse, which I find very interesting.
Option A:
Get married before I go to grad school, then move down to Columbia together for the two years I need for full time study. The problem is, he'll probably be established in his career and will be difficult for him to move.
Option B:
Straight into my masters, get married afterwards... but that would mean 4 years from now, which I am not a fan of. Maybe get the certificate afterwards.
Option C:
Take advantage of the distance learning center (it is only offered part time so I will be able to contribute more financially) for two years and be able to live up here. I'll still have to move down for the last year of advanced study. Still, maybe get the certificate afterwards.
Option
Move down by myself and spend a semester getting the certificate and get married afterwards, and then work on my masters later if I still feel a need for it.
I think I covered everything. I just need outside opinions. BF said he will go for whatever I want to do, but really doesn't want to wait 4 years to get married.
ETA: More options that aren't as big of options to me right now.
Option E:
Go to med school. I've been considering this less and less lately. I would love to actually be a doctor, but I really don't know if I'm willing to put in 9 years of school for it (Psychiatry/Neurology program has an extra year of residency) and put my life on hold. And with that much of an advanced degree, I don't know if I would want to stay home with kids, which is very important to me.
Option F:
Get my PhD in Counseling. But I would have to move states also. And I would try to get residency, so we would have to live over the border for a year before I could start.