Okay, here's the deal. I'm a business major at a university with an average reputation. I chose a business degree out of practicality, I know that a bachelors doesn't guarantee anything anymore and I hoped a business degree would be a bit more relevant to decent jobs (I'd intended on eventually getting an MBA after gaining some postgrad experience).
Towards the end of my Junior year I found out (ignorant, I know) that you can go to graduate school in a subject different than your undergraduate major. I had no clue. Suddenly I felt awash in disappointment for what might have been. If I hadn't been clueless I could've made an intelligent plan, could've gotten research experience and taken more psychology courses.
I'm finishing up a minor in Psychology. That's it. No laboratory research experience, which I probably can't change because RA positions are restricted to majors at my university.
I have about a 3.75 GPA. I've decided my only hope is to do as well as possible on the GRE Psychology Subject test and the GRE itself. That is my intense focus right now, in my hopes that a high score can show that I have a stronger interest in psychology than my transcript may show. Average alma mater, no research experience, no glowing psych recommendation letters-- so basically, my application is going to look like a joke.
However, I've always had a passion for psychology. In high school I used to read research articles all the time for fun. I developed a serious interest in ASPD for some reason, and have been fascinated by the diversity in psychopathic personalities. I have burning questions; what separates socially functional psychopaths from your stereotypical criminal? A successful CEO from a serial murderer? How could testing be developed to identify antisocial persons that are organized, with impulse control, which currently contradicts the criteria for ASPD in the DSM? I want to study psychopaths outside of prison, but I know that kind of research would be far down the line for me, and that my dissertation would have to be more bite-sized.
My point is, I look like an idiot that wants to go into grad school for psych on a whim. But my reasons for getting this graduate degree are intrinsically motivated. I know the pay isn't great, I know the process is long (I'd eventually like to get a doctorate) and I know I'm going to be locked into poverty for a long time if I pursue this degree.
I want a PhD, but with my specs I'm positive I have no chance applying directly. What are the chances I could get into a Masters program (so I could gain the research experience to be more competitive to get into a PhD program later on)?
Advice? Words of wisdom? Dream crushing insights?
What is a good goal GRE/Psych Subject test score to make my application look more appealing? (I know research experience is the heaviest criterion, but I don't have that so I've gotta work with what I've got)?
I'm sorry this post is long, but I'm overwhelmingly anxious and insecure, and I don't know if I'm wasting my time even trying to get into grad school for psych at this point.
Towards the end of my Junior year I found out (ignorant, I know) that you can go to graduate school in a subject different than your undergraduate major. I had no clue. Suddenly I felt awash in disappointment for what might have been. If I hadn't been clueless I could've made an intelligent plan, could've gotten research experience and taken more psychology courses.
I'm finishing up a minor in Psychology. That's it. No laboratory research experience, which I probably can't change because RA positions are restricted to majors at my university.
I have about a 3.75 GPA. I've decided my only hope is to do as well as possible on the GRE Psychology Subject test and the GRE itself. That is my intense focus right now, in my hopes that a high score can show that I have a stronger interest in psychology than my transcript may show. Average alma mater, no research experience, no glowing psych recommendation letters-- so basically, my application is going to look like a joke.
However, I've always had a passion for psychology. In high school I used to read research articles all the time for fun. I developed a serious interest in ASPD for some reason, and have been fascinated by the diversity in psychopathic personalities. I have burning questions; what separates socially functional psychopaths from your stereotypical criminal? A successful CEO from a serial murderer? How could testing be developed to identify antisocial persons that are organized, with impulse control, which currently contradicts the criteria for ASPD in the DSM? I want to study psychopaths outside of prison, but I know that kind of research would be far down the line for me, and that my dissertation would have to be more bite-sized.
My point is, I look like an idiot that wants to go into grad school for psych on a whim. But my reasons for getting this graduate degree are intrinsically motivated. I know the pay isn't great, I know the process is long (I'd eventually like to get a doctorate) and I know I'm going to be locked into poverty for a long time if I pursue this degree.
I want a PhD, but with my specs I'm positive I have no chance applying directly. What are the chances I could get into a Masters program (so I could gain the research experience to be more competitive to get into a PhD program later on)?
Advice? Words of wisdom? Dream crushing insights?
What is a good goal GRE/Psych Subject test score to make my application look more appealing? (I know research experience is the heaviest criterion, but I don't have that so I've gotta work with what I've got)?
I'm sorry this post is long, but I'm overwhelmingly anxious and insecure, and I don't know if I'm wasting my time even trying to get into grad school for psych at this point.
