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Hi everyone,
I have an interview for a Masters in Health Psychology early next week, and have been working through some questions I expect to be asked.
I think I will probably be asked how I became interested in health psychology, and also why I want to be a health psychologist, but the issue is that my response is similar for both. Here are my responses so far:
How did you become interested in health psychology?
My interest in psychology begun at the age of 15. I had always been interested in working with people, and psychology seemed like a natural progression. As I progressed through my high school psychology and university classes, I came to realise that psychology be applied at every level, and that an understanding of psychology is valuable to every field of study. Furthermore, psychology allows me to combine my academic and personal interests in the best way possible. I enjoy learning about and studying people and the reasons they think, feel and behave as they do and I like the variety of being able to do clinical, research and health promotion work.
Through experiences with family and friends, I have come to realise how valuable psychologists can be, and have witnessed the powerful effect of therapy and psychological interventions on individuals, families and societies as a whole.
My motivation also comes from when I was ill myself, and when family and friends have been ill. I have come to realise that there is a huge gap in the system and that patients are often not provided with any psychosocial support. In my opinion there is a great need for such support to be provided to patients and their families, as illness can have a significant psychological impact on patients and their families. I’m very keen to work towards closing this gap through the application of psychotherapy, research and preventative measures to illness.
Why do you want to be a health psychologist?
Through experiences with family and friends, I have come to realise how valuable psychologists can be, and have witnessed the powerful effect of therapy and psychological interventions on individuals, families and societies as a whole. I have also come to realise through my own experiences of ill health, that there is a huge gap in the system and that patients are often not provided with any psychosocial support. In my opinion there is a great need for such support to be provided to patients and their families, as illness can have a significant psychological impact on patients and their families. I’m very keen to work towards closing this gap through the application of psychotherapy, research and preventative measures to illness.
What do you think? How can I differentiate between them? Am I answering both of the questions properly?
Here are some of my other questions and answers. I'd really appreciate your feedback if you have the time.
Tell us about yourself.
Well, I’m 25 and currently living in XX, after recently returning from living in the UK for a year. I have been working towards a career in health psychology for nearly a decade. Alongside my formal qualifications, I have tried to open myself up to as many opportunities as possible. I completed a placement at XX, where alongside some research activities, I had the opportunity to facilitate and coordinate an end of treatment program for breast cancer patients, and weekly mindfulness meditation classes. I also had the opportunity to complete my honours thesis at XX, which also gave me one-on-one time with patients. I have also worked as a research assistant at XX. I also have training in a few therapeutic approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Family Focused Therapy and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, which I enjoyed. I have experienced some illness myself, and in close family members, which has furthered my interest in health psychology and working with the chronically or terminally ill. It’s not all work for me, though. I love cooking and baking, and how it brings people together, and enjoy taking dance classes and meditating when I have the chance.
Why do you want to do this Masters?
XX offers a strong Health Psychology Masters course, which has been a large factor for me, but there have been a number of other factors that have also come into play for me. I feel that XX's course offers a really balanced and broad curriculum, including two in clinical health psychology and one in health promotion, and offers the ideal combination of theory and practice to facilitate my interests. XX also gives me the opportunity to combine my masters with a PhD, and interact with leading health psychology researchers.
What are your personal strengths?
I consider myself to be very adaptable and accepting of change, which helped me when I moved to the UK for a year, and also understand the importance of change, particularly in the field of health psychology. I also have a lot of initiative and am always keen to take on new challenges. I like to keep my mind stimulated and focused, and also have very strong investigative skills, which I have endeavoured to improve and develop through my research experience.
I am also an effective listener and trustworthy, and feel that I am fairly self-aware and emotionally stable. I have a fairly good grasp of my own traits and nuances, and will therefore be able to assist others. I also do my best to be an approachable person and an effective communicator.
I could go on and on, but you get the picture!
Thanks for your help!
I have an interview for a Masters in Health Psychology early next week, and have been working through some questions I expect to be asked.
I think I will probably be asked how I became interested in health psychology, and also why I want to be a health psychologist, but the issue is that my response is similar for both. Here are my responses so far:
How did you become interested in health psychology?
My interest in psychology begun at the age of 15. I had always been interested in working with people, and psychology seemed like a natural progression. As I progressed through my high school psychology and university classes, I came to realise that psychology be applied at every level, and that an understanding of psychology is valuable to every field of study. Furthermore, psychology allows me to combine my academic and personal interests in the best way possible. I enjoy learning about and studying people and the reasons they think, feel and behave as they do and I like the variety of being able to do clinical, research and health promotion work.
Through experiences with family and friends, I have come to realise how valuable psychologists can be, and have witnessed the powerful effect of therapy and psychological interventions on individuals, families and societies as a whole.
My motivation also comes from when I was ill myself, and when family and friends have been ill. I have come to realise that there is a huge gap in the system and that patients are often not provided with any psychosocial support. In my opinion there is a great need for such support to be provided to patients and their families, as illness can have a significant psychological impact on patients and their families. I’m very keen to work towards closing this gap through the application of psychotherapy, research and preventative measures to illness.
Why do you want to be a health psychologist?
Through experiences with family and friends, I have come to realise how valuable psychologists can be, and have witnessed the powerful effect of therapy and psychological interventions on individuals, families and societies as a whole. I have also come to realise through my own experiences of ill health, that there is a huge gap in the system and that patients are often not provided with any psychosocial support. In my opinion there is a great need for such support to be provided to patients and their families, as illness can have a significant psychological impact on patients and their families. I’m very keen to work towards closing this gap through the application of psychotherapy, research and preventative measures to illness.
What do you think? How can I differentiate between them? Am I answering both of the questions properly?
Here are some of my other questions and answers. I'd really appreciate your feedback if you have the time.
Tell us about yourself.
Well, I’m 25 and currently living in XX, after recently returning from living in the UK for a year. I have been working towards a career in health psychology for nearly a decade. Alongside my formal qualifications, I have tried to open myself up to as many opportunities as possible. I completed a placement at XX, where alongside some research activities, I had the opportunity to facilitate and coordinate an end of treatment program for breast cancer patients, and weekly mindfulness meditation classes. I also had the opportunity to complete my honours thesis at XX, which also gave me one-on-one time with patients. I have also worked as a research assistant at XX. I also have training in a few therapeutic approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Family Focused Therapy and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, which I enjoyed. I have experienced some illness myself, and in close family members, which has furthered my interest in health psychology and working with the chronically or terminally ill. It’s not all work for me, though. I love cooking and baking, and how it brings people together, and enjoy taking dance classes and meditating when I have the chance.
Why do you want to do this Masters?
XX offers a strong Health Psychology Masters course, which has been a large factor for me, but there have been a number of other factors that have also come into play for me. I feel that XX's course offers a really balanced and broad curriculum, including two in clinical health psychology and one in health promotion, and offers the ideal combination of theory and practice to facilitate my interests. XX also gives me the opportunity to combine my masters with a PhD, and interact with leading health psychology researchers.
What are your personal strengths?
I consider myself to be very adaptable and accepting of change, which helped me when I moved to the UK for a year, and also understand the importance of change, particularly in the field of health psychology. I also have a lot of initiative and am always keen to take on new challenges. I like to keep my mind stimulated and focused, and also have very strong investigative skills, which I have endeavoured to improve and develop through my research experience.
I am also an effective listener and trustworthy, and feel that I am fairly self-aware and emotionally stable. I have a fairly good grasp of my own traits and nuances, and will therefore be able to assist others. I also do my best to be an approachable person and an effective communicator.
I could go on and on, but you get the picture!
Thanks for your help!
