What have your kids done with their psychology degree

[whathappenedtosummer23]

DD planning on studying psychology. She thinks she wants to go on to become a clinical psychologist but is also playing with the option of law and has some good work experience lined up.

Predicted grades should be at least 3A’s but she’ll go for a couple of unis with lower grades too. I want her to keep her options open so Bristol is aspiration choice, Liverpool achievable and Sussex back up lower grades.

whilst I appreciate that in many careers uni isn’t important I know in reality if she goes down the law route - realistic places would be level below magic circle / big west end firms, in practice it probably will be, so I don’t want her to close doors.

Do these options sound realistic?

I live in another country and have a law degree. I've never practiced in a law firm, but I've never ever had a problem finding a job. I've worked for several large corporations, had several different roles within the government. From my perspective, it's a great degree. Not sure that answers your questions, just my two cents worth.

Of dc's friends with Psychology degrees a few are assistant Psychologists aiming to do DClinPsy once they have enough experience. Others are in other public sector jobs, civil service etc.

She’s done a masters in it, and currently waiting to start a PhD.

Those sound like reasonable choices.

If she's interested in clinical psychology, she should also consider York and/or Hull. Their graduates can progress to a fast-track clinical doctorate

Masters degree and then prison service.

One I know has done masters, doctorate and a further qualification in neuro psychology, now in practice treating people with brain injuries.

Dd did her degree then her Masters and went into town planning. Now is a partner in her firm.

I've become a psychotherapist, cbt and emdr. Currently work in the nhs and do private work. Clinical psychology is highly competitive be aware but is doable with plenty of relevant experience 😁

DW went on a to work in banking and then IT with hers.

I know a few who have gone into statistics/analyst roles.

I studied psychology at University of Sheffield also with the plan of becoming a clinical psychologist. After graduating I got a minimum wage job as a healthcare assistant on a low secure forensic psychiatric hospital ward with female patients diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder. It was SO hard both mentally and physically. I discovered through this role that I was not cut out for clinical psychology.

I then went into research. I got a master degree in Health Psychology and worked for 3 years as a research assistant. After this I felt completely clueless what to do next. Other research assistant roles were seemingly rare and competitive and there was no career progression. There seemed to be more research associate roles available which were better paid but required a PhD. And so I embarked on a 3.5 year PhD. After this I left academia and went straight into Medical communications.

I now work in medical writing for pharmaceutical companies like GSK where there is fantastic career progression.

My daughter works in mental health with the NHS.

Hardly anyone (in statistical terms) with a psychology degree makes it to clinical psychologist unfortunately. Due to the number of available places on the DClin and the amount of people wanting to get onto it. Lots of people with psychology degrees end up in low paid work.

The university should have statistics amount the number of psychology leavers who ended up in graduate roles after a certain amount of time (e.g. 6 months).

I would strongly encourage your child to consider other careers upfront and how to get there. "Working really hard" isn't enough to make it to a clinical psychologist due to structural difficulties a person has to come - specifically hardly any places in the dclin or as an assistant psychologist, and so many people trying to follow this career path.

https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/why-graduate-outcome-measures-psychology-dont-add

I’ve just finished converting my degree to psychology via an MSc, and plan to apply for a DEdPsy. I’ve also got 20 years’ teaching experience! The vast majority of psychology careers require further training and time spent in related workplaces (Educational, Clinical, Counselling, Forensic etc.), but that doesn’t mean that your DD won’t end up doing something psychology-related, just that it requires more than just a degree.

Me, not my kid. Fuck all. Of all of us, one is an educational psychologist. Everyone else did nothing with it.

My plan was psychologist in a prison or police. I graduated in 2009 when no police were being hired and the other I messed up all on my own.

Typically people go into

Research
Education
Occupation
Forensics - not many jobs and not what it's sold as. People quite due to boredom.

Posted too soon. I really believe that you shouldn't do a degree nowadays unless you have an absolute plan with it. They cost too much.

I have a psychology degree, then went on to do a masters in forensic psychology. Went into the prison service and am now a trainee forensic psychologist :)

I think it’s a great degree. I must say though our large, central trust struggles to recruit Assistant psychologists. Why aren’t more psych grads applying? Who knows. Plenty of mental health roles in the charity sector too that like psychology degrees.

I haven't studied psychology but do know a dietitian who went on to do a physcology degree to better help people with eating disorders

She thinks she wants to go on to become a clinical psychologist

Is she aware this requires a further 3-year doctorate after the psychology bachelor's degree, and there is a lot of competition for places on the doctoral programmes?

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/clinical-psychologist

A couple of back-up plans would be useful.

I know five people with psychology degrees who are working in the field. Three are clinical psychologists, one is mid-way through a PhD, the other is a tenured university academic in psychology.

Great point. Anything of note requires more studying.

Mine was initially very interested in working in a prison, but did some tutoring through a volunteering scheme and decided she'd like to teach.

She now teaches A level psychology and sociology and this year will have some pastoral responsibilities as deputy head of year. She is hoping to take on additional responsibilities in the future as a mentor to trainees/NQTs and/or as safeguarding lead.

You could have got to where you are without the PhD surely

Surely one can do a law conversion with a psych degree or accountancy grad recruitment. HR is a common career with a psych degree as are communications jobs in the media and publishing. It's at least as good as a history or English degree and in many cases better as it has a string numeracy element and data analysis.