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Asked by anon-283784 to Lisa on 2 Mar 2021.
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Lisa Grünwald answered on 2 Mar 2021:
I think the one thing I’d wish I’d known before is that becoming a therapist isn’t the only thing you can do with a psychology degree! Also to try it out a bit more – asking to do a week’s placement etc, most places will be happy to have students!
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Comments
Christina commented on :
I never realised that doing a science degree gave you so many options if you decided not to pursue science after a degree/PhD. A science degree (biomedical science in my case) opened up doors in business, marketing, government work, banking, computer science etc. I am happy to stay within academia right now but it’s always good to know that I have the option to change my mind whenever I feel like it.
Lisa commented on :
Great question! I wish I’d known that I don’t have to be perfect! When I first started teaching psychology I was so nervous that I would explain something wrong, or not be good enough. I was worried that I would need to know everything so I could answer any question asked. Now I’ve come to realise that no lecturers/teachers know all the answers! I am much more confident to admit when I don’t know the answer.
I think this goes for any job really. Everybody makes mistakes! The trick is not to beat yourself up for anything that goes wrong. Instead, think about how you can put things right next time. For example, if I do a lecture and feel like people didn’t really understand a part of it, I may add additional help on it at a later date or make sure I work on that better for next time.
David commented on :
Lots of things…(!) but probably top of the list would be that science is surprisingly *creative* and *fun*, and not at all like I imagined it when I was at school.
If you don’t know any scientists, we’re not at all like we seem from tv: we don’t wear lab coats all the time; we (in general) don’t spend all day in labs full of test tubes; and – shock! – we actually smile and laugh sometimes…
Designing experiments is like trying to write a story, or paint a picture, or solve a difficult puzzle: and like all these things, incredibly satisfying when you’re finished!
Rai commented on :
I wish I’d known that I don’t need to get the highest mark on all of my exams or indeed know everything to become a psychologist! What is important is what you do with you knowledge and how you continue to develop.
Harry commented on :
There are a few things but one thing I really wish I had known (or at least acknowledged) was that it is ok to have breaks. A work life balance is really important whether your working towards your GCSE’s or that promotion you want at work! It may seem like that task needs doing immediately and that you should be working 24/7, but in reality taking some time off will do you some good, and in turn it will benefit your work. Looking after yourself is key
Anon commented on :
I remember when I was in school I thought I couldn’t be a psychologist because somebody told me you had to be very good at Maths (and Maths was the subject that I found hardest!)
When you do a Psychology degree they teach you to use statistics, but they teach it from the beginning and don’t expect you to be an expert when you arrive!
Once you qualify as a psychologist you can decide which area of Psychology suits you best. I’m an educational psychologist and I do lots of what I enjoy most (being with children, talking to people, reading, writing) and hardly any Maths at all!
anon-286295 commented on :
ok
laurenmcgale commented on :
I wish I knew how much variety there was in psychology, there is something for everyone I think, no matter what your interests are, and it teaches you a lot of skills which are useful for a range of different jobs, not just as a psychologist (writing, critical thinking, research design, communications, the list goes on…). You could apply psychology to a job in education, research, marketing and business, counselling, or follow it up with a masters in a health care job (occupational therapy, medicine).