What is the path to becoming a successful school psychologist ?

Hi Jazmyne,
Here's my shortlist of recommendations for becoming a school psychologist:
First...Make sure that's the field you really want. Many people think that a school psychologist is someone who talks to students about what's going on in their life, nothing could be farther from the truth. School Psychologists are typically the staff member who performs testing on students who need help for learning disorders and behavioral problems, but they are not typically the people who implement the services needed. Traditional schools have the following usual suspects of support staff: Psychologist (does testing), Guidance Counselors (create schedules, help students prepare for college), Social Worker (help students in need find services, implements the psychologists testing recommendations, some talk therapy). I am a mental health counselor working in an Alternative to Expulsion High School; my job is to meet with students exclusively for therapy....but my position is really outside the scope of what is usual and customary.

If what you decide you want is in fact School Psychology then:
1. Take every psych class you can in high school
2. Volunteer in a peer helpers program (at your school/ church/ community center etc)
3. Do an undergraduate program and earn your degree in Psychology. Take lots of classes in child and adolescent development and psychometrics (that's the fancy term for psychological tests).
4. Do a grad school program who offers School Psychology (this is a specialization, not all psych Grad schools offer it, but you MUST have this specialization)
5. Do your internship at a school
6. After graduation take the licensing exam for school psychologist credentialing
7. All along make sure you network, network, network!!!!
8. Pound the pavement, find a job, start your career, be happy!

Hi Jazmyne!

Although I am not in the profession myself I think I can still offer some advice to get you thinking about a future in the field of Psychology.

I think it is always important, no matter what path you plan on pursuing, to maintain high grades in your undergraduate courses (graduate school etc. can be competitive & you want to be prepared).

Also look at prerequisites that are required of high school students to be eligible for acceptance to an Psychology major in college. You may need to have taken certain courses in high school prior to college entrance. Once in college you then want to keep in mind what courses are prerequisites for you to be able to take higher level courses in your later years of college. You can talk to a University counsellor about this in your department. The courses you take in your first year of college will be similar for all students that are in the same program as you. However, as you progress through college there may be limitations to courses that you are able to apply to based on the courses you took in the past years.

Another idea that you may choose to explore is looking at research opportunities, volunteer opportunities and participating in experiments. This will give you some first hand experience. You will have a better idea of the types of things that are involved when it comes to Psychology. That being said you still may not be able to experience all aspects of Psychology. You will be able to specialize in the type of psychologist you want to be in the future. So you can choose child psychology at schools, counselling for the military, Lowes consultant or have your own practice as a psychologist. You do not need to worry about the details too much right now.

Another important thing to keep in mind is networking. Build good relationships with some of your professors/instructors in your undergraduate courses in college. They can be helpful in terms of advice, mentoring, answering questions, motivation, research opportunities, work study placement etc. Another BONUS is the better they get to know you the better prepared they will be to write glowing letters of recommendation that you may need in the future.

It's great that you are starting to think about your future in these terms at an early stage.
There is no harm in getting a head start!
However, although you cannot be proactive about all my suggestions just yet it's nice to be aware of what may be required of you in the future and just keep it in mind :)

All the best!