4 answers
Stephanie
Student
1
Question
Asked
260 views
How do I prepare myself for grad school as someone majoring in psychology, while also not knowing which "type" to go into.?
Im a sophomore in college currently majoring in psychology. I am still indecisive one which "type" of psychology I can show my skills, while also enjoy it. I would like to go into neuroscience, but also I don't want my skills in math to go away. I also knowing that I wouldn't mind working as a clinical psychologist or someone in human resources. How can I gather more skills or better prepare for grad school as someone who is always worried of never "making it" or having "enough" skills. Apologizes if this question is vague or all over the place.
Login to comment
4 answers
Dante Vilca
Administrador
2
Answers
Lima, Callao Region, Peru
Updated
Dante’s Answer
Hello, it’s a pleasure to read your question, and I’m very excited to be able to guide you. I hope my response is very helpful to you:
1. Grad School Preparation (Simple Action Plan)
Choose 2 areas to explore first (e.g., neuroscience + clinical or HR)
Get real experience: join a research lab, internship, or volunteer work
Build core skills: statistics, data analysis, research, communication
Learn at least one practical tool (Excel, SPSS, or basic Python)
Talk to 3 professionals (one in each field you’re considering)
Take relevant courses aligned with your interests
Track your energy: what excites you vs drains you
Gradually narrow down to 1 path based on experience + performance
Build relationships with professors for recommendations
Prepare your CV and personal statement
Apply to grad programs with a clear, informed direction
2.- Mindset
Don’t wait for certainty—take action and build evidence
You don’t need to be perfect—just consistent and intentional
Remember: Your decision comes from what you do, not just what you think.
1. Grad School Preparation (Simple Action Plan)
Choose 2 areas to explore first (e.g., neuroscience + clinical or HR)
Get real experience: join a research lab, internship, or volunteer work
Build core skills: statistics, data analysis, research, communication
Learn at least one practical tool (Excel, SPSS, or basic Python)
Talk to 3 professionals (one in each field you’re considering)
Take relevant courses aligned with your interests
Track your energy: what excites you vs drains you
Gradually narrow down to 1 path based on experience + performance
Build relationships with professors for recommendations
Prepare your CV and personal statement
Apply to grad programs with a clear, informed direction
2.- Mindset
Don’t wait for certainty—take action and build evidence
You don’t need to be perfect—just consistent and intentional
Remember: Your decision comes from what you do, not just what you think.
Loved reading this, thanks!
Stephanie
Mary Ann Faue
Communications, Training, and People Development
71
Answers
Hayward, California
Updated
Mary Ann’s Answer
Hi Stephanie,
I sooooooo get what you're going through. I originally started as a psychology major in college and then switched to social work. So, you're probably wondering what I ended up doing. Well, here's my answer. I'm a Principal Change Manager for a tech company. I work in the business world applying the skills I learned to business situations. When I was in college, I was fortunate that my Social Work program required me to complete multiple internships in order to graduate. What did I learn from those internships? I learned that Social Work was not the right fit for me. While it's important work, and I was really good at it, it was the right fit for what I wanted for my life. So, what does any of this have to do with you and your question?
Check to see if there are some internships available to you through your college program. This will allow you to apply some of the things you're doing to real life. This can help you decide where you want to focus. My senior Social Work internship was at an L.A. county hospital where I carried a half patient load of clients. I applied Social Work principles and practices for patients in internal medicine, ICU, CCU, and the outpatient clinic. In addition, my supervisor set up rotations on different services for me to get exposure to things. My favorite was the 2 weeks on the Psych Ward. I learned a lot from that rotation, both about myself and working with clients and myself. So, if you can get some practical experience, that might help you to find where your natural talents lie.
So, this last part is just incase you're curious how I ended up working for a tech company leading organizational change. I include this to illustrate that you can change your mind and find a way to apply your education in a different way. After college, knowing that Social Work wasn't the right fit for me, I needed a job. So, I went to work For Macy's (yes, the department store) in their buying offices. This set me on a path working in an office environment. As my jobs changed, I found I had a natural talent for helping people adapt to change. Hence, Organizational Change Management which is all about helping people in business adopt new tools, polices, and processes. Doesn't sound like a natural progression? Here's the thing. Social Work is all about crisis intervention and crisis management. Meaning something unexpected has happened and the role of social work is to help someone to create stability in the aftermath of that crisis. Organizational Change Management is planned crisis management. We know that something is going to be changing and it's big enough to make the current environment unstable. The role of change management is to plan the steps for people to follow so that they can adjust to the change while minimizing disruption for the individual and the business. So, really, the same skill set. Crisis management, creating a plan to stability, and then implementing the plan.
I share this story to let you know that you may be following a path that you planned and along the way, something causes you to consider a different path. It's ok to change your mind and try something else. The skills you acquire while studying psychology can be applied in a lot of different environments and different ways.
Take some pressure off yourself. Continue studying and see what floats to the top. And, if at all possible, try to get some real life experience to see if doing the job is what you think it will be.
I sooooooo get what you're going through. I originally started as a psychology major in college and then switched to social work. So, you're probably wondering what I ended up doing. Well, here's my answer. I'm a Principal Change Manager for a tech company. I work in the business world applying the skills I learned to business situations. When I was in college, I was fortunate that my Social Work program required me to complete multiple internships in order to graduate. What did I learn from those internships? I learned that Social Work was not the right fit for me. While it's important work, and I was really good at it, it was the right fit for what I wanted for my life. So, what does any of this have to do with you and your question?
