Is a psychology degree a good choice?

[Parsley65]

Hello.

DD has set her sights on doing a psychology degree and I was just wondering what experiences other MN's and their offspring have had?

I think it's a great choice, btw, and am encouraging her all the way...

Accredited course search:

www.bps.org.uk/public/become-psychologist/accredited-courses

The words you need to look for are "confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership"

I did BSC psychology, im a Senco/safeguarding senior teacher, originally planned to be an Educational psychologist. But it's a good degree that can lead to a range of jobs. Definitely check it's BPS accredited.

Yes DS1 knows it’s a doctorate, it’s just his mother who doesn’t! 😳

Thanks everyone, she'll look at the prospectuses online, check the accreditation (I think all those she is thinking about are accredited ) and work out which Unis she can go and visit. She has said that she thinks she would be pushing 30 by the time she would be fully qualified if she goes down the clinical route.

Yes, I think that any Psychology or combined Psychology degree is accepted as part of the entrance requirements for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, as long as it is a BPS accredited course. A Business Psychology degree might even be favoured if she opts for a career in Occupational Psychology instead of Clinical Psychology.

The Conversion to Psychology MSc is also BPS accredited and is designed for anyone with a good first degree in another subject.

Oh also yes- Clinical Psychologists tend to qualify in their late twenties or early thirties (I think the average age is 28).

I've got a BSc Hons Psychology degree and work with integrated children services and at childline as a counsellor. I'm planning on doing my masters next year with the hope of being a clinical associate with CAHMS. I really enjoyed my degree, it's BPS accredited and featured a range of assessment models like essays, reports presentations as well as exams. You are also able to choose elective models in fields that are of interest. Mine were developmental and counselling psychology

Thank you for all your comments and insights. Lots to think about and research here.
We will definitely make sure we look at accredited courses.
According to statistics high entry requirements at uni's don't always mean graduate prospects are better. It's a bit confusing
The main thing, I think, it to narrow down the individual interests. After (another) long chat with DD, she doesn't want to go down the clinical route (and she has had personal experience with CAMHS!) She has already seen the work of an occupational psychologist last year on a work experience placement at nearby specialist hospital. She loved the week she spent there, but doesn't want to go down that route either. I think at age 15 it's more about ruling out options - and seeing what's left...
A couple of years ago she was told to get as much relevant work experience/voluntary work as possible and this was very sound advise. She's volunteered at the local food bank for almost two years and is going to Africa with the Scouts Association to volunteer at a local school (teaching, etc) and this summer hopes to get work experience in an HR dept. You can also volunteer with Childline from age 16, which is something to think about. Hopefully uni's/employers will see all this as years of commitment...
It makes lots of sense to look at the masters on offer at each institution as a guide to undergrad options (thank you RedCamel)

It's a sexy subject but it's hard. I love it, I'm not thick but I struggle. I'm also doing criminology.

I particularly love neuroscience which is a module in every year.

It's BPS accredited but probably won't get me a job. Be prepared to do 8+ years to be taken seriously.

Psychology is great and so interesting - very good and popular choice!
Agree with PP about needing further qualifications though

OP, the BPS careers tool on their website is actually quite helpful:
careers.bps.org.uk/

There are a lot more people with psychology degrees than psychology jobs. It might be worth looking at the numbers for this year.

I was going to say it is as good as English or History, however every year as many or more people do Psychology than English and History put together. There's either something irresistible about the course or ...

My dd did a psychology degree. Thoroughly enjoyed it. She never wanted to be a clinical psychologist but nevertheless it's a good discipline needing good written english biology and some maths (statistics). At her uni it is regarded as a science so everything they studied was evidence based and research backed. No pseudo science Freud and all that stuff. They become a dab hand at critically evaluating data and interpreting stats and formulating better methods etc aswell as setting up there own experiments in labs using fancy equipment and lots of team work. So in terms of transferable skills to the world of work. Theres lots.

Dd went on to do a speech and language masters and is now working as a speech and language therapist. But some of her friends on the same course are now working for the NHS and a few gone into investment banking. So overall it is highly employable in different sectors. But I would stick to the uni's that treat psychology as a science. Its harder to get in and often needing high grades, is oversubscribed and competitive but it is worth it for the extra depth and skills they will gain from it.