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

[bluegreysky]

is it a waste of time iyo?

ok what i think i would, like to do most of all is forensic phychology, social work, or counselling
or teaching primary age.

If you want to be a forensic psychologist I think you would probably have to train as a clinical psychologist first. You are looking at doing a degree, a masters, a couple of years as a Clinical Assistant then a DClinPsy which is very hard and very competitive (though you get paid to do it by the NHS).

I'm not a consellor so I'm not sure but I would imagine if you want to do counselling that a more specific degree would be better as you would probably have to do extra training otherwise.

Some teachers might be able to tell you the best route in. If you are really unsure and don't want to commit yet then it does sound like psychology would be a good starting place.

thanks bumper actually id love to work in a clinical setting helping people that are depressed etc aswell.

im thinking it would be a good starting point for me.

ate you a psychologist?

sorry i mean what are you doing workwise now?

i did a psychology degree
am a teacher

I also did a psychology degree and am a teacher now. Hope to go into clinical psychology in the years to come though...

Clin psych is incredibly competitive and very difficult to get place on a course. There are many frustrated assistant psychologists out there applying year after year for courses and not getting a place - despite having good degrees and work experience. Have you tried checking out the BPS website page on careers in psych? If its the actual people contact/counselling aspect which interests you most, you could do a straightforward BSc Psych and then you could consider doing a one year post-grad masters in counselling psychology. The BPS website will give you a list of all universities offering the course.

You also need to ensure that the psych degree you choose entitles you to Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) to the British Psychological Society. Not much point in choosing a course unless it gives you this - if you want to remain within the psych field professionally.

I have a social psychology/social anthropology degree - got a first and in hindsight I should have gone on to do a masters but I got bored of having no money. Completed in 1995 and ended up eventually in a office job and worked my way up to management. I would not have got my promotion without the degree.

Now I am training to be an antenatal teacher (supposedly half-way between degree and A-levels but I think it is as hard as a degree) and I would have found the training very hard without having studied for a degree.