The most interesting reasons to study psychology

As a psychology student at the University of British Columbia, I’m fascinated with the study of the mind and how it influences behaviour.  

From a deeper understanding of the brain’s anatomy to why humans act a certain way, the topics I learn on my course have fuelled my passion and equipped me to deal with many situations that arise in my life, too.  

Here’s why psychology is a great degree choice.  

Psychology students make great dinner guests  

The subjects I study in class range from cultural psychology (why people are the way they are), to why people act in certain ways under different circumstances, animal behaviours, the impact of drugs, the psychology of mental health and how our own memories deceive us.  

These interesting subjects are a party favourite as there are many lesser-known facts that often come up in conversations outside of my studies.  

Like, did you know that university students tend to experience a vast drop in their self-esteem at the end of their first year at university? That was a handy fact when I was a peer advisor for first-year students in my university. 

I also learnt that extroverted people have an easier time adjusting to new cultures; something I often tell the international students I meet. Psychology students always have interesting facts up our sleeves. 

Psychology helps you adapt to global outbreaks 

The vastness of knowledge within psychology means that many of my professors were able to adapt the course to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Now I can graduate as a responsive, agile psychologist who is able to apply psychological theory to real-world issues.    

In my Social Psychology module, I learned how to increase vaccine rollout in an imaginary city by highlighting the advantages for the community. In Health Psychology, I learned about natural serotonin sources that don’t require human contact, like pets.  

Being a psychology student during the pandemic, I can now recognise ways to manage global change on a personal and societal level. 

Psychology helps you handle real-life problems  

Studying psychology has prepared me for a multitude of real-world applications. One of my modules, Abnormal Psychology, helped me to understand the signs behind a psychological disorder, and the important considerations for seeing a practitioner.  

This has helped me assist my friends in accessing mental health resources, and to be a better friend. I’m often the go-to person for advice when my friends face challenges because of my understanding of human behaviour.  

I’ve developed good knowledge on different types of people, how to work effectively with people and different styles of working. I’ve also learnt tips and tricks for managing stress and how to learn more effectively, which has helped me do better during examination periods.  

Psychology opens you up to different career paths  

Becoming a psychologist isn’t the only outcome for a psychology graduate. My course is designed to teach us transferable skills that will be helpful across many different fields. I could go on to be a market analyst, public relations manager, support worker or a professor. The options are endless with a degree as versatile as psychology. 

In today’s challenging times, psychology experts are more in-demand to understand human behaviour. So, there are many job options. From strong analytical skills to well-prepared research and writing skills, psychology degree holders are ready to take on the world.  

I’m thinking about pursuing a career in law, where my degree in psychology can help me to understand people’s motives better and help my clients.  

When I started to discover the many fields open for me, I was surprised with how prepared I was to work at a magazine! I had the opportunity to write for a psychology magazine, designing graphics and helping to supervise operations within the publication too. My psychology degree has led to me becoming a magazine writer – a field I didn’t foresee myself working in.  

The prospects my psychology degree has given me are extremely exciting and I hope to be able to continue engaging with this field through further studies and into my career.  

The University of British Columbia ranks second in Canada and 16th in the world for psychology, in the QS World University Rankings 2022.