affordances and alignments: what can you do with your bachelor’s degree in psychology? r. eric...

Affordances and Alignments: What CAN You Do With Your Bachelors Degree in Psychology? R. Eric Landrum, PhD Department of Psychology Invited Presentation, Wright State University Dayton, OH February 10, 2014

How people react when you tell them you are a psychology major:

Bachelors Degrees in 2011-2012 Over 1.79 million students received their bachelors degree 20.9 million students enrolled in 4,726 colleges and universities in the U.S. (2011) The national graduation rate at 4-year universities is 59% How will YOU stand out from the crowd? (Dillow & Snyder, 2013)

Bachelors Degrees in Psychology by Gender 1950-2012 Total: 108,986 National Center for Educational Statistics (2014)

Masters Degrees in Psychology by Gender 1950-2012 Total: 26,834 National Center for Educational Statistics (2014)

Doctoral Degrees in Psychology by Gender 1950-2012 Total: 5,928 National Center for Educational Statistics (2014)

Updated Statistics on Psychology Graduates In the latest year available (2011-2012): 108,986 undergraduates in the U.S. received their bachelors degree in psychology. About 4% pursue doctorate training in psychology, and 21-22% pursue a masters degree in psychology (APA, 2013). What can you do to help stand out?

COMMON GROUND

Average Annual and Median Lifetime Earnings for Full- Time, Year-Round Workers by Educational Attainment Educational Attainment Average Annual Earnings 1 Median Lifetime Earnings 2 Doctoral degree $ 99,697 $ 3,252,000 Professional degree $ 125,019 $ 3,648,000 Masters degree $ 70,856 $ 2,671,000 Bachelors degree $ 58,613 $ 2,268,000 Associates degree $ 39,506 $ 1,727,000 Some college $ 32,555 $ 1,547,000 High school graduate or GED $ 21,007 $ 1,304,000 Less than 9 th grade $ 21,056 $ 973,000 1 U.S. Census Bureau (2009) Current Population Survey 2 Carnevale, Rose, and Cheah (2011)

Letters of Recommendation When you ask a faculty member or other professional for a letter of recommendation, ask for a strong letter of recommendation. Most faculty members would rather not write a letter than write a weak letter of recommendation.

Strategies to Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation Deal effectively with a variety of people. Display appropriate interpersonal skills. Listen carefully and accurately. Show initiative and persistence. Exhibit effective time management. Hold high ethical standards and expect the same of others. Handle conflict successfully. Speak articulately and persuasively. Work productively as a member of a team. Plan and carry out projects successfully. Think logically and creatively. Remain open-minded during controversies. Identify and actualize personal potential. Write clearly and precisely. Adapt to organizational rules and procedures. Comprehend and retain key points from written materials. Gather and organize information from multiple sources.

Asking for Letters of Recommendation Be prepared to offer answers to the following: When is the first letter due date? What classes did you have with me, with semesters and grades? Can you provide an updated CV/resume? Have you completed all necessary forms/online URL links? Can you provide your personal statement when its ready?

Transcripts and GPA Your grades matter. Undergraduate GPA is the single-most statistically significant predictor of graduate school GPA. Every C hurts your academic future.

Interviews At this level, its all about match and fit. Dress for the interview and for the position. Express your interest in the graduate program based on the homework you did prior to the interview. Speak positively of former employers or professors, no matter what.

Interviews Thank the graduate program for the interview, and follow up with a written (ink, paper, envelope, stamp) thank-you note. Social networking WARNING Volleyball serve analogy

Potential Interview Questions What do you hope to be doing five or ten years from now? How has your education prepared you for graduate school? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What did you learn as an undergraduate that you think will be helpful in graduate school? Tell me something I should know about you.

Research Assistant Benefits Acquisition of skills not easily gained in the classroom Opportunity to work one- on-one with a faculty member Contribute to the advancement of the science of psychology Become familiar with general research techniques Opportunity to practice written and oral communication skills Cultivation of a mentoring relationship with faculty; helpful for letters of recommendation

How to Negotiate a Research Assistantship Do your homework prior to contact (e.g., PsycINFO author search) Contact the instructor using his/her preferred method (office hours, email) Discuss the level of commitment expected (hours/week, number of semesters) Discuss up front any plans for conference posters, papers, and order of authorship

Teaching Assistantships Serving as a teaching assistant is usually much less involved and time-consuming than being a research assistant. Usually, a teaching assistant helps a faculty member for one semester in the administration of a specific course, such as Introductory Psychology or Statistical Methods.

Extracurricular Activities/Internships Practical, on-the-job experience Opportunity to examine a career choice closely and make professional contacts Opportunity to test the ideas learned in the classroom out in the field Learning what careers not to pursue Development of skills that are difficult to learn and practice in the classroom Extracurriculars: Try to obtain leadership experience

Organizational Involvement Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology (www.psichi.org). Psi Chi membership is conferred on students who have met minimum qualifications.

