Study help/advice/prayers etc etc etc

[Guest guest]

Hey Folks,

I'm writing about something kind of related to BPD and kind of not.

I'd like to call it moving on, the next chapter, or welcoming the future as

I ride in to the sunset blowing a flip off in nada's direction etc etc.

I am applying to 7 clinical family therapy licensed MS programs and one

counseling psychology lisensure program. If I am accepted to return to

higher education, I will begin in fall of 2012, though one or two programs

begin in June.

I will be poor for the next 3-5 years at a minimum, likely much longer

because I badly want to continue on to my PhD. I may need to move 2,000

miles, my honey is a bit apprehensive but supportive. And I will be happy,

because its the right thing to do. My intuition tells me so I know this

is right. I believe in it. I've been waiting for years to know what I needed

to go back to school in. Finally I know

I'm on top of it! Seriously, I'm good at this type of stuff. My first

applications aren't due until 1/1/11, and 2 out of 3 of my letters

of recommendation writers have already sent in their letters. Impressive,

huh? All of the letters would be in except that on of my people had major

surgery 2 weeks ago.

But, there is one great big huge ugly obstacle in my way. It is called the

GRE!!!!

So, the GRE is a 4 hour test required for most grad school admittance. It

has 3 parts, math, verbal (vocabulary and reading comprehension, primarily

TRICK questions - if it weren't for the trick questions, I would feel

confident in this section) and particularly in the analytic writing. I write

for a living now, and I found out that the programs I'm applying to don't

even LOOK at the writing part. UGH.That was disappointing!!!!!

So anyway, I'm taking the test in 5 weeks. I took it last year too, and I

did well but not well enough.

I have good study habits, I'm disciplined and organized, but I'll be honest,

studying for this test makes me want to slit my wrists (sorry too graphic?).

It is boring. I know for a FACT that I will never ever ever be working with

a family in crisis who would be saved IF ONLY I could calculate the area of

a circle based on the radius by knowing pie and being able to do the math in

my head. Math is a bit of a weak point for me - believe me, I've seen plenty

of people who are much much worse, but I need to raise my score by at least

10 percent over last year for the program that would be least disruptive to

my life and allow us to stay in our home. That said, there is a program in

the deep south that would probably welcome me with open arms with my current

GRE score, but they just don't seem to have their shit together. . . so its

not my top choice. . . plus I know southern living would be mega culture

shock for this high altitude cowgirl.

Any tips for helping me get through this? I've been studying for 3 to 4

weeks already, and I'll be honest, I was miserable and depressed and horrid

to live with for those weeks, because I tried to study ALL THE TIME. I need

to develop a study plan and schedule that allows me time to do enjoyable

things too. Otherwise, I may not make it, I will hate myself the whole time,

and I may not have any friends left by the end.

And its hard because I would much rather spend the time on my essays for

admittance, that is something that I think I can do REALLY well, whereas

blowing them away with my Pythagorean therum is just not gonna happen.

ly, I think its really dumb that they are testing me on that. I wish

they would test me on statistics, because I can do those well and they

matter.

And, it brings me down that they care about my geometry abilities, because

geometry, frankly is just not important for a family therapist, so long as

you understand triangles (get it huh huh ha ha ha, math/therapy humor).

Anyway, I would love some support, encouragement and advice from anyone who

has done this - or even if you haven't but have done something that was at

the same time difficult and totally boring yet critically important - to be

done in a very limited amount of time while you managed to hold down a full

time job, maintain friendships and run your household - yep, that's what i'm

up against.

XOXO