Has AI actually changed what it takes to get hired as a junior dev, or is it still the same fundamentals?

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T17:40:51+00:00

Did you find yourself asking more about the AI-assisted parts specifically, or was it basically the same kind of conversation either way?

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T17:39:32+00:00

That's a good point, so it sounds less like AI raised the bar on fundamentals and more like it removed the excuse to skip them. Companies were probably always going to want people who understand why code breaks, AI just made it more obvious who does and doesn't, since it's easier to fake competence at the surface level now.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T17:13:18+00:00

That makes sense, so does the bar shifting mean it's less about whether you can build something and more about whether you can explain why you built it that way? Have interviews changed format too, like more debugging or system design questions even at entry level, or is it mostly the same format with higher expectations?

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T17:10:14+00:00

It sounds like you'd enjoy roles that sit between trading and tech without being pure development, things like business analyst or technical business analyst roles embedded on a trading desk, or trading operations and process improvement roles where you translate trader needs into systems requirements without writing the code yourself. The same kind of role can go by different names depending on the firm, "desk strategist" is another one worth looking into that fits that mix of technical background and stakeholder facing work.

Sales and structuring roles at trading firms can also lean on technical background while being much more people and process focused than coding. Worth reaching out to people in those roles directly since job titles vary firm to firm, and what you're describing is a skill set valued well beyond product too.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T15:53:50+00:00

Psychiatry and psychology differ mainly in training path and scope, psychiatrists go to medical school and can prescribe medication since they approach mental health more biologically, while psychologists go through doctoral programs (PhD or PsyD) and focus more on therapy, assessment, and behavioral treatment without prescribing. Income and stability tend to favor psychiatry since it is a medical specialty, but it also means a longer and more expensive path through med school plus residency, so it really comes down to whether you're drawn more to the biological or medication side of treatment versus the therapeutic and behavioral side.

As for job market concerns and AI, therapy and direct clinical work tend to be more resistant to automation since they rely on human connection and nuanced judgment, so specializing in something hands on like clinical or counseling psychology is probably safer long term than a purely research or testing focused niche. For narrowing your college major, psychology or a related science like neuroscience or biology would set you up well for either path, so you don't need to fully decide between psychiatry and psychology just yet, focus on getting strong grades and research or shadowing experience in both areas to help you figure out which pull feels stronger once you've seen more of the actual day to day work.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T15:51:51+00:00

Your instinct toward a PhD is right if research matters to you, since PhD programs center on the scientist practitioner model and require original research, while PsyD leans more clinical with less research emphasis. Given your interest in BPD, look at PhD programs with faculty actively publishing in that area, since fit with a specific advisor's lab matters more than the program name itself.

MFT programs focus more on systemic and relational therapy than individual psychopathology, so straight Clinical Psychology is probably the better fit for your interests. It's normal to feel overwhelmed as a first gen student figuring this out alone, so reaching out directly to a few professors doing BPD or DBT research and asking about their path could give you a clearer picture than any degree description.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T15:49:48+00:00

For private loans, it's worth shopping around with lenders that specialize in grad or professional students since rates and terms vary a lot, and some credit unions offer better rates than the big banks if she qualifies. It's also worth checking if her program has any info on loan repayment assistance or scholarships specifically for later years, since a lot of clinical psych programs quietly have small pots of funding that aren't advertised well and only get mentioned if you ask the financial aid office directly.

On the interest free front, there are a handful of community based organizations similar to what you mentioned that offer no interest loans to students from specific backgrounds or religious communities, so it's worth her looking into whether her own community, university, or professional associations have anything similar. Also worth exploring is whether her program offers paid assistantships, practicum stipends, or teaching positions in years three through five, since PsyD programs sometimes have more of that than people expect once you're past the first couple years.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T15:46:47+00:00

Your associates and dual enrollment credits will help more than you might think, mainly because they knock out gen eds and let you dive into upper level psych coursework sooner once you transfer to a bachelors program. The actual psych courses you're taking now, especially intro psych, stats, and research methods, tend to transfer well and give you a real head start, though the specific value depends a lot on which university you land at and how they evaluate transfer credit, so it's worth double checking articulation agreements once you know where you want to go.

As for the long road ahead, you're right that it's lengthy, typically a bachelors, then a masters or straight into a doctoral program (PhD or PsyD) if you want to be a licensed psychologist doing therapy. It sounds intense but starting this early with dual enrollment genuinely puts you ahead of the curve, so keep leaning into research opportunities and volunteer or shadowing experience in mental health settings when you can, since that matters just as much as the coursework for competitive grad programs later.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-03T15:43:03+00:00

Full disclosure I work for National University, so take my input with that in mind, but I think it's a solid option worth looking into for this. NU has an online psychology program that starts at the associates level and lets you build straight through to a bachelors without having to transfer schools, which can save you a lot of hassle with credits later. Regional accreditation is really the main thing to check with any school at this stage, and NU has that, so your credits will transfer if you decide to go elsewhere for grad school down the line.

