Interested in Psychology

[amyramoon]

Psychology is something I'm passionate about due to the direct consideration of what makes us human and how to alleviate mental pain and distress through a better understanding of the processes behind them. That being said, I want to look for a Masters program that could help me understand whether or not I want to go for a Doctorate and show me what psychological research is composed of and entails. My undergraduate studies are in engineering, and I have a masters in mathematics. However, I am a strong writer and avid reader. I explore my own experimental theories regarding psychology and various interpretations of the phenomena we see in people. I know it's somewhat of an impulsive decision to go back to school for a subject I know I would devote myself to without knowing what is required of me exactly in order to succeed. I also know that most Masters programs prepare students to acquire qualification to find a practical occupation in psychology rather than to develop research studies. If I were to study psychology, I would make use of my abilities in statistical analysis to develop research. I would also work on writing papers to represent my findings and how they can be interpreted. I know I would find this a fulfilling use of my time. Is there any chance for me to pursue this and reach a favorable outcome?

[JoePianist]

Yes.

[PokePsych]

Yes. But you need to have an idea of what area of Psychology you want to go in. Get a good Psych 101 book to see the breadth of the discipline and which area(s) appeal most to you. Then try to learn more about those topics. 

[Eanertodt]

I agree with psygeek! I think narrowing down your specific interest in psychology would be most beneficial because then it will allow you to narrow down Masters programs to fit your interests and need. 

[t_ruth]

Along the lines of figuring out what type of psychology you want to pursue, think about the kinds of questions you have about the world that you would want to conduct research to answer. You can then see what field is asking those types of questions--you may be surprised. I was--I originally thought I wanted social psychology, but when I explored more based on the questions I asked, it turned out I wanted educational psychology.