Undergrad college student: What jobs are good for me?

Published

I am a sophomore and right now a psych major. I want to get a BA in psych however i do not want to become a psychologist because people say psychologist don't make much really and i'd be in all of that debt trying to get a PH.D and I don't know if i'd want that much schooling if I won't make much. So I thought I would get a BA in psych and then get my masters in social work and then get a license and if that didn't work out before even getting my license and i didn't like social work then i would do my best to get into nursing school and combine my degrees of social work and psych and either do case management or just regular nursing.

I am not good at math or science at all but i want to make good money. Is it possible for somebody who isn't good at math and science to work hard and do well at a job that involves math and science? I wanted to do social work because i want to counsel people and help people but it seems underpaid. Where i live on salary.com it says that pay with a BA in social work(which i don't need since i have a BA in psych) is $49,460 annually..With a Masters the pay is $58,229 annually and with a license its $52,584 annually. This doesn't make sense..why do licensed clinical social workers make less than someone with only a Masters degree? Is this accurate?

anyways can you throw out some ideas of what I can do for a career choice where i help people. I saw somewhere on here people mentioned occupational therapy helps people and you make more money. What exactly do they do and how much do they make, and how long is the schooling?

Sorry for all of the questions i'm just overwhelmed and stressed with needing to figure out a major soon!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
I am a sophomore and right now a psych major. I want to get a BA in psych however i do not want to become a psychologist because people say psychologist don't make much really and i'd be in all of that debt trying to get a PH.D and I don't know if i'd want that much schooling if I won't make much. So I thought I would get a BA in psych and then get my masters in social work and then get a license and if that didn't work out before even getting my license and i didn't like social work then i would do my best to get into nursing school and combine my degrees of social work and psych and either do case management or just regular nursing.

I am not good at math or science at all but i want to make good money. Is it possible for somebody who isn't good at math and science to work hard and do well at a job that involves math and science? I wanted to do social work because i want to counsel people and help people but it seems underpaid. Where i live on salary.com it says that pay with a BA in social work(which i don't need since i have a BA in psych) is $49,460 annually..With a Masters the pay is $58,229 annually and with a license its $52,584 annually. This doesn't make sense..why do licensed clinical social workers make less than someone with only a Masters degree? Is this accurate?

anyways can you throw out some ideas of what I can do for a career choice where i help people. I saw somewhere on here people mentioned occupational therapy helps people and you make more money. What exactly do they do and how much do they make, and how long is the schooling?

Sorry for all of the questions i'm just overwhelmed and stressed with needing to figure out a major soon!

So what it looks like to me is you are interested in helping others, psych and things like that.

now sad but true but if you go into a career just chasing a dollar sign you are going to be very unhapppy.

example: teachers, they dont get paid crap, but there are some who LOVE what they do and thats what matters.

as for not being good in math & science, i think its possible. I will be the first to admit that i am terrible at math and it take me a little bit to calculate things w/o a calculator but Im about to graduate nursing school and ive made the sacrifices and learned what i had to , to get the concepts solid in my head to strentghten my weakness.

So you have to make some decisions.do what u really want to do , or do something just for the money or because "it pays more".

btw PhD's and MD's are so grumpy bc they are paying off loans they took out for their advanced degrees :) hehe

Up Vote Up Vote ×

lol that is exactly why i dont want to get a ph.d becoming a psychologist. i see it as a waste that i would be done with getting a ph.d by the time i'm around 27. I am 19 right now and when i graduate i'll be around 21 and i would need about 5-7 years of trying to get a ph.d and i won't actually start enjoying that money until i'm in my 30's when i get more experience and by then i won't have been living my life because i'll probably have kids.

What do you know about occupational therapy? I heard you only need your Masters degree. I know i want to help people and i want to at least make around 50,000 dollars annually. I want to be able to not worry about bills when i am on my own and save for a trip to a different country at least once a year and i'm not sure if i could do that being a social worker. i've read so many reviews on social workers and how they are burnt out and don't like their jobs and it's frustrating!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

also is occupational therapy harder than nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't know much about OT, but I know if you want to help people, make decent money, and combine your interest in psych, become a psych nurse or case manager nurse. :) If you're too far into your psych degree to switch to nursing, finish your degree and do an accelerated BSN or an ASN program. Many people return to school for nursing after getting a psychology degree.

Math and science play a role, but not a hefty one in nursing school. I know people who aren't that great in either and are making A's. Nurses have the problem of burning out as well, but there are things you can do to prevent it (as well as in any profession).

If you're willing to work hard and dedicate yourself, I think it's possible to become a nurse and/or anything else.

I do know that OT school requires pre-reqs including bunches of sciences and maths.

Anywho, good luck in whatever you choose and don't get so worked up. Just organize your thoughts and breathe. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you very much! Is the ASN program better money than social work or is it the same? If it is the same pay i'd rather get a BSN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It sounds like you have some stuff decisions. Do what you are passionate about, because if you are going to do it for money then go to medical school and become an anesthesiologist or a surgeon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion