Consider, very seriously, the cost of the degree vesrus the potential payoff. I earned a doctorate in psychology a few years back (about 16 years actually); I'm still finding ways to pay off the student loan. Not sure if that is what you were talking about with the considerations...but if you can find a way to do the work without such a huge investment (scholarships, work study, etc), then do so. Getting the student loans is fairly easy...paying them off is a chore. By the way, I still maintain a license as a clinical psychologist. I am working my way back to that occupation, but am currently somewhat trapped in a business adventure that I thought was going to be profitable enough to allow me to pay off said student loans...

There, now that the tough stuff is out of the way, consider some of the following:

1. Look into the research on child psychology. Find a researcher that you like and then call them or email them. Trust me, they are always flattered that someone has read their stuff. If that person has a faculty appointment, then consider attending the school at which they teach.

2. Consider auditing a class or two at your local university to see if that is what you really want to do. Graduate work in clinical psychology is about a lot more than sitting in clinics providing therapy. There is, at most schools, a TON of data analysis that is required during your course of study.

3. Talk to people who already are in the field and ask them what they have found most useful.

4. Look into other avenues that are not necessarily in psychology graduate work. For example, there are many folks that take the route to clinical work through social work programs. There are many fine clinical social workers practicing as "child psychologists".

Good luck. Feel free to send me a private message if you would like more correspondence.