Today, the profession of a psychologist is becoming increasingly popular. Many organizations hire a full-time psychologist; this position is mandatory in kindergartens and schools. It is not surprising that there are many young people who want to enroll in the Faculty of Psychology, both after the ninth and after the eleventh grade. In this article you will learn what subjects you need to take to become a psychologist when entering a technical school or university. You will become aware of what qualities define a good psychologist. Find out what specialized areas there are and where guys who have studied in the relevant specialty can work.
Pros and cons of the profession
The positive aspects of working as a psychologist include:
- the opportunity to understand your life and find harmony;
- the ability to provide professional assistance to people from close circles;
- the opportunity to learn new things and develop comprehensively;
- Demand for the profession – the opportunity to find a job after graduating from university;
- with constant self-development and improvement of your professional skills - good competitiveness.
The disadvantages of choosing this specialty include:
- the presence of great responsibility for the psychological health of the patient (the advice given can affect the person’s future, including causing harm);
- the need to be prepared to accept the point of view of another person, even if it completely contradicts your personal views;
- inability to refuse to solve the problem faced by the patient;
- empathy for the tragedy of the person who has applied, which can lead to personal problems and depression in a specialist if he is inexperienced and does not yet know how to let go of what he has heard.
Who is it suitable for?
Both men and women work in military psychologist positions, and with the transfer of functions to civilian personnel, there are more women than men. There is no significant physical activity in this job, but there is constant psychological stress, which requires the employee to have high resistance to stress.
Regular work outside of normal working hours is not suitable for those whose presence is constantly required at home. At the same time, the activities of a military psychologist allow for professional self-realization and improve the skills of a specialist in a wide range of psychological issues.
What to take upon admission
You have already decided on the choice of your future work activity, now it is important to know what exams are needed to become a psychologist. Even if you still have a whole year ahead of you before admission, today you need to understand which school subjects you should pay attention to.
After ninth grade
Not everyone knows, but after leaving school after 9th grade, you can already take a direction in the field of psychology. Finding a technical school or college where you can study to become a psychologist is difficult. In the best case, you will be able to receive a general education program, accompanied by an in-depth study of psychology, followed by preferential admission to a university. Such colleges usually require passing:
- Russian language;
- biology;
- social studies;
- algebra.
You have a backup option - enroll in a medical educational institution, study, for example, to become a nurse or paramedic, and then enter the university to become a psychologist, on preferential terms. To enter medical college, you will need to pass the following exams:
- Russian language;
- mathematics;
- chemistry;
- biology.
After eleventh grade
If you plan to enroll after 11th grade, then for the EGE, you need to choose the following subjects:
- Russian;
- biology (major subject);
- mathematics.
Some universities may require an exam result in social studies. Therefore, it is better, having previously decided on a university, to find out which exams are preferable in this particular educational institution. In addition, some universities may require writing an essay with psychological content. It is also possible to have an interview during which the admissions committee will be interested in your personal qualities.
If you decide to learn a new profession, but graduated from school a long time ago, then you should know that in order to enroll as a psychologist, you will have to take the EGE along with school graduates.
I want to be a psychologist: where to start
People become psychologists by vocation, not by education. However, you will still need a specialized diploma; without it it is impossible to get a job.
You should start with yourself, understand whether you have the necessary personal qualities and skills. Then you need to decide who exactly you want to become. As we have already said, there are many specializations: school, military, clinical, social and others. Each has its own specifics and requirements that need to be taken into account.
Choosing a university
When choosing an educational institution, find out which one suits you best. Here it is worth taking into account both its territorial location and the availability of a good hostel; if you are going to study in another city, it would not be a bad idea to read the reviews of those who studied there.
If we consider Moscow, the best universities where you can get a diploma in psychology are:
- Institute of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis;
- State Academic University of Humanities;
- Moscow State University named after Lomonosov;
- Russian State Social University;
- Institute of Psychology named after. Vygotsky.
What to do if you graduated from school many years ago
First you need to pass exams in the form of the Unified State Exam (Unified State Exam) in those subjects that are necessary for admission.
If more than three years have passed since passing the exams, then such results will not be accepted. You need to take them again. It is better to find out how to do this at the educational administration institutions that are located at your place of residence. Specialists from these institutions have operational information, since they take part in the organization and conduct of the Unified State Exam.
Required personal qualities
A good psychologist must have a number of special qualities.
It is important to understand that in order to become a psychologist, it is not always enough to study at university. Here, as in any professional industry, there are a number of qualities, the presence of which will help make you a good specialist. Next, we will talk about what traits you need to have in order to confidently step into the profession of a psychologist.
- Love for continuous learning. The profession in question presupposes the need for regular self-development, expanding one’s knowledge, techniques, and mastering new practices.
- Friendliness, ability to find a common language with any person.
- Persuasiveness. The ability to convey your thoughts to the listener.
- Responsible attitude towards your business.
- Tolerance, the ability not to judge people for their actions or thoughts.
- The ability to correctly express your emotions.
