Now that you’ve read all about a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Griffith, it’s time to get into the meaty bits! What’s good about this degree, and what is a little more challenging?
We’re going to break it all down so that you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. We had a chat with Allie, a Griffith Psych student and she’ll help us navigate all the day to day things you should know about this degree.
Check it out!
Why should you study a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith?
Top 3 Pros of a Psychology Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Psychology Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith?
This is an important question, because taking on a uni degree is a big commitment. You need to know that there’s a reason behind what you’re doing.
“[There’s] great guidance, assistance and mentorship from staff!” Allie told us.
She also said that this degree is a great balance between practical, counselling-based subjects, and science-based subjects.
“[That] is what makes it so interesting,” she said. “The lecturers and tutors will provide the guidance required for what’s required for that particular subject.”
That’s a pretty great review to get us started. Let’s break it down a little more.
Top 3 Pros of a Psychology degree
#1: Transferable knowledge
There’s two elements to this pro. First, by taking on a Bachelor of Psychology, you will be setting yourself up a career in many diverse areas.
“Psychology is used in pretty much everything now, from HR to environmental research,” Allie said.
Because this is a degree that gives you knowledge on things like counselling, active listening and people management, you are likely to find a job in the area you enjoy after graduating.
Psychology also gives you the scientific backing to understand a lot of everyday issues. Regardless of the kind of place you work, your knowledge will help you to navigate complex issues like corporate people management or more acute mental health triggers. You can be an asset to your workplace without becoming a ‘traditional’ psychologist and sitting down in an office to chat with clients!
The other element to this pro is that you will have knowledge that is useful in everyday life! Because you are empathetic and know how to listen, having a psych degree often helps people be better friends. You’ll know how to ask the right questions and care for those around you, sometimes providing professional opinion.
#2: Practical skills
This pro is a carry-on from the last! By studying a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith, you will have incredibly practical skills that can be used at any time.
One thing some students struggle with is finding ways to implement their study in everyday life. With this degree, you will be able to use what you have learnt in ordinary situations.
More than that, Psychology is a hefty workload, so the study tools you learn will also be invaluable. You will likely come out with better time management, attention to detail, and an ability to sort through large amounts of information quickly. Even if you take on a career that is completely different to Psych, these skills will be useful.
Allie also told us that the online COVID-19 format (which, let’s be real, probably isn’t going away anytime soon) has been helpful for learning employable discipline skills. “The [online] mode teaches autonomy, which is a valuable skill as an employee,” she said.
#3: Meeting like-minded peers
As we talked about in the last article, the culture around study can be really important. It’s often the make or break to enjoying a degree.
Thankfully, by studying at Griffith you will be surrounding yourself with ambitious peers, who think in a similar way to you and value learning.
You’re likely to meet a lot of friends within your course that you can spend time with after class. However, if you’d like more structured socialisation, there are ways to do that too.
“SRC is brilliant — they provide a safe space to discuss issues with your classes and university. [There’s also] Griffith Psychology Study — they do group meet ups with mentors,” Allie explained.
Top 3 Cons of a Psychology degree
#1: Online delivery
Allie explained that though the online delivery has been helpful for teaching skills, it’s also got some downsides. “[It can be] hard for high achieving students,” she said.
There’s a couple of reasons for this. First, you aren’t surrounded by your peers to lift you up when classes become challenging. It can feel as if you’re working alone and therefore you may be less motivated.
It’s also easier to burn out if you’re particularly high achieving and doing all your work online, because there isn’t a study-life distinction. If you find yourself in this category, try to work outside of your bedroom and set clear uni times throughout the week.
Allie also said that practising self-care during uni breaks is a big one.
#2: Limited social life
Because Psychology is a hefty degree with a lot of study time, it can be hard to prioritise social life outside of uni. Keeping up with old friends may be challenging.
“Scheduling your social life is hard, but the hard work pays off in the long run!” Allie told us.
If you feel torn between having regular friendships and studying, there are a few things you can do. First, you can make a consistent study routine (this one is for HSC, but is transferable to uni too!). You can also give yourself one or two designated times each week that you reserve for seeing friends.
And remember, just like Allie said, the hard work pays off. Uni is only a few years of your life.
#3: Sometimes… you just want to watch Netflix
This one is relatable for all of us! As the uni semester builds, it can be hard to find time to do the little things you’d love to do. Nothing says this like a build up of Netflix shows you want to binge.
The reality is, you just can’t do everything. Sometimes extra downtime needs to wait.
“[Knowing that] Netflix shows can wait until after the semester, or at least until your assignment is done, is key,” Allie said. “I keep a list of the shows I want to watch, and binge and sleep at the end of semester!”
Any regrets?
“Absolutely not!” Allie told us.
It’s great to hear such a stellar review about Psych at Griffith! It’s also important to remember, though, that everyone is going to have different experiences. There may be things Allie has found hard that you won’t, and vice versa.
The best advice to have a regret free degree like Allie has is to get involved early and stay on top of your study!
What do you wish you had known before starting a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith?
“That the effort you put into your grades will absolutely pay off!” Allie shared.
As we have talked about, a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith can be a challenging degree. Allie said that she wished she had better study techniques, early. This will cut down work time and help you to “get those 7s” (which are HDs at Griffith).
One of the best ways to find great study techniques is by getting in touch with Griffith Academic Support. They have lots of resources which can help you learn more effectively. Chatting to your peers and seeing what works for them can be useful too!
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
“The support provided by teachers!” Allie said.
The work and partnership of academic teachers can be absolutely crucial to achieving highly within your degree. Allie told us that the staff at Griffith are really great for providing assistance, and are usually willing to chat with you during business hours.
You can know that if you have questions, need professional references, or just need some extra support, your teachers will be there for you.
What inspired you to choose a Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith?
Allie was really driven to the social value of this degree. It can help you improve the lives of those you work amongst.
“Psychology is a valuable aspect for humans, it allows you to not only learn how to effectively help/assist people through life, but you learn a lot about yourself in the process,” she said.
What are the possible career paths?
As we have said several times in this article, Psych students are in high demand! There are many different fields you may choose to get a job in. Some specific work titles are:
- Addictions counsellor
- Workforce manager in business
- Wellbeing officer
- HR management
- Aged care services
- Defence force or police mentoring
- Children’s safety officer
- Disability support worker
Time to wrap this article up! Now that you know all there is to know about a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Griffith, you will be well on your way to deciding if it’s the right degree for you.
Lucinda Garbutt-Young hopes to one day be writing for a big-shot newspaper… or maybe just for a friendly magazine in the arts sector. Right now, she is enjoying studying a Bachelor of Public Communication (Public Relations and Journalism) at UTS while she writes on the side. She also loves making coffees for people in her job as a barista, and loves nothing more than a sun shower.
