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  #1  
Old Nov 20, 2014, 01:15 PM
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CrystalSteph CrystalSteph is offline
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I have asked myself this question ever since I was a child. It has become a struggle for me even when I was in college. I am now 23 years old and going back to school, I am very motivated to get a degree and become a professional at something but not sure what. I am so focused on the future and what I would like to become, without knowing if I'd make it there to begin with.

When I was a young girl I liked the idea of being a teacher, I would get all my teddy bears and teach them things. As I grew older, I liked the idea of psychology. My friends would constantly tell me "You should be a psychologist", simply because I am a good listener, very understanding, not judgmental,open minded and people would constantly tell me about their problems.

So, Psychology
I like the idea of helping others, like being an inspiration and learning about people and the human mind, but I know it takes a lot to actually become a psychologist and the demand isn't as high (I know it depends on location). I don't like that it involves a lot of book work, I like thinking outside of the box. I don't even know what else I can do in the psychology field, I am often told "if you don't get your ph.d, you're nothing". I am aiming for a bachelors and honestly I don't know if I can do much with a bachelors in psychology. Then I thought art therapist, but even then you need a masters and it's a brand new field = not as many job listings.


And then there's ... education
I love the idea of a school setting, it's like its very own community. I like the idea that I can be creative, and play a role in a person's life. Also, the requirements are quite exact. You get your bachelors,certified..pretty straight forward. There is a school everywhere, so the demand can be high regardless of budget cuts, we will always need teachers,tutors and education. And I can start out as a teacher, or work in the administration there are various jobs within one school (There's school counselor as well!). If I were to be a teacher, I'd be a 4th- 8th grade teacher I think those are strong transitions in a person's life. Oh, and I can even probably teach some photography classes as well along with a strong subject like English. And as far as salary, I think that depends on location but also there's many different careers in just Education alone. In universities, you have advisors,deans who make a good salary. Oh, and doesn't a teacher kind of play a role of a psychologist, you do become a mentor to some students, may have to give advice and you are inspiring or at least should be.

wow, I did a lot of rambling..hope someone reads this.

So, for someone like me whose hobbies include art,photography,psychology and wants a career with a stable schedule perhaps daytime that way I still have time for my own family. This may have nothing to do with it but I visualize myself in the following years, studying for a degree..finding a career within that degree while doing my hobbies on the side perhaps opening a small little business on handmade things or a thrift store, and growing old to be one of those ladies who writes books and poetry lol.

In conclusion, both fields interest me. Both having something similar in my perspective as to what I would like to be (inspiration and helping others). Both fields are quite broad, with different opportunities that one can grow old in. Education = middle schools,universities Psychology= hospitals,clinics, schools etc

Anyways, where should I lead?

Thank you in advance!

Last edited by CrystalSteph; Nov 20, 2014 at 01:49 PM.
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  #2  
Old Nov 20, 2014, 01:21 PM
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CrystalSteph CrystalSteph is offline
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Also, if there is another field/career you may suggest please feel free to
  #3  
Old Nov 20, 2014, 09:47 PM
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Well, it is true that to do anything in psychology, you need at least a Master's. How about a degree in education, teach a while, and then see about grad school, maybe in school psychology?
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Old Nov 21, 2014, 02:41 PM
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Perna Perna is offline
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I'd look into Educational Psychology Educational Psychology (Division 15) with your interests

If you don't want much advance education, you can shift to the business "training" field, I went to grad school for a Masters in Distance Education, for example: http://www.umuc.edu/academic-program...-education.cfm which is all about how adults learn and how online schools work/are set up and administered worldwide.
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  #5  
Old Nov 21, 2014, 03:12 PM
nicoleflynn nicoleflynn is offline
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Have you talked to an advisor at the University? I started school at 60 and am a Sophomore at 68 (because I wrote about my life of overcoming and won a scholarship)
  #6  
Old Nov 30, 2014, 02:04 PM
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Lauliza Lauliza is offline
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Well, your undergrad major often has little to do with what your career will be unless your are in a skilled major (like nursing). That said, i would go with what interest you and doesn't limit you in the event you change your mind. If you want teach K-6, it doesnt matter what your undergrad major is (at least in my state). You just need to take the licensing exam, do your student teaching. Where i live you need a masters to teach any grade, but again, at the elementary level it doesnt need to be a subject area and it doesn't need to be in education. You also get 5 years from when you are licensed to finish your masters. If you like the school environment but still are interested in psych, you could always pursue a masters in counseling or school counseling. Then you have options. I think it's most important not to get too specialized before you actually work in the field. Sometimes we think we want to do something but then actually find a job in the field, only to be disappointed.
  #7  
Old Dec 07, 2014, 05:55 PM
xRockettex xRockettex is offline
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Psychology is actually one of my majors, so I feel the need to dispute the common misconception that psychology graduates can't do anything with their degree. This is false in the sense that people say the degree itself is "useless". However, it's true in the sense that it's also true for a lot of other undergraduate majors, such as biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience, and even math. (I mean, really, think about it. What can you do in these fields with only an undergraduate degree?) So it's not just a psychology thing - people just like to pick on it. The fact is that having an undergraduate degree does not guarantee you a job. Even getting one in a field that's currently evolving and needs lots of people right now, like engineering or computer science, doesn't guarantee you one. There's a reason that 5 year BS/MS engineering programs have become popular - because there's so many people out there vying for these positions, even so called "important" majors like computer science and engineering have to make themselves look better than their competition by showing that they're specialized in a field of their interest.

