<p>Hello everyone. I began studying psychology at my community college two years ago. Just this past may I graduated with my associates in psychology. I then transferred to West Chester University in PA to continue studying psych and get my B.A. Prior to going to west chester, I got accepted to other schools such as Temple, Penn State University Park, and Kutztown. However for temple I was accepted for the psych program and penn state I was accepted into the criminology program. At this point, I am having second thoughts about my major. I only chose this to begin with because I was never really sure what I wanted to do. I thought I wanted to figure out why criminals do what they do and put an end to it. Now, I am thinking about business management, and environmental science, and sometimes even radiology. I just don't know what to do anymore. Part of me is telling me to leave West Chester University after this semester and just go back home and maybe go back to the community college I was at to get things back on track, or maybe I should take a break? My parents are not exactly going to be happy with all of this either. But I honestly just do not know what to do. West Chester has a management program and an environmental science program I believe, but I just don't think I want to go here anymore. I really never thought I would be a student to transfer somewhere though and not like it. Also all my friends go to penn state and temple, not that I should look at that.. but that is just a plus. Not to mention how much bigger the alumni network is. I am not rich by any means but I feel whatever school it is I go to I would find a way to go to whether its loans I would have to pay back later in life. Bottom line, is I really want to make a lot of money in my career that I would have interest in and well I just do not know what to do. I am so lost right now. I do not even know if I should switch my major or what. I just feel there are no jobs in psych. And I am really not into it anymore either. Sorry for all this rambling, but I really need help please. </p>
<p>If you’ve got one foot out the door, your grades will suffer. Talk to your parents. If they are paying for your education, you owe them this honest conversation, no matter how hard it will be for you and them. I’m assuming they want you to be happy and fulfilled, so give them a chance to come around and support you. Good luck… You deserve to be happy!</p>
<p>You should know by now you have a limit on loans. As a junior that would be $7500. That’s not much of a dent in Penn State’s cost. If you really do want to make money in your career then run the debt numbers if you attended Penn State or Temple. Look here for some job options: <a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/</a> then talk to your GC at college about some options for majors.</p>
<p>Are you saying you would still try going to penn state or temple? Or no? I’m just not happy at west Chester. </p>
<p>If you aren’t happy at West Chester, and you don’t know what you want to major in, it is entirely reasonable to take a semester off. Just get a job, and work for a while. Then when you do have a goal for your education, you can figure out the best way to do that. </p>
<p>Truly, it does not make sense to pay money for classes, and to put your energy into classes, unless you have a good reason to be taking those classes.</p>
<p>Have you tried talking to the guidance counselors at WC? what about the psych counselors? You might say you don’t need a shrink but psychologists are good at listening. This might be really helpful in your situation. The work being done right now on criminology and cognition is fascinating, but if that’s not for you any longer perhaps the counselors could help you work out a new direction.</p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with taking time off from school. If you do, use it wisely by working and volunteering in a field in which you might be interested. </p>
<p>I would think that the PSU criminology* major (a selective and well-respected professional program) would lead to more job opportunities than psychology at West Chester. HOWEVER, your spot in that major may be gone, and Penn State is much more expensive than West Chester: can you afford to attend there? I would recommend doing a general business major - contrary to popular belief, these are not very useful and if you really need business training, you can get training on the job then go back to an MBA.
If you’re not sure, take a semester off. Find a job, figure out what you want to do, and apply again to the program that interests you the most and matches your career goals best.</p>
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<li>not criminal justice, right? Criminology is a strong major; criminal justice mostly leads to law enforcement jobs that only used to require “academy” training.</li>
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