Counseling Electives

Today I found out about various elective classes that I get to choose from within the Penn GSE Applied Psychology & Human Development Department. As part of the Counseling program, we take a certain number of electives, depending on the particular track we are pursuing. Students in the Mental Health track get to choose three elective courses, while students in the School Counseling track take one elective. Our elective classes have to fulfill sociocultural, human development, or research requirements for our curriculum. To give you an idea of the electives offered within our department, I've attached a list of the courses that were available for second-year students this semester. 

I'm not positive if the same courses will be available next spring, but I would be really interested in taking a few of the ones listed. I think the Human Sexuality course would be riveting, especially since Dr. Schultz has a Master's degree in the topic. 

All of our electives are taken during the second year of our program. Below is the planned program of study for the second year of the Mental Health track, which outlines the courses we take each semester.

More information about the Professional Counseling program (Year 2) is available at: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/aphd/pc

School Schedule for CMHS

During the GSE Admissions Office's events for prospective students, I've had multiple applicants ask about the class and practicum/internship schedule for the Counseling & Mental Health Services program. While the program's course schedule can obviously change depending on when classes are offered, what professor you have, or what section you're enrolled in, I thought I'd give an overview of what my weekly schedule has been like for the past year. In the first year of the Counseling program at Penn, students are expected to spend approximately 8 hours a week at their practicum site (which usually translates to 1-2 days per week). In my first semester, I had classes three days a week and practicum one day a week. However, I only had class two days a week this semester, so I have been able to go to my practicum twice a week when possible. We take 4 courses in both the fall and spring, plus a Practicum Seminar, which is a small discussion-based class that focuses on learning clinical skills and applying class knowledge to our experiences in the field. All of our classes are 2 hours long, and we have each class once per week. While we are very busy students, I've found that the CMHS schedule allows students to also maintain part-time jobs, hobbies, social lives, self-care, and other necessary aspects of adult life.

I'm not positive what my schedule for the summer will look like, but I do know that CMHS students take two classes during Summer Session 1. If a student continues on to the second year of the program, he or she also takes two courses during Summer Session 2. Each class meets twice a week for 3 hours at a time. Although there is no internship or practicum requirement over the summer,  I will be starting my internship a little early to get settled and help my supervisor prepare for the school year.

The schedule for the second year may differ for my cohort, but I know that right now, most of the Professional Counseling (second year) students have their internship 3 days a week and classes 2 days a week. Because the internship requires 20 hours a week of work, it definitely seems like there may be less downtime in the second year of our program. Regardless, most of the students I've spoken to don't seem to have any issues balancing their classes, internships, and personal lives.

You can find more information about specific courses/class schedules on the Penn GSE website under the Counseling & Mental Health Services page. But if you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to me at kdacey@gse.upenn.edu !

Web Chat 4/14

I also wanted to remind any admitted students that the Penn GSE Admissions Office is hosting a web chat/webinar this Thursday from 8pm to 9pm ET. Current students and members of the Admissions Office will be available to answer any questions and provide a better understanding of Penn and GSE for potential graduate students. I'm looking forward to talking with attendees & I encourage anyone with lingering questions or concerns to address these during the web chat on 4/14. I hope it is helpful for any admitted students that take part!

Off-Campus Housing for Grad Students

At the Admitted Students Day this past weekend, I had multiple prospective students ask me about where to live in Philly and how off-campus housing worked for graduate students. I want to provide as much information about graduate housing as I can, but I am also not an expert in off-campus housing. I would recommend checking out Penn's Off-Campus Housing website for more extensive information (https://offcampushousing.upenn.edu).

On-Campus Housing - Sansom Place
In terms of on-campus housing, graduate students can live in Sansom Place East & West. The majority of residents at Sansom are graduate students (65%), but some undergraduate students also reside there. The different housing options include single rooms, one-bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom apartments, with a few three-bedroom apartments. Sansom is located on Penn's campus, so it's a really quick walk to GSE. The Sansom's website gives a substantial amount of information, such as rent rates, room layouts, etc. Visit this website for more info on Sansom Place: http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/sansom-place/

Off-Campus Housing - many different neighborhoods
http://www.visitphilly.com/philadelphia-neighborhoods/
phillyguide.seerinteractive.com/

Here are the areas I'm more familiar with. The links above contain more information about the different neighborhoods, and can give you more details about each of the neighborhoods in Philly. 

University City
The neighborhood surrounding the Penn and Drexel campuses is called University City. It's located across the river from Center City (downtown Philadelphia), and a lot of students live in this area. There are plenty of housing options, from high-rise apartment buildings to smaller brownstones. The rent tends to get cheaper as you get farther from campus, and University City is thought to have slightly lower rents than the Center City area. However, some complexes have prices that are comparable to rents in Center City. This tends to be at the newly built apartment buildings close to Penn's campus. I know many classmates are very happy living in University City, although some don't always love the constant presence of undergraduate neighbors.

