Last semester, I took my last undergraduate English course, except for Capstone (Senior Paper). It is a bittersweet milestone for this English major. I feel a sense of accomplishment, but I have more non-major courses to complete before I am awarded my degree. The next few semesters will feature completing minor (Psychology) and general education requirements.
Spring 2012 is the Semester of Psychosis. I have two psychology courses, Psychology of Personality and Abnormal Psychology, and completion of these will satisfy my minor requirements. I’ve only attended one class session for each course, so it is too early to tell how beneficial and/or interesting these courses will be. I do expect to end the semester with another bittersweet feeling. I’m so close to finishing my degree, but the little things (gen eds) slow me down.
I hope Psychology of Personality fulfills my curiosity about personality theory. I’ve given some amateur attention to it, but looking at the theoretical basis for each model should be different than the surface level understanding I currently have.
Abnormal Psychology will no doubt interest me. Who doesn’t want to learn more about schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder? My experience in the non-profit sector working with people with mental illnesses should compliment learning the academic side of things.
This semester also includes researching graduate programs, which I will apply to this fall. I plan to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing. So far, my research has included looking at Poets & Writers Magazine’s list of top 50 MFA programs and dreaming about the schools that offer generous stipends. But I’ll be honest with myself and you, dear reader, my undergraduate record probably doesn’t warrant placement in most of those programs. It’s taken 10 years for my BA in English, and my GPA is only 3.0 (though a couple semesters of gen eds should bring it up a bit).
I still have time to figure out graduate school options. For now, my focus is on the Semester of Psychosis.
Good luck with everything! The Psych classes at least sound interesting (not like, yawn, Psych 101). And it’s always a great feeling to finally be done with, or close to done with, something important.
As for grad programs, I thought your test scores to get into the program mattered more than your previous record? Of course, not really knowing anything about it myself, I could be wrong.
I’ve taken both. I was frustrated with Personality Theories because I’d taken it at TCC and it didn’t transfer (after being specifically told by our lovely institution *TO* take it at TCC) but also, it felt like an unnecessary extension of intro to psych. (psych 101). I had Dr. D and she did a great job teaching it.
I had Prof R. for Abnormal and really enjoyed it. It wasn’t until AFTER I’d had a few other profs that I wished I’d had someone else.
Is you ever need a lab rat or have questions I’m your girl. Bipolar, DID, dissociative amnesia, psychosis…there’s one more I have…hmmm but very comfortable talking about it. Good luck!