Looking for a good college

[jojo61397]

I do not know what your daughter may do after having her psych degree as most careers in that field would mean she would need at least a masters if not more education following that in order to practice.

I can tell ya one thing she can do with a psych degree, even a bachelors-- become a behaviorialist, and work with children with autism spectrum disorders. There is a VAST shortage of Applied Behaviorial Anaylists (BCABs). I'm actually going into that field myself after we move, I start in the fall (so I can do the therapy with my son and know what I'm doing). But on average the starting wages for a BCAB is around $40,000-50,000 a year for just bachelors level. A BCBA is a masters level management therapists and they make around $165-185 an HOUR, which the average salary is well over 6 figures as most the therapists only do 10 hours a week of in home therapy and usually have 2-3 clients. It's a growing business and it's well paying. Right now I do ABA with my son and I have found it VERY rewarding.

[newcastle]

Originally Posted by jojo61397

I do not know what your daughter may do after having her psych degree as most careers in that field would mean she would need at least a masters if not more education following that in order to practice.

I can tell ya one thing she can do with a psych degree, even a bachelors-- become a behaviorialist, and work with children with autism spectrum disorders. There is a VAST shortage of Applied Behaviorial Anaylists (BCABs). I'm actually going into that field myself after we move, I start in the fall (so I can do the therapy with my son and know what I'm doing). But on average the starting wages for a BCAB is around $40,000-50,000 a year for just bachelors level. A BCBA is a masters level management therapists and they make around $165-185 an HOUR, which the average salary is well over 6 figures as most the therapists only do 10 hours a week of in home therapy and usually have 2-3 clients. It's a growing business and it's well paying. Right now I do ABA with my son and I have found it VERY rewarding.

ABA degrees are offered at the Main U and at SCSU and then you can apply to become a board certified ABA. I have also looked into this field and work in Adult Foster Care for TBI and PSMI. There is more schooling required than a psych degree. I too find this work very rewarding.

[golfgal]

Most college campuses have their own entertainment. They bring in various things for the students to do. I know at St. Ben' and St. John's they have a very active theater department with college productions as well as bringing in several outside productions from all over the world. The Minnesota Orchestra plays there a couple times/year. They bring in many local/national bands of all kids. They have regular movies on campus that are free to students. There was never a night that there wasn't something to do between music, arts, sports, etc. Most schools are the same. Go to the websites for the various schools and see their activity calendars. The are jam packed with things to do.

As for brining in people from different cultures, etc. All of the private schools in the state have large outreach programs and attract students from all over the world. I think you actually have more of a chance to experience various cultures at a smaller school just because you have more contact with the students on a daily basis--living on campus, having classes together, etc. When you get to a school like the U of M and most students are off campus, living in apartments, etc. you tend to stay more in your own circle.

[fromupthere]

I attended CSS and loved it. I did not live on campus and I know there was a big difference when I attended between those who lived on campus and those who didn't. That's the only negative I experienced. Overall it was a great experience. I have a cousin at CSB and she loves it. She is very introverted and I'm impressed at all the stuff she does there. I like the fact that it is a women's college - CSB and SJU do have classes together, etc., but it's still nice that they are separate. I think it's nice for introverts anyway. She's not a partier either nor was I.

[ozzie679]

I just learned there was a CSS campus in St Cloud. I always wondered why they had CSS sweatshirts in one of the SCSU bookstores.

St. Cloud Campus

[Moonbeamie]

I also agree that SCSU is too big of a school, especially for someone with anxiety. My cousin went to SCSU and said that the professors don't even know the students names, and that you become just a face in the lecture hall. I assume he was talking about the bigger, general classes, but that's all I think about with SCSU.

I went to the Minnesota School of Business in Waite Park, and found it to be a great school with small class sizes, it's pretty expensive though!

I'm now continuing my education by going to Ashford University, which offers online classes. Have you ever thought of her doing online stuff? Then she can stay at home, and it could help her get over her anxiety a bit. Oh, and I'm going for my BA in Psychology at Ashford.

[SWD]

If she is looking for a good small school, maybe she should try St Mary's in Winona. Good school, low student-teacher ratio, pretty area, and I work there. Not in psych, but we have an excellent psych dept. Plus the school is pretty "cheap" for a private school, with access scholarships.

[crazyme4878]

The college I graduated from (Northland College in Ashland, WI) had a special relationship with Vermilion CC (Ely), so that it was easier to transfer credits. Easier...not neccessarily always easy!

Anyhow, if there is a four-year institution she likes, she might want to see if they work with a community college, as well. Oh--and make sure she lists at least one other subject she would like to major in and see if the school she chooses has a good program in that, as well. Not that college kids ever change their minds.....

[Slig]

If your daughter does decide to go to a school like CSB (College of Saint Benedict) I recommend she goes there all 4 years. I graduated from Saint John's in 2004 and I don't remember any students at either school transferring from a community college for their junior year. The majority of the students there come from wealthy families so community college is not part of most of their vocabularies. Also, I would say most of my lifelong friends were made during the first two years, so I would argue those two are the most important.

[Camden Northsider]

Based on your input, I would really suggest checking out my own alma mater, the University of Minnesota - Morris. It's consistently rated as one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation as well as in the 'top' lists of best educational values in the midwest (having transferred there from a private college, I realized that I was getting a much better education for less than half the annual cost of my previous private school's tuition). The school is small (app. 2000) so has a very good professor to student ratio and 1 on 1 academic advising, and it has an excellent psychology/ social science department and faculty. Partying isn't much of a concern there - of course kids anywhere know how to have fun, but besides there not being a whole lot to do, a lot of the students are pretty academics-oriented (as an example, most of the athletics in the past have been generally pretty laughable and not well-attended, but this may have changed in recent years).

It is in a rural small town environment that can feel a little isolated at times, but regarding your concern to have your daughter experience diversity, UMM has generally been considered one of the most diverse (per capita) colleges in the Midwest and there are lots of activities/ events sponsored by the various student unions (e.g. Asian Student Union, Black Student Union, etc.) throughout the year.