Options other than Clinical Psych
As much as I would love to be a Clinical Psychologist, I need to face facts that it is incredibly competitive. The fact I'm turning 22 this year scares me, especially because I'll only just be enrolling on an Access Course. If only I was 16 again. 
What other roads are there to go down in Psych that isn't as competitive as Clinical?
What other roads are there to go down in Psych that isn't as competitive as Clinical?
I am considering it in the future - I am 28 and still have two years of my OU degree to go, after I have finished my masters this year.
Other options are IAPT work, support work, teaching, further training in nursing/counselling etc, there are a lot of options available.
Other options are IAPT work, support work, teaching, further training in nursing/counselling etc, there are a lot of options available.
Life is a competition. The sooner you realise that the sooner you can start being a boss. Man up and gun for clinical psych if you want it. It's not that competitive.
Original post by skotch
You can do anything from a psychology degree...
education, mental health, sport, business, medicine, research, marketing, etc. etc.
education, mental health, sport, business, medicine, research, marketing, etc. etc.
Really?
Original post by EffieFlowers
Really?
It can get you onto an accelerated graduate course, yep.
Forensic.
Original post by GodspeedGehenna
It can get you onto an accelerated graduate course, yep.
She probably meant Medicine is the most competitive field named there, therefore shouldn't be listed.
Lots of options:
1. All of the professional registration branches could be explored. These include: occupational psychology, clinical, sports, educational etc. Look them up on the BPS site. They all involve extra training the equivelant of a PhD. Places are competitive to get onto the training for all of them but somebody has to do it and why shouldn't it be you!!
2. Move sideways: Do further training in a related applied discipline such as counselling, drug re-habilitation etc You will probably need to fund the courses yourself. Universities offer lots of options for post graduate diplomas in a variety of related disciplines.
3. As someone suggested there is also the option of re-training in mental health nursing.
4. Get a research post.
5. Businesses like psychology graduates.
6. The Army or forces have psychology work and training
7. Science writing/publishing
8. Further education teaching
9. Think about what aspect of psychology interests you and why. Once you have drilled down a bit into the interest then you may find it easier to work out other options that fit with the criteria. For interest are you really interested in clinical because its in the health field or because you like the idea of helping people and solving problems as part of team and with specialist knowledge? If the latter then there are other careers that will fit. Non profit making organisations are a good place to start to see the variety of work that takes place helping people and solving problems. If its health you're interested in then explore that field etc....
As for your age... its a long life yet! Plenty of time.
Good luck!!
1. All of the professional registration branches could be explored. These include: occupational psychology, clinical, sports, educational etc. Look them up on the BPS site. They all involve extra training the equivelant of a PhD. Places are competitive to get onto the training for all of them but somebody has to do it and why shouldn't it be you!!
2. Move sideways: Do further training in a related applied discipline such as counselling, drug re-habilitation etc You will probably need to fund the courses yourself. Universities offer lots of options for post graduate diplomas in a variety of related disciplines.
3. As someone suggested there is also the option of re-training in mental health nursing.
4. Get a research post.
5. Businesses like psychology graduates.
6. The Army or forces have psychology work and training
7. Science writing/publishing
8. Further education teaching
9. Think about what aspect of psychology interests you and why. Once you have drilled down a bit into the interest then you may find it easier to work out other options that fit with the criteria. For interest are you really interested in clinical because its in the health field or because you like the idea of helping people and solving problems as part of team and with specialist knowledge? If the latter then there are other careers that will fit. Non profit making organisations are a good place to start to see the variety of work that takes place helping people and solving problems. If its health you're interested in then explore that field etc....
As for your age... its a long life yet! Plenty of time.
Good luck!!
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by Id and Ego seek
She probably meant Medicine is the most competitive field named there, therefore shouldn't be listed.
Nah, I was genuinely curious.
Although I agree that it is obviously without a doubt the most competitive field in that list. But I know of someone who is studying med after a geography degree, so I've seen stranger things happen.
Original post by EffieFlowers
Nah, I was genuinely curious.
Although I agree that it is obviously without a doubt the most competitive field in that list. But I know of someone who is studying med after a geography degree, so I've seen stranger things happen.