Center City - Rittenhouse, Graduate Hospital, Fitler Square, Washington Square West

Rittenhouse
I live in Rittenhouse, and I really love the convenience and vitality of the area, not to mention the proximity to Rittenhouse Square Park. There are so many different housing options in this area: high-rise apartment buildings, single-family brownstones, brownstone apartments, mid-rise complexes, condos, etc. The rent is thought to be more expensive in the Rittenhouse area, likely because it is one of the most populated neighborhoods and it boasts a close proximity to shopping, dining, the park, and the Schuykill River trail. The quality and number of restaurants and bars is insurmountable. I feel like there is a large young professional presence in Rittenhouse, though you will also find many families and adults of all ages. One issue I have found with Rittenhouse is the lack of parking - street parking is limited and parking in a garage comes at a monthly premium. Regardless, I highly recommend living near Rittenhouse Square Park for any dog owners or dog lovers - there is always an abundance of dogs walking in the park or on the Schuykill trail.

Graduate Hospital
South of Rittenhouse is the Grad Hospital neighborhood, located around one of Penn's hospitals. Most of the housing options in Grad Hospital are brownstone apartments, single-family houses or brownstones, or smaller apartment complexes. From what I've heard, the rent in Grad Hospital is a little more reasonable than the Rittenhouse area, making it very popular with graduate students and young professionals. The neighborhood definitely has a more residential vibe, but it is said to have a very homey feel and friendly atmosphere. There are bunch of great restaurants and bars in the area as well. Grad Hospital feels a bit more isolated from the hustle & bustle of Center City, making it very suitable for people looking for a more residential neighborhood.

Washington Square West 
I love the Washington Square, which is more secluded and less crowded than the Rittenhouse Square Park, but equally as beautiful. There are a good number of phenomenal (i.e. the best) restaurants and bars in Washington Square West, especially in the area known as the Gayborhood. The Pennsylvania Hospital and the Jefferson Hospital & Medical School is in this neighborhood, so I know a good number of medical students who live in the area. The jewelry district is also located in Washington Square West, and the neighborhood is also very close to the Liberty Bell attractions.

South Street
South Street is a popular area because it was recently revitalized and now boasts some great restaurants, bars, and shopping areas. I have a few classmates who live around South Street and really love the vibrant atmosphere and friendly neighborhood. One popular attraction near South Street is Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, which is really beautiful and surprising. There are multiple neighborhoods that contain South Street, but it maintains its appeal throughout the various areas.

Manayunk
This town is farther from campus (about 8 miles), and most students living in Manayunk either drive or take a train to commute to campus. Although I've never visited, I've learned that students like to live here because of the very reasonable rent prices and younger atmosphere. The town is also supposed to have some great bars and restaurants. That being said, I've also heard it is a popular neighborhood with undergraduates from St. Joe's University.

There are so many other options for where to live in Philadelphia, like Old City or the Museum District. Each neighborhood has its charm and character, and all have many exciting things to offer its residents. In beginning your housing search, I'd recommend determining what you're looking for in an apartment, condo, or house. Prioritize your housing needs and desires, and try to find something that would offer you the best fit for what you're looking for. With so many resources available on the internet, you really don't need to hire a realtor or even be in Philadelphia to find a wonderful home. Happy hunting!

Admit Day Next Weekend

Next weekend, Penn GSE is hosting an open house and informational day for newly admitted students. It's taking place on Saturday, April 2nd at the Inn at Penn & the Graduate School of Education. We'll be having a student panel to answer questions, breakout sessions with your individual programs, addresses from our deans, a financial aid presentation, etc. It would be an exceptional way for admitted students to learn about life as a graduate student at Penn. You can find more information about our Preview Day for admitted students here: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/admissions_financial/visiting

Here is a link to the Accepted Students page, which will help you find everything you need to know before starting at Penn. 

http://www.gse.upenn.edu/accepted

There's also a lot of resources/info sessions that explore several essential topics for new grad students, such as living in Philadelphia, student health insurance, budgeting, and housing. For more infomation about these online info sessions, check out this site:

http://www.gsc.upenn.edu/orientation/#ss1

Springtime in Philly

As you may know, the weather this past week has been beautiful, especially for the beginning of March. Yesterday was close to 80 degrees! The springtime in Philly is wonderful, because there are a lot of different ways to enjoy the gorgeous weather. 

I've only been back from spring break for one day, but I've already been able to take advantage of a few outdoor activities the city has to offer. Today I was able to get some of my reading done in Rittenhouse Square Park, which was perfectly crowded with people and their pets. Being outside in the sunshine makes doing schoolwork all the more enjoyable - it seems less like a requirement and more like a pasttime. 

I took a really long walk as another excuse to stay outside. I started along the Schuykill River Trail, a popular running/walking trail along the banks of the river. The trail is excellent because it spans about 10 miles in Philly, and then another 120 miles throughout southeastern PA. On the stretch of the trail I usually walk, you can actually come to the Museum area and stop by the famous Rocky steps. It's really great if you're a runner, but it's beautiful regardless. 

For more ideas of how to celebrate the nice weather, check out www.uwishunu.com, a great blog about all the different events taking place in Philadephia. 

Internships!

Exciting news - my program (Counseling & Mental Health Services) has a new database of practicum and internship sites. It's an online program to help students find potential sites and contacts during their search for a field placement. I'm immensely excited about this database because it streamlines our search process and makes it easier to find suitable sites that match our personal interests and career goals. The database is managed by our practicum and internship placement coordinators, so it's easy for them to assist us with the entire process. If any potential/future Penn GSE students have questions about this, feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment!