please help!...should I choose psychology?

stripypumkin

ok im a leaving cert student doin the big LC this yr!! Iv always thought iv wanted to do veterinary.. however recently I have been contemplating this career path! I love science but I would love to work with people as well!
Iv never really considered psych b4 nw but at the moment it sounds really appealing...i was thinking of doing the 2 sub moderator in t.c.d?!
I find tlking to ppl who are actually on the course or have completed it really helpful!! is it a good career path to take??
Thanks!!!!!:):rolleyes:

TheNibbler

This thread might help:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055245951


Personally, wouldn't recommend the 2 subject moderatorship. A lot more work and you would be at a disadvantage in your final year (have to do a project on your own for most of the year with little previous experience of doing projects).

stripypumkin

TheNibbler wrote: »

Personally, wouldn't recommend the 2 subject moderatorship. A lot more work and you would be at a disadvantage in your final year (have to do a project on your own for most of the year with little previous experience of doing projects).

Thanks that thread answered lots of questions!!! Its so hard picking what you want to do for the rest of your life thou:mad:


I was jus wondering does everyone agree with that....about the 2 sub mod?????:rolleyes:

spinandscribble

why do two subjects? why not just do psychology?

stripypumkin

spinandscribble wrote: »

why do two subjects? why not just do psychology?

was thinking of doing modern irish simultaineously..?!

Semele

You need to think about what you'd like to end up working at and decide whether Irish would make you any more employable in that field. If not, don't make things harder for yourself.

I did TSM psychology and philosophy in Trinity and really regret not doing single honours. I decided that on a whim with no career advice and while I found it ok in first and second year, by third and especially in final year I realised it left me at a huge disadvantage compared to the single-hons people in my course (not to mention making me no more employable!)

If the single-hons class are doing twice the amount of subjects (and in reality it is more) that TSM are, its hardly surprising that they end up with much more comprehensive understanding of the subject, whereas with TSM you can feel that your knowledge is abit patchy (in-depth in specific things but weak overall).

This is especially a problem in final year exams. Trinity does a 3hr general essay paper, where the questions are totally random and so broad that they are supposed to draw on your knowledge of many psychological disciplines. I panicked horribly in this as I just didnt have the breadth of knowledge I would have in single honour psychology, and spent hours wading through history of psych and comparitive psych books on my own trying to build it up.

Unless you have a good reason for doing TSM, don't! The psych course is great though, I really loved it. Best of luck:)

stripypumkin

Thank you for being so helpful! Its really helps to talk to people who have actually done the course!! Cheers:)


careers guidance teachers....meh:mad:

TheNibbler

Semele wrote: »

Trinity does a 3hr general essay paper, where the questions are totally random and so broad that they are supposed to draw on your knowledge of many psychological disciplines. I panicked horribly in this as I just didnt have the breadth of knowledge I would have in single honour psychology, and spent hours wading through history of psych and comparitive psych books on my own trying to build it up.

Any advice for someone who will be sitting that paper in a few months?!:)

Semele

TheNibbler wrote: »

Any advice for someone who will be sitting that paper in a few months?!:)

TheNibbler wrote: »

Any advice for someone who will be sitting that paper in a few months?!:)

Its not as scary as you expect! When looking at the past papers, the questions seem so random that it can be overwhelming but you do only have to answer one of them! Read through each paper- there will be a few at least that you could make a stab at.

Again looking at the past papers, you'll notice that the same themes come up every year. I can't remember all the categories I broke them down into last year but there is usually some history of psych ("has Freud been unfairly treated in modern psych?", "what is the legacy of behaviourism?"), some applications of psych ("what can psych tell us about the family?", "write an essay on conflict and peace") and some more philosophical types ("is psych an art or a science?" There are usually a few questions each year in all themes.

Have a look yourself, recognise the themes and it automatically becomes more managable. If you're not a philosophical type, you can immediately rule out that theme, for example. Pick a couple of areas you're more confident in and read around those. I found the best thing was to read a couple of history of psych books as they are really useful at showing you how theoretical schools developed and grew out of each other. The way you are taught gives the impression that they are totally separate entities but being able to make connections is useful.

When it comes to the exam, take time to plan your answer. You have three hours and you don't need to write a book. A well-organised, logically argued answer is what they are looking for. There are no right or wrong answers as long as you back up your argument with appropriate knowledge. You don’t need to explain everything (experiments, etc) you mention in support of your answer unless directly relevant. If it is a well known study its enough to mention it in an appropriate place to show you are aware of its existence and how it relates to the question. It may seem silly but a look through a dictionary or encyclopaedia of psychology can explain some often-used-much-misunderstood terms and give you a bigger psychological vocabulary to write in.

Finally, if torn between answering an interesting/controversial question or a safe one that you know, go with the safe one! There’s nothing worse than realising an hour in that you don’t actually have as many opinions as you thought you did. I went with the safe one that I’d answered numerous variants of in the past and, although bored out of my brain for 3hrs, could have written it in my sleep.

Best of luck, its the one people worry about most but its generally considered to be quite the anti-climax.

TheNibbler

Thanks, that's a great help. Had just looked back through past papers and they seem pretty awful at first glance. Going to go through them more carefully soon. Thanks again!