<p>Good Afternoon all!</p>
<p>New to the forums. I have quite a few questions and I hoping someone who has applied to, been to, or will be going to Pacifica will stop by and be able to answer some questions- and you haven't you can answer some of my general questions about Graduate School. </p>
<p>Long story short- I went from composition music degree and switched to a Liberal Studies - BS degree. I have 2 classes to go to graduate with that degree and will end up with around a 3.74 GPA. </p>
<p>It took a few years off to realize exactly what I want to pursue. I am now certain that I want to go after a Masters in Counseling. I want to have a private practice. </p>
<p>I am currently in therapy to work on myself. Therapy is part of the way I finally realized (remembered) that I want to become a therapist. My therapist went to Pacifica ( <a href="http://www.pacifica.edu/counseling.aspx">http://www.pacifica.edu/counseling.aspx</a> ) . She loved her experience there and is a very unique and effective therapist. </p>
<p>After talking with her for a long while it seems like it could be the exact kind of graduate program I am looking for.</p>
<p>I will have to get loans on top of the 12K I have left on my Bachelors degree. I am looking at taking on around 50K (25K a years for 2 years)- this of course scares me- but I will also continue working full time, will apply for every scholarship I am eligible for and realize that without the loans, nothing will change in my life and I won't progress towards my goal. My therapist calls her loans her Education Tax. </p>
<p>Has anyone gone to Pacifica Graduate Institute? </p>
<p>If Yes-</p>
<p>How hard is Pacifica to get into?
How would you rate your experience?
Would you recommend the school?
How hard was it to start your practice after graduating?
Where did you move after graduation?
Did you have to get loans?
Would you say the loan VS getting the degree was worth it? (Financially, emotionally, career wise? etc.) </p>
<p>If Yes, or No- </p>
<p>Can you share you experience if you were a student who went back to school to become a therapist in their early 30s?
How long/ difficult was it to get a practice going?
Would you say the time/debt was worth it?
How long after graduating would you say it took you to feel more financially stable? </p>
<p>Really, I am just looking for anyone who can give advice about the degree of satisfaction they received by becoming a therapist VS the amount of debt they had to incur. I appreciate any advice and stories. </p>
<p>Thank you. </p>