I'm back in a Ph.D. program

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Yes, I have sworn for six years it would never happen - then the other day I realized that I spend a lot of time complaining that there are no psychologists out there who have any clue what to do with a high functioning, bi-polar, disassociative autistic like me - and I'm about 30 hours and a dissertation away from being a psychologist who at least has some ideas about how to deal with someone like that . . .

I told the program that I am autistic and so they know up front - and I told them that my dissertation would be on autistic adults - which means in a year or so I may be back on here asking for some interviews with some autistic adults . . .

I can't decide if this is a good thing or not, but I am definitely back in the program - I got my official acceptance today . . .

That's awsome! Psycology definitely needs more professionals who understand people like me (possible AS and Bipolar). I, at least, haven't found anyone who does. I think you'll be doing certain people a lot of good by pursuing this.

HOW are you getting a PHD? I've been trying to get a modest Bachelor's degree for 20 years and can't get past higher math. I'm on my 5th college now and I'm still not able to get through the required basic math. How are you doing it? is there an accommodating college out there?

IF I ever get an acceptance letter, then I'm on the same path. So far I'm 0 for 2, but I've still got 7 to hear back from.

I can't do math either - but I can do stat - so I had to do some begging since my GRE scores were abysmal . . . also, though I started my Ph.D. at a regular university I am finishing it at Capella, which is an online university - however, they are accredited just like a regular university (trust me - I looked into all that) - they have been very friendly - I contacted their disability coordinator basically to tell them that I know for a fact that there are lots of online learners that are autistic that they probably don't know about (think about it - online instruction with focused knoweldge) - and they were very friendly and actually gave me permission to come and go out of the sessions so I don't get overloaded - even though I didn't ask for that . . .

What kind of real-world interaction is provided in terms of residencies and the like? I've thought about the whole online thing, as it would allow for a lot of flexibility for me and it would be in something I cared about, so I wouldn't simply procrastinate like I do for the classes I don't care about. That, and until I get a "yes" from somewhere, that's my only other option, unless I decide to see how lucky I am and try to get into med school.

I have been really impressed with Capella - I emailed their disability services just to tell them that I wanted to be a contact person for anyone else that applies and says they are autisitic (you know for a fact that there are a bunch of people doing education this way that are autistic, whether they identify or not) and the disablity services person was great - she just wanted to know all about my issues with being autistic and SHE brought up my comfort during the residency sessions and actually gave me permisson to come and go from sessions as I please to get away from everyone else and to be guarnteed a room in the residency hotel (I assume that part of that is my responsiblity in not signing up the day before - but I think they have some rooms set aside for these things) - so I was really impressed - I wasn't asking for accomidations I was just trying to be helpful, since I know other adult autistics really helped me . . .

The residencies with Capella are actually why I picked it over Walden - at Walden you have a year where you are basically flying back and forth from whereever on the weekends and have to get 500 hours face time in that year . . . Capella requires that you attend 3 5 to 6 day conferences - and they are in good cities - Anaheim and Orlando and Atlanta - throughout the time that you are attending - it is different for different programs, but this is for the psychology program . . . they even have one that is offered over the week after Christmas for people like me who wouldn't be able to take a week off in the middle of the semester due to teaching . . .

I'd really suggest them - they have been great so far - it is expensive - but they allow financial aid just like any other university . . .

What branch of psychology? Counseling, clinical, etc?

My biggest issue is that I'm trying to get into a clinical program, because the counseling side of it isn't all that important for me... at least in terms of education.

That's awesome, animallover! Yeah, what program are you in? Clinical?

You and I will have to keep in contact. I'm going to be going into a doctorate program for research and will be focusing on ASDs.

Educational, actually . . . I think that Capella has a Clinical program . . . Oh - I just looked - they have a clinical PsyD and, honestly, I want the damned Dr. in front of my name, but if I remember right a PsyD is just as good in terms of practice . . . I am interested, though, in teaching at a university level and doing research on adult ASDs as my research interest, then, hopefully, developing some sort of specific classes on ASDs in adults . . .

Heh. Planning to do psychlogy at Beds. college next year.

Ah kewel. I've got some ideas on how ABA can be vastly improved.

I had this feeling for a while regarding college math, but last summer I took a 5 week class in statistics and got an -A in it. Taking the 5 week class was better for me, it allowed me to completely focus on the one class.

As for graduate school, getting the recommendations is what is keeping me out. Now that is what I don't understand how to do, even after people have explained it here.

What don't you understand about recommedation letters?

I'm afraid that getting good sincere letters of recommendation is often a matter of meeting and pleasing the right people and schmoozing the right professors.

Me too. Also, discussing something like that with a professor seems strange and I can't imagine how I'd go about doing it.