Maverick32x Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Hey, so I'm going to be a recent graduate with a psychology degree this coming May.... And its time to try to figure out what I want to do with my life.... I really want to become a counselor or clinical psychologist... however, I need to get Masters in Psychology... and herein lies the problem... I do not want to go straight from undergrad-> Masters... because I really do want to take a break from school.. just to kind of live life a bit... and go back to it at a later point.. (1-2 years later).... however, I don't want to waste time in between.. and want to set myself up for getting into a good Graduate School.... However, I do not have very good grades (2.7GPA), and I know this is going to hurt.. however I do a lot of volunteer work and have some notable accomplishments that I feel help boost me a bit.... I have yet to take my GRE (planned on taking it this summer) and I was just wondering if anyone has any advice on what type of jobs I should be looking for that a Graduate school would look favorably on? I want to try to get a grip on where I'm heading..... I don't need to be making a ton of money.. just enough to get by... Link to comment
tylercdurden2004 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 What about travelling for a year? Link to comment
lizer Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 my friend got a degree in psychology and never got her masters and shes working for a hospital doing some sort of social work. perhaps there are organizations for troubled kids? Link to comment
shikashika Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 What about travelling for a year? I was going to say the exact same thing!! or work overseas and then travel.. and then travel some more. Much more valuable experience than finding a job Link to comment
lizer Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 he will have to account for the 2 years after college of having no job history. he cant very well say 'i wanted to go have fun and travel and do nothing about reaching my goals'... not to say there isnt time for fun and travel, we all need it, but employers will ask. Link to comment
Maverick32x Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 ya, travelling and all that sounds fun and all, but I really don't want to shoot my chances of graduate school in the foot and I def. don't have the financial resources to afford that... Honestly, and maybe this sounds childish, but I really want to get a job related to psychology somewhere warm (cuz I hate being cold here) and just have 2 years of real-world experience... and then go to Graduate School and get either Masters or Doctorate (probably Masters cause I don't think I'll be getting a PhD anytime soon) Is it viable to think that I could get a job that pays for an apartment somewhere and a car? Or am I living in some fantasy world? Link to comment
tylercdurden2004 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 he will have to account for the 2 years after college of having no job history. he cant very well say 'i wanted to go have fun and travel and do nothing about reaching my goals'... not to say there isnt time for fun and travel, we all need it, but employers will ask. Absoutly you can. I went for 4 years after college. I got what was called Working Holiday Visas worked dead end jobs to make a buck to get to my next place. Saved up enough for the places I set as goals and went and saw those. I now have a job where I am living abroad, get to travel, and make very good money (6 figure equivalent). Oh yeah and I love my industry and job. All with a BBA, four years of meaningless employment. I got my job when my exs (who I met travelling) dad basically said i should join his industry. He put my resume to an aquaintence of his. When they flew me down for the interview one of the VPs said my resume was the most interesting he had ever seen. Its very possible and the indication that I can take care of myself and am comfortable in new situations did nothing to harm my chances. Link to comment
tylercdurden2004 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 ya, travelling and all that sounds fun and all, but I really don't want to shoot my chances of graduate school in the foot and I def. don't have the financial resources to afford that... Its only shooting yourself in the foot if you see it that way. Life is all how you spin it. Link to comment
shikashika Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 he will have to account for the 2 years after college of having no job history. he cant very well say 'i wanted to go have fun and travel and do nothing about reaching my goals'... not to say there isnt time for fun and travel, we all need it, but employers will ask. Is life all about seeing how much you can work? Actually thats the reason most people have hired me. when employers have asked, I've told them, and they think its great! Now that I'm doing some hiring and friends of mine are doing hiring. if i look at someone who finished university and then just started working.. I'd see them as one-dimensional. If someone applied who got a degree then said they spent 6 months traveling in India and Bangladesh, they'd be the one to get hired. Traveling to places like that teach you way more about being adaptable and open-minded, qualities that are integral in the workforce. I don't want to hire someone who knows nothing about the world around them Who would want to work for an employer like the one you described? Are goals only work related? what about goals of self-fulfillment and learning about the world around you? Link to comment
tylercdurden2004 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 So where are we going? Link to comment
shikashika Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 So where are we going? Colombia and Ecuador are next on my list Link to comment
tylercdurden2004 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Colombia and Ecuador are next on my list My next ones are in the other direction plus I live on the otherside of the world. But there is a good opportunity I could be moved down to that area next year. Link to comment
shikashika Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 My next ones are in the other direction plus I live on the otherside of the world. But there is a good opportunity I could be moved down to that area next year. Nice! being able to work in another country is always better than just traveling! Link to comment
tylercdurden2004 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Nice! being able to work in another country is always better than just traveling! Only if you get to travel. Business travel and backpacking are definitely 2 different things! Link to comment
