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For all of the people who majored in psychology, was that always your first major, and if so, how have you utilized it in your life and career?

I'm currently a senior in high school, and I've come to the conclusion that I want to major in psychology. However, I'm quite unsure if I actually want to major in it. I worry about if I'll be able to go through with it regarding the master's degree and, most likely, the PhD. I am a person who is interested in multiple things, but that is a curse more than a blessing.
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Annah’s Answer

Jourdin! Love this question. I was always interested in psychology in undergrad. I did not have the faith in myself to take even one class; I assumed it would be too hard. I studied Women's studies, Fine arts, and Theater arts. I later took my graduate pre-reqs and got an MA in clinical counseling with art therapy. All this to say it is never too late to make a change or to believe in yourself! I believe most schools allow you to hold off on declaring a major for a while; you may also alter it at any time- though it might mean extra coursework and possibly a later graduate date, FYI. Sometimes it takes taking a class to really find out whether it might be a good fit. I am also someone with multiple interests- it is a gift at times but may also make decisions difficult (for me). You might find it useful to attend a school with a large humanities and social sciences department. Similar topics to psychology- childhood development, social work, anthropology, speech pathology, child life, occupational therapy, gender studies, etc. But also, this may extend to pre-law or even pre-med depending on what you are drawn to doing! A larger school may have more offerings to choose from while a smaller school less of a chance to experiment. To make things more complicated (or perhaps exciting!) graduate work in psychology (whether going for your MA or PhD/PsyD) may also be broken down into different areas of focus- child/family therapy, couples work, addiction counseling, forensic psychology, expressive arts therapy, school counseling, etc. You may also enter into human-subjects research or teaching- which will most likely require (at some point) a doctorate credential. So, my advice is take your time, explore as many career paths as possible, and keep your mind open to things changing direction. Consider a programs length of time, cost of tuition, and potential salary in relation to cost of living issues. Do your own research- follow blogs, vlogs, podcasts, hit the library, etc. Set up informational interviews with people working in different niche areas. Meet with your department advisor and ask ALL the questions. You will figure it out and hopefully enjoy the ride!
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