National Organizations You can gain more information and knowledge about the discipline through the American Psychological Association (www.apa.org) and the Association for Psychological Science (www.psychologicalscience.org). Check out student affiliate opportunities.

Local Involvement at Wright State Get involved in activities in your own department. Your department may sponsor guest speakers, or faculty members may participate in some sort of colloquium series (brown bags).

Local Involvement at Wright State As a student, you want your faculty to be supportive of your effortsyou need to be supportive of the faculty. Attending such presentations also gives you a chance to hear about faculty research, which might interest you and lead to an opportunity to serve as a research assistant.

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL ROUTE

Careers that require a degree beyond the bachelors degree in psychology Academic Counselor Applied Statistician Art Therapist Assessment Professional/Program Evaluator Biogerontologist Chief Psychologist Child Abuse Counselor Child Counselor Child Psychologist Clinical Psychologist Clinical Social Worker Cognitive Neuroscientist Cognitive Psychologist College/University Professor Community Psychologist Comparative Psychologist Consumer Psychologist Counseling Psychologist Developmental Psychologist Domestic Violence Counselor Educational Psychologist Exercise Therapist Experimental Psychologist Family Counselor/Caseworker Forensic Psychologist Gerontological Counselor Geropsychologist Guidance Counselor Health Psychologist Industrial/Organizational Psychologist Lawyer Licensed Professional Counselor Marriage and Family Counselor Marriage and Family Therapist Mathematical/Quantitative Psychologist Medical Social Worker Mental Health Counselor Military Chaplin Military Counselor Minister, Priest, Rabbi, Chaplain, etc. Multicultural Counselor Music Therapist Neurologist Neuropathologist Neuropsychologist Neurosurgeon Occupational Therapist Optometrist Pediatrician Personnel Psychologist Physiatrist Physical Therapist Physician Psychiatric Nurse Psychiatric Social Worker Psychiatrist Psychological Anthropologist Psychologist Psychometrician Psychotherapist Rehabilitation Psychologist School Psychologist School Social Worker Social Psychologist Speech Pathologist Sport Psychologist Veterinarian Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

Predicting Graduate School Success Direct predictors of success Intellectual curiosity Intelligence Conscientiousness (self-discipline, future planning, willingness to work hard) GRE scores predict graduate student GPA, first-year GPA, faculty ratings, exam scores, degree attainment, number of citations earned Swaminathan (2012)

Role of Research Am I sick of school? YesNoNo, but I need a break Consumer/practitioner of psychology Producer of psychology Tolerates researchEmbraces research Recognizes value of statistics Sees importance of research Can read research articles Energized by statistics Research as foundational Dreams of writing research (VanderStoep, 2012)

Starting Salaries for Full-Time Employment Positions, 2009 Doctorate Recipients in Psychology Source: Michalski et al. (2011)

Parts of the Application Process Contact programs to request an application, departmental information, and financial aid information (if necessary). Prepare the materials required by most applications (in addition to the application fee): Letter of intent/autobiographical statement/personal statement Letters of recommendation Transcripts/grades GRE scores forwarded directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Curriculum vita or resume and a cover letter Personal interview (in some cases for some programs)

Graduate School Admissions in Departments of Psychology by Subfields, 2003-2004 Source: Norcross, Kohout, and Wicherski (2005)

Graduate Admissions Criteria The top five predictors of graduate school admission are: GRE GPA Letters of recommendation Research experience Autobiographical statement

Psychology Admissions: Importance of Criteria Means are calculated using 1 = low importance, 2 = medium importance, and 3 = high importance. Norcross, J. C., Kohout, J. L., & Wicherski, M. (2005). Graduate study in psychology: 1971 to 2004. American Psychologist, 60, 959-975.

GRE The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is administered via computer at authorized test centers located throughout the nation. High GRE scores can help offset a low GPA; the reverse is NOT true.

GRE and GPA Data for Applicants Masters Degree ProgramsDoctoral Programs Percent Required Average Minimum Score Median Score Percent Required Average Minimum Score Median Score GRE-V81%48852096%517577 GRE-Q81%49758696%528642 GRE- Analytic 55%4.6379%4.044.80 GRE Subject (Psychology) 22%57840%561645 MAT12%5% Overall Undergrad GPA 89%2.963.4098%3.063.56 Last 2 yrs GPA 73%3.003.5274%3.103.66 Psychology GPA 66%3.023.4870%3.133.69 Masters GPA 73%3.273.76 Source: APA Center for Workforce Studies, 2010 Graduate Study in Psychology (May 2010)

Materials Preparation Make sure you follow all of the directions.