shikashika Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Only if you get to travel. Business travel and backpacking are definitely 2 different things! True, but both are fun in their own way! Link to comment
lizer Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 hmmm. you've both just been very lucky with your employers. ive already had to account *TWICE* at various job interviews why i stopped working for the last 2 years of undergrad school. (mmm, to focus on school yes?)... they gave me that smug look though. ugh. Link to comment
shikashika Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 hmmm. you've both just been very lucky with your employers. ive already had to account *TWICE* at various job interviews why i stopped working for the last 2 years of undergrad school. (mmm, to focus on school yes?)... they gave me that smug look though. ugh. I guess if life is all about what you put on your resume or what certain employers think of you. I think there are other things in life that are just as fulfilling that you can't put on your resume. would you want to work with someone who is so ignorant to believe that traveling isn't worth it? Link to comment
Maverick32x Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 So I read through all of that, and it sounds like my type of work, however I guess I'm wondering how viable of an option that is for Psychology and my goal of becoming a therapist someday... I plan on meeting with a professor that I'm pretty close with soon to discuss a couple things.... I attempted to apply for a Teach for America job, which is a 2 year committment, however that really isn't panning out too well (which I'm okay with), so I'm kind of looking for similiar work.. something that is interesting and engaging... the last thing I want to do is fill out paper work and do nothing for a long period of time... I would also like to move out of my house (doesn't everyone).. I've been used to the independence that comes with college life, and I really don't want to be stuck living at home... however I don't want my finances to take a hit because of this.... My "dream future" I guess would to get a modest job helping in some sort of counseling related job, social work, ect in a comfortable/diffrent place... and to use that as a spring board into a graduate program.... If that takes a year or 2 I really don't care as long as its work that I enjoy..... Link to comment
TheGetUpKid Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I have heard a mix of opinions regarding what employers think about what recent graduates do after they graduate. I read a article on link removed about how some employers don't put too much emphasis on what a person does the first couple years after graduating. I graduated in May and have been working in my first job for the past 3 or so months and well... I'm not soo happy lol. I have been seriously considering traveling abroad to work. Link to comment
tylercdurden2004 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 hmmm. you've both just been very lucky with your employers. ive already had to account *TWICE* at various job interviews why i stopped working for the last 2 years of undergrad school. (mmm, to focus on school yes?)... they gave me that smug look though. ugh. Lizer its all onhow you view it. Do you feel your employers are the ones with the upperhands at all times? Link to comment
daintyfairy83 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 i, too, graduated with a psych BA. but unlike you, i do not want to work again in this field. but anyway, i remember when i was a sophomore in college, my adviser told me that if i wanted to go to grad school i'd really have to work hard and pull those grades up. i ended up graduating with a gpa not much higher than yours and i was OK with it cuz i'd never go back to do psych anyway. anywho...... i googled clinical+psychologist+internship and yielded results such as this: link removed if you are interested i think i'd be a nice stepping stone. i think doing social work is also a great alternative to being a full-blown clinical psychologist. is it possible to get into voluntary work such as "the samaritan" where you could gain some counseling experience before applying to grad school? i actually don't know if it will help your chances or not. you can also try looking at sites such as this: link removed i don't have time to read through the whole article so i can't tell you whether it's good. hope that helps. good luck!! Link to comment
Maverick32x Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 nice, ya I read through that second article, but I had not thought of looked towards internships.... hmm... we'll see what I can find, thanks! Link to comment
DaDancingPsych Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I would think that working in the field would look favorable to grad schools. I know that in psychology, most jobs in the field require graduate work. However, there are a few jobs out there. In my state, children with behavior problems are given what is called a wraparound. Basically this person attends school with the child (or spends time with them at home or in the community, depending on each individual case) and helps the child to make appropriate decisions. Wraparounds help the children stay focused on class work, have positive relationships with other children, basically they sit as a guide. I actually did some wraparound work and found the pay to be decent, the hours to ok, but the number of hours varied. However, I think the experience was great. They also like to hire individuals with psychology or education degrees/backgrounds. (Many hirees are fresh out of college.) I don't know if your state has a similar program, but something to look into. I would look into social work as well. Again, some jobs will require advanced degrees, but certainly there are jobs for undergrads. Even an administrative job would be positive experience. Finally, why not ask your professors? They attended grad school, some may teach grad courses, and some may even be on the committees to select the students! They may have some ideas of jobs or better yet, have connections to help you get those jobs! It can't hurt to ask! Link to comment
Maverick32x Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 I actually work a lot with kids with behavioral problems now, so thats actually pretty relevant to what I'm looking for!!! I emailed my prof. yesterday and havent heard anything back.. might swing by the career center here for some insight... we'll see..... thanks!! Link to comment
CaptainPlanet Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Travel if you have got the finance otherwise do the masters. Link to comment
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