Psych or Sociology??!

[serra]

Hey everyone

So i just finished my first year in University and i ended up doing pretty well. (a 3.5 GPA... not phenominal, but pretty good for first year, and i wasn't even trying my hardest all year!) i expect my marks only to get better.

now i'm just looking at picking courses for next year. i was going to major is psych, because i really really like it and am also pretty good at it, and i find it really interesting. but i also have heard that it's really hard to get into grad school for psych, and that it's really competitive. and i can just forsee into the future and have a feeling that there would be a lot of annoying politics i would have to deal with, if i decided to persue psych.

so sociology is also something i am pretty interested in. i was thinking of maybe getting a major in soci and a minor in psych. i also took a cultural studies course this past year and i liked that a lot, so i will also throw in some cultural studies and voila....

what would i be?

[maryfairy]

you could be a social pyschologist (combination of psych and sociology).

[backtothelab]

I'd go with sociology, and minor in psychology. It gives you more possibilities in the future, i think.

[gaiabee]

Hi Serra...

Psychology is such a broad area and some programs (such as Clinical Psych Ph.D) are more difficult to get into than others. I wouldn't sell yourself short though. So far your GPA is great and you said yourself it could be even better. If you are willing to get a doctorate, psychology can be a satisfying career and you can avoid the corporate grind (although in some areas an MA would suffice). Besides a Ph.D. there are also many Psy.D. programs (Doctorate of Psychology) that place less of an emphasis on research and more of an emphasis on application (e.g. counseling). You might also consider an MSW (masters in social work) which is a lot less schooling, less competitive, and more applied. I believe a major in psychology with a minor in sociology would open a lot more doors... and the addition of cultural studies sounds perfect :) Look online for information on careers in psychology and see what you think. You can try www.apa.org for starters.

Just keep in mind that any field you go into will have its own politics. Whatever you choose, psychology, sociology and cultural studies will definitely work well together. Also, I recommend taking a year or two off before grad school if you plan on going. That gives you time to experience life and get a better idea of what you want to do :)

Good Luck!

[dawn_sky]

you could be a social pyschologist (combination of psych and sociology).Or a psychological sociologist... Which would be someone primarily studying sociology, but looking at the psychology involved in the social phenomena, whereas a social psychologist would be a psychologist studying people in social settings.

And, as mentioned above, how competitive the school is depends on your area of focus, as well as the type of school you are looking at. Any graduate program at Harvard is going to be difficult to get in to, but there are some damn fine programs at less-well-known state schools that would be just as good for you.

Also, 3.5 is a good gpa, but that's only a small part of the picture. Your GRE (like the SAT or ACT, but for grad school entrance) score is another consideration. Also, you will have to write a statement of purpose, basically an essay stating what you want to do, why you want to go to that school in particular, and why you would fit well in the department. That, plus an interview with the professor you want to work with and with the department chair, can make all the difference in the world. So don't sell yourself short just because you didn't get a perfect 4.0.

Oh, & get involved in activities -- student clubs in your major areas, volunteering, & whatever else interests you. Being "well-rounded" is also an important consideration.