Although I agree that it is obviously without a doubt the most competitive field in that list. But I know of someone who is studying med after a geography degree, so I've seen stranger things happen.
It's what I did after my Psych degree. It also seems to be one of the most common areas that my coursemates have graduated from.
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by Kimmeh
As much as I would love to be a Clinical Psychologist, I need to face facts that it is incredibly competitive. The fact I'm turning 22 this year scares me, especially because I'll only just be enrolling on an Access Course. If only I was 16 again.
What other roads are there to go down in Psych that isn't as competitive as Clinical?
What other roads are there to go down in Psych that isn't as competitive as Clinical?
Hey,
I know only to well the insanely competitive world of clinical psychology. I know of people who got onto clinical training after an access course, but they have first class psychology degrees and excellent experience.
I've taken a slight detour from clinical psychology by completing a PhD in a clinically relevant field and I'm currently a Trainee Health Psychologist on a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology which leads to Chartered Health Psychologist status.
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/how-become-psychologist/types-psychologists/becoming-health-psychologis-0
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/society-qualifications/health-psychology/health-psychology
There are numerous other options other than clinical psychology
Happy to answer any questions.
Original post by GodspeedGehenna
It's what I did after my Psych degree. It also seems to be one of the most common areas that my coursemates have graduated from.
You're doing medicine? That's great! Where are you studying?
Original post by *Elizabeth*
Original post by *Elizabeth*
Hey,
I know only to well the insanely competitive world of clinical psychology. I know of people who got onto clinical training after an access course, but they have first class psychology degrees and excellent experience.
I've taken a slight detour from clinical psychology by completing a PhD in a clinically relevant field and I'm currently a Trainee Health Psychologist on a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology which leads to Chartered Health Psychologist status.
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/how-become-psychologist/types-psychologists/becoming-health-psychologis-0
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/society-qualifications/health-psychology/health-psychology
There are numerous other options other than clinical psychology
Happy to answer any questions.
I know only to well the insanely competitive world of clinical psychology. I know of people who got onto clinical training after an access course, but they have first class psychology degrees and excellent experience.
I've taken a slight detour from clinical psychology by completing a PhD in a clinically relevant field and I'm currently a Trainee Health Psychologist on a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology which leads to Chartered Health Psychologist status.
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/how-become-psychologist/types-psychologists/becoming-health-psychologis-0
http://www.bps.org.uk/careers-education-training/society-qualifications/health-psychology/health-psychology
There are numerous other options other than clinical psychology
Happy to answer any questions.
Hi, thats really interesting. My son has applied to do an applied clinical psychology degree at Exeter. This is a new course. Obviously he'd be choosing a direction very early. If he changed his mind over time do you think he'd be able to take the same sort of pathway that you're suggesting. The course covers all the usual stuff but they spend more time on role play/clinical etc and cut down other units like further social psychology.
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by catoswyn
Hi, thats really interesting. My son has applied to do an applied clinical psychology degree at Exeter. This is a new course. Obviously he'd be choosing a direction very early. If he changed his mind over time do you think he'd be able to take the same sort of pathway that you're suggesting. The course covers all the usual stuff but they spend more time on role play/clinical etc and cut down other units like further social psychology.
Hey
If your son wants to specialize in other professional routes in psychology (like health, forensic, occupational, sport etc etc), all he needs is a BPS accredited undergrad course (which I'm assuming his is!) with a good overall average (ie at least 65%, mid upper second degree, or a 2.1) and some relevant experience and in some cases attainment of BPS accredited master degrees. All the BPS accredited psychology degrees cover the same sort of material so there shouldn't be any problems if he changed his mind. In the third year, I suspect your son will have to take specialist modules in clinical psychology, but he will be taught social psychology stuff in his second year. Also the 'applied clinical psychology' title implies placement opportunities which will put him at a definite advantage when it comes to applying for graduate psychology posts. Sounds like a great course!