Check to see if there are some internships available to you through your college program. This will allow you to apply some of the things you're doing to real life. This can help you decide where you want to focus. My senior Social Work internship was at an L.A. county hospital where I carried a half patient load of clients. I applied Social Work principles and practices for patients in internal medicine, ICU, CCU, and the outpatient clinic. In addition, my supervisor set up rotations on different services for me to get exposure to things. My favorite was the 2 weeks on the Psych Ward. I learned a lot from that rotation, both about myself and working with clients and myself. So, if you can get some practical experience, that might help you to find where your natural talents lie.
So, this last part is just incase you're curious how I ended up working for a tech company leading organizational change. I include this to illustrate that you can change your mind and find a way to apply your education in a different way. After college, knowing that Social Work wasn't the right fit for me, I needed a job. So, I went to work For Macy's (yes, the department store) in their buying offices. This set me on a path working in an office environment. As my jobs changed, I found I had a natural talent for helping people adapt to change. Hence, Organizational Change Management which is all about helping people in business adopt new tools, polices, and processes. Doesn't sound like a natural progression? Here's the thing. Social Work is all about crisis intervention and crisis management. Meaning something unexpected has happened and the role of social work is to help someone to create stability in the aftermath of that crisis. Organizational Change Management is planned crisis management. We know that something is going to be changing and it's big enough to make the current environment unstable. The role of change management is to plan the steps for people to follow so that they can adjust to the change while minimizing disruption for the individual and the business. So, really, the same skill set. Crisis management, creating a plan to stability, and then implementing the plan.
I share this story to let you know that you may be following a path that you planned and along the way, something causes you to consider a different path. It's ok to change your mind and try something else. The skills you acquire while studying psychology can be applied in a lot of different environments and different ways.
Take some pressure off yourself. Continue studying and see what floats to the top. And, if at all possible, try to get some real life experience to see if doing the job is what you think it will be.
Ashley Simon-Madden
People Programs Specialist
12
Answers
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Hi Stephanie! Great question. You're clearly aware of your strengths and interests. Here's what you can do: think about which industry you might enjoy. Psychology is useful in many fields, like sports, manufacturing, or finance. Is there a news story or meme that caught your eye recently? What themes or keywords stick with you? Check your social media to see what topics come up often. Once you know your interests, look for recent studies or articles by psychologists on that topic. Has anyone researched it recently? Look for peer-reviewed articles and journals. If there's not much research in that area, it could be a great opportunity for you. Keep exploring and asking questions. You might even start a side project to explore your ideas. You never know what opportunities might come from it!
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1381
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Stephanie,
First, your question is not vague at all, it’s actually very common for strong students who have many interests. You’re not “behind” because you haven’t chosen one exact path yet. You’re in the exploration stage, and that is where many sophomores are supposed to be.
Right now, your main job is not to lock in one type of psychology forever. Your job is to build a strong foundation that keeps several doors open while you gain clarity. That means focusing on skills that are valuable across neuroscience, clinical psychology, human resources, and many other paths.
Some of the most useful skills to build now are research experience, writing, communication, data literacy, and professional confidence. If you can join a psychology lab, assist with research, or help a professor on a project, that would be excellent preparation for graduate school. It also helps you discover whether you enjoy research-based work like neuroscience.
Since you mentioned math, don’t let that interest fade. Statistics, data analysis, and research methods are highly valuable in psychology and beyond. Keeping those skills active can strengthen your options in neuroscience, research, and even business-related areas like HR analytics.
At the same time, get exposure to people-centered work. Volunteering, peer mentoring, internships, or roles where you work with others can help you test whether clinical or HR-style environments fit your strengths.
I also want to address the feeling of “never making it” or not having enough skills. Many capable students feel this way. The truth is, successful people usually don’t feel fully ready; they keep building as they go. You do not need every skill right now. You need progress, not perfection.
A smart approach for the next year would be to choose one research-related experience, one people-facing experience, and continue strengthening your academic skills. That combination gives you both clarity and momentum.
You do not need to have your whole future figured out as a sophomore. You just need to keep developing, keep exploring, and let experience narrow your path over time. You’re not lacking direction; you’re someone with multiple strengths who now needs structure and patience. That’s a very workable place to be.
Best wishes!
First, your question is not vague at all, it’s actually very common for strong students who have many interests. You’re not “behind” because you haven’t chosen one exact path yet. You’re in the exploration stage, and that is where many sophomores are supposed to be.
Right now, your main job is not to lock in one type of psychology forever. Your job is to build a strong foundation that keeps several doors open while you gain clarity. That means focusing on skills that are valuable across neuroscience, clinical psychology, human resources, and many other paths.
Some of the most useful skills to build now are research experience, writing, communication, data literacy, and professional confidence. If you can join a psychology lab, assist with research, or help a professor on a project, that would be excellent preparation for graduate school. It also helps you discover whether you enjoy research-based work like neuroscience.
Since you mentioned math, don’t let that interest fade. Statistics, data analysis, and research methods are highly valuable in psychology and beyond. Keeping those skills active can strengthen your options in neuroscience, research, and even business-related areas like HR analytics.
At the same time, get exposure to people-centered work. Volunteering, peer mentoring, internships, or roles where you work with others can help you test whether clinical or HR-style environments fit your strengths.
I also want to address the feeling of “never making it” or not having enough skills. Many capable students feel this way. The truth is, successful people usually don’t feel fully ready; they keep building as they go. You do not need every skill right now. You need progress, not perfection.
A smart approach for the next year would be to choose one research-related experience, one people-facing experience, and continue strengthening your academic skills. That combination gives you both clarity and momentum.
You do not need to have your whole future figured out as a sophomore. You just need to keep developing, keep exploring, and let experience narrow your path over time. You’re not lacking direction; you’re someone with multiple strengths who now needs structure and patience. That’s a very workable place to be.
Best wishes!