How to become a psychologist?

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Hello! I'm a student in high school , grade 11, and I would really like to become a phsycologist once i finish and come to York University. But i was wandering, what are the subjects in high school that i can take to get credits on? Thank you for your time on readin this e-mail and if it's possible i would really appriciate if you'd answer me.

Sincerly,

Sagita Zeqo

-- Sagita (europeangirl14@hotmail.com), August 23, 2003

Answers

Note: This is York in Toronto,Canada, *not* York in England.

The most important thing is to get good grades in basic subjects. If there is a psychology course in your high school, it would be good preparation to take it. A biology course, especially human biology, particularly if it has a unit on the brain and nervous system, would be useful too. Do well in your math courses -- all psychologists have to take courses in the statistical analysis of data. And finally, learn how to write essays well. One of the greatest problems undergraduate psychology students have is not having learned how to write an essay.

Having said all that, you should know that "psychologist" is a term that is legally restricted to those who have a doctorate (PhD or PsyD)in psychology. First you would have to get a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) in psychology. That would be a fairly general degree that would equip you for all kinds of jobs, but not for serious psychological research or practice. After your Bachelor's (4 yrs.), you would have to decide what area of psychology you are interested in doing graduate work in -- Research (cognition, perception, social, personality, developmental, etc.) or Practice (clinical, counseling, industrial/organizational, etc.), and apply to an appropriate program. Many graduate programs in psychology have a Master's degree (1-2 yrs) followed by a PhD (4 yrs and up). Many other simply have a longer PhD program. There is also a "Doctor of Psychology" (PsyD) degree offered by professional schools of psychology (rather than universities) that train one to be a therapist only, with no serious research component.

I hope this helps.

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), August 24, 2003.


There is good information for students at http://www.apa.org/about/division.html This is the special site for students created by the American Psychological Association

-- Hendrika Vande Kemp (hendrika@earthlink.net), August 25, 2003.

Hi, well i was reading what Sagita wrote to and i think you really did help her. But here is my story i'm really interested in pychologist as well but what if i'm not that good in all the subjects that are requiered to be a pychologist, would i still make it.

-- Joane Roque (rjoane@aol.com), November 07, 2003.

No, I don't think so. Graduate psychology departments are very competitive. Some admit as few as 5% of applicants. If your grades aren't very good, it is unlikely you will be admitted.

-- Christopher Green (cgreen@chass.utoronto.ca), November 07, 2003.

Hi, i'm in grade 10 in Australia and i am thinking about becoming a phsycologist when i get out of school but i am unsure of what subjects are needed to become a phsycologist?? Thank you for your time reading this email and if possible could you please reply to this email? thanks Emma

-- Emma Taylor (teeamia@hotmail.com), July 17, 2004.


Hello, well you better off taking classes' with science obviously, if there are classes' you can take for pychology, than you have a better advantage not all schools have them, good luck! and any classes' you take that are supplied for college or university are always admitted as a credit... ciao!

-- Roxana (roxy_foxy_19@hotmail.com), October 18, 2004.

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