5 answers
Aryana
Student
Omaha, Nebraska
1
Question
Asked
993 views
What are good colleges for someone wanting to get into Psychology?
I am a Junior in high school and am looking in to schools with good psychology programs. I have always been fascinated by the brain and the way our minds work, about what leads us to do things and I want to continue this journey and learn more.
What are some good colleges for Psychology?
What is the atmosphere?
What do you think of the school?
Why would I go there?
Login to comment
5 answers
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
410
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
Hi, Aryana - this is a terrific question, and you have received excellent advice already. When you mentioned, "how the brain works," I thought that you might be interested in a "Neuroscience" major and put a few links below about that major. The last link focuses on careers for neuroscience majors.
I agree with MIchelle that you should visit as many of the schools on your list as you can. This demonstrates interest, which is important in the admissions process, but also gives you a personal impression of the atmosphere. It is true that impression could be affected by your having an off-day or your tour guide having an off-day, but it is still at least as helpful as our general impressions.
The schools Chinyere mentioned and the ones in my links are considered very competitive, but that doesn't mean they are unpleasant. My children and I all had great experiences and graduated from very competitive schools. Those schools had small teacher:student ratios and the resources for student financial and academic support. In college, all of us found people passionate about learning with whom we developed lifelong friendships.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
US News - https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/neuroscience-behavior
Niche - https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-neuroscience-and-neurobiology/
College Board - https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/get-started/career-paths-for-popular-majors/9-jobs-neuroscience-majors
I agree with MIchelle that you should visit as many of the schools on your list as you can. This demonstrates interest, which is important in the admissions process, but also gives you a personal impression of the atmosphere. It is true that impression could be affected by your having an off-day or your tour guide having an off-day, but it is still at least as helpful as our general impressions.
The schools Chinyere mentioned and the ones in my links are considered very competitive, but that doesn't mean they are unpleasant. My children and I all had great experiences and graduated from very competitive schools. Those schools had small teacher:student ratios and the resources for student financial and academic support. In college, all of us found people passionate about learning with whom we developed lifelong friendships.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
Martha recommends the following next steps:
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Aryana
You're welcome - we appreciate your courtesy!
Martha Kramer
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
151
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Aryana, it is great you already have an academic path in mind! As for best school- most undergraduate programs that offer psychology as a major will cover the foundational topics. You will gain a broad but thorough understanding about the history of psychology and also new research within the field. Sometimes it is useful to attend a school if you happen to follow someone's work and they are employed as a professor, the school is connected with a major hospital system or known for its research- this may open up connections for you as a student. If you plan to attend graduate school in psychology as well, you may want to look at schools that offer such a program; it could ease the transition. However, you will learn so much about yourself in the meantime, it may be useful to first learn the basics before making other major decisions. Graduate work is more niche-oriented, and you may want to be more selective at this stage. There are many types of graduate degrees within and under the umbrella of psychology; this is where you will want to have more defined thoughts about your future career. For instance- knowledge about theory, technique, community of patients (child, youth, couples, family, individual), complementary therapies- expressive arts (music, art, dance, drama, yoga), and more. But you are starting at the beginning! You may end up choosing to enter into medical school, psychiatry, social work, substance use counseling, peer support work, or gain a doctorate in psychology. Be open to learning about your options and see what you find most interesting. Some require a bigger academic commitment than others. Get some hands-on experience as a volunteer; look at child life (hospital), nonprofit work (homeless shelter, family support services, etc.), entry level administration for a private practice, research assistant, etc. And pursue your own therapy as well; this will be invaluable. And also, many graduate programs require it. Most undergraduate schools have a student counseling department where you may take advantage of such tuition-included services. If your high school has a guidance counselor, you may find it beneficial to see what resources they have regarding local/state schools that offer psychology. Visit school websites, talk with current students (if possible), sit in on a class or more (if possible) and learn everything you can now to make an informed decision. Your own enthusiasm and drive will be the most important aspect to get you where you want to go in life! One step at a time.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Aryana
Jess A
6
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Jess’s Answer
Hi Aryana!
