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Alison
Student
Glendale, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
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How can i start a career as a psychologist?
How can I start a career in psychology as a high school student with no knowledge of the study of mind and no knowledge on how to start a path to a psychology career
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3 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
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Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Alison,
To start a career as a psychologist with no prior knowledge as a high school student, follow these steps:
Education: Obtain a strong foundation in high school by focusing on core subjects such as mathematics, science, English, and social studies. Aim for a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher to increase your chances of getting accepted into a psychology program.
Explore the Field: Read books about psychology and watch documentaries to gain an understanding of the field. You can also attend local seminars or workshops related to psychology to learn more about it.
Volunteer or Intern: Look for opportunities to volunteer or intern at mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, or non-profit organizations that offer psychological services. This will provide you with valuable experience and help you determine if this is the right career path for you.
Shadow a Psychologist: Reach out to local psychologists and ask if you can shadow them for a day or two to observe their work environment and daily tasks. This will give you an insight into the profession and help you make an informed decision about pursuing it further.
Join Psychology Clubs or Organizations: Participate in school clubs or organizations related to psychology to meet like-minded individuals and learn more about the field through discussions and activities.
Research Colleges and Universities: Research colleges and universities that offer undergraduate degrees in psychology, focusing on those with strong programs and good reputations in the field of psychology. Apply for financial aid, scholarships, or grants if needed to help cover tuition costs.
Major in Psychology: Once enrolled in college, major in psychology and take relevant courses such as abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, research methods, statistics, and biological psychology.
Gain Practical Experience: Participate in research projects or seek out internships during college to gain practical experience in the field of psychology before applying for graduate school (if desired).
Consider Graduate School: If you wish to specialize in a particular area of psychology (such as clinical psychology or counseling), consider pursuing a graduate degree after completing your undergraduate degree (PhD or PsyD). This will provide you with advanced training and expertise necessary for licensure as a psychologist.
10.Licensure: After completing your education (undergraduate/graduate), pass the required exams (such as the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) and fulfill state requirements (such as supervised practice hours) to become licensed as a psychologist in your desired state(s).**
Authoritative References Used:
American Psychological Association (APA) - Official website of the American Psychological Association providing information on education, careers, research, publications & more: https://www.apa.org/ [APA]
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - Provides data on colleges & universities: https://nces [NCES]
American Association for Clinical Psychology (AACP) - Offers resources & information on clinical psychology: https://www.aacpweb.org/ [AACP]
God Bless, JC.
To start a career as a psychologist with no prior knowledge as a high school student, follow these steps:
Education: Obtain a strong foundation in high school by focusing on core subjects such as mathematics, science, English, and social studies. Aim for a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher to increase your chances of getting accepted into a psychology program.
Explore the Field: Read books about psychology and watch documentaries to gain an understanding of the field. You can also attend local seminars or workshops related to psychology to learn more about it.
Volunteer or Intern: Look for opportunities to volunteer or intern at mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, or non-profit organizations that offer psychological services. This will provide you with valuable experience and help you determine if this is the right career path for you.
Shadow a Psychologist: Reach out to local psychologists and ask if you can shadow them for a day or two to observe their work environment and daily tasks. This will give you an insight into the profession and help you make an informed decision about pursuing it further.
Join Psychology Clubs or Organizations: Participate in school clubs or organizations related to psychology to meet like-minded individuals and learn more about the field through discussions and activities.
Research Colleges and Universities: Research colleges and universities that offer undergraduate degrees in psychology, focusing on those with strong programs and good reputations in the field of psychology. Apply for financial aid, scholarships, or grants if needed to help cover tuition costs.
Major in Psychology: Once enrolled in college, major in psychology and take relevant courses such as abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, research methods, statistics, and biological psychology.
Gain Practical Experience: Participate in research projects or seek out internships during college to gain practical experience in the field of psychology before applying for graduate school (if desired).
Consider Graduate School: If you wish to specialize in a particular area of psychology (such as clinical psychology or counseling), consider pursuing a graduate degree after completing your undergraduate degree (PhD or PsyD). This will provide you with advanced training and expertise necessary for licensure as a psychologist.
10.Licensure: After completing your education (undergraduate/graduate), pass the required exams (such as the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) and fulfill state requirements (such as supervised practice hours) to become licensed as a psychologist in your desired state(s).**
Authoritative References Used:
American Psychological Association (APA) - Official website of the American Psychological Association providing information on education, careers, research, publications & more: https://www.apa.org/ [APA]
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - Provides data on colleges & universities: https://nces [NCES]
American Association for Clinical Psychology (AACP) - Offers resources & information on clinical psychology: https://www.aacpweb.org/ [AACP]
God Bless, JC.
Melissa M.
Organizational Development Specialist
20
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
Hi Alison,
You can explore this fascinating field even more by teaming up with your parents and school advisors or teachers to dig deeper.
Psychology is a vast field with many different areas to explore. For instance, there's Clinical or Cognitive Psychology, which deals with therapy and counseling. Then there's Human Factors or Engineering Psychology, which focuses on designing tasks, tools, and equipment to be more user-friendly. Industrial/Organizational Psychology is another exciting area, where you delve into the business side of psychology, like understanding what makes employees happy at work.
There are so many other areas in psychology that you might find interesting. You can find out more about them at your local library or online. The American Psychological Association's website is a great place to start your online research.
You can explore this fascinating field even more by teaming up with your parents and school advisors or teachers to dig deeper.
Psychology is a vast field with many different areas to explore. For instance, there's Clinical or Cognitive Psychology, which deals with therapy and counseling. Then there's Human Factors or Engineering Psychology, which focuses on designing tasks, tools, and equipment to be more user-friendly. Industrial/Organizational Psychology is another exciting area, where you delve into the business side of psychology, like understanding what makes employees happy at work.
There are so many other areas in psychology that you might find interesting. You can find out more about them at your local library or online. The American Psychological Association's website is a great place to start your online research.
Ileana L. Barber
Marketing/Sales Enablement
5
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Ileana L.’s Answer
Hi Alison
As many have noted - there are many areas of psychology that one could explore and make a career of. In addition to all the great suggestions provided by others, you might want to reach out to local universities and see if any professors have any research opportunities. It may seem far fetched but many professors are always looking for students to help them with their research. This would not only look great on your college application, but it would help you explore areas of psychology that may be of interest to you. Good luck to you.
As many have noted - there are many areas of psychology that one could explore and make a career of. In addition to all the great suggestions provided by others, you might want to reach out to local universities and see if any professors have any research opportunities. It may seem far fetched but many professors are always looking for students to help them with their research. This would not only look great on your college application, but it would help you explore areas of psychology that may be of interest to you. Good luck to you.