Discussion Archive

Howard and Matthew Greene:
There seems to be a growing number of combined degree programs, in education and other areas. Determining whether they are right for you will require careful research and evaluation of their requirements, opportunities, and fit overall for your college experience. You might do just as well with a more balanced liberal arts undergraduate degree, or a major in a specific academic discipline and then an MEd or similar degree, or a an undergraduate education degree and then the Master's. A couple of examples of combined degrees include Boston College, Howard University, Chestnut Hill College, Pace University, and the University of Rochester.

Question 2:
Dear experts: I am a junior and i just got my SAT score back. It turned out that my SAT score is very horrible (1660). The colleges that i want to apply are very competitive, such as UC Berkeley and Stanford. Even thought my grades and extracurricular activitities are excellent, but i am not sure if the fact that i am not a native speaker can excuse my low score. What are your comments? Thanks - keng

Howard and Matthew Greene:
Well, your scores are not "horrible", but they are average. That won't make you feel any better about the odds at Berkeley or Stanford, however. These schools will look at your TOEFL and take into account your non-native English language ability. However, they will also have very high requirements and could be concerned about your ability to handle the academic requirements on campus given low scores, which are low even relative to the pool of international and immigrant applicants to these two institutions. If you don't make it into these schools as a freshman, though, you might consider applying as a transfer applicant after two-years of work at a community, junior, or other four-year college or university. Then, your test scores will not matter as much or at all. That said, work hard this summer, since you might be able to bring up your scores with more effort and time.

Howard and Matthew Greene:
Then look carefully at the requirements and opportunities at an example of each. Clearly, your options will be much more limited at a fashion design college. If you don't like what you're doing, you'll need to transfer. And we have had a lot of experience with students who change their mind over time. Your best bet for now is to apply to a mix of the two, visit them, and research them carefully. You could also look at some liberal arts universities that have a broad range of offerings but perhaps enough to allow you to develop your interest in fashion and, more broadly, art and design. Examples include New York University, Marist, Miami, Syracuse.

Howard and Matthew Greene:
Our book, Making It Into A Top Graduate School, could help, as could some of the Peterson's titles discussing specific graduate programs. Spend time on the web sites of the associations that accredit the programs in your areas of interest, or the professional associations of those who work in the fields you are focusing on (for example, the American Political Science Association or American Psychological Association) to learn about graduate offerings, accredited programs, and requirements for entrance and degree completion.

Howard and Matthew Greene:
First, spend time on their Web site, which will have the best information specific to Mount Allison's requirements and admissions process. If you are able, you should try to visit, or at least call and talk with an admissions representative. Canadian schools have become increasingly more open to international students. They will likely have an ESL requirement to consider, and you should plan to take the TOEFL or international test of English as a foreign language.

Question 6:
Hello, I am a GED graduate. I plan to apply to university next fall, the question that bothers me is some say that I can't apply straight to university, that I have to apply to community college for the first 2 years and then only transfer to what ever university I want to go. That is my first question, the second one is that I never took neither SAT OR ACT and as I know it required to have those scores when applying to university. Is it possible to take those tests in any college, the way I took my Graduate Equivalents Test or I'll have to take it in a university I'll apply to? If you be able to answer those question you'll of a very BIG help. Thank you very much, I'll be waiting for the answers. - Anna

Howard and Matthew Greene:
You don't need to start at a community (two-year) college just because you have a GED, but you might want to in order to help you build your skills to complete a four-year degree. Or, you might need to, because you can't get into a four-year program in which you are interested. However, most four-year schools will accept the GED in lieu of a high school diploma. Regarding the SAT or ACT, yes, most four-year institutions will require it. You can take the test at any test center in your area (typically local high schools). Sign up for them at collegeboard.com or act.org.

Question 7:
Hi, im a soon to be junioe in highschool and i want to go into the career of diagnostic medicane,how do I go towards my goal in college? could you give me some advice on haow and where to look for the right college that specializes in that..... - Shantre

Howard and Matthew Greene:
You won't specialize in a particular area of medicine, or even, really, in medicine, as an undergraduate in college. What you will do is take at least 7 or 8 courses that are "pre-medical" requirements to help you gain admission to a graduate medical college. So, you should pick colleges with good science programs, and which have a strong record of pre-med advising and medical college admissions. You should also make sure the college is a place where you will be comfortable, happy and successful. Your goal is to graduate on time with a 3.5 or above GPA and some good extracurricular activities/involvements. If you have this early interest in medicine, then gaining some research, internship, and volunteer experience relevant to your desired field will be helpful.

Question 8:
When go to college I want to pursue a degree in psychology and be involved in something that has to do with counseling. What types of jobs can you pursue with a psychology degree? - LaTausha

Howard and Matthew Greene:
Psychology is a very broad field, and there are several related fields, including social work, psychiatry, and general counseling, which would lead you to related but distinct careers. Within psychology itself, you'd want to be thinking about how much you want to focus on research versus active counseling. With an undergraduate psych degree, you won't be able to do much counseling, so you'll likely be looking at a graduate degree. A Ph.D. in psychology would be the toughest to get into, complete, and aspire to. That could lead you toward counseling, but also more heavy evaluation work, research, university teaching, and so on. A growing alternative for more practitioner-oriented counselors is the professional doctor of psychology degree (Psy.D) which is more expensive, but shorter in term, and easier to gain admission to. Then there is the Master of Social Work, or any number of Master's degrees in counseling, or other PhDs specific to school counseling or other specialties, for example. To start with, find a strong undergraduate psych program, which will prepare you for any of these directions.

Howard and Matthew Greene:
This is a very specific field, and if you've been reading the above responses you'll see that you're likely going to be looking at graduate school in your future. You can find strong university programs at the undergraduate level to prepare you for a Master's or PhD in this area, or MD for that matter. Case Western, MIT, Berkeley, and others would be worth evaluating as models. But you can also begin studies at a small liberal arts college like an Amherst, Bowdoin, Lawrence, or Pomona, and be well-prepared for graduate level studies. Keep an open mind.