Psych GRE Credits - Any Problems with Grad Schools?

[alix]

I am pursuing a B.A. in Psychology at Excelsior College, with the intent to enter graduate school (for an M.A. in Counseling and licensing as a psychotherapist) immediately afterward.

I've been considering taking the Psychology GRE this Fall to see how many credits toward my major I can get. One thing I wonder about, though, is if any graduate schools look down on psychology credits granted based on GRE scores, since they will be looking at my transcript in detail. I don't believe they'd have a problem if I tested out of most of the courses individually (as in, by taking the specific CLEP, ECE, and DSST exams) but I wonder if they look on the GRE different because the credit dispersement is so much at the discretion of the college.

Obviously, I'm not looking for trouble...I just want to make the best use of my time with the highest chance of success. This would be an awkward question to approach the graduate school with, so I thought first I'd find out if anyone here had thoughts on this. Seein' as how we're all so smart.

Thanks!
Alix

[crshore]

Hi, Alix! I'm in the same boat and have had absolutely no problems with the programs I have applied to (counseling, social work, and human service programs). I e-mailed admissions at each school first to see if it would be a problem, and it was not. I would suggest doing that first.

[alix]

Thanks, crshore! I will contact my targeted graduate school (JFK University) and ask them more. They require three or four courses (no matter what your bachelor's degree is in) that are part of the standard Excelsior B.A. Psych program, so I can ask also if GRE credits will be considered to meet those prerequisites.

Congratulations on your GRE credits and your upcoming graduation!

[crshore]

That's a good idea. Worst-case scenario, you may have to take a couple of leveling classes. That sometimes happens to people with degrees from B&M schools, too. I've known several people interested in counseling programs that had to take statistics and/or psychology of personality classes before they could be officially admitted into a program.

Good luck!

[alix]

In the case of JFK, admission to their graduate program requires completed coursework in statistics, research methods in psychology, human development, and psychology of personality. The first three are part of Excelsior's major requirements for the psych degree. I was considering taking the individual tests for them even if I turn out to be STUNNINGLY BRILLIANT (ha!) on the GRE and get general credits that can apply to them. That way it is very clear to JFK that I met their criteria.

At COSC I don't think you have to deal with weirdness like EC's recent change in requirements...for the psych degree they now require courses in two areas where not only do they not have an exam, but they also DO NOT YET OFFER COURSES. I am going to see if psychology of personality falls into one of those categories (I think it should) and if so, I want to take it from JFK's undergrad program as a non-degree student and transfer that over. But what a mess trying to finagle all that! Why couldn't Excelsior wait until they had courses before changing their requirements? Okay, rhetoric question. Never mind. It's still better than the 2-1/4 years and $35-40k that JFK would cost me to complete my B.A.

Alix