MPC Which would you choose?

For the record, I think Liberty's program is a great program for those comfortable with the religious aspects.

I would be pursuing the M.A. in Professional Counseling if my financial and family needs didn't prevent me from completing the internship and practicum requirements.

 

I would really have no problem with their religious views or even that example StefanM, but I would be the odd ball out. I am not religious in the "standard" sense. I question a lot of things. If the majority of the people at the school and the majority of the classes are wrapped around religion I am not sure if I would like it. I am fine with religion but I do not want to base the majority of my education on it. Having said that I am currently enrolled in a Women of the bible course at a community college and I am not bothered by its content and am using it as a learning experience. If I take that view of Liberty's program then I would be okay with it.

I just can't decide between Liberty, Walden, or Grand Canyon! I wish more people would chime in on their thoughts of each school.

I am leaning towards Walden for the CACREP but Liberty for the price. I am worried about the intensives as well but for Liberty's at least I have a friend who lives about 4 hours from there so I could visit her while I was there

I appreciate both of you putting you input in!

 

Is the community college secular? I ask because secular colleges are usually a different world in terms of religion classes. An evangelical Christian school (Liberty is arguably fundamentalist, even) is going to "feel" very different in most cases.

If I were in your position, I would probably choose Walden. The CACREP accreditation is very helpful, and I don't know if you would really be comfortable at LU.

At Liberty, the slogan is "Training Champions for Christ," to give you an idea of the institutional mission. Most students tend to be focused on becoming Christian counselors. Faith is a very important aspect of education at LU, and the students show it. One does not necessarily have to agree with this perspective, but if being surrounded by it would make you uncomfortable or would detract from your studies in any way, you would probably be best served at another institution.

I love LU, but I come from a faith background (B.A. in Christian Ministries), and I work at a Christian college. I know that my perspective on LU is partly reflective of my experience in these areas.

 

I made some inquiries into Capella and Walden but I am just not sure on the price and other points. Walden's program will take 2 years and 09 months to complete, roughly the same as anywhere else but has 12 week terms. It will also cost roughly $40,000 for the program. Capella is about 40,500 not including books. They also have 10 week terms. I would receive a 10% discount (Military) at both programs so roughly $4,000 off of each.

Liberty has 8 week terms, B&M school, $250 per credit hour (Military) or $15,000 for the entire program not including books. It isn't CACREP accredited but has designed the program around the requirements of CACREP and many states.

CACREP isn't required for any of the states I would choose to live in with the exception of Oregon (probably won't choose the NW anyway).

The cost of the program doesn't ultimately matter because I could use my G.I. Bill if I had to which would cover the cost of the program and books. I was hoping to only use part of my G.I. Bill for Liberty due to the low cost and then use the G.I. Bill/Post 9/11 for my Doctorate when the time came......

Thoughts Stefan?

 

For a Military student, LU is a GREAT choice.

I think the program is a great program, even without the CACREP accreditation.

It's just a matter of comfort. If one is comfortable in an evangelical Christian context, it will be fine. If one is not, then it might be challenging.

 

Although, if you have the GI Bill, you may want to look into an APA-accredited doctoral program in psychology.

If you can relocate, this may be your best long-term option.

Of course if you are like me, distance education is an unfortunate necessity.

 

I can get out next year and go to school full-time but living off of a roughly $1200 a month stipend with a wife and child isn't something I look forward to. I would love to do an APA-accredited doctoral program but doing that for 3-5 years isn't something I think I could put my family through even living off of savings and the stipend.

Going to Liberty I can get stationed very near to it next year for the practicum and intensives. I can also touch very little of my G.I. Bill as well with the $250 per credit hour fee because the military gives me $4500 a year for education outside of the G.I. Bill. So I can do two courses this year (until October) and 6 courses next year and be almost half way done without even touching the G.I Bill and then it resets to another $4500 again next October. So if I am patient I can just use Tuition Assistance and a couple months of G.I. Bill......

 

Given this information, I highly, highly recommend LU if the aforementioned issues are amenable to you.

 

Thanks, while my situation is unique that is the thought process I went through to select Liberty. I was raised Baptist, associate myself with Christian ideals, and am married to a very devout Christian. I go to a Christian church just differ on some of the tenets of Christianity, modern Christianity I should say, not original Christians. But I won't be a Christian counselor, but I have no problem doing course work from a Christian perspective.