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What are some steps that I can take in eighth grade to put me on a track to be becoming a psychologist?
I’m in eighth grade right now and I already kind of have a plan for my future, but I wanna know if there’s anything more I can add or anything that I can do that would make me stand out to any colleges or where I should be applying to put me on a path for a psychology. So if you have anything that I can do or even in high school that I can do please let me know.
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Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
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Chinyere’s Answer
Sophia, I must say it's fantastic that you're already preparing for the future and thinking about your future; that kind of concentration will help you succeed in psychology (and in life!).
The eighth grade is the ideal moment to begin building a solid foundation, not by diving headfirst into college-level coursework, but rather by developing habits, curiosity, and experiences that deepen your understanding of people and behavior. These are some actions that will truly make you stand out:
1. Explore the “why” behind human behavior.
Start with teen psychology books or podcasts, such as the young features of Psychology Today or YouTube channels like SciShow Psych. It helps in the early development of vocabulary and insight.
2. Take strong academic courses in high school.
Prioritize biology (to better understand the body and brain), English (to improve communication skills), and math/statistics (for research) when you start high school. Take AP Sociology or Psychology if your school offers them.
3. Get people-centered experience.
Participate in student leadership, peer mentoring programs, mental health awareness clubs, or volunteer work. Every real-world experience matters in psychology, which is all about empathy and communication.
4. Keep a “Curiosity Journal.”
Jot down any questions you have concerning the reasons behind people's thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. This helps in the development of the critical thinking skills that psychologists apply on a daily basis.
5. Think long-term, but stay flexible.
Look for universities that offer strong social science or psychology degrees, as well as chances for internships or undergraduate research.
Sophia, you're on the right track already. Every great psychologist starts with understanding people; therefore, maintain your curiosity, read widely, and constantly look for ways to do so.
Best wishes!
The eighth grade is the ideal moment to begin building a solid foundation, not by diving headfirst into college-level coursework, but rather by developing habits, curiosity, and experiences that deepen your understanding of people and behavior. These are some actions that will truly make you stand out:
1. Explore the “why” behind human behavior.
Start with teen psychology books or podcasts, such as the young features of Psychology Today or YouTube channels like SciShow Psych. It helps in the early development of vocabulary and insight.
2. Take strong academic courses in high school.
Prioritize biology (to better understand the body and brain), English (to improve communication skills), and math/statistics (for research) when you start high school. Take AP Sociology or Psychology if your school offers them.
3. Get people-centered experience.
Participate in student leadership, peer mentoring programs, mental health awareness clubs, or volunteer work. Every real-world experience matters in psychology, which is all about empathy and communication.
4. Keep a “Curiosity Journal.”
Jot down any questions you have concerning the reasons behind people's thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. This helps in the development of the critical thinking skills that psychologists apply on a daily basis.
5. Think long-term, but stay flexible.
Look for universities that offer strong social science or psychology degrees, as well as chances for internships or undergraduate research.
Sophia, you're on the right track already. Every great psychologist starts with understanding people; therefore, maintain your curiosity, read widely, and constantly look for ways to do so.
Best wishes!
These are great tips Tyy
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Sophia !
At age 13, I am not sure that you could volunteer at a mental health venue, but next year when you are 14, in your city of Fort Worth, you can start volunteering at The Fort Worth Botanic Garden, T3 Partnership's Reading Partners program or Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. The programs for young teens start for age 14. The YMCA of Fort Worth offers youth mentorship programs and there are specific age requirements for it.
Even if volunteer work is not about psychology, doing volunteer work now and throughout highs school will give you basic work skills and sharpen your communication and interacting skills.
No one can really say how you would stand out to a random college. To generalize, colleges basically look at your GPA from high school, the score on your SAT which is an exam that you take in 11th grade. They consider your volunteer work, extracurricular activities and most want a written essay on a certain topic.
You wouldn't be starting your preparation for psychology until college, but if your high school has a psychology class, you can take it as an introduction and you'll have more advanced classes in college. Junior High and High School curriculum are not generally known for offering a lot of behavioral health classes as it really is a college path.
If you are curious, I would suggest that you do a search online for some introduction to psychology classes that you can do remotely. Oxford Home Study Centre offers free online child psychology courses for beginning learners. The courses on Outschool for psychology cost a fee. This also may be a good time to start reading some psychology books that you can borrow from the Library. I have left a link to some Introduction to Psychology videos for you to watch as a way to become more familiar with the subject.
Find out if your school has any extracurriculars or clubs connected with human behavior or psychology and join in.
You can do all of those now but remember, you will not start to learn psychology until you enroll in college as a Psychology Major.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY VIDEOS https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Introduction+to+Psychology
At age 13, I am not sure that you could volunteer at a mental health venue, but next year when you are 14, in your city of Fort Worth, you can start volunteering at The Fort Worth Botanic Garden, T3 Partnership's Reading Partners program or Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. The programs for young teens start for age 14. The YMCA of Fort Worth offers youth mentorship programs and there are specific age requirements for it.
Even if volunteer work is not about psychology, doing volunteer work now and throughout highs school will give you basic work skills and sharpen your communication and interacting skills.
No one can really say how you would stand out to a random college. To generalize, colleges basically look at your GPA from high school, the score on your SAT which is an exam that you take in 11th grade. They consider your volunteer work, extracurricular activities and most want a written essay on a certain topic.
You wouldn't be starting your preparation for psychology until college, but if your high school has a psychology class, you can take it as an introduction and you'll have more advanced classes in college. Junior High and High School curriculum are not generally known for offering a lot of behavioral health classes as it really is a college path.
If you are curious, I would suggest that you do a search online for some introduction to psychology classes that you can do remotely. Oxford Home Study Centre offers free online child psychology courses for beginning learners. The courses on Outschool for psychology cost a fee. This also may be a good time to start reading some psychology books that you can borrow from the Library. I have left a link to some Introduction to Psychology videos for you to watch as a way to become more familiar with the subject.
Find out if your school has any extracurriculars or clubs connected with human behavior or psychology and join in.
You can do all of those now but remember, you will not start to learn psychology until you enroll in college as a Psychology Major.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps: