Affordances and Alignments: What
CAN You Do With Your Bachelor’s
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:
Bachelor’s Degrees in 2011-2012
• Over 1.79 million students received their
bachelor’s 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)
Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology by
Gender 1950-2012
Total: 108,986
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
Males
Females
National Center for Educational Statistics (2014)
Master’s Degrees in Psychology
by Gender 1950-2012
Total: 26,834
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
Males
Females
National Center for Educational Statistics (2014)
Doctoral Degrees in Psychology
by Gender 1950-2012
Total: 5,928
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Males
Females
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 bachelor’s
degree in psychology.
• About 4% pursue doctorate training in psychology,
and 21-22% pursue a master’s degree in psychology
(APA, 2013).
• What can you do to help stand out?
COMMON GROUND
Average Annual and Median Lifetime Earnings for FullTime, Year-Round Workers by Educational Attainment
Educational
Attainment
Average
Annual Earnings1
Median Lifetime
Earnings2
Doctoral degree
$ 99,697
$ 3,252,000
Professional degree
$ 125,019
$ 3,648,000
Master’s degree
$ 70,856
$ 2,671,000
Bachelor’s degree
$ 58,613
$ 2,268,000
Associate’s 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 9th grade
$ 21,056
$ 973,000
1U.S.
Census Bureau (2009) Current Population Survey
Rose, and Cheah (2011)
2Carnevale,
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
it’s 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, it’s 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 oneon-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 efforts—you 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 bachelor’s 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
Neurosurgeon
Forensic Psychologist
Occupational Therapist
Gerontological Counselor
Optometrist
Geropsychologist
Pediatrician
Guidance Counselor
Personnel Psychologist
Health Psychologist
Physiatrist
Industrial/Organizational
Physical Therapist
Psychologist
Physician
Lawyer
Psychiatric Nurse
Licensed Professional Counselor
Psychiatric Social Worker
Marriage and Family Counselor
Psychiatrist
Marriage and Family Therapist
Psychological Anthropologist
Mathematical/Quantitative
Psychologist
Psychologist
Psychometrician
Medical Social Worker
Psychotherapist
Mental Health Counselor
Rehabilitation Psychologist
Military Chaplin
School Psychologist
Military Counselor
School Social Worker
Minister, Priest, Rabbi, Chaplain, etc. Social Psychologist
Multicultural Counselor
Speech Pathologist
Music Therapist
Sport Psychologist
Neurologist
Veterinarian
Neuropathologist
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Neuropsychologist
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?
Yes
No
Consumer/practitioner of
psychology
No, but I need a break
Producer of
psychology
Tolerates research
Embraces research
Recognizes value of statistics
Energized by statistics
Sees importance of research
Research as foundational
Can read research articles
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
GRE-V
GRE-Q
GREAnalytic
GRE Subject
(Psychology)
MAT
Overall
Undergrad
GPA
Last 2 yrs
GPA
Psychology
GPA
Master’s
GPA
Master’s Degree Programs
Average
Percent
Median
Minimum
Required
Score
Score
81%
488
520
81%
497
586
Doctoral Programs
Average
Percent
Median
Minimum
Required
Score
Score
96%
517
577
96%
528
642
55%
4.63
79%
4.04
4.80
22%
578
40%
561
645
12%
5%
89%
2.96
3.40
98%
3.06
3.56
73%
3.00
3.52
74%
3.10
3.66
66%
3.02
3.48
70%
3.13
3.69
73%
3.27
3.76
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
BACHELOR’S DEGREE ROUTE
What Employers Want from Psychology
Graduates: Top 20 Qualities, Skills, and Abilities
1.
2.
Listening skills
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.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Ethical decision making
Critical thinking
Ability to see the big picture
Flexibility/ability to shift gears
Being able to identify problems
Working smarter to improve
productivity
Timely decision making
Time management
Problem-definition skills
Personality
(Landrum & Harrold, 2004)
What Can You Get Paid with Your
Bachelor’s 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 Bachelor’s
Degree in Psychology
Activities Director
Customer Service
Representative Supervisor
Admissions Evaluator
Advertising Sales RepresentativeData Base Administrator
Data Base Design Analyst
Alumni Director
Department Manager
Animal Trainer
Army Mental Health Specialist Dietician
Disability Policy Worker
Benefits Manager
Career/Employment Counselor Disability Case Manager
Career Information Specialist Employee Health Maintenance
Program Specialist
Caseworker
Child Development Specialist Employee Relations Specialist
Employment Counselor
Child Welfare/Placement
Employment Interviewer
Caseworker
Financial Aid Counselor
Claims Supervisor
Fund Raiser
Coach
Health Care Facility
Community Organization
Administrator
Worker
Host/Hostess
Community Worker
Human Resource Advisor
Computer Programmer
Information Specialist
Conservation Officer
Job Analyst
Correctional Treatment
Specialist
Labor Relations Manager
Corrections Officer
Loan Officer
Criminal Investigator (FBI and Management Analyst
other)
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 concise—try 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 realworld 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
1
Lack of work ethic/commitment
2
Unethical behavior
3
Failure to follow instructions
4
Ineffective in teams
5
Failure to take initiative
6
Missing assignments/deadlines
7
Unable to communicate effectively—verbally
8
Inappropriate use of technology
9
Being late for work
10
Unable to communicate effectively—writing
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
1
Taking initiative
2
Self management (prioritizing, time and stress management)
3
Personal attributes
4
Commitment
5
Leadership
6
“Show and tell” (presenting ideas persuasively)
7
Technical competence
8
Organizational savvy
9
Learning
10
Critical thinking
Gardner (2007)
A LITTLE BIT OF THEORY
Continue the conversation…
elandru@boisestate.edu
@ericlandrum