I had an interesting chat with one of my professors yesterday, in which he suggested I consider writing a thesis. A thesis is not required for my program, but he suggested that I wouldn't have to take comps if I completed one. Comps = a comprehensive exam that every Masters student must take to graduate. For my program, it's a 4-hour hand-written exam. It includes a detailed essay on my philosophy of counseling and analyzing a series of case studies. Anywho, a thesis has not been completed in my program up to this point, and I was told it would make the program look really good. We're only provisionally accredited (I think), so it might even boost the likelihood of full accreditation, although I'm sure we will get there, regardless. Plus, any research I would do to help the university would be welcomed, I would think.
He went on to tell me about conferences in the spring. I'm very interested in going, if only to listen and sit in on workshops and such. I LOVE reading and hearing about others' research. He said they were great for networking. And a thesis/conference attendance/networking would build my curriculum vita and could greatly help me to get into a Ph.D. program.
The question remains. I have been considering this path. Right now I want to focus on counseling. I've been thinking that if I found myself needing a Ph.D. to better serve my clients, it would be something I could pursue. Realistically, it's a huge time commitment, and I'm not getting any younger. If I'm going to seriously allow this to be in the realm of possibility, I need to start lining up my ducks now.
The idea of family planning always comes into play. Pursuing further graduate study would require me to put off having children again, now moving possible baby time from late twenties into early-mid thirties. That would be okay, but I'd still like to be done by 35. UGH. I wish I had gotten an earlier start on things, sometimes.
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