4 answers
Ryleigh
Student
Omaha, Nebraska
1
Question
Asked
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What is good advice for people majoring in Psychology?
I am currently a High School Senior who will major in Psychology. I would like some advice on my major. How do I prepare for it?
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4 answers
Amy Cannava, Ed.S., NCSP
School Psychologist
3
Answers
Tumwater, WA
Updated
Amy’s Answer
Psychology is a behavioral science so watching and observing populations of interest goes a long way! Do you see patterns of behavior? What makes them similar or different?
While you will have years and years to figure out what/who you want to specialize in, any opportunity you have to be around the group that interests you is beneficial.
Are you interested in animal psychology? Volunteer in zoos or animal shelters, walk dogs, pet sit, etc. Media psychology? Watch movies, look at social media and how it impacts people, look at advertising and what sells. Developmental psychology? Babysit, work at summer camps or the local Boys and Girls Club, tutor, etc.
Because so much of psychology is confidential, it can be challenging to observe any psychologists until you're enrolled in a psychology program, but that doesn't mean you can't learn about behavior now - in fact, my guess is if you're interested in psychology you are already doing the things anyone would suggest for you!
While you will have years and years to figure out what/who you want to specialize in, any opportunity you have to be around the group that interests you is beneficial.
Are you interested in animal psychology? Volunteer in zoos or animal shelters, walk dogs, pet sit, etc. Media psychology? Watch movies, look at social media and how it impacts people, look at advertising and what sells. Developmental psychology? Babysit, work at summer camps or the local Boys and Girls Club, tutor, etc.
Because so much of psychology is confidential, it can be challenging to observe any psychologists until you're enrolled in a psychology program, but that doesn't mean you can't learn about behavior now - in fact, my guess is if you're interested in psychology you are already doing the things anyone would suggest for you!
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1403
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Ryleigh,
Good question! Choosing psychology is a great step if you are curious about people, behaviour, emotions, learning, and how the mind works. It is a broad field with many directions, so starting now with questions like this already puts you in a strong position.
One of the best ways to prepare is to strengthen your study habits before college begins. Psychology involves reading, writing, research, and learning how to think critically. Get comfortable with managing deadlines, taking notes, summarising information, and staying organised. Good systems often matter as much as intelligence.
It also helps to build strong writing skills. Many psychology courses require essays, reflections, case discussions, and research papers. Practice writing clearly and supporting your ideas with evidence. Being able to explain ideas well will help you throughout the degree.
Do not ignore statistics and research methods. Some students choose psychology because they expect only counselling topics, then feel surprised when they meet data, experiments, and analysis. Research skills are a core part of the field. If you improve your confidence with maths basics, data interpretation, and logical thinking, you will thank yourself later.
Stay curious about the different branches of psychology. There is clinical psychology, counselling, educational psychology, forensic psychology, industrial-organisational psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, neuroscience, sports psychology, and more. You do not need to know your final path now, but exploring options early can help you make smarter choices later.
Try to gain experience outside the classroom when possible. Volunteer work, mentoring, tutoring, youth programmes, community support work, crisis lines, research assistant roles, or campus organisations can all help you build relevant skills. Experience often teaches what textbooks cannot.
Learn to take care of your own well-being, too. Studying psychology can bring awareness of stress, trauma, relationships, and mental health topics. Having healthy routines, boundaries, and support systems will help you stay balanced while learning.
Also, think long-term. In many psychology careers, a bachelor’s degree is a starting point rather than the final step. Some paths require a master’s degree, a doctorate, certifications, or licensing. It is smart to research careers early, so you understand what qualifications may be needed.
My practical advice is this: be open-minded. Many students begin psychology thinking they want therapy, then discover research, business, education, human resources, or other fields they love more. Let the degree introduce you to possibilities. You do not need to have everything figured out right now. Start prepared, stay curious, build skills steadily, and allow your direction to grow with experience. That is how many successful careers begin.
Best wishes!
Good question! Choosing psychology is a great step if you are curious about people, behaviour, emotions, learning, and how the mind works. It is a broad field with many directions, so starting now with questions like this already puts you in a strong position.
One of the best ways to prepare is to strengthen your study habits before college begins. Psychology involves reading, writing, research, and learning how to think critically. Get comfortable with managing deadlines, taking notes, summarising information, and staying organised. Good systems often matter as much as intelligence.
