Is it worth doing a psychology degree?

[Biscoffnutellatoast]

I’m hoping to go to university next year to study psychology, with the aim of becoming a forensic psychologist in the future. I’m considering doing clinical psychology with an interest in forensics as I’ve heard this can be a good route.
I’d love to hear from psychologists, and also to hear from people who have a psychology degree, and what they’re doing with that now. I’m feeling uncertain about my future and wondering if this will all be worth it in the end, I’m paranoid that I’ll lose out on income etc and it will all be for nothing!

BUMP for you.
Therapist here who works alongside Psychologists, id love to do a conversion course and retrain as a ClinPsych. However, it’s an expensive and difficult route I’ve heard, no guarantee of jobs after training. That’s what put me off studying Psychology in the first place, however I do wish I’d just done it anyway!.

Where I work teaches Psychology and one lecturer in particular always leaves me smiling at her enthusiasm and her love for her profession. Work involves some of the worst aspects of criminality and appearng as an expert for the prosecution or defence. Like anyone expert in their field you have to put work in

Im a clinical Psychologist. It can be a hard job to get into however id say it's worth it. There has been a lack of posts recently but I expect this will resolve. It's not that there isnt demand for our services!

That is a lofty goal. Honestly, I’d say no. You might be successful and I hope you are but it’s such a long road and the psych degree is only the start. I did one about 10 years ago. Got a first. Didn’t get me anywhere. I know some people who got on the clinpsych route but couldn’t hack it and it was extremely hard to get onto as well.

you don’t say how old you are but I wouldn’t bother if you’re over 30.

Psychology is a great degree but forensic psychology is v v hard to build a career in. There just aren’t many jobs out there.

clinical and educational have many more jobs but the training for clinical is long.

look at the career section of the British psychology society website for a decent summary of the options

I think psychology is one of those degrees that isn't much good on its own. My dd is doing this at the moment but will be doing a doctorate afterwards so she can become an ed psych (it also involves doing 2 years work experience after the undergrad then trying to get onto any of the very oversubscribed doctorate courses for however long it takes). If you are very passionate of course go ahead but find out exactly what you will need to do to be able to get into the profession as just the undergrad will very unlikely hack it.

I have a psychology degree. And a masters. Tried for 5 years to get on the DClinPsych without success.
Requalified as a lawyer and now a partner in a law firm.

Thanks everyone, lots to think about. It is difficult because a forensic psychologist is my dream job, but I am not too keen to waste money and years on a degree which will not get me anywhere. I have seen there are very few forensic psychologist job posts in any one area, I saw about 4 for London, then the rest spread across the country, which does worry me.
I’ve always had a bit of an interest in lawyering, so maybe studying for that would be a better path?
Much to think about!

The training for educational is just as long as clinical!

Degree, relevant experience for at least a couple of years, doctorate.
Plenty of jobs available once you qualify though.

Sorry I meant to say in my post that in your position id aim for clinical psychologist and then specialise in forensic.

I work alongside people who have studied Criminal Psychology and Counselling Psychology, one obtained a Masters Degree. They earn just a little over the NMW.

Currently going into my third year (part time) of studying towards a BSc in Psychology and Counselling with the OU. Really enjoying it. No plans to carry on towards a MSc though, studying for personal development reasons and to fill my time before returning to work once youngest two reach secondary school age. Possibly looking at jobs in the charity sector.

My daughter did a psychology degree. She was originally interested in working as a psychologist in a prison but went off that idea during her studies.

She volunteered as a tutor while doing her degree, initially through a scheme set up by the university to support students at a local school in a disadvantaged area. She really enjoyed that and the online tutoring for A level students that she did during the pandemic, and decided to do a PGCE.

She now teaches psychology and sociology A level. More generally, she has a strong interest in mental health and welfare issues more widely, and enjoys having a wider pastoral role in the school. She is a safeguarding lead and in September she takes up a post as head of year, which she is really looking forward to.