2 answers
Ryleigh
Student
High Point, North Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
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What should I work towards getting an Associates in if I am interested in becoming a clinical psychologist?
I am currently a Sophomore in high school and I am applying to do Dual-Enrollment online during my Junior and Senior year with a community college called Forsyth Tech. In order to apply I have to choose a pathway with certain classes and that is where I'm struggling. I'm given the choice between an Associates in Science, Applied science, or Arts. There isn't fully a pathway I could take to get an Associates in just Psychology.
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2 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1179
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ryleigh !
This is an awesome opportunity for you and initially, I'd highly advise that you contact Forsyth today and ask them about the subject breakdowns. It is best to know the different categories of specific subjects they offer within the pathways you've mentioned. You will need to find out if the Science segment includes any Social Sciences, ascertain what social sciences are within the Applied Sciences (the only thing I see within that is Public Safety) and I guess a pathway in Art would be creatively fun but not connected to becoming a clinical psychologist, so you can eliminate that and take an art class in high school if you love art. When you are dealing with a specific college the staff there are authorized to give you the exact information, so I would visit or call there to have it clarified.
You will want to start taking classes at your high school like psychology and if your school offers it, sociology and statistics. It is going to be great to have this dual opportunity with Forsyth Tech College so my advice is to definitely do it. Anything you learn from them will be a huge boost to your education.
Since you are still in high school, you have the luxury of knowing that once you graduate, you can go to a university and major in Psychology. That will be the strong foundation for your goal to becoming a clinical psychologist. Right now, I see the overall dual opportunity as a beneficial one, one that will impress on college admissions applications and one that will give you knowledge and insight that you may not obtain otherwise. The actual choice of path with Forsyth will be up to you after you have obtained all the details from representatives at the school. It is when you begin university enrollment that you will be able to immerse yourself in being a psychology major.
So now, in my opinion, it would be between Science and Applied Science. Take it a step at a time and if you talk with Forsyth, take notes and after you are well-informed, decide which path will be closest to giving you some basic learning about the social science realm. Definitely follow through with this and you will see the benefits it will have for you, both academically and for your career.
I wish you all the best !
This is an awesome opportunity for you and initially, I'd highly advise that you contact Forsyth today and ask them about the subject breakdowns. It is best to know the different categories of specific subjects they offer within the pathways you've mentioned. You will need to find out if the Science segment includes any Social Sciences, ascertain what social sciences are within the Applied Sciences (the only thing I see within that is Public Safety) and I guess a pathway in Art would be creatively fun but not connected to becoming a clinical psychologist, so you can eliminate that and take an art class in high school if you love art. When you are dealing with a specific college the staff there are authorized to give you the exact information, so I would visit or call there to have it clarified.
You will want to start taking classes at your high school like psychology and if your school offers it, sociology and statistics. It is going to be great to have this dual opportunity with Forsyth Tech College so my advice is to definitely do it. Anything you learn from them will be a huge boost to your education.
Since you are still in high school, you have the luxury of knowing that once you graduate, you can go to a university and major in Psychology. That will be the strong foundation for your goal to becoming a clinical psychologist. Right now, I see the overall dual opportunity as a beneficial one, one that will impress on college admissions applications and one that will give you knowledge and insight that you may not obtain otherwise. The actual choice of path with Forsyth will be up to you after you have obtained all the details from representatives at the school. It is when you begin university enrollment that you will be able to immerse yourself in being a psychology major.
So now, in my opinion, it would be between Science and Applied Science. Take it a step at a time and if you talk with Forsyth, take notes and after you are well-informed, decide which path will be closest to giving you some basic learning about the social science realm. Definitely follow through with this and you will see the benefits it will have for you, both academically and for your career.
I wish you all the best !
Thank you very much Michelle! I really appreciate it!!
Ryleigh
Hi. Ryleigh ! I am happy to lend advice. Have an awesome day !
Michelle M.
You as well!!
Ryleigh
Marino Mugayar-Baldocchi
Applied Organizational Scientist
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Marino’s Answer
Hello, Ryleigh! Great question!
To complement Michelle's great answer, I would say that you need to think about a few additional steps.
To become a clinical psychologist, you also need to complete your Bachelor's degree, gain some clinical experience to be able to apply for graduate school and complete your graduate program (either a Master's or a Ph.D.)
More practically, and in a simplified way, see the steps below:
1) You would need to see which 4 year college you could go to once you complete your Associate's degree.
2) Once there, declare a psychology major and speak with your advisors about how to get internships/fellowships in clinical psychology to gain practical experience
3) Get the required number of hours and experiences as well as the GPA and GRE score, where it's still a requirement, to be able to apply for graduate school; if it's a PhD you'd like to apply for, you will also need research experience as a Research Assistant
4) Complete the graduate school degree and then pass the licensing exam in your state to practice as a clinical psychologist
I would also encourage you to think about whether it's truly a clinical psychologist you'd like to become, or if it's someone who assists with people's mental health. If it's the latter, you could think about becoming a mental health counselor or a social worker and help people tremendously.
To complement Michelle's great answer, I would say that you need to think about a few additional steps.
To become a clinical psychologist, you also need to complete your Bachelor's degree, gain some clinical experience to be able to apply for graduate school and complete your graduate program (either a Master's or a Ph.D.)
More practically, and in a simplified way, see the steps below:
1) You would need to see which 4 year college you could go to once you complete your Associate's degree.
2) Once there, declare a psychology major and speak with your advisors about how to get internships/fellowships in clinical psychology to gain practical experience
3) Get the required number of hours and experiences as well as the GPA and GRE score, where it's still a requirement, to be able to apply for graduate school; if it's a PhD you'd like to apply for, you will also need research experience as a Research Assistant
4) Complete the graduate school degree and then pass the licensing exam in your state to practice as a clinical psychologist
I would also encourage you to think about whether it's truly a clinical psychologist you'd like to become, or if it's someone who assists with people's mental health. If it's the latter, you could think about becoming a mental health counselor or a social worker and help people tremendously.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Ryleigh