shannabanana said:
^^Cool. I figure to really get anywhere with psychology, I will need my masters and I'm just not up for much more school right now. So I will have social workers cert by this time next year (fingers crossed) and will be able to actually earn some money for awhile. I tentatively plan to get that masters later because I hear the burn out rate in social work is high.
I've been given the advice that a master's of psychology is a pretty poor degree to attain. A MSw takes the same amount of time and gives you far more flexibility in career options, and especially more ability to work within the public system. A master's of psych will not allow you to practice privately and be paid by a third party (ie = insurance). A Psy.D. or Ph.D. is really needed for that type of practice in clinical or counselling psychology unless you work under someone directly who has one of those degrees (such as in a hospital, etc.).
Also, I don't know where you live, but most states require you to have a MSw before becoming certified or licensed as a social worker. You can do social work without it, but at a much lower level and payscale, under the supervision of a licensed social worker or in a public setting as a rehabilitation counselor or one to one aid.
As for me, I am graduating in May with a major in psychology (concentration in clinical/counselling) and minors in philosophy and comparative religion (those two minors are very easy to work together in my school, especially since the religion/philosophy department is integrated).
I plan on working here in a school setting for a year or two, working nights at a local bar and saving my money. Then when my girlfriend graduates next year we are looking at moving to Vancouver and possibly attending the University of British Columbia. I want to get my MSw and eventually a Psy.D. but am a little hung up on money at the moment.
Anyways, good luck to everyone in their chosen fields and to my fellow seniors: don't fear the working world.... on second thought, fear it deeply!