I won't directly answer some of your questions, as I don't have the particular background to provide satisfactory responses. But I do want to offer a slightly different perspective informed by my college experience switching majors from psychology to business, and then navigating the job market for business careers. I think most colleges have solid undergraduate (bachelor's) psychology programs. The field of psychology often requires individuals to pursue graduate studies, such as master's degrees or PhDs. For example, if you intend to become a psychotherapist, you'll need to meet specific requirements, including a certain number of supervised work hours and passing exams to obtain a license. Therefore, I wouldn't necessarily be overly concerned with finding the "perfect" college for an undergraduate degree in psychology. Instead, I'd view a bachelor's degree as part of a longer-term educational journey, with the ultimate goal of getting into a reputable graduate program for a master's degree in psychology. I say this because I think in our culture there is often an unhealthy belief that we have to "get into a good college" or "get into a good program" because otherwise it's going to be really hard to get internships or get a job. And this leads some people to undergo unnecessary stress, and pay higher tuition fees than is necessary. I think many of us realize, especially once we start looking for jobs, that what truly matters is where the job demand lies: which employers are consistently hiring, which positions have the most vacancies, etc.
I hope this helps!
Jess
I won't directly answer some of your questions, as I don't have the particular background to provide satisfactory responses. But I do want to offer a slightly different perspective informed by my college experience switching majors from psychology to business, and then navigating the job market for business careers. I think most colleges have solid undergraduate (bachelor's) psychology programs. The field of psychology often requires individuals to pursue graduate studies, such as master's degrees or PhDs. For example, if you intend to become a psychotherapist, you'll need to meet specific requirements, including a certain number of supervised work hours and passing exams to obtain a license. Therefore, I wouldn't necessarily be overly concerned with finding the "perfect" college for an undergraduate degree in psychology. Instead, I'd view a bachelor's degree as part of a longer-term educational journey, with the ultimate goal of getting into a reputable graduate program for a master's degree in psychology. I say this because I think in our culture there is often an unhealthy belief that we have to "get into a good college" or "get into a good program" because otherwise it's going to be really hard to get internships or get a job. And this leads some people to undergo unnecessary stress, and pay higher tuition fees than is necessary. I think many of us realize, especially once we start looking for jobs, that what truly matters is where the job demand lies: which employers are consistently hiring, which positions have the most vacancies, etc.
I hope this helps!
Jess
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Aryana
Michelle M.
Actress
2338
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Aryana !
Part of what you're going to need to get used to is research if you want to attend college, so now is the time that you should be researching psychology programs independently and deciding if you want to attend a local, in state or out of state university.
Most colleges offer a Psychology Major so you have a broad choice. You can attend a community college for an Associates in Psychology and then a four year college for a Bachelors in Psychology. The alternative is to enroll in a four year college for your Bachelors in Psychology. You will first have to decide between these paths as to what you want to do.
Once you've decided which way to do this, you start by looking into local college's websites and reading their admissions requirements as well as the description and courses for their Psychology program. Take notes and write down anything that stands out to you. Speak with your school guidance counselor and discuss which classes are available at your high school to take in 11th and 12th grade such as Psychology, Statistics and Health Science. You will have to choose your college after being well informed about each college and it's a lot of information.
You will also need to get a first hand impression of whatever college you're considering. A good way for you to do that would be to visit the college for a tour and or an orientation. You can also go to You Tube to see if the college has a channel and watch video presentations of the college. Reading their websites is important as well.
Another important thing to note is that there are no bad colleges. If there were, they would have been closed already, so you'll need to focus on your circumstances, your end goal for a psychology career (you'll need a Masters or Doctorate to become a Psychologist). There are very many colleges to choose from for a major in psychology.
