Interest in psychology

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Super popular almost over-subscribed major.


Is that true? I keep hearing about shortages of mental health professionals.


Very popular with women. Now do they become mental health professionals? No.

What do they become?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A psychology under grad degree won't get you a job. That degree is good if you want to do a psychology PhD in clinical practice or research.

You can't be a mental health counselor without at least a master's degree.


My son majored in Psych and got a job right out of college at a state university in the field. He’s not counseling but has been involved in research as well as clinical testing of patients with cognitive impairment.


What school did he go to?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A psychology under grad degree won't get you a job. That degree is good if you want to do a psychology PhD in clinical practice or research.

You can't be a mental health counselor without at least a master's degree.


My son majored in Psych and got a job right out of college at a state university in the field. He’s not counseling but has been involved in research as well as clinical testing of patients with cognitive impairment.


What school did he go to?


Coe College (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:A lot of schools offer cognitive science now


Op here. I'll encourage her to look at all these options. I had no idea psychology was such a popular major now.

This is probably a dumb question since we're just getting started on college looking, but how does one learn what majors are "oversubscribed"?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A lot of schools offer cognitive science now


Op here. I'll encourage her to look at all these options. I had no idea psychology was such a popular major now.

This is probably a dumb question since we're just getting started on college looking, but how does one learn what majors are "oversubscribed"?


Some state schools will publish a list on their websites. The UC's do.
I also just googled "Where in us colleges is psychology over subscribed?" and I got this

"Psychology is an oversubscribed field, particularly at the undergraduate level, at nearly every US college due to its popularity as a major. While specific data for every university isn't available, the general trend points to high demand, with the large number of psychology majors at institutions like Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, and UC Berkeley serving as indicators of significant interest. "
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A lot of schools offer cognitive science now


Op here. I'll encourage her to look at all these options. I had no idea psychology was such a popular major now.

This is probably a dumb question since we're just getting started on college looking, but how does one learn what majors are "oversubscribed"?

You can view IPEDS to view the number of psychology majors who graduated in a recent year. These are a few examples:

College Navigator - Vassar College https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Vassar&s=all&id=197133#programs

College Navigator - Union College https://share.google/zZwx7BrEUZaSvcYo6

College Navigator - Hamilton College https://share.google/GTrLPFm7jvZEHg9pe

College Navigator - Pitzer College https://share.google/gvDrcQP06VdfSUNs3

Note that highly subscribed programs may not be over subscribed.
Anonymous
If they are interested in a graduate school research path, it's really important to get undergraduate research experience. Look at faculty pages to see who is publishing currently and who has labs that include undergraduates. It can be competitive to get a research assistant slot. If your student knows what area of psychology interests them, you can find out what schools are strong in that area.

I would lean toward big universities but top SLACs will also have professors who are active in research and will provide more opportunities for undergraduates. If they have to teach a heavy load, they are unlikely to have much time for research.
Anonymous
It appears as if your child might be oriented toward the subfield of cognitive psychology. Nonetheless, with respect to undergraduate study, an introduction to a range of topics, such as in clinical, developmental, evolutionary and social psychology and neuroscience may be beneficial. For such exposure, seek a sufficiently broad program with course offerings in these areas. Training in research methods and an understanding of statistics will be important irrespective of the subfield of particular interest.
Anonymous
Clinical work and obtaining licensure for independent practice will require at least a master's degree. There are plenty of bachelor's entry level direct service jobs in treatment programs or community based programs; pay is very low (but at least the scheduling and benefits are crappy) but good intro to field before committing to grad school.
Anonymous
Unless you’re going to medical school to become a psychiatrist, is a psychology major degree even worth it these days.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Super popular almost over-subscribed major.


Is that true? I keep hearing about shortages of mental health professionals.


But research? As op said? Yes, a lot of interest due to lgbt/trans interest. Sorry I had to link it, but it’s true.
(I don’t mean that every single individual interested is into that aspect, but the numbers are up overall)
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Super popular almost over-subscribed major.


Is that true? I keep hearing about shortages of mental health professionals.


But research? As op said? Yes, a lot of interest due to lgbt/trans interest. Sorry I had to link it, but it’s true.
(I don’t mean that every single individual interested is into that aspect, but the numbers are up overall)


Me again. If the 60-70s sexual revolution was entirely experimental and expressive, (and the 90s was quieter but still there), the 20s sexual revolution is intellectual, sometimes inexperienced, and theoretical: “What if..” and so forth.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It appears as if your child might be oriented toward the subfield of cognitive psychology. Nonetheless, with respect to undergraduate study, an introduction to a range of topics, such as in clinical, developmental, evolutionary and social psychology and neuroscience may be beneficial. For such exposure, seek a sufficiently broad program with course offerings in these areas. Training in research methods and an understanding of statistics will be important irrespective of the subfield of particular interest.


I attended a state flagship with a significant research program. I intended a psych major during my sophomore year. I was interested in research/academia. I did cognitive psychology research on how memory works for a year with a prominent young professor. The experience helped me to decide against the career. I ended up becoming an economics major. It turned out I was interested in social sciences broadly. And also business vs. academia.

Over the years, I've noticed many psychology majors in the market research profession. It is quite relevant.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Super popular almost over-subscribed major.


Is that true? I keep hearing about shortages of mental health professionals.


LOL you think there will be jobs after 2026 with the Trump administration in charge????

This is a terrible major moving forward.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Super popular almost over-subscribed major.


Is that true? I keep hearing about shortages of mental health professionals.


Very popular with women. Now do they become mental health professionals? No.


Also with football players. The major is considered a gut at my college so
Athletes take it along with sociology and poly sci.
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