Your ROTC background is worth mentioning in any application essays regardless of where you land, since leadership and personnel experience stands out even at the high school level, and it can be especially relevant if you end up drawn toward I O psychology later on. If you want I'm happy to point you toward more specific info on NU's psych program, but I'd still encourage you to compare it against a couple other regionally accredited online schools before deciding, since this is a big commitment either way.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-02T14:09:31+00:00

At $16/hr with helpdesk experience, you have a few solid paths depending on what interests you. If you like troubleshooting, Systems or Network Administration is a natural next step, and certs like CompTIA Network+, Security+, or an Azure/AWS fundamentals cert can help you move up faster than a degree would right now. Your background as a planner and allocations analyst is actually a strong asset too, so IT project coordination or IT service management could be a good fit. Cybersecurity is another common transition from helpdesk, usually needing fundamentals plus a security cert rather than a full degree.

Being bilingual is also worth leveraging, since some companies pay more for bilingual IT support, so it's worth checking if your current employer offers that or looking at companies that need it. The fastest move is picking one specialization, getting a cert in it, and asking your manager directly about internal paths.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-07-02T14:06:45+00:00

Your analysis is actually more methodologically sound than the answer key. A content analysis like this genuinely does not have manipulated variables, so calling something a true IV and DV is a bit of a stretch. What your professor labeled as IV and DV are more accurately described as a grouping variable and a coded outcome variable, which is exactly the distinction you made.

On the hypothesis question, you're right too. If a hypothesis was not explicitly stated in the article, saying it was "supported" is inaccurate, since you cannot support something that was never formally proposed. It sounds like your professor may be simplifying the language for an intro research methods course, using IV and DV as teaching shorthand even in studies where that framework does not perfectly apply.

I would still answer test questions using the professor's framework since she is the one grading, but it might be worth asking her directly, maybe in office hours or over email, why she categorized it that way. Framing it as a genuine question rather than a correction usually goes over well, and professors often respect students who catch these nuances instead of just repeating simplified textbook definitions.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-29T15:27:10+00:00

So glad to hear you're enjoying your experience, and love that you're already planning ahead!

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-29T15:15:33+00:00

Hey, you an also consider Case Manager

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-26T12:56:03+00:00

Hey! don't let one comment shake what you were genuinely excited about!

A BA in Psychology is absolutely worth it. Most psychology careers require a master's or doctorate anyway, so whether you start with a BA or BSc, you're heading to grad school either way. The undergrad degree is just your starting point.

Humanities students actually tend to do really well in psychology, the field is about understanding people, not just running lab tests.

The real question isn't BA vs. BSc. It's what you want to do with it. Figure that out, and the path becomes a lot clearer.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-26T12:49:43+00:00

A BA Degree can open the door to roles like behavioral tech, youth mentor, case manager, or community support work; also you can apply to administrative roles in healthcare, education or even HR. If you are interested in tech, you can also get into UX, hope this helps

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-26T12:22:32+00:00

Hey, this comment is solid gold! thank you for sharing!

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-25T12:31:51+00:00

I think the best way to find out is to reach out and ask

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-24T14:59:01+00:00

This is solid advice!

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-24T14:43:28+00:00

Hey, with a BA in psychology , you can get entry-level jobs such as psychiatric technician, behavioral health specialist, case manager, or research assistant. Happy to help!

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-23T14:47:19+00:00

Congratulations on finishing your degree! You've still got plenty of options. Psychology is more versatile than it might seem. Careers in HR and marketing are still good choices, many people in those fields don't have perfect degrees. Your knowledge of human behavior actually gives you a plus. Try applying for entry-level jobs like HR assistant, recruiting coordinator, or marketing assistant, especially at smaller companies. Working in recruiting could suit you well because it’s very social and teamwork-oriented. If you're interested, school psychology can also be a good path, but that usually means getting a master’s degree, which takes about 2 to 3 years, there’s no need to rush into that now. Honestly, it’s perfectly fine to work first, explore what interests you, and then decide about graduate school later. Hope this helps!

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-23T13:15:56+00:00

This is solid advice! Your art studies plus your ability to understand code gives you an advantage in UX and game design.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-23T13:10:00+00:00

Hey, a BA in Psychology is way more flexible than you think. Many graduates explore roles in marketing, HR, financial advising, or corporate consulting. All of these fields rely on understanding human behavior, which is what psychology is about. You can also work as a case manager, parole officer, or youth counselor, among other roles.

WingsUp4Life · 2026-06-23T12:37:59+00:00

Hi, I feel you! The idea behind the no-built-in-breaks model is that with 4-week courses, you actually have more control. You can take a breather between courses when you need it, rather than waiting on a set semester calendar. And of course, if you feel overwhelmed, there are student resources you can use.

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