<p>I've been hearing a lot about how it's a joke, weak, useless, etc. And to be honest I have no clue why. Could somebody enlighten me?</p>
<p>(Also I plan to do Psych, Business administration, and Plan II Honors at UT)</p>
<p>Ok so I might be able to shed some light. Is psychology useless? No. It has a very specific use, graduate school for psychology, social work, and other mental health related fields. That been said a psych graduate can argue he understands human behavior and try to get on with advertising firms and some business positions where human interaction is a key component but depending on your school math / research may have been minimal. Its all subject to whomever is viewing your situation. </p>
<p>At my school psych majors make fun of business and com majors because its seen as so easy, but bio, chem and physics make fun of psych. Even within a degree there is some variation, I am taking mostly neuroscience classes (neuro-emphasis) to prepare for graduate school where others are taking classes like imagination (etc). There are 3 stats and research classes + core classes and basic neuroscience. Way easier than communications, depending on which classes you take the same as or more difficult than business. I do know why people say it is easy, and its usually biology / chem / physics majors who do. A BA in Psychology is FAR easier than any of those degree’s to the point where you can not even begin to compare them (almost forgot engineering). People may not think about it because they so many others are majoring in general business or communications but far less intellectual ability is tested or strengthened by those classes, where psychology is where science meets humanities (with the science side trying to legitimize by pushing out any non scientific minded people).</p>
<p>Psychology, anthropology, and sociology are usually seen as having more of a general education purpose and I would even argue its almost useless unless you are going to graduate school in a related field or use it to shore up your core education (psych / marketing) (biology / anthropology). I am doing psych / anthro and preparing for the psych GRE’s. If I though it was even possible I wouldn’t go to graduate school (phd clinical psych) I would get worked towards a more general business degree, which would have been easier for me to do because after a while neuroscience classes start to own your life (and spare time becomes a thing of the past). </p>
<p>Shortened version of my post: Psychology is no where near the easiest or hardest, its somewhere in the middle. I would argue its upper middle do to most schools research requirements. I would not call it useless but I would have to conclude it does not as generally prepare you for a job outside of the mental health field but it does serve as an indicator of ability which is what most BA’s have become now days.</p>
<p>Because you need at least a graduate level degree to do anything with it.</p>
<p>^^ Much like history, philosophy, and other liberal arts/sciences degrees of that nature. Psychology isn’t useless at all. It’s very useful. But “usefulness” tends to be measured in terms of real world practicality. So in that sense, with a BA, it’s just as valuable as any other liberal arts BA. (aside from probably economics)</p>
<p>Ahhhh I see. Well I was planning to Ph.D. in it anyway, and do the science-y stuff more, so I guess this is okay :)</p>
<p>Yeah. If your goal is a Phd, then don’t worry about it. Just make sure you’d be able to market yourself between your BA and your Phd. You have the right plan going with the business admin minor, in that case.</p>
<p>Thank you! 
And I’m not minoring in Business Administration, I’m doing three majors. But if there’s anything I’ll drop it’ll probably be business administration :(</p>
<p>Three majors, wow. Are you taking longer than normal to graduate?</p>
<p>I don’t want to put my parents through debt, so if it becomes apparent that it will take me longer than 5 years to graduate, then I won’t go through with business (perhaps relegate this to econ minor). Somebody I know of has accomplished this but warns me that it’s stressful and nearly impossible to have a good social life.</p>
<p>
Not true. D just graduated with BA in psychology. Has found numerous jobs locally (local to where she is living, not where her parents live) wanting psych majors in a variety of fields ranging from clinical work to research to non profits. Can’t begin to count how many interviews she has had, but they will stop now as she is employed -with benefits 
She graduated in May.</p>
<p>It was my understanding that top graduate schools are starting to prefer their psych applicants to be non-psych majors, or at least double majors. They want a quant/science emphasis and for good reason. As a psych graduate student you will be doing a lot of research and statistical analysis so an undergrad degree in either bio/econ/math/stats/physics/chemistry/engineering would be very valuable.</p>
<p>csleslie, where did she go to school and who are the companies she has interviewed with?</p>
<p>Just be aware that admission to legitimate Psychology PhD programs is EXTREMELY competitive. You’re going to need a stellar GPA and internships-galore to make it.</p>
<p>Because the only way it is useful is if you have a Masters or preferably a PhD.</p>
<p>I heard even if you get a job using your Ph.D you’re still underpaid for your hard work</p>
<p>Is Psychology a good major for someone who is positive that they want to go to med school to be a psychiatrist?</p>
<p>A Psychology major is only considered “useless” because of the large amount of people that are majoring in it - either because they see it as an easy major or they genuinely want to learn about it.</p>
<p>However, a Bachelor’s or Master’s Psychology also opens up numerous options in social work, the criminal justice system, the education system, government etc.</p>
<p>So make of that what you will.</p>
<p>It’s useless because it isn’t Statistics or Finance.</p>
<p>As a few other said above, a B.A. in Psychology is not very useful.</p>
<p>Though, if you earn a Masters Degree or a Doctoral Degree, it is very useful.</p>
<p>Just like majoring in Political Science or History is a common path to law, think about psychology as a path to any career where your understanding of people would be useful. Real life example: Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase has an undergraduate in Psychology and Economics from Tufts. MBA Harvard. He seemed to do OK for himself.</p>