psychology

Should I do some pre reading before starting my degree in September?
I want to be super prepared and be in the best position to start my degree. I did Psychology at a-level but it will be over a year since I've done that so looking for some advice on what to do.

Reply 1

Glorious_Purpose

It can never hurt to do some pre-reading, even if its just refreshing your memory of the course. Try reading through the syllabus that you'll learn in your degree and find the bit that interests you the most. Do some research on the subject. You never know, you might find a new area you want to specialise in, and if nothing else, you'll be prepared. I would recommend finding out which exam board you did your A-Level in and find out if there are any studies that weren't included in your A-Levels, that will be included in your degree. Your professor might go over them, but they also might not, and you want to be in the best possible position. Try watching some YouTube videos of people that have done the degree and see what their tips are, try and implement some of them now, so that they are part of a routine by the time you actually start.

I hope this helped :smile:

Reply 2

CCCU Official

Official Rep

Original post by imogen.hx

Hey Imogen,

As you have studied Psychology before we would suggest just doing a little bit of prep to refresh yourself and if you can take a look at the modules you will be taking and focus on those areas.

I did Sports Psych for my degree without ever having studied Psych beforehand and it was all covered in the first year so don't panic if you think 'Oh no I can't remember everything!' as there will be a lot who never did Psych before joining University! :smile:

- Luke

Reply 3

Arden University

Original post by imogen.hx

@imogen.hx
I did my BA in Sociology and MSc in Psychology, in terms of a useful book for study I strongly recommend Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology by Hugh Coolican. I would have a good rest before you start your degree and don't worry. Maybe have a flick through the Simply Psychology website to just familiarise yourself with that mind set again. You'll do great, and most importantly, go and enjoy yourself at Uni

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

Reply 4

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Hi!

It is fabulous to hear that you are so passionate about studying Psychology :biggrin:

There are certainly some things you can do to be super prepared and have a smooth start.

If you had notes from A-level, it is worth reviewing them and recalling the basics. Also, check if your university offers a reading list for prospective students. I got one and thanks to that I could prepare myself a little and familiarise myself with what is in the curriculum of the course.

An additional plus will be getting acquainted with the curriculum and the subjects you will have. This will allow you to start directing your career path. By reading about the modules you will be able to start determining what interests you more than other subjects and what you could possibly do in the future.

The last thing is to open up to different sources of knowledge and develop your interest in psychology beyond the curriculum. Go to the bookstore, browse through the available psychological books and choose one interesting item. Personally, I love these kinds of books. They are written in much simpler language than textbooks and provide a wealth of interesting knowledge. Some of the things I read were then discussed during the lectures! :wink:

It is also a great way to expand and consolidate knowledge.

I hope that was helpful! If you happen to have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them here or on The Ambassador Platform, where you can chat with me.

Take care,

Julia :h:

Reply 5

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Hi!

I'm currently a third year Psychology student at Lancaster University, and whilst universities don't generally require you to do pre-reading before you start, it can definitely be helpful! As others have suggested, it can be good to look at the course and see if you can either find readings they list there, or find readings yourself which relate to the content. Another useful thing might be to contact the university/a member of Psychology staff at the university to see if they can recommend any readings to you! This can be helpful in ensuring that you're reading things that directly relate to the content you will be studying, if that is something you want to do!

I hope this was helpful!

~ Cathryn (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)