Getting a degree in psychology tells an unbiased (it's important to include that) employer that you likely have a good understanding of how humans think, act, and interact. It's a very useful degree and I should also note that it's very versatile. Personally, I'm pre-med, but other psychology majors and double majors have also gone onto law school, business school, etc... Basically, with a bachelors in psychology, you can basically work anywhere. To work in more specialized areas (such as social work or counseling/therapy), however, you would need a Master's. And of course, you'd need a PhD to legally call yourself a psychologist.

I agree with the person who suggested educational psychology. Educational pyschologists work in schools, which would be a plus for you, but they don't actually teach. So if that wouldn't be something you're interested in, why not double major or pursue a minor in one of the fields? (I'm not sure if education is offered as a minor, but some schools, like mine, allow students to design individually designed majors and minors.)

Overall, just find out what's best for you! I'm having to do the same thing right now while designing my double major and my dual degree that I'm pursuing. You have to do what makes you happy; not what pleases other people. Do what you can imagine doing everyday and thinking about how you can't wait to return the work next day. At that point, a job isn't even a job!
  #8  
Old Dec 09, 2014, 12:55 AM
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Rose76 Rose76 is offline
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You're right, Crystal, a B.A. in psychology isn't going to get you much in the line of work, unless you're an outstanding student, in which case a major in anything will probably work.

Get a bachelor's in education, which makes you ready to join the work force. After you work as a teacher, you can always go back for a master's in something else, if you find you'ld rather do something else.

I do know of one job that a B.A. in psychology can get you - working in a prison as a psychological support person for inmates.
  #9  
Old Dec 10, 2014, 07:14 PM
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kittyfaye kittyfaye is offline
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Have you thought of psychology with a minor in criminal justice, since you said you like thinking out of the box? There's all kinds of jobs you can get with that. I'm 24 and going back to school in the spring semester after a five year break. Psychology w/ minor in criminal justice is what I'm doing, granted I don't change it any time soon... (my boyfriend doesn't want me doing criminal justice because he used to work at a prison and tells me how horrible it was.)
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  #10  
Old Dec 30, 2014, 12:28 PM
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BeaFlower BeaFlower is offline
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Maybe a special education teacher? It has something to do with psychology
However, I think that you would do great in both, because you have passion.
  #11  
Old Dec 30, 2014, 09:22 PM
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CosmicRose CosmicRose is offline
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I've actually been researching the exact same thing. In order to be a teacher, you can get your bachelor's degree in any subject, but most of course choose education. You don't need a masters to be a teacher but it does help because eventually most teachers get their master's anyway, you just need a teaching credential certificate after your bachelor's I believe, but I was listening to an elementary teacher who said you need a bachelor's and you can get your bachelor's in literally anything - her words not mine.

Now that being said, if you're deciding between psychology or education, and you want more flexibility (like either being a therapist or a teacher) I would go with psychology. Because as I said above, for a teacher, it doesn't really matter what you get your bachelor's degree in and psychology is already closely related to education as compared to other majors.

So it really depends what you want to do. A psychology degree can open doors in social work, being a teacher, being a counselor, as a therapist I believe you need a masters though but you can still get your foot in the door as an aide or assistant this way.
An education degree will mostly just be for teaching purposes, you can't really be a counselor I think so your options may be limited in that regard. There's always room to be promoted within a school such as in administration or principle, etc...

If you're more inclined towards psychology and want to counsel, go with that degree.
If you're more inclined towards educating and want to teach, go with that degree.
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  #12  
Old Dec 30, 2014, 10:07 PM
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Yoda Yoda is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeaFlower View Post
Maybe a special education teacher? It has something to do with psychology
However, I think that you would do great in both, because you have passion.
That is what I am thinking but it would be interesting to me but possibly not so much to you.
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