- Having empathy, the ability to empathize with other people.
- Ability to be a good listener. For many patients who find themselves in a psychologist’s office, it is important to be listened to and shown sympathy, sometimes they simply have no one with whom they can share their pain and relieve the psychological burden.
- Lack of xenophobia.
If you do not currently have the above qualities, you still have enough time to develop new skills and work through fears, if any.
Short description
A military psychologist must know well not only his profession, but also the peculiarities of the organization of the internal life of soldiers and officers: everyday life, duties, hierarchy. Constantly monitors military personnel, conducts various types of questionnaires, tests and surveys, and also performs subsequent analysis of the information received.
He independently plans his activities and makes decisions, but coordinates all actions with senior management, which is the basis for clear and correct work. Has deep, up-to-date knowledge of psychology, possesses skills characteristic of the military: taciturnity, diligence, strict subordination, discipline. These specialists have no right to make mistakes, because the latter destabilizes the team and can lead to dire consequences.
Directions in training
Many applicants do not even realize that when choosing the profession of a psychologist, they still have to choose a narrow direction. Next, we will look at what psychology options will open to you:
- clinical - the study of psychology based on its relationship with various diseases;
- special - the study of deviant behavior of people, the reasons for its occurrence, preventive measures;
- official activities - such a specialist is involved in personnel selection, assessing the health of the team, and carries out rehabilitation measures;
- consulting and coaching – help in difficult life situations, guidance on the right path;
- socio-psychological work – social support of the population, implementation of social services;
- psychological and pedagogical education – training of specialists responsible for the psychological behavior and development of children, their adaptation.
How to become a psychotherapist without medical help. education
The professional development of a psychologist can occur according to two branches of training: medical and humanitarian. It is enough for a general specialist to be a humanist. He will be able to work in a school, kindergarten, private company or research institute, that is, consult, provide psychological support, but not correct mental disorders. Only an educated physician can be an employee of healthcare institutions.
Places of future work
Working with children in kindergarten is one of the possible places of work for a psychologist.
Many might have the impression that after graduation they will be able to go into private practice. However, not all graduates open their offices and begin private receptions. Most go to government agencies to gain experience; in the future, they have the prospect of moving to private firms and opening their own practice. In any case, you should not worry that, having received a diploma in psychology, you will have serious difficulties finding a job. So specialists of the chosen profession are needed:
- at the university (you can stay at the same educational institution where you previously studied, or become a teacher for new students yourself);
- in the prosecutor's office or police (adequate psychological health of employees and strengthening of discipline are very important);
- in clinics and hospitals – restoring psychological health in patients and their relatives, maintaining the well-being of employees;
- in the education system (in schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities) - providing psychological support to students;
- in organizations and firms - professional support from a psychologist may be needed by an employee of an organization of any type.
Knowing what you need to take for a psychologist, you can delve into the study of these subjects in advance. Remember that many educational institutions have preparatory courses where you can brush up on relevant subjects. When choosing the profession of a psychologist, be prepared to communicate with people, meet their problems, be able to listen, and help.
How to become a consultant
First of all, you need to take care of getting basic education in this area. Then you need to undergo additional training at an institution that trains counseling specialists. Remember, obtaining this specialization requires regular practice. You should start training first of all on yourself, identifying and considering your own problems.
Face-to-face consultation
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Only after all the techniques have been worked out and brought to perfection can you find a job. Over time, the level of professionalism will increase, which will make it possible to think about private practice.
Additional exams
Once a student decides to enroll in the psychology department, he must use the knowledge acquired at school for further studies. Before choosing specialized subjects for testing at school, the future student considers them as an opportunity to demonstrate their own skills and abilities.
For most universities, together with biology, mathematics and the Russian language, it is recommended to take social studies - a discipline that shows how a student understands and perceives the world. Worldview is the most important aspect for an applicant who is going to study to become a psychologist.
Important qualities for a psychology student:
- perseverance;
- curiosity;
- love of books;
- curiosity.
The presence of such qualities in an applicant is an advantage when taking entrance exams at a university. The student also provides certificates and awards that show his desire to be a well-rounded individual.
A future student may be asked to undergo an interview: this is a short conversation with teachers or curators that will show the applicant’s potential. The student is notified of such an interview in advance.
Features of the specialty
The profession of psychologist has been in great demand over the past 10 years. At school, at an enterprise or in a large office, such a specialist provides indispensable assistance, building the right relationships in the team.
The Faculty of Psychology is the result of a conscious choice and long-term study. It is impossible to master a profession with high social responsibility in one day. Training to become a psychologist takes place over 5–6 years using theoretical knowledge. The more a person studies, the easier it is for him to understand people and their behavior, knowing the psychotypes of the individual.
A psychologist studies human nature: he understands how actions lead to certain results. This is a specialist who can explain the nature of fear, find the root cause of a phobia or obsessive thoughts. If a person cannot understand what is happening to him, then the psychologist is an assistant, a guide to hidden thoughts and feelings.
