Grad School for non-psych major?

[psyturkey]

---

Members don't see this ad.

(Sorry about the length, and I apologize if this has been posted before - the only thing I found while searching was a thread about someone who has been out of school for several years and is looking to go to grad school.)

I am currently a sophomore at a large public university. My goal is to eventually complete a PhD in clinical psychology, and I would like to attend grad school straight from undergrad. I have a 3.9 GPA with junior standing by credit hours, I volunteer in the psychiatric unit of a hospital and work directly with the doctors and patients, and I am doing research with a professor who has guaranteed me authorship on a publication.

The only problem is, I am required to declare my major this semester and I am unsure if I want to stick with the psychology major. Having lived, eaten, and breathed psychology for the past five years, I'm finding the classes in my major to be a little slow. Obviously I don't know everything (far from it), but I'm in the highest level classes offered to undergrads at my school and I am not enjoying them. It's hard to pay attention to a summary of Skinner's ideas when I have already read his works myself, or to the introduction of a study when I have examined at great length the actual publication that resulted from it. I feel that this is the only opportunity I might have to take classes in other areas that I am interested in but that might not lead to a career.

Will top grad schools look down on me for having, say, an English or history major if I have the prereqs and research and clinical experience? I've heard from medical school admissions officers that they actually like seeing people with non-science majors (provided they have the coursework and experience necessary), but grad school for psych is a totally different animal.

Thanks for your help.

 

[positivepsych]

(Sorry about the length, and I apologize if this has been posted before - the only thing I found while searching was a thread about someone who has been out of school for several years and is looking to go to grad school.)

I am currently a sophomore at a large public university. My goal is to eventually complete a PhD in clinical psychology, and I would like to attend grad school straight from undergrad. I have a 3.9 GPA with junior standing by credit hours, I volunteer in the psychiatric unit of a hospital and work directly with the doctors and patients, and I am doing research with a professor who has guaranteed me authorship on a publication.

The only problem is, I am required to declare my major this semester and I am unsure if I want to stick with the psychology major. Having lived, eaten, and breathed psychology for the past five years, I'm finding the classes in my major to be a little slow. Obviously I don't know everything (far from it), but I'm in the highest level classes offered to undergrads at my school and I am not enjoying them. It's hard to pay attention to a summary of Skinner's ideas when I have already read his works myself, or to the introduction of a study when I have examined at great length the actual publication that resulted from it. I feel that this is the only opportunity I might have to take classes in other areas that I am interested in but that might not lead to a career.

Will top grad schools look down on me for having, say, an English or history major if I have the prereqs and research and clinical experience? I've heard from medical school admissions officers that they actually like seeing people with non-science majors (provided they have the coursework and experience necessary), but grad school for psych is a totally different animal.

Thanks for your help.

I've heard of people getting into top grad schools for psych (though not clinical psych) as non-psych undergrad majors. One person i knew was CS. I think it looks better if you're coming in from a science background, and not English/History.

Also, I know policies vary school to school. Some places don't really care while others might raise a few eyebrows. I think the most important thing is that you take the equivalent classes and experience as a psych major would (which it looks like you have), and you'd be okay.

 

[UMAPsych]

If you have already taken most of the prereq's in psychology why don't you just double major?

 

[psypsypsy]

I think if you're coming right out of undergrad, you'd be at a disadvantage not to be a psych major. I know a couple of people who weren't, but they spent years after graduation doing psych research (ie. decided on a change of career).

Also, I think the explanation you would give (although I understand it) would read worrisome to grad schools. Meaning, you got sick of psych classes at an undergrad level? How do they know you aren't going to get sick of it in grad school? It would be hard to explain that you knew from the beginning you wanted to go to psych grad school, but didn't want to major in psych.

Although, like UMAPsych said, if you're close, why don't you just double major? Or, take just enough to major, and then do other classes?

 

[psychanon]

Undergraduate majors are usually, what, 30 credits? You can't find a way to fulfill 30 credits of psych in a meaningful way? If there's a grad program at your school, look into taking graduate classes if possible. If you can take a graduate statistics class, that'd be especially beneficial since you might be able to transfer the credits in grad school. Take more research credits to fulfill the major. Write an honors thesis if possible. Yes, non-psych majors can get in, but you'd be missing out on opportunities if you change your major.