psyh phd but not a psych major?

[HemustBeMagic]

So here is a question I have for all of you. Should be straight forward and if you want there is a bonus question below.

 

I'm a global studies major (which I my school is international affairs) with a focus on development, environment and health. I want to go into psychology and become a jury consultant down the road. Why am I getting my PhD ?Because I love research, love teaching and my ideal job requires it. So the PhD route makes sense.  I want to get my PhD in social or cognition (still researching) with a mentor who does focus on human behavior.

 

But here is the catch: I dont have a psych degree. I kinda decided this too late in my academic career to change. Oh well.

 

BUT I did some things (hopefully) to make up for that those things would be:

• 3 semesters in a neuroscience lab researching depression. The lab is a wet lab working with rodents, but still in a medical school psych department. PI will write me a great LoR.
• 1 summer in a social psychology lab working on PTSD research and obesity. PI will also write me a great LoR and speak on my behalf since that school is a school I want to go into (for anyone curious, its Northeastern).
• 1 psych research presentation at school symposium, 1 published paper in psychology
• psych subject test score of 92nd percentile

I dont know if you want my general stats but if so

• UGA: 3.3 (Major GPA 3.8)
• African American Male
• GRE: V 161 Q 165

 

Just looking at what else I can do or if all hope is lost because i'm not a psychology major.

 

Bonus Question: Do you have some schools in mind, knowing my stats, I should apply to or consider? Or does anyone go to NEU and know anything about their psych program? How hard is it to get into?

[mewtoo]

I think you've more than made up for you not having a psychology major, except have you taken the prerequisite classes for admittance to most psych phd programs? Most require you having taken stats, research design, etc. or they require a certain amount of hours in psych. You should look at the programs you are interested in and make sure you reach those requirements.

 

One of my best friends just got into the social program at NEU (his dream program too). It is really competitive but his stats are comparable to yours except he has no published paper. It depends on the mentor a lot, though. His particular mentor only invited one other person to the interview only expecting to take one (and luckily it was him!) but he told me another professor had invited 5 or so people for one spot! Just depends. Make sure to see if you meet the prerequisites if they have any.

 

You may also want to refine your research interests. "Human behavior" is like the most general way to put your research interests possible besides just saying "psychology." That's how you are going to get help finding schools to apply to. Your stats don't matter if you don't have a good research match. My friend had an exact match with his mentor and had done research in the area, which is probably what cinched it for him.

[HemustBeMagic]

@Mewtwo: I've taken an intro class, abnormal, experimental design, aging, and a stat for social sciences class. I will probably take one more class before I graduate.

 

I'll do that refined search, that helps a lot! Thanks!

[dmacfour]

As a psych grad student who has a degree in psychology, I can't really say that you're at a disadvantage. I finished all of my psych courses two years before graduating, so most of what I learned has been forgotten. Most of it was surface level memorization anyways. 

[mewtoo]

@Mewtwo: I've taken an intro class, abnormal, experimental design, aging, and a stat for social sciences class. I will probably take one more class before I graduate.

 

I'll do that refined search, that helps a lot! Thanks!

You might wanna take history and systems of psych as I've seen many programs want that, though these were clinical programs.

 

Glad to help!

[kaister]

You don't search for schools by your stats.  You search for them by your research interests. As mewtoo said, you need to figure out what it is you want to do research in, it doesn't have to be so specific to the degree that you have your thesis planned out, but you need to get specific.  What branch of social psychology do you want to go in?  Stereotypes/prejudice, personality, social cognition, intergroup relations?  The list goes on...so I think that would be a good next step...narrowing down those focuses.  From there you can better search what PI's are doing awesome research in that area. And don't worry about not being a psych major.  What matters is you have some background in it already and you've demonstrated research experience in psych as well as presenting/publishing skills. That along with great LORs, are probably the most important things.

[digits2006]

Jury consultant- look at Tufts, UTEP, FIU, Kentucky, Arkansas, Arizona State, U of Arizona, UC Irvine, UF (criminology, law, and society)...those all have jury researchers.

[sdt13]

 

I don't think it would matter based on what you've done, but definitely take a loot at your program of interest's requirements. However, this has been my experience with my upcoming grad program beginning in September:

 

My undergrad program was flexible in the sense that outside of the basics (intro, social, intro biopsych, stats) we were allowed to select whatever electives we wanted. I chose mostly social classes (motivation, social psych seminars, etc.) and completely avoided more of the neuro stuff outside of the required courses. Now my program is requesting that I complete one upper level biopsych course to satisfy their requirements (I have the option to take an upper level undergrad course or a grad course). The grad program's requirements mimic those of the undergraduate degree at the university, but they understand that it's not the same and so most incoming grads have to take at least one course to satisfy these requirements.

 

Oddly enough though, I will be TAing intro to biopsych in the spring despite my supposed 'lack of knowledge' lol

[Cog-Neuro Guy]

I did my undergraduate degree in sociology with a minor in psychology. I had zero research experience (well, maybe two months ). My GPA in both my major, minor and cumulative was very strong. I took the real brick and mortar courses in psychology because I knew I would be somewhat at a disadvantage when competing amongst psychology majors for graduate programs in counseling and clinical psychology. You will find a lot of people say that being a psychology major is important, and many will say not so much, some take a road right down the middle and say that having certain courses is ideal. I decided to pursue a master's degree in cognitive-neuroscience at my university and became a research assistant in a neuropsychology department at a medical school, where I dream of attending (UT Southwestern). 

 

I got into some sociology and social work master's programs, and the perspective from some of the directors tended to be "it's easier to go from psychology to sociology rather than sociology to psychology." I'm a rebel! However, master's programs typically are judged differently than Ph.D. programs, but I think you should go for it. I can't provide you any hardcore statistical data on your probability, but with good grades and your GRE, plus your research experience and interests...you shouldn't be nervous or skeptical.

 

All the best!