Hey guys
So I'n in first year, but I have no idea what I want to do in the future (not really clear). Im in socsci, transferring to lifesci and I'm applying to a bunch of programs when the applications come out-BioPsych, PNB (psych, neuro, behaviour)...
Can you upperyeasrs give any ideas as to what I should apply to if I want to keep my choices open(excluding med school). I want to do something in science, be it research or public service.

thanks for anything you can tell me!

maintain a high GPA (10+) and volunteer at places that interest you, whether it be labs or retirement homes or hospitals etc. so you can have a taste of different avenues.

You can do gerontology or health and aging and pursue public health, health policy, epidemiology, health informatics, etc.

Those are cool options too. But don't worry, sometimes it takes more than a year to figure out what you really wanna do.

Some people take a year off and work to see if their field suits them. That could be an option.

great thanks!
just another thing, what kind of jobs are there with a bsc in psychology, maybe a master's in neuroscience on top of that?

It's funny because so many people want to become doctors, but they don't understand how it really is. I'm volunteering right now in an emergency room and honestly it has made me decide not to become a medical doctor (if I ever had the chance haha)

Do whatever makes you happy.

Having just a BSc in psychology is not very employable and your options will be limited. You need a doctoral degree to be a Psychologist and a masters to qualify as a Psychologist Assistant. To stay in academia, you'll likewise need a higher degree than a bachelors. With just a bachelor's, you will typically be looking for employment outside your field of study.

From the article "Planning a Career in Psychology" made by the Canadian Psychological Association, these were the example jobs listed for individuals with a BSc or BA in psychology:

• claims specialist
• customer relations officer
• data management specialist
• management trainee
• market research analyst
• probation and correctional service worker
• public opinion surveyor
• public relations worker
• real estate agent
• research assistant
• sales representative

The fact that sales representative and real estate agent were chosen as example jobs is a bit disconcerting. Public sector positions are great options but competition is fierce. Definitely try and get a position in a lab or health clinic in the summer to gain experience.

Originally Posted by Jason036

It's funny because so many people want to become doctors, but they don't understand how it really is. I'm volunteering right now in an emergency room and honestly it has made me decide not to become a medical doctor (if I ever had the chance haha)

Do whatever makes you happy.

yeah I'm not going for medicine, although i do love the human body and the study of its functions, etc. that's something I'm looking for, although not from a MD perspective (if that makes sense).

Originally Posted by Mickel

Having just a BSc in psychology is not very employable and your options will be limited. You need a doctoral degree to be a Psychologist and a masters to qualify as a Psychologist Assistant. To stay in academia, you'll likewise need a higher degree than a bachelors. With just a bachelor's, you will typically be looking for employment outside your field of study.

From the article "Planning a Career in Psychology" made by the Canadian Psychological Association, these were the example jobs listed for individuals with a BSc or BA in psychology:

• claims specialist
• customer relations officer
• data management specialist
• management trainee
• market research analyst
• probation and correctional service worker
• public opinion surveyor
• public relations worker
• real estate agent
• research assistant
• sales representative

The fact that sales representative and real estate agent were chosen as example jobs is a bit disconcerting. Public sector positions are great options but competition is fierce. Definitely try and get a position in a lab or health clinic in the summer to gain experience.

those jobs don't appeal to me at all, is there nothing in medicine I can do with psych? or would I need something like biochem, bio-psych etc?
BY "medicine" i don't mean explicitly doctor/MD, I mean rather teaching (bio, science related subjects), pharmacology/drug companies etc.
sorry if that's a bit confusing but I'm just getting my thoughts out there.

Originally Posted by drpatel

yeah I'm not going for medicine, although i do love the human body and the study of its functions, etc. that's something I'm looking for, although not from a MD perspective (if that makes sense).




those jobs don't appeal to me at all, is there nothing in medicine I can do with psych? or would I need something like biochem, bio-psych etc?
BY "medicine" i don't mean explicitly doctor/MD, I mean rather teaching (bio, science related subjects), pharmacology/drug companies etc.
sorry if that's a bit confusing but I'm just getting my thoughts out there.

You could go to teacher's college but that market is highly saturated. Pharmacology/drug companies with just a bachelors you'd be starting at lab tech positions and you'll need experience working as a research assistant in a prof's lab or through co-op. You could look into applying at the Michener Institute.

Do something that you're passionate about, many people in University will talk down to other faculties because they think they'll make less money, but I can tell you that the people that are truly alive in their programs are the ones that are successful, not the ones that begrudgingly enter a faculty simply to make a good starting salary.

"Dont ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is peoplel who have come alive."

- Harold Whitman

Electives are a good way to test the waters. If you are unsure, pick a more flexible program and play around a bit.

great, thanks so much!
on a completely unrelated note, are there any professional schools in the medical field besides med school, optometry, dentistry and pharmacy?

Originally Posted by drpatel

great, thanks so much!
on a completely unrelated note, are there any professional schools in the medical field besides med school, optometry, dentistry and pharmacy?

Occupational therapy, Dietitian, Radiologist


http://www.healthforceontari o.ca/W...rements. aspx

I'm in second year right now, and I'm still unsure. But I feel you shouldn't be pressured into pursuing a career just because it sounds lucrative. For the most part, a lot of second year courses are common to most science students, but just take the ones that appeal to you the most. I just core biology and avoided a specialization because I wanted more room for electives.

what you need to do is build your self confidence up to the point where you realize how stupid it is to ask random people what YOU want to do with your life.

You'll figure it out eventually, just realize everyone is going to have an opinion, and everyone could quite possibly be wrong, have the courage to make the decision yourself.