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What's the downside of studying ethics and psychology?
I like to see the benefit and the downside to most of the difficult decisions in my life. I enjoy psychology and I like challenges. #psychology #college
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Alejandra’s Answer
Hi Luis,
Neuroscience and Philosophy double major here! This question gets me very excited. While I'd like to start by saying that studying these two realms had no downside for me (I really enjoyed it and think it set me up great for my career), I definitely have thought about the negatives. Below I've highlighted the three of the biggest downsides I strongly suggest considering before pursuing these degrees:
(1) Money
- Careers in both Neuroscience and Philosophy could eventually make you a lot of money (think professors or PhD, or getting a masters, or special clinical training), they're not going to make you the sort of money some of your peers will be making right away. This was a hard pill to swallow, considering these degrees were very rigorous, but I had few job prospects to back it up. That being said, how you apply these degrees to careers can definitely change that, and I've reframed my career goals to match my desired financial goals. That being said, if I could get a redo, I would have strongly explored my interest in computer science, programming, or engineering as I believe these careers are somewhat similar in ideology, as rigorous, and make you a LOT more money at the beginning and forever moving forward.
(2) Relatability
- People "know" what psychology is and understand the idea of studying "ethics." But, when you get into it, most people really don't know what this means. We know that means a deep understanding of the human psyche and decision-making, which is a highly marketable skill when looking for a job, but a lot of people don't know that. I would say most people think my degrees sound cool, but I've had to go above in beyond in explaining how my skills apply to the jobs I want, while someone with a communications degree or a math degree might not. Although I will say the people who "get it" really see the value in these degrees and will be strong advocates for your success.
(3) Vigor
- Depending on where you go and exactly how you study these topics, these degrees take a lot of studying. Like I said there are a lot of other degrees with maybe less or equal difficulty that could get you a job making more money more quickly or in the long run. It's a little frustrating watching my finance alumni have a lot better financial opportunities, when in school they may not have studied or needed to study as much. This is something I didn't fully consider before pursuing these degrees. Although I don't regret my decisions, it's something to consider when you think about the sort of college experience you're looking for. Do you want to spend 6-10h studying on a Saturday? Or do you want a more relaxed degree that allows you to explore other interests and is still valuable in the long run?
I hope these downsides are helped and best of luck in your decision!
Neuroscience and Philosophy double major here! This question gets me very excited. While I'd like to start by saying that studying these two realms had no downside for me (I really enjoyed it and think it set me up great for my career), I definitely have thought about the negatives. Below I've highlighted the three of the biggest downsides I strongly suggest considering before pursuing these degrees:
(1) Money
- Careers in both Neuroscience and Philosophy could eventually make you a lot of money (think professors or PhD, or getting a masters, or special clinical training), they're not going to make you the sort of money some of your peers will be making right away. This was a hard pill to swallow, considering these degrees were very rigorous, but I had few job prospects to back it up. That being said, how you apply these degrees to careers can definitely change that, and I've reframed my career goals to match my desired financial goals. That being said, if I could get a redo, I would have strongly explored my interest in computer science, programming, or engineering as I believe these careers are somewhat similar in ideology, as rigorous, and make you a LOT more money at the beginning and forever moving forward.
(2) Relatability
- People "know" what psychology is and understand the idea of studying "ethics." But, when you get into it, most people really don't know what this means. We know that means a deep understanding of the human psyche and decision-making, which is a highly marketable skill when looking for a job, but a lot of people don't know that. I would say most people think my degrees sound cool, but I've had to go above in beyond in explaining how my skills apply to the jobs I want, while someone with a communications degree or a math degree might not. Although I will say the people who "get it" really see the value in these degrees and will be strong advocates for your success.
(3) Vigor
- Depending on where you go and exactly how you study these topics, these degrees take a lot of studying. Like I said there are a lot of other degrees with maybe less or equal difficulty that could get you a job making more money more quickly or in the long run. It's a little frustrating watching my finance alumni have a lot better financial opportunities, when in school they may not have studied or needed to study as much. This is something I didn't fully consider before pursuing these degrees. Although I don't regret my decisions, it's something to consider when you think about the sort of college experience you're looking for. Do you want to spend 6-10h studying on a Saturday? Or do you want a more relaxed degree that allows you to explore other interests and is still valuable in the long run?
I hope these downsides are helped and best of luck in your decision!
Updated
Alexandria’s Answer
Hi Luis,
Although I have only taken a few courses in ethics and psychology, I also like to see the benefit and downside of life's most difficult questions. With that, I would recommend looking up what careers are common for people with a psychology or ethics degree. I would also recommend taking a look at the job descriptions and thinking about whether that sounds like a something you would want to do. It is also a great idea to take a look at the job outlook in your area! However, I believe that a solid understanding and education on psychology and ethics can be used in many career fields and lines of business.
This is a government website where you can do research on careers and outlooks: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Hope this helps! :)
Although I have only taken a few courses in ethics and psychology, I also like to see the benefit and downside of life's most difficult questions. With that, I would recommend looking up what careers are common for people with a psychology or ethics degree. I would also recommend taking a look at the job descriptions and thinking about whether that sounds like a something you would want to do. It is also a great idea to take a look at the job outlook in your area! However, I believe that a solid understanding and education on psychology and ethics can be used in many career fields and lines of business.
This is a government website where you can do research on careers and outlooks: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Hope this helps! :)
Updated
Priya’s Answer
On the emotional side, studying ethics and psychology can give you a rich understanding of people around you, and also give you a lot of empathy and consideration of contexts that others may not have considered. On the downside, it can contribute to some distress when being aware of so many sides, and the fact that many people will not consider those things along with you. The news can be very bleak to watch afterward! Keeping a journal and good support around you, whether that is professional or personal is great to support you. Do know it can feel lonely in this line of study/work!
Updated
Manda’s Answer
Psychology is a fascinating topic to study! One downside is that there is no clear career path at the bachelors level. Many people who study psychology without pursuing graduate school end up working in different types of jobs, and these jobs don't always pay well or directly relate to the degree. Your knowledge of psychology and ethics can certainly help you in career fields such as sales, human resources, business management, or marketing, but employers often prefer to hire candidates with more specifically relevant degrees, such as a business degree. If you plan to continue on to graduate school, though, this downside wouldn't apply. And if you're looking for an interesting topic that you can apply in everyday life, psychology and ethics is a good choice!