It also helps to build strong writing skills. Many psychology courses require essays, reflections, case discussions, and research papers. Practice writing clearly and supporting your ideas with evidence. Being able to explain ideas well will help you throughout the degree.
Do not ignore statistics and research methods. Some students choose psychology because they expect only counselling topics, then feel surprised when they meet data, experiments, and analysis. Research skills are a core part of the field. If you improve your confidence with maths basics, data interpretation, and logical thinking, you will thank yourself later.
Stay curious about the different branches of psychology. There is clinical psychology, counselling, educational psychology, forensic psychology, industrial-organisational psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, neuroscience, sports psychology, and more. You do not need to know your final path now, but exploring options early can help you make smarter choices later.
Try to gain experience outside the classroom when possible. Volunteer work, mentoring, tutoring, youth programmes, community support work, crisis lines, research assistant roles, or campus organisations can all help you build relevant skills. Experience often teaches what textbooks cannot.
Learn to take care of your own well-being, too. Studying psychology can bring awareness of stress, trauma, relationships, and mental health topics. Having healthy routines, boundaries, and support systems will help you stay balanced while learning.
Also, think long-term. In many psychology careers, a bachelor’s degree is a starting point rather than the final step. Some paths require a master’s degree, a doctorate, certifications, or licensing. It is smart to research careers early, so you understand what qualifications may be needed.
My practical advice is this: be open-minded. Many students begin psychology thinking they want therapy, then discover research, business, education, human resources, or other fields they love more. Let the degree introduce you to possibilities. You do not need to have everything figured out right now. Start prepared, stay curious, build skills steadily, and allow your direction to grow with experience. That is how many successful careers begin.
Best wishes!
Mitchell Peterson, Ph.D.
People Analytics
2
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Mitchell’s Answer
Hi Ryleigh,
Psychology is a very broad field - so I would suggest starting with some research on the various disciplines/career paths available (e.g., clinical psychology, I/O psychology, sports psychology, counseling psychology, etc.). You will learn some of this in your early coursework (i.e., Intro to Psychology), but having an idea of what disciplines you are interested in will help you make informed decisions on the electives/coursework you choose in your undergrad program.
It is also likely that you will need at least a Master's degree in a specific discipline after you complete your undergraduate work (and sometimes a doctoral degree - PhD, EdD, PsyD, etc.). You have some time to figure out which path you want to choose, but it is something to start thinking about after your first 1-2 years in undergrad to ensure you are taking the appropriate courses and exploring additional activities (e.g., working in research labs, internships, etc.) that you will need to apply to graduate programs.
Hope this helps - best of luck!
Psychology is a very broad field - so I would suggest starting with some research on the various disciplines/career paths available (e.g., clinical psychology, I/O psychology, sports psychology, counseling psychology, etc.). You will learn some of this in your early coursework (i.e., Intro to Psychology), but having an idea of what disciplines you are interested in will help you make informed decisions on the electives/coursework you choose in your undergrad program.
It is also likely that you will need at least a Master's degree in a specific discipline after you complete your undergraduate work (and sometimes a doctoral degree - PhD, EdD, PsyD, etc.). You have some time to figure out which path you want to choose, but it is something to start thinking about after your first 1-2 years in undergrad to ensure you are taking the appropriate courses and exploring additional activities (e.g., working in research labs, internships, etc.) that you will need to apply to graduate programs.
Hope this helps - best of luck!
Eve Ahlquist
Management Consultant
1
Answer
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Eve’s Answer
Hi, Ryleigh! Great question! My advice would be to do some research online about what different careers are possible as a result of being a Psychology major. Think to yourself, which of these jobs sound interesting to me? Does this make me excited? If yes, then absolutely pursue it as a major - start by taking some broader classes in Psychology, and you can tailor which additional classes you take as you progress throughout college. For me, I originally thought I wanted to be a Psychologist. As I made my way through college, I realized I also had an interest in studying business, so I decided to minor in Business Management. My Junior year I took a class that focused on psychology in a business context (blended both areas of my interest) and I fell in love with it! That is ultimately when I pivoted and decided to go into Human Capital Consulting and took a much more business-focused approach to my career, while still applying psychological concepts. The great thing about Psychology is you can explore so many different paths - it is the foundation of how humans think and behave, something we can ALL benefit from learning!