Let research and career interests guide your decision to go to grad school in psychology
As I type, I am literally less than a week post earning my doctorate in psychology. Taking some time to reflect back, there were quite a few reasons why going to grad school was one of the best decisions I could have made — both personally and professionally. Let me focus first on why it was a great professional decision:
1. Undying passion for the subject matter.
Truth of the matter is… if I had never attended grad school, I would still be talking incessantly about 
my research interests. Just as before, I may be cruising the aisles of my neighborhood bookstore – and a title referencing my area of interest would still catch my eye. Why not establish a career studying the very topic that turns you on? (Disclaimer: When I say “turn you on” I mean in the strictest intellectual sense. Although I admit that I was semi-disturbed as a newbie grad student to discover that academics sometimes describe research as “sexy.” That’s just some academic humor.)
2. Successful fulfillment of intellectual curiosity.
While you cannot concentrate your focus on everything you’re interested in, you are on the front lines of hearing about other cool research and you are able to collaborate professionally. While I may have an interest in understand how Women’s Studies courses shapes attitudes about feminism, I don’t necessarily have to start a whole new line of research, I can collaborate with someone else who does this work (and lucky for me, already knows the ins-and-outs of the published literature).
3. End result: You’re now recognized as an expert.
How cool is it that the awarding of a terminal degree equals automatic expert status?!? Your published work may be quoted in newspapers and magazines. You might be asked to speak on TV or deliver your professional opinion in documentaries (which is, coincidentally, a personal goal of mine).
4. Go a step beyond “helping people” – Serve a larger community or societal need.
Let’s face it — I didn’t spend five years of my life up to my ears in journal articles just for my health. One of the reasons why psychology is so popular is that the production of research stands to fulfill the needs of others. I am not exaggerating when I say that your research may be the basis of an innovative new technique, program, or intervention that may literally change someone’s life. And how cool is that?!?! (See? There are other ways to “help others” than being a clinical psychologist. Nothing against clinical psychologists, but there are other areas of psychology where you can meet those needs).
What should ALL Psychology majors be doing now to prepare for graduate school?
Just click on the picture to find out!
