Desperate for advice!

[AnimalLover1987]

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Hi. My name is Jackie and I'm 25-years-old, living in Michigan. I'll cut to the chase, I have a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Michigan and I'm becoming very depressed and desperate because it seems as though this degree means nothing to potential employers. I'm currently making what I feel someone with a GED makes, working at Walgreens corporate as a patient care specialist. I make about $12/hour and they don't treat me very well, even though I'm overqualified/underpaid and do exemplary work. I've been job searching for a long time, but as I said, my degree seems to mean nothing because it's not targeted and it's put me in a world of debt. What I'm looking for from this post is advice: Should I go back to school and get my Master's in psychology? Would it just put me even further in debt and in the same position? Should I get an Associate's in something else? For me, getting a doctorate would be much too time consuming in comparison to the 2 year Master's. My main goal at this point is financial stability, as my husband has MS and he only gets around $500/month of disability, so I'm providing for 2 people. Something that would be a big, big bonus is being able to be self-employed at some point as well. I'd really appreciate any and everybodies 2 cents; I really have no idea what to do at this point and I don't have any family or friends to ask for advice. I've done some reading online, but it would be nice to get advice from actual people who are doing it/have done it. Thank you very much in advance for any and all advice.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

A masters is likely going to cost you, yes, although there are programs that offer varying amounts of financial support (beyond loans, which should also be available). What is it you'd actually want to do for a living, though? Do you feel drawn to counseling/therapy and/or social work (masters)? If you were to go back for an associates, do you know in what field you'd focus (e.g., IT, EMT, pharmacy tech, vet tech, etc.)?

A psychology degree doesn't directly prepare you for any one particular job, no (although it should allow you for an entry-level position as a case worker for a state department such as family and child protective services, or for spots as a research assistant). However, it also doesn't directly disqualify you from many jobs, either. It's really a matter of deciding in which field you'd like to work, finding a potential entry-level position there, and selling yourself during the application and interviewing process.

You might not qualify for jobs that do require a specific undergrad degree (e.g., finance, architecture, engineering), but many postings will simply list that a BA/BS is required in general, and then go on to list specific attributes/skills for which the company is looking. For many positions, in general, much of the learning occurs on the job.

 

[AnimalLover1987]

A masters is likely going to cost you, yes, although there are programs that offer varying amounts of financial support (beyond loans, which should also be available). What is it you'd actually want to do for a living, though? Do you feel drawn to counseling/therapy and/or social work (masters)? If you were to go back for an associates, do you know in what field you'd focus (e.g., IT, EMT, pharmacy tech, vet tech, etc.)?

A psychology degree doesn't directly prepare you for any one particular job, no (although it should allow you for an entry-level position as a case worker for a state department such as family and child protective services, or for spots as a research assistant). However, it also doesn't directly disqualify you from many jobs, either. It's really a matter of deciding in which field you'd like to work, finding a potential entry-level position there, and selling yourself during the application and interviewing process.

You might not qualify for jobs that do require a specific undergrad degree (e.g., finance, architecture, engineering), but many postings will simply list that a BA/BS is required in general, and then go on to list specific attributes/skills for which the company is looking. For many positions, in general, much of the learning occurs on the job.

Thanks for the response. Ideally, what I'd want to do is something where I would make a great salary, but at some point, have the ability to work for myself. Really, it isn't about what I want to do anymore, I have to be able to provide monetarily for 2 people and possibly more if we ever want to start a family. I don't want to just make ends meet and stress constantly over normal living.

Do you happen to know a lot about IO Psych and OB Psych? I am looking to possibly get into those fields.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Thanks for the response. Ideally, what I'd want to do is something where I would make a great salary, but at some point, have the ability to work for myself. Really, it isn't about what I want to do anymore, I have to be able to provide monetarily for 2 people and possibly more if we ever want to start a family. I don't want to just make ends meet and stress constantly over normal living.

Do you happen to know a lot about IO Psych and OB Psych? I am looking to possibly get into those fields.

OB Psych?

As for I/O, I don't know a lot, but I do know that they can make a comfortable living at the masters level functioning as corporate consultants. Ideally, you're going to want a pretty solid background/training in advanced statistical analyses, as they do lots of interesting work with potentially large data sets. A big part of that work area seems to relate to being able to convince corporations that you're actually worth your cost, so having some background in business/finance probably wouldn't hurt.

