[Pumpkin_Pie]

So, I will most likely be going back to school next fall to finish up my psychology degree. I only have three classes left, and a huge student loan that is in deferment for economic hardship reasons. I am a single mama and REALLY want to get off public assistance. I am so bummed that I went into Psychology, and I cannot afford grad school. I do not want to incur any more student loan debt, but I also realize I will not be able to get much of a job with just my BA in psychology.

I am so lost as to what to do at this point. I would love to do something that would pay reasonably well, but I don't want to work more than 40 hours a week at the absolute most. My son is little and I don't want to only see him for a few minutes in the evenings.

I enjoy working around people, and I tend to get depressed when I am isolated, so I need to work with others. Either the public, or a large group of employees in some other capacity works best for me. I currently do childcare, and am thinking that I do not want to do it forever. I just can't take the isolation that comes with taking care of children. They are fun, but it would be nice to have an adult conversation at least once a day.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I am dreading going back to school because I know my degree is pretty much useless, but I need to finish it right? Any advice?

 

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Anyone know of another forum that I could post this in to get some advice? I realize it is my own issue, but just looking for anyone who may have BTDT.

 

[lolar2]

I think that you might be able to get more specific advice at the school you'll be going to. From your department advisor, or from the career center, or whatever. I don't know much about BA in psych so can't give more advice than that.

 

[Siera]

My brother in law has a psych degree and he has a management position at an employment agency for temp workers. He got that job right out of college, too. He's had lots of opportunities for promotions since.

 

[~pi]

I agree with Becky -- contact the career center at your school. This is exactly the kind of question they handle all the time. Your fees pay for that service, and it's usually very helpful, so make use of it.

The only thing I can suggest out of my knowledge base is that if you have space with your three courses, perhaps explore taking a course in organizational psychology (= potential for HR jobs?) or an intersection between psychology and technology.

Best of luck!

 

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Can you add a class or two in business management while you are finishing your degree? Or better yet, non profit management? Psych can be really useful as a base for working in a non-profit organization, even if you aren't doing direct client care sorts of jobs. Depending on what your concentration within psych is, you might be able to work it into a social service job with client contact. But if you have a course or two of business management, you can spin that into a good entry entry into non profit management.

Or, at least, it worked for me.

 

[AndrewsMother]

How do you feel about healthcare? Most AAT programs take less than a year to complete, and single non working women are often financed by many government sponsored programs.

 

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewsMother How do you feel about healthcare? Most AAT programs take less than a year to complete, and single non working women are often financed by many government sponsored programs.

What is AAT? I actually have some background in healthcare. I worked as a phlebotomist in a teaching hospital for a few years and then as a phleb at the Red Cross for about 5 years. I have absolutely no desire to ever stick a needle in a person's vein ever again, but I could possibly go back for something else in the field. At least there will always be some sort of job security in healthcare.

Ok, I just did some googling. Is AAT Animal Assisted Therapy? If so, that sounds fabulous! I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to do something like that! Where do you find out about programs like that?

 

[SummerLove]

My Bil has a pych degree and works for Cps.

 

[ShwarmaQueen]

I am a Paralegal and just about everyone of my co-workers has their degree in a different field. (A couple have theirs in Psych.) I work for the gov't- a degree in psych would come in mighty handy to me sometimes...

 

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Hmmm.. These are all great suggestions. I am so glad to know that I may be able to get a job other than as a case manager eventually. I really would like to make enough to get myself and my son off public assistance.

 

[LynnS6]

You're degree isn't useless. It's the tool that will get you in the door of jobs that would never look at you otherwise.

Liberal arts/social science degrees don't "train" you to do something. They teach you to learn, to analyze and to communicate coherently (writing and speaking). Trust me, those are very, very valuable skills. Your employer will train the specific skills you would need.

Let me digress into a long-ish example:
My brother got a 2 year degree plus trade school training in radio announcing. He started working in small towns and loved the jobs, but invariably, whenever he got to a point where he was due for a raise (beyond poverty level wages), the station would find a reason to fire him.

With a 2 year degree, no one would hire him for white-collar type jobs, and he didn't want to go into a trade. So, he went back and got his 4 year degree in education. He substituted for a year, he taught for a year and discovered he hated it.

Was his education degree useless? Not at all. He eventually got a job working for a major company - first in customer care, but moving slowly up. He now does some customer care for big clients and some corporate training. BUT, this major company would NEVER have looked at his application if he didn't have the 4 year degree. They wouldn't have promoted him without it either.

DEFINITELY check out the career center in your university. They can help you figure out what kinds of places hire people with BA's in Psych. They can help you write a resume that makes the most of your degree AND your experience (including your experience as a parent).