10 How-To’s to Becoming a Psychologist
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This document outlines 10 steps to becoming a psychologist. It recommends taking science and humanities courses in high school, getting good grades, volunteering for exposure to human experiences, and getting involved in research as an undergraduate. It advises narrowing your focus to clinical or counseling psychology in graduate school, and stresses organization and motivation to complete your doctorate in a timely manner.
10 How-To’s to Becoming a Psychologist
- 1. www.helpingpsychology.com 10 How-To’s to Becoming a Psychologist http://www.smuc.ac.uk/undergraduate/psychology/photos/Psychology04.jpg
- 2. www.helpingpsychology.com Reference: Richmond,Raymond Lloyd, Ph.D. (1997-2009). A Guide to Psychology and its Practice. Web site: http://www.guidetopsychology.com/be_psy.htm Take a look at these Top 10 Steps to Becoming A Psychologist: http://sensingarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/image-brain-questions.jpg
- 3. www.helpingpsychology.com “ Let’s be honest Author and psychologist Raymond Lloyd Richmond, Ph.D., encourages students to begin looking at their profession in high school. Start by talking with your guidance counselor and enrolling in subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and psychology (if your school offers it). “ Science courses teach you to think logically, and they give you important insight into how the physical world ‘works’”, says Richmond. 1
- 4. www.helpingpsychology.com Get involved in the humanities 2 To succeed as a psychologist, you need not only hard work and dedication, but an understanding of people. http://www.tfc.edu/archive/academics/Schools/school%20of%20counseling/images/scc.jpg
- 5. www.helpingpsychology.com Through government funding, high schools are able to offer advanced students the opportunity to study at a collegiate level. Volunteering is also an excellent way to expose yourself to real-life situations involving: homeless people, racial tensions, minority groups, teen crises, conflicting religious views, and more. http://media.lclark.edu/content/spotlights/files/2008/11/div-c5-1008-083.jpg
- 6. www.helpingpsychology.com Keep your grades up! 3 According to Richmond, this is the single most important thing you can do as you prepare for college entrance exams and undergraduate studies.
- 7. www.helpingpsychology.com Make your undergraduate years count 4 Most graduate programs require an undergraduate degree in psychology. Research the requirements for your graduate school of choice.
- 8. www.helpingpsychology.com Make yourself available by establishing a mentor. 5 Become a professor’s assistant. Volunteer to help research. Interview a psychologist. Make yourself available to learn! Opportunities do not always come knocking; sometimes you need to discover them on your own.
- 9. www.helpingpsychology.com Start narrowing your focus. 6 Now, you’re ready for graduate school and it’s time to hone in on your focus. There are two foci to choose from, both requiring a minimum of five years to complete. First, the classical degree Ph.D., stressing an equal emphasis on both research and clinical training. The second, the Psy.D, is a newer degree with a greater importance placed on clinical training and a smaller amount of research.
- 10. www.helpingpsychology.com Narrow even further! Will you pursue Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology? 7 Clinical Psychology is typically associated with teaching and in-depth research. Counseling Psychology, on the other hand, is involved in a more social setting.
- 11. www.helpingpsychology.com University graduate programs versus professional schools. 8 Applicants to university programs are very competitive and only handfuls are chosen. Professional schools are very costly, but the number of applicants chosen is larger. Richmond recommends sending out as many as you can manage.
- 12. www.helpingpsychology.com Stay organized and motivated! 9 Achieving your doctorate could take you twice as long if you don’t stay on task and complete coursework on time. http://www.apu.edu/bas/graduatepsychology/psyd/images/home_photoyut.jpg
- 13. www.helpingpsychology.com Never give up! 10
- 14. www.argosy.edu www.HelpingPsychology.com Helping Psychology Is Sponsored By