by Jeffrey McCarthy, APAGS Member
There are a number of people who, upon graduating from
undergrad, go directly on to graduate school. They receive that Master's degree
and continue on into a doctoral program with nothing more than that summer
break, followed by an internship, then the illusive Post-Doc position. Now they
sit back, relax, breath, and realize that they are now a doctor of psychology,
all they always wanted to be.
Of course, it's all they've wanted to be, it's all they've
known!
Since high school when, let's face it, very few really know
what they want to be when they grow up, they've been focused on nothing else but
being a psychology student. Sure maybe they've had jobs to help pay the bills,
but have they had a true career experience. A career experience in or out of the
field of psychology, as a full-time student throughout, probably not. Had I not
taken just a few years off, I would maybe still be where I am now, however
instead of having a few years experience in a career, I would have a Master's
degree in a field of no interest. I would owe even more money instead of having
made a few bucks. I would be less confident and unaware how life outside of
school actually works. I now know that being a psychologist is in my future, but
I'm also very aware of what that means.
How common is it for someone in there late teens, a new
college student, to change his or her undergraduate major? Some, like myself,
might even change it 3, 4, or even 5 times before they settle on the right one.
Who's to say that a 22 year-old is any different than a 17 year-old. Just
because the choice was made, can we really assume that it was, in fact, the
right one? How can we tell? Being a student with a major focus is very different
than having a career with a major focus. The only way to really tell is to do
it. Go out into the real world and do it. Whatever it is. This, in my opinion,
is the only true assessment for someone to tell if this, or any other, is the
field for him or her.
Getting some experience in the workforce has many advantages.
First, the obvious financial stability that can be established is very helpful.
Sometimes (if you're lucky), one might even fall into a situation where the
employer is willing to pick up some of the tab when you decide it's time for
school again, limiting the amount of money one has to loan. Being a non-student
for a little while doesn't only give you time to start paying for those loans
from undergrad, but more importantly it makes the payer aware of the difficulty
of this task, as well as the amount you actually borrow, with time and
interest accrued. Students tend to disregard these important features of school
loans.
Taking some time after graduating with a Bachelor's degree
has many advantages, but for those of us preparing to be psychologists,
counselors, therapists, whatever, the most important advantage is maturity, and
with maturity comes confidence. Once in graduate school, no longer are you
dealing mainly with books, it's now time for some real practical work. That
first practicum experience can be very overwhelming for a twenty-one year old
fresh out of the dorm. These are real people with real problems. Spending some
time after my Bachelor's teaching elementary school, helped me in many ways,
none more than, however, than simply to learn people. Working with children,
parents, other professionals, has built my confidence when approaching a new
client, or a professional in the field. Whether in a session with a client, or
an interview of my own for a practicum or internship placement, having real
world experience under my belt gives me an assurance that I am competent and
prepared, and worthy that I belong in that hot seat.
It takes a true adult to handle many of the situations that
can arise when working in this field, and I'm still uncertain that being a
college grad necessarily makes someone an adult. The dictionary defines an adult
in many ways, all definitions, though, center around one major theme, the
attainment of maturity through development and experience. Making the choice to
get out there and get a job before entering a graduate program is something all
21 year-olds should assess before making that next, very expensive, step. I'm
glad I did.
