Hey everyone! I was hoping someone on here might be able to help me. I'm graduating this year (well, spring of '10), and I have no idea where to go after that. I need to either go on or get a job...but I'm not sure which to do. I wanted to use grad school as an excuse to travel, but I don't think I'm going to have the cash to do it upfront. So now I'm limited to schools in Indiana, and i don't think there are that many of them. I would just get a job first and get some practical work experience, but I'm afraid i won't be able to find any good jobs with just a bachelors in psych and a minor in sociology and biology. I have to start paying back my loans after I've been out of school for six months, so a good job is really necessary. Any suggestions?
This is a hard decision. You'll be graduating into a tough job market(I'll be coming out with a master's in a crappy economy). Having a degree, you'll find a job, but don't expect that it will be great. Just be patient. Continuing in school could be a great option if you feel that a grad degree will help you do what you want to do in life. I wouldn't go into a grad program to avoid the job market. Do it because you think it will be a good move for yourself. Grad programs are more intensive(not mentally but timewise) so you'll soon flounder if your only motivation is avoiding the job hunt. Also, you'll have more debt, which is rough. Grad school is the route I chose because I needed the higher degree to do things I want to. What you chose is your choice to make. I don't think there is any harm in taking a couple years off like I did inbetween college and grad school. You'll find a job somewhere. If you're not happy with the job, it'll just make you more motivated when you return to school. I don't think you can go wrong and choosing one doesn't exclude the other
I graduated with a B.A. in psychology in 2008 and tried to get into graduate school for a Master's in Social Work for the Fall of 2008, but unfortunately was not accepted. I have since learned that many graduate programs prefer older students, not recent undergraduates. You definitely need to get some hands-on experience in the workfield in order to successfully gain entry into any graduate program. Also, I really had a hard time trying to find jobs that were in mental health or social work that didn't require a Master's or PhD. or even A.A. certification or a nursing degree. However, there are quite a lot of organizations, usually non-profit, that always look to recruit new graduates because they are open-minded, creative, and are usually willing to negotiate their wages. What exactly are you interested as far as psychology goes? If you tell me a little more, it might be easier to help you towards a certain field/career pathway.
