Please help me choose where to study for a Psychology Degree

Psychobot

Hi, I'm hoping to start a psychology degree in Sept 2007. I think that I have a good chance of getting in through clearing as I hold high grade A levels (English Lit A, History A, Economics C, and this summer I sat for A level Human bio and AS Chem)

I am thinking of either applying to Goldsmiths' College London, or Westminster University - but I'm not sure whether to take a course in straight psychology or in psychology with neuroscience.

Goldsmiths' College only offer straight psychology (i.e. without neuroscience), but Westminster offer psychology with neuroscience.

I believe that with a science component to the course, I'll have greater scope to choose what area of psychology I'd like to study further or find a job in, but to be quite honest I feel that Goldsmith College may be a better university than the University of Westminster.

Can someone offer me some advice? I'd be extremely grateful.

Oldernotwiser

The most important thing is to check that the course is validated by the British Psychological Society. This is often not the case with joint degrees. What grade Maths do you have at GCSE? I agree that most people would consider Goldsmiths College better than Westminster.

Psychobot

I have a GCSE maths grade A.

Both degrees are validated as being available for registration at the BPS. I think what I'm a little worried about is whether the students on the course at Westminster will 'pull their weight' as much as the students on the course at Goldsmiths'. I don't mean to sound snobbish, but the thought of doing group work with super-lazy people drives me mad! BUT The fact that there is a greater degree of science in the course content interests me, because for some reason I think that at the end of the degree I'd hold a wider range of skills, and this woud increase my chances of employability, am I foolish in thinking this? Would going for the degree at Goldsmiths' be a wiser long term move?

jewels123

I have a friend who studies straight psychology at goldsmiths. While she really enjoys it , it is really hard work. They expect you to be quite independent and do your own research and stuff with an assignment almost every week.

So, if you're the kind who is motivated to do their own work then Goldsmiths is good. They're quite good for psych as well i believe. Not sure about Westminster though.

Hope that helps and best of luck!

Gingernutmeg

Have you looked at Roehampton? I believe that they have a good (BPS approved) Psychology department there and I think there's the option to do some neurobiology modules. It's a 'London' uni too.

DrFluffy

Do you feel you have to go to uni this year? Not everywhere enters clearing, and with those grades you might be doing yourself a disservice...

Psychobot

A lot of universities actually include psychobiology units and in a sense that confuses me further because perhaps that would be 'enough'! i.e. maybe for me a psychology with neuroscience degree would be superfluous.

I'm not at the moment planning to go into neuroscience based research because I feel I've got a greater aptitude for the arts/ humanities than the sciences (having said that, I've enjoyed pushing myself this year and studying biology and chemistry, they took me outside my comfort zone that's for sure!).

If I do actually pursue a career in psychology I'd probably veer towards educational psychology- however, with me things tend to change dramatically though, and I enjoy keeping my options open!

I took my A' Levels in 2002, so it's difficult approaching a university like UCL that's inundated by up-to-date A' Level AAA graders. I want to stay in London and Goldsmiths' seems an attractive option because of the fact that it's in the University of London group, and its creative reputation- I like the idea of studying amongst artistic types. I'm a little idealistic in that I would like to feel inspired by my environment at uni.
What worries me a little is that I have heard, and it's been reaffirmed here, that the lecturers are not very 'hands-on'. Being a mature student, I'd like some guidance to be available to me.

It also worries me that I can't seem to find out about the range of jobs psych grads from either Westminster or Goldsmiths' go into. I'm financially cautious and would like to feel a sense of security that I would be employable in a psychology related field!

melancholly

the psychobiology courses in a lot of pure psychology courses aren't really that scientific - often because biology and chemistry are not required, so the starting point is lower than it would be on a neuroscience course.

here's the guardian's rankings for psychology:
http://browse.guardian.co.uk/education?SearchBySubject=false&FirstRow=0&SortOrderDirection=&SortOrderColumn=GuardianTeachingScore&Subject=Psychology&Go=Go

in your position, i would ring UCL and ask to speak to an admissions officer and ask them what they think. often universities are a little more flexible on entry grades for mature students. with your grades you should be able get into a pretty good university. the uni you go to will have a strong bearing on a career in psychology, so go to the best you can. if you speak to someone there, then you can be sure about what their position will be rather than speculating. i'd be inclined to think that they might be interested in having you on the course, but i wouldn't want to stake much on that - depends on how many people applied this year and how many offers they made versus places available. at least that way you'd know whether or not to ring them first on A level results day.

educational psychology will require postgraduate training after your degree, and many undergrad degrees will not cover much on it - so be warned. i'd also go for a more scientific degree if you have the choice, in case you decide you want nothing to dow ith psychology afterwards. it's a very popular choice for degrees and many people think it's a soft option (doing a psychology phd at the moment so i can safely say it isn't!).

bristol_pilot

You should certainly look into the job prospects for psychology graduates before starting a course. There seem to be actually few jobs in this subject, too many graduates and what work there is for people with only a first degree is poorly paid. All the psychology grads I know have re-trained to do something else, which must say something. Neither of the colleges you mention is especially prestigious. You have excellent grades, use them wisely and consider whether you would be better off studying another subject.

Psychobot

melancholly wrote: »

the psychobiology courses in a lot of pure psychology courses aren't really that scientific - often because biology and chemistry are not required, so the starting point is lower than it would be on a neuroscience course.

here's the guardian's rankings for psychology:
http://browse.guardian.co.uk/education?SearchBySubject=false&FirstRow=0&SortOrderDirection=&SortOrderColumn=GuardianTeachingScore&Subject=Psychology&Go=Go

in your position, i would ring UCL and ask to speak to an admissions officer and ask them what they think. often universities are a little more flexible on entry grades for mature students. with your grades you should be able get into a pretty good university. the uni you go to will have a strong bearing on a career in psychology, so go to the best you can. if you speak to someone there, then you can be sure about what their position will be rather than speculating. i'd be inclined to think that they might be interested in having you on the course, but i wouldn't want to stake much on that - depends on how many people applied this year and how many offers they made versus places available. at least that way you'd know whether or not to ring them first on A level results day.

Hi, I actually emailed UCL a while back, but they stated that they do not enter clearing and they specify 1 full high grade A' Level science subject for a mature student. I suppose that I have nothing to lose if I do give them a ring- although I'm pretty sure there will be a host of AAA-ers out there beating me to it.

I began these science A Levels in February and took the exams in May/ June - so I don't think I'll do too well! Results day should be fun.

jewels123

I know you want to stay in London but have you given a thought to Royal Holloway? They do something similar i think - psychology with some science. Its not too far away from London. Its a university of london and a reputed one too. Like others have said, with those A-levels, you should be ideally be looking for university a little higher up the ranking tables.