The Metamorphosis
Maybe you love learning about the behavior of humans and their mental activity that includes the mind, brain, and social interactions. So much so that you are even thinking of taking up psychology as your college major.
Maybe you’ve heard many college experiences that tell the tale of how great psychology is. Or you’ve stumbled upon someone who just swears against it. And I’m sure you keep asking yourself the question, “Is psychology a hard major?”
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Psychology Major, Hard or Not?
A Bachelor’s degree in Psychology can be challenging. When you major in psychology, you deal with the complexities of human behavior, which is not constant as it changes from one person to another.
You evaluate and understand the person’s mental and physical behavior, and it takes more than just common sense, unlike most people believe. Psychology is a complex field to master as it involves a wide area of topics like neuroscience and statistics. And you need to complete a set of courses on this knowledge to a deeper level.
Why Psychology is Worth It
When psychology interests you, you become well-versed in this fascinating field of science which makes it worth it. And it sets you up for success. Taking psychology as a major makes your plans after graduation a flexible one.
With a degree in psychology, you can immediately enter the workforce after graduation or pursue your master’s degree to further your studies. Majoring in psychology will help you develop skills that you can use to your advantage in different fields.
Your ability to analyze the human mind will prove beneficial in business, medicine, law, and other fields, setting you up for long-term employment and vast opportunities.
Things to Consider Before You Major in Psychology
Indeed, you don’t just choose psychology as your major because it’s the only major left on the list. There are crucial things you need to consider before taking up psychology as your major.
Your Interest
In choosing a major in general, you must take into account your interests and inclinations. If learning how people behave and why they behave the way they do interest you, and you have a natural curiosity to find the answer to your presumptions, a psychology major will fit you.
However, if psychology’s natural and social science does not seem slightly interesting, it can be a frustrating field to tackle.
Mental Strength
We already established that majoring in psychology is a challenging step, and you will be exposed to frustrating and overwhelming situations. But the more significant question is, how is your mental strength?
Can you cope with the stresses that come along with psychology as a major? Most of all, are you willing to undergo these situations? Establishing your mental health is crucial in a field that mainly deals with the mind, social behaviors, and various critical problems.
Time and Effort
When you plan to major in Psychology and pursue graduate studies, it will take some time and much effort to get your degree. Even if you plan on entering the workforce right after graduation, the effort needed to finish your degree is not like a walk in the park.
You will read textbook after textbook and deal with different kinds of stress. As I said, it can be challenging.
Your Communication Ability
Anyone can talk, but not everyone can be an effective communicator. When you major in Psychology, you mainly deal and interact with humans.
If you are introverted, this major can even become more challenging for you as you will spend your time working one-on-one with individuals. So you have to factor in your ability to work with others when you plan to take up Psychology as your major.
The Advice of Your Academic Advisor
Ask for your advisor’s piece. Chances are, they will help you decide if a Psychology major is the one you want. They will explain further how you will suit certain jobs or career paths based on your personality, interests, and preferences.
Why You Should Major in Psychology
If you’re not decided if you should major in Psychology yet, maybe these advantages will solidify your decision.
Vast Job Opportunities
Getting an undergraduate degree in Psychology prepares you for many jobs and career paths. The skills and knowledge you get from this become a foundation for your success in the field. It makes you a well-rounded candidate for a job in social services, advertising, marketing, sales, management, education, healthcare, social work, etc.
Further Studies
If you plan on continuing your studies, a Psychology major serves as a stepping stone to launch yourself into graduate studies. With a degree in Psychology, you get a vast range of specializations to study further.
Develop Different Skills
In studying Psychology, you develop and sharpen skills in research, writing, and even thinking. Your coursework will involve research and statistics. Your ability to gather, organize, analyze and interpret information will be developed in this field.
Thus, you will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in dealing with the information you gathered. In psychology, you also develop social interaction abilities as you mostly deal with other individuals.
You Develop Empathy for Others
The primary foundation of studying Psychology is putting yourself in others’ shoes. And when done constantly, you develop empathy as a soft skill that will help you effectively work with your colleagues and clients.
Why You Should NOT Major in Psychology
Psychology is not for everyone; that’s a fact. And if you’re not sure what the red flags are on why you should not major in Psychology, here’s why. Keep in mind, though, that some reasons may not apply to you.
You’re Not Interested
As mentioned, your interests are crucial to your decision. And if you’re not interested in learning Psychology, you will not prosper in the field. This major requires a passion for a subject to make it bearable and even exciting.
You Struggle to Cope with Stress
In studying Psychology, you subject yourself to many stressors. And if you don’t know how to handle stress, you’re the one who’s going to be needing the help of a Psychology professional. Jokes aside, if emotionally charged situations trigger your anxiety, maybe rethink the major you want.
You are Not People-Oriented
You deal with different kinds of people. That’s the very nature of Psychology. If you prefer your own company, the social aspect of the field can be extra challenging for you. But that does not mean it’s a complete red flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does psychology require mathematics?
You just can’t escape Math. In Psychology, you have to have a basic grasp of Algebra. And since you’re involved in research, you will also have to study probability and statistics.
Is psychology a good career?
With today’s focus on mental health and the human mind and behavior in general, a career in Psychology will give you an in-demand job. Overall, a Psychology degree can give you a promising career if you become an excellent professional.
Conclusion
Psychology is indeed a challenging major. But if you have the guts and the brains, it can be fun, exciting, and rewarding. You get to make a difference in other people’s lives, and over time, you will just realize how it changes yours as well.