Personal Statement Basically what you are being asked for: (a) statement of your interests in psychology, (b) goals and ambitions, and (c) how the program to which you are applying can help you to achieve your goals. Follow the instructions exactly!

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Curriculum vitae literally means academic life. Your vitae chronicles your accomplishments, whereas the resume is a brief introduction to your skills, abilities, and employment history. Make sure your email address is permanent and professional. Be sure to follow student examples (not faculty examples) of how to prepare a CV.

A GOOD JOB WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE ROUTE

What Employers Want from Psychology Graduates: Top 20 Qualities, Skills, and Abilities 1.Listening skills 2.Ability to work with others as part of a work team 3.Getting along with others 4.Desire and ability to learn 5.Willingness to learn new skills 6.Focus on customers/clients 7.Interpersonal relationship skills 8.Adaptability to change 9.Ability to suggest solutions to problems 10.Problem solving skills 11.Ethical decision making 12.Critical thinking 13.Ability to see the big picture 14.Flexibility/ability to shift gears 15.Being able to identify problems 16.Working smarter to improve productivity 17.Timely decision making 18.Time management 19.Problem-definition skills 20.Personality (Landrum & Harrold, 2004)

What Can You Get Paid with Your Bachelors Degree in Psychology? There are a variety of estimates available. These are average STARTING SALARIES for psychology graduates: Forbes/NACE (2010): $32,358 NACE (2011): $33,100 Association for Psychological Science (2011): $35,300 NACE (2012): $33,500

Potential Careers with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology Activities Director Admissions Evaluator Advertising Sales Representative Alumni Director Animal Trainer Army Mental Health Specialist Benefits Manager Career/Employment Counselor Career Information Specialist Caseworker Child Development Specialist Child Welfare/Placement Caseworker Claims Supervisor Coach Community Organization Worker Community Worker Computer Programmer Conservation Officer Correctional Treatment Specialist Corrections Officer Criminal Investigator (FBI and other) Customer Service Representative Supervisor Data Base Administrator Data Base Design Analyst Department Manager Dietician Disability Policy Worker Disability Case Manager Employee Health Maintenance Program Specialist Employee Relations Specialist Employment Counselor Employment Interviewer Financial Aid Counselor Fund Raiser Health Care Facility Administrator Host/Hostess Human Resource Advisor Information Specialist Job Analyst Labor Relations Manager Loan Officer Management Analyst Market Research Analyst Mental Retardation Aide News Writer Occupational Analyst Patient Resources and Reimbursement Agent Personnel Recruiter Police Officer Polygraph Examiner Preschool Teacher Probation/Parole Officer Project Evaluator Psychiatric Aide/Attendant Psychiatric Technician Psychological Stress Evaluator Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist (PSR) Public Health Director Public Relations Representative Purchasing Agent Real Estate Agent Recreation Leader Recreation Supervisor Recreational Therapist Research Assistant Retail Salesperson Sales Clerk Social Services Aide Substance Abuse Counselor Systems Analyst Technical Writer Veterans Contact Representative Veterans Counselor Victims Advocate Vocational Training Teacher Volunteer Coordinator Writer

Your Resume Make the first impression count. A good resume may get you to the next stage; a poor resume may stop you from going anywhere. Be concisetry to limit yourself to one printed page. Much more than that is too much. Make sure others proofread your resume before you show it to potential employers (Utilize the Career Center!). Keep your resume current. Make sure it has your current phone number, e-mail address, etc.

Improving Your Workplace Readiness Seek opportunities where you can develop real- world experiences and apply course concepts. Join campus organizations and activities that promote collaboration, competition, and leadership. No later than your sophomore year, starting working with your Career Center. Establish realistic expectations about the workplace by avoiding an entitlement mentality. Develop a strong work ethic; create meaning in your life; find value in what you do.

Factors Influencing the Disciplining and Termination of Collegiate New Hires Most Frequent Reasons for Discipline 1Lack of work ethic/commitment 2Unethical behavior 3Failure to follow instructions 4Ineffective in teams 5Failure to take initiative 6Missing assignments/deadlines 7Unable to communicate effectivelyverbally 8Inappropriate use of technology 9Being late for work 10Unable to communicate effectivelywriting Note. Items in BOLD are also reasons for termination of new hires. Gardner (2007)

Characteristics that Lead to Promotions and New Assignments Most Frequent Characteristics 1Taking initiative 2Self management (prioritizing, time and stress management) 3Personal attributes 4Commitment 5Leadership 6Show and tell (presenting ideas persuasively) 7Technical competence 8Organizational savvy 9Learning 10Critical thinking Gardner (2007)

A LITTLE BIT OF THEORY

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affordances and alignments: what can you do with your bachelor’s degree in psychology? r. eric...

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