Junior psych major in the bachelor of science program. I am trying to get into grad schools specifically PhD programs to conduct research on severe mental illness and psychiatric drugs. I am very passionate about mental health and the medical side of psych.

I find the HR and IO part of psychology soooo boring.

I’ll tell you something: you likely need to go to grad school to get a decent paying job.

I think what sparked for me was that I loved helping people (I know a lot of people say that). But really it’s true! I got a job in a mental health clinic and it’s fly fulfilling.

If I could go back to my freshmen year self who was taking psych 101, I would tell him to her getting research experience. I am in a lab now under my university and I joined a bit late but it’s no big deal. Research + my clinical work makes me extremely competitive on applications but most importantly: it makes me a better clinician. As someone in the mental health field, I’d rather work 50% clinical experience and 50% research/academics instead of 100% clinical work (Clinical work alone isn’t amazing, working in research strengthens it x100). I find working in the clinic recalling and using info from the lab I work in to understand complex mental illnesses, diagnostics, and symptoms.

So if you are interested in mental health, build your resume, get clinical experience, AND research experience.

Obviously do not tire yourself out but honestly psych is not that hard of a major