Being a Psychology Major isn't the most uplifting and light hearted major, but you will also have many opportunities for fun. There are many events, activities, extra curriculars and shows that colleges usually offer, so there is some fun on campuses. You will be expected to do an enormous amount of reading and writing for this major. It's a lot of information to learn, but you will do it. Try not to overthink it because your experience in college is going to be unique to you. No one can tell you how your experience with it will be. Focus on the classes and activities you're doing in high school, strive for good grades now and all will be well once you are a college student.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Part of what you're going to need to get used to is research if you want to attend college, so now is the time that you should be researching psychology programs independently and deciding if you want to attend a local, in state or out of state university.
Most colleges offer a Psychology Major so you have a broad choice. You can attend a community college for an Associates in Psychology and then a four year college for a Bachelors in Psychology. The alternative is to enroll in a four year college for your Bachelors in Psychology. You will first have to decide between these paths as to what you want to do.
Once you've decided which way to do this, you start by looking into local college's websites and reading their admissions requirements as well as the description and courses for their Psychology program. Take notes and write down anything that stands out to you. Speak with your school guidance counselor and discuss which classes are available at your high school to take in 11th and 12th grade such as Psychology, Statistics and Health Science. You will have to choose your college after being well informed about each college and it's a lot of information.
You will also need to get a first hand impression of whatever college you're considering. A good way for you to do that would be to visit the college for a tour and or an orientation. You can also go to You Tube to see if the college has a channel and watch video presentations of the college. Reading their websites is important as well.
Another important thing to note is that there are no bad colleges. If there were, they would have been closed already, so you'll need to focus on your circumstances, your end goal for a psychology career (you'll need a Masters or Doctorate to become a Psychologist). There are very many colleges to choose from for a major in psychology.
Being a Psychology Major isn't the most uplifting and light hearted major, but you will also have many opportunities for fun. There are many events, activities, extra curriculars and shows that colleges usually offer, so there is some fun on campuses. You will be expected to do an enormous amount of reading and writing for this major. It's a lot of information to learn, but you will do it. Try not to overthink it because your experience in college is going to be unique to you. No one can tell you how your experience with it will be. Focus on the classes and activities you're doing in high school, strive for good grades now and all will be well once you are a college student.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
921
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Aryana,
There are a lot of excellent universities that can help you learn more about the interesting topic of human behavior and the brain. You are a junior in high school, so now is the ideal time to begin your research and identify the best fit for you.
Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University, the University of California Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago are a few of the best psychology schools in the United States. These universities boast top-notch psychology departments, world-class teachers, and innovative research possibilities.
What you are looking for will determine which school is best for you, including research opportunities, class size, location, financial aid, and student life. In order to find out what kind of research is being done, I would advise researching the psychology departments at each school and, if at all possible, getting in touch with current students. Also, some schools might be more appropriate for you if you have a preference for particular areas of psychology (clinical, cognitive, neuroscience, etc.).
What really counts is your enthusiasm and commitment to studying, regardless of where you go. Your early exploration of your possibilities has already put you on the correct path. If you can, visit schools, do more research, and have faith that you will discover a place where you will thrive.
Best wishes!
There are a lot of excellent universities that can help you learn more about the interesting topic of human behavior and the brain. You are a junior in high school, so now is the ideal time to begin your research and identify the best fit for you.
Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University, the University of California Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago are a few of the best psychology schools in the United States. These universities boast top-notch psychology departments, world-class teachers, and innovative research possibilities.
What you are looking for will determine which school is best for you, including research opportunities, class size, location, financial aid, and student life. In order to find out what kind of research is being done, I would advise researching the psychology departments at each school and, if at all possible, getting in touch with current students. Also, some schools might be more appropriate for you if you have a preference for particular areas of psychology (clinical, cognitive, neuroscience, etc.).
What really counts is your enthusiasm and commitment to studying, regardless of where you go. Your early exploration of your possibilities has already put you on the correct path. If you can, visit schools, do more research, and have faith that you will discover a place where you will thrive.
Best wishes!