hello ! i’m so glad i found your page, first of all. thank you po agad as your posts about psych have helped me get to know more about the /realities/ sa careers na kasama sa field. :))
i am currently taking up an undergrad degree in social science (sociology) in up as well ! i’ve wanted to shift to psych pero mukhang mahihirapan ako if i try as the slots are very limited. however, my envisioned career po eventually ay sa medical side talaga (i dream to either be a psychologist or a psychiatrist).
my question is, does it push me back sa psych path/career na i’m not an undergrad psych graduate? will it affect my goals to either proceed to clinical psych (and then take a psychologist licensure exam) or enroll in med school (become a psychiatrist)? is being a psych major a required step to pursue these careers? further, may advantages po ba na closely related naman ‘yung current program ko sa psych?
thank you very much ! ♡
Hello! I'm glad that my blog is somewhat helpful to you. 😊 Another person actually asked me a similar question, actually. You can check out my other responses to Asks on my page. But, anyway...
I wouldn't say that you're pushed back if the career you want is within psychology and your current program is sociology. However, having a psychology degree in college does afford you an advantage into some opportunities that can propel you into the field in psychology (e.g., jobs, grad school, etc.). But, that's not always the case in the real (adult) world. I have fellow classmates and peers who came from non-psychology college degrees, like fine arts, film, and business administration, just to name a few. I would even argue that other fields can also bring you advantages and creativity into how you will train yourself to become a psychologist. For example, at the top of my mind, I can imagine that sociological thoughts and ideas actually offer a lot of insight into how we look at mental health, psychotherapy, and the like.
When you step into grad school in psychology, many programs and schools will surely teach you the basics you may have missed from a bachelor's in psychology program (i.e., theories, research methods, etc.). Of course, having studied them back in college seems helpful, but ultimately it still depends on how you dedicate your effort and care into learning, no matter what college degree you have. Trust me, it will matter less as you journey further.
One thing though... I do notice that you seem to be considering two distinct paths: a psychologist OR a psychiatrist. These are two different roles/occupations but they do come with some similarities. While both overlap as a mental health professional, each requires a specific kind of training and timetable of formal education. At least in the Philippines, becoming a psychologist is faster on the average since it only requires you to complete a master's or doctorate degree (not MD!) before taking the licensure as a psychologist. On the other hand, becoming a psychiatrist requires you not only a medical degree, but also additional training and certification into specializing in psychiatry. Unfortunately, I cannot speak to how psychiatrists do training. I suggest looking for a psychiatrist you can ask about how they train. There are also some differences in approach to mental health as well but I won't elaborate them here for now (mas mahabang usapan na kasi yun hehe!). But, I do recommend that you learn more about each career path thoroughly.
My advice to you is to keep exploring your possibilities, even if you're in sociology, and decide to what you find is more important now and who you want to be in the future. Also, don't be afraid to take your chances no matter how small they are. I really don't want to tell you exactly what you should do -- and you're always free to disagree with me or take my words with a grain of salt -- but you will always miss all of the chances you never take. 😉
I hope this helps! Good luck!