My undergraduate degree was 'Psychology with Clinical Psychology' interestingly enough and I had absolutely no problems getting onto my health psychology specialism. In general, employers etc seem to be more interested in overall classification and a BPS accreditation than whether the candidate undertook specialism’s at undergraduate level. However, if considering clinical psychology, then he will be in a position to argue that he has specialist clinical psychology training at undergraduate level which will help him stand out from the crowd in comparison with the mass of aspiring clinical psychologists or graduates hunting for assistant psychologists jobs! Clinical Psychology is also very flexible and versatile, so can be applied to all different specialisms within professional psychology.
Definitely recommend obtaining relevant experience during undergraduate studies if he's considering a career as a psychologist (voluntary work with client groups, support work, care assistant jobs etc etc), but not at the expense of obtaining that all important 2.1 classification!
Best of luck! Hope this helps!
Original post by *Elizabeth*
Original post by *Elizabeth*
Hey
If your son wants to specialize in other professional routes in psychology (like health, forensic, occupational, sport etc etc), all he needs is a BPS accredited undergrad course (which I'm assuming his is!) with a good overall average (ie at least 65%, mid upper second degree, or a 2.1) and some relevant experience and in some cases attainment of BPS accredited master degrees. All the BPS accredited psychology degrees cover the same sort of material so there shouldn't be any problems if he changed his mind. In the third year, I suspect your son will have to take specialist modules in clinical psychology, but he will be taught social psychology stuff in his second year. Also the 'applied clinical psychology' title implies placement opportunities which will put him at a definite advantage when it comes to applying for graduate psychology posts. Sounds like a great course!
My undergraduate degree was 'Psychology with Clinical Psychology' interestingly enough and I had absolutely no problems getting onto my health psychology specialism. In general, employers etc seem to be more interested in overall classification and a BPS accreditation than whether the candidate undertook specialism’s at undergraduate level. However, if considering clinical psychology, then he will be in a position to argue that he has specialist clinical psychology training at undergraduate level which will help him stand out from the crowd in comparison with the mass of aspiring clinical psychologists or graduates hunting for assistant psychologists jobs! Clinical Psychology is also very flexible and versatile, so can be applied to all different specialisms within professional psychology.
Definitely recommend obtaining relevant experience during undergraduate studies if he's considering a career as a psychologist (voluntary work with client groups, support work, care assistant jobs etc etc), but not at the expense of obtaining that all important 2.1 classification!
Best of luck! Hope this helps!
If your son wants to specialize in other professional routes in psychology (like health, forensic, occupational, sport etc etc), all he needs is a BPS accredited undergrad course (which I'm assuming his is!) with a good overall average (ie at least 65%, mid upper second degree, or a 2.1) and some relevant experience and in some cases attainment of BPS accredited master degrees. All the BPS accredited psychology degrees cover the same sort of material so there shouldn't be any problems if he changed his mind. In the third year, I suspect your son will have to take specialist modules in clinical psychology, but he will be taught social psychology stuff in his second year. Also the 'applied clinical psychology' title implies placement opportunities which will put him at a definite advantage when it comes to applying for graduate psychology posts. Sounds like a great course!
My undergraduate degree was 'Psychology with Clinical Psychology' interestingly enough and I had absolutely no problems getting onto my health psychology specialism. In general, employers etc seem to be more interested in overall classification and a BPS accreditation than whether the candidate undertook specialism’s at undergraduate level. However, if considering clinical psychology, then he will be in a position to argue that he has specialist clinical psychology training at undergraduate level which will help him stand out from the crowd in comparison with the mass of aspiring clinical psychologists or graduates hunting for assistant psychologists jobs! Clinical Psychology is also very flexible and versatile, so can be applied to all different specialisms within professional psychology.
Definitely recommend obtaining relevant experience during undergraduate studies if he's considering a career as a psychologist (voluntary work with client groups, support work, care assistant jobs etc etc), but not at the expense of obtaining that all important 2.1 classification!
Best of luck! Hope this helps!
Really helpful thanks! Where did you do your first degree?
Original post by catoswyn
Really helpful thanks! Where did you do your first degree?
Kent university
http://www.kent.ac.uk/psychology/ug/programmes/psychology-w-clinical.html
Original post by EffieFlowers
You're doing medicine? That's great! Where are you studying?
Warwick.
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