 

[aspiretobephd]

If you are looking for the fastest, cheapest way to having an independent practice, I'd go the LCSW route at a state university. You will be license eligible in 3 years, depending on the state, and can operate independently after that. A PhD in psychology is typically fully funded but takes 5-7 years to complete. A PsyD is very expensive in terms of time(4-5 years) and money (most programs are over 100k). Currently, the internship crisis is making the doctoral degree path less and less attractive.

My other advice is to look into master's programs in applied statistics or applied methodology. These degrees prepare you to be a statistical analyst, which is in pretty high demand right now given the world of big data that has just exploded over the past few years. This will take you 2 years and there is no licensing involved. Starting salaries are between 40k-70k depending on the industry (less in education/healthcare field, more in private industry/finance) .

 

[MBellows]

If you are looking for the fastest, cheapest way to having an independent practice, I'd go the LCSW route at a state university. You will be license eligible in 3 years, depending on the state, and can operate independently after that. A PhD in psychology is typically fully funded but takes 5-7 years to complete. A PsyD is very expensive in terms of time(4-5 years) and money (most programs are over 100k). Currently, the internship crisis is making the doctoral degree path less and less attractive.

My other advice is to look into master's programs in applied statistics or applied methodology. These degrees prepare you to be a statistical analyst, which is in pretty high demand right now given the world of big data that has just exploded over the past few years. This will take you 2 years and there is no licensing involved. Starting salaries are between 40k-70k depending on the industry (less in education/healthcare field, more in private industry/finance) .

No one mentioned nursing? It's not typically working for yourself (I think only a couple of places have independent practice NP's) but the salary is respectable for a master's level individual, and if you get in at the associate's level and work your way up you can start pretty high (higher than many/most none FIRE bachelor's).

 

[AcronymAllergy]

No one mentioned nursing? It's not typically working for yourself (I think only a couple of places have independent practice NP's) but the salary is respectable for a master's level individual, and if you get in at the associate's level and work your way up you can start pretty high (higher than many/most none FIRE bachelor's).

I would agree that nursing could be a great way to go. I believe it would require a BSN, but they offer accelerated programs for that degree, so it might not end up taking much (if any) time longer than would an MSW. Not sure how pay for the MSN vs. BSN works out, but I know bachelor's-level RNs aren't starving.

 

[paramour]

I would agree that nursing could be a great way to go. I believe it would require a BSN, but they offer accelerated programs for that degree, so it might not end up taking much (if any) time longer than would an MSW. Not sure how pay for the MSN vs. BSN works out, but I know bachelor's-level RNs aren't starving.

You can work as a nurse with an associate's degree. They both take the same licensing exams. Problem with this is that there are *some* places that are moving toward hiring only bachelor's educated nurses, so *some* people have difficulty locating employment (and end up going back for their bachelors OR into another field entirely).

 

[MBellows]

I would agree that nursing could be a great way to go. I believe it would require a BSN, but they offer accelerated programs for that degree, so it might not end up taking much (if any) time longer than would an MSW. Not sure how pay for the MSN vs. BSN works out, but I know bachelor's-level RNs aren't starving.

From what I understand the difference between ASN (RN) and BSN (RN) is almost negligible other than the fact that BSN may be open to more administration positions. The difference in MSN (Nurse Prac) and BSN (RN) is obscene.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

From what I understand the difference between ASN (RN) and BSN (RN) is almost negligible other than the fact that BSN may be open to more administration positions. The difference in MSN (Nurse Prac) and BSN (RN) is obscene.

Ahh, you were referring to MSN in terms of nurse practitioners; that makes sense. I was unsure if there was some other general nursing-related masters, given that I'm not particularly familiar with the different degrees in that field.

Yes, NPs can make a very, very good living, particularly for the amount of schooling received. That being the case, RNs can also do quite well for themselves ($70k+). An added bonus in either profession could be that overtime is likely available whenever you'd want it.

 

[MBellows]

Ahh, you were referring to MSN in terms of nurse practitioners; that makes sense. I was unsure if there was some other general nursing-related masters, given that I'm not particularly familiar with the different degrees in that field.

Yes, NPs can make a very, very good living, particularly for the amount of schooling received. That being the case, RNs can also do quite well for themselves ($70k+). An added bonus in either profession could be that overtime is likely available whenever you'd want it.

Also, if you are willing to travel and scab for the northern unionized states your yearly salary can balloon into amounts that make my head hurt. If the whole counseling and community consulting thing doesn't work out for me I've been seriously considering going back and getting an ASN and reworking my way up that career path seeing as how locally ASN RN's start at not much less than what I make now.