Why is psychology by far the most common social science/humanities major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Psychology and sociology majors do worse on the LSAT and the GRE than other liberal arts and social science majors.

Psych and Sociology are in the top ten majors that get into law school. https://www.edsmart.org/best-majors-for-law-school/#:~:text=Sociology%20is%20a%20great%20major,racial%20discrimination%2C%20and%20LGBTQ%20rights.

Right, because most law students come from humanities and social science backgrounds. Not surprising at all.

[Anonymous]

Most common major of students enrolled in law school:

Political science 19.6%
Psychology 5.6%
History 5.6%
English 5.3%
Criminal Justice 4.6%
Economics 4.2%
Philosophy 3.8%
Sociology 2.8%
Communications 2.6%

https://www.csusb.edu/sites/default/files/2015-16%20Law%20School%20Admission%20Council%2C%20Applicants%20by%20Major.pdf

[Anonymous]

About 5% of bachelor's degrees are in psychology. They also represent about 5% of students accepted into medical and law school. Obviously professional schools have no problem accepting them. One can also become a psychologist or go into a counseling. If you're a good student, there's plenty of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at this list, psychology is far ahead of the others:

Psychology 103,801
Political science 33,845
English 32,098
Economics 29,275
Sociology 27,294
History 23,382
Anthropology 8,227
Philosophy 5,644

Why?

My kid is interested in anthropology; she has some unique ECs that match this (and other niche humanities majors).

Would applying as an anthro major help at any selective school? If so, which ones???

[Anonymous]

They go into HR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Psychology is not a humanities discipline. It is a social science. There is an immense difference: great things about both ways of approaching knowledge, but it is a disservice to both to lump them together indiscriminately. (And before you ask, I'm in higher education, in a college of arts and sciences.)

What's the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it's interesting and relevant to everyone. And not overly challenging.

Psychology as a major has gotten harder over the years because of the biological aspects and it's more quantitative now (like most other social sciences). I wonder if it will stop being seen as an easy major and thus less popular. The intro classes are still relatively easy, but now you need stats beyond basic experimental stats, neuroscience etc. My DC's roommate is a psych major and says a lot of people drop out of the major after the first couple intro classes because it's not as easy as they thought. So it's sort of the opposite of an early weed-out course, the early courses are lures.

Came in to say this too. The requirements have changed a lot since we (parents) were in college. A lot more math and hard science added.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting and relatively easy

+1. It’s the easiest

And if you don’t got to grad school, you are basically useless. I know many who have trouble getting jobs.

It’s a lame major unless you go to grad school.

Just like history English communications anthropology sociology etc.

My bosses always thought my English degree was useful. I'm the one who could persuade people through storytelling to give us millions in budget for marketing to help us meet organizational goals.

But yeah, I should have learned to program a computer, I guess? lol Actually, I did learn that on my own time.

That's the person you are, not something you became because of an English degree. I have a degree in Physics, masters in accounting and a CPA and lead Sales at my org. I am the 'closer' everyone wants when it comes to dealing with difficult customers. I've never had a single class in English grammer in college (I'm an immigrant). What part of my education do you think made me the 'story teller'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting and relatively easy

+1. It’s the easiest

The intro classes are easy and interesting so it draws students in. But you need stats/research design as you move up as well as biology/neuroscience in most contemporary psychology programs. So I'd put it in similar level of difficulty as all the social sciences. Of course it varies by schools. Also, the other ones divide up somewhat--if you're interested in society, you can go sort of sociology, or anthropology or even government/poli sci depending on nuances in your interest. But psychology is the only social science that centers on individuals and their functioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it's interesting and relevant to everyone. And not overly challenging.

Psychology as a major has gotten harder over the years because of the biological aspects and it's more quantitative now (like most other social sciences). I wonder if it will stop being seen as an easy major and thus less popular. The intro classes are still relatively easy, but now you need stats beyond basic experimental stats, neuroscience etc. My DC's roommate is a psych major and says a lot of people drop out of the major after the first couple intro classes because it's not as easy as they thought. So it's sort of the opposite of an early weed-out course, the early courses are lures.

Came in to say this too. The requirements have changed a lot since we (parents) were in college. A lot more math and hard science added.

MY HS Senior decided to take AP Psychology in hopes of an easy A....that's not the case, he has As and Bs in his core classes and a C in Psychology. He says the class is hard and everyone is failing.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I think posts like this are intended to make anyone whose kid is not going into STEM think they are wasting their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting and relatively easy

+1. It’s the easiest

The intro classes are easy and interesting so it draws students in. But you need stats/research design as you move up as well as biology/neuroscience in most contemporary psychology programs. So I'd put it in similar level of difficulty as all the social sciences. Of course it varies by schools. Also, the other ones divide up somewhat--if you're interested in society, you can go sort of sociology, or anthropology or even government/poli sci depending on nuances in your interest. But psychology is the only social science that centers on individuals and their functioning.

NBC new-ish drama Irrationalibility(?) shows some of these aspects. i enjoyed a few episodes.

[Anonymous]

Interesting, easy, and you might get a masters and make a lot of money as a LCSW. My therapist make s$200 and hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, easy, and you might get a masters and make a lot of money as a LCSW. My therapist make s$200 and hour.

LCSW have masters degrees and could only make that much per hour in a very HCOL area after taking the time to develop a successful private practice (not easy.)

[Anonymous]

Because there are a lot of crazy folks. Never met a sane psychologist.