Basically, I've become tired of my current job in finance. I don't find it satisfying or fulfilling anymore. I've been really interested in psychology for a long time, especially social psychology. Just wanted to know what the career and job prospects are for someone who holds a masters or PhD in Psychology? I don't really have much undergraduate experience in psychology, so I assume I will have to first get a masters and then move onto an PhD. Is it difficult to get into a masters program in psychology? What kind of GRE scores would I need? Does anyone here work in psychology or have any experience with anyone who has. I've been trying to find information regarding job prospects and salaries, but it seems like most folks who go this route end up in academia. Thanks.
There are many different areas of psychology that you can get a job in. Clinical where you work with people with disorders...biological where you analyze the brain functions..industrial where you analyze workplaces to help increase production..experimental, etc. But to be honest, if you want to make real money, you need to be very very good at what you do, or you will just end up being a professor or getting another major. Most people I know that have a psychology degree end up doing something else. So unless you believe you can beat out 90ish percent of other students, I'd say get a MBA or something.
It's much easier to get into a master's program than a phd. If you have good experience and did well in college and have decent GRE scores, you have a nice shot. The problem is finding out what you wanna do. You say you like social psych...well, to do anything in that and make money, like you said, you'll want a doctorate and go the academia route. I'm applying to I-O psych right now...looking to get a master's. I think that's a good field to go to since I'd be able to use psychology in the work place and I'd get to use it in consulting, HR, or a number of related fields.
A psychology degree is just as worthless as my communications undergrad degree. I wouldn't recommend following this route unless, of course, you plan on going all the way (PhD), know specifically what you want to do and you're really good at it. I would trade places with you if I could. There's not a day that goes by I don't kick myself for choosing what I would eventually discover is one of the most worthless majors out there. If I could do it all over again I would have chose accounting or finance. Sure, those aren't exciting or glamorous jobs but the job security certainly would be nice.
You can teach non-school related classes. Classes mandated by courts, for people with problems. Family, abuse, whatever... You may have to take a social work test. If helping people would be fulfilling to you its something to look into.
Do what you enjoy/love. You might not earn a comfortable salary at first, but if you keep working at it, you'll eventually get there.
