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AIBU?

to wonder if doing psychology degree, is a total waste of time

84 replies

bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:12

is it a waste of time iyo?

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TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 08/08/2008 22:14

Erm......no! But as I have one then I probably would say that.

Why do you ask?

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dustyteddy · 08/08/2008 22:16

yes I have one, it's pants. You need to get a masters to get anywhere.

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Sidge · 08/08/2008 22:16

No, why?

IMO no degree is ever wasted (unless it's a degree in David Beckham studies or something useless)

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Sidge · 08/08/2008 22:17

I have a BSc(Hons) in Psychology and have never used it directly, but it has earned me many Brownie points for the other things I have done.

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:17

im thinking of starting one, and im not sure if its going to actually get me anywhere iykwim?

what do you do now mrsjs?

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pointydog · 08/08/2008 22:17

no, psychology is one of the better things to study imo. You can either progress directly into career focused courses with clear job and income at the end of it or it transfers well to quite a few other jobs too.

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expatinscotland · 08/08/2008 22:18

no, i don't wonder about that at all.

i used to work in a university department in the humanities.

oh, how a lot of their attitudes changed once they graduated!

i'd see them, a year or so later, either back in school and mired in more debt, or behind a counter in a shop i went into or on lunch break from some call centre or other office job like mine.

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:18

teddy and sidge what type of work do you do now?

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ButterflyMcQueen · 08/08/2008 22:19

err yes yes yes

not worth the paper it's written on mine!

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pointydog · 08/08/2008 22:19

You need to focus on teh job you want to do and work towards that, rather than picking a degree subject, though.

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:20

expat, i don't want to end up like the countless people i know that have degrees and yest still work in shops etc

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expatinscotland · 08/08/2008 22:21

then do accounting, blue

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:21

well the subject really interests me.

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TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 08/08/2008 22:22

bluegreysky - am SAHM now but worked as clinical psychologist before kids. I decided to leave it behind to be a SAHM but now DS2 is starting school in Sept, am seriously considering part-time return.

I think its a great degree to do. And as pointydog said, it does transfer well into other jobs - not just straightforward psych work/research posts.

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pointydog · 08/08/2008 22:22

what jpob do you want to do?

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expatinscotland · 08/08/2008 22:22

it's very interesting to a lot of people. that's why so many do it.

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:24

fecking hell, i don't think i could do accounting, it would bore me stupid.
could you?

although im after a job with a similar pay packet

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mylovelymonster · 08/08/2008 22:24

bluegreysky - if you're so uncertain, what made you think of doing one in the first place?

What do you want at the other end? What is it you want to aim for?

Start there and work back to what you need to do/study to get there.

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:26

yeah and why so many feckers don't get a job at the end of it too!

pointy dog, im nor totally sure tbh

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expatinscotland · 08/08/2008 22:26

there was once a time when i didn't think i could, either, blue.

i've started taking courses in Sage and book-keeping and will start business maths and further courses after this one is born.

i'm really, really sick of not making enough money and working with the public exclusively.

it's a huge motivator for me.

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:27

thats my problem, i don't really know what i really want to do.

how the feck does anyone truely know what they want to do with their life?

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ButNotThatBrave · 08/08/2008 22:27

I dropped out of mine half-way through, it was rubbish, and so not worth getting into debt for.

mylovelymonster gives good advice - if you are thinking of any kind of counselling/therpay type role then there may be more appropriate vocational courses out there?

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bluegreysky · 08/08/2008 22:29

ex pat, do you know the best way to become an accountant in my book?

get a job as a trainee accounting techncian
do the aat training, then go on to do cima then you be qualified and get paid at he same time.
double bonus

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Sidge · 08/08/2008 22:29

I graduated at 20 wanting to work in forensic psychology but couldn't afford to go straight in and do my Masters, so joined the Navy LOL. Then trained as a nurse, and now will be starting a new job in September as a school nurse.

So I don't use my degree directly (am now glad I didn't go into forensic psych) but use a lot of the skills.

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pointydog · 08/08/2008 22:30

You need to decide on what you want to do, find out what you have to do, and do it. Don't fanny around doing 'interesting' degrees just for the sake of it.