Making The Most Of Your Undergraduate Experience
As aspiring psychologists, we can often find amazing motivation from wanting to do the doctorate which drives us forward. This drive however can make us worry as early on as our undergraduate, 'am I doing enough?', 'what I can I do now to help me when I apply?'.
A fellow assistant psychologist told me that an undergraduate student in their first year had called her, for advice on the doctorate and expressed worries about getting the experience. This blog will explore making the most of your undergraduate both academically and socially.
Social life
As we know, our brains are amazing things and while our left side is handling all the logic, reading and lectures, let the right side let their hair down. University and studying shouldn’t take over and deprive us of our social life. University is a great time to explore our identity, meet new people and experience new things. By social life this doesn’t have to simply be nights out and drinking games. Social life could include getting involved in societies, spending time with flat mates, quiz nights…
Get involved
If there are any campaigns or events running at your university, volunteers are often wanted. I highly recommend getting involved with any events and campaigns that take your interest. These can be great experience for your CV but also put you around people with similar interests. No events you are interested in or see a gap? Why not speak to your university about setting up an event? When I was at university a friend of mine helped organise a student mental health awareness event in collaboration with the university. It was a great event where there were guest speakers, group discussions, informational leaflets…
Volunteering/Employment
Volunteering can be so valuable to getting experience in mental health/ psychology such as in an honorary assistant psychologist role, child line volunteer role, voluntary research assistant role, volunteering with charities and more.
Some of you may be unable to spend time volunteering and may need to find paid employment - let's be honest university can be expensive. If you can find a job in psychology, healthcare or mental health, this is amazing but other jobs can also provide valuable skills. Below is a list of some jobs you may apply for or work and some of the experience these roles can give:
Bars/ Restaurants
Working under time pressures/ fast paced role
Experience with the public
Experience managing complaints empathetically
Understanding of and making adaptions e.g., alternative menus, accessible venues/tables…
Childcare
Experience working with children and their parents
Understanding of and making adaptions e.g., dietary requirements and additional needs
Experience using and understanding safeguarding and other legislation in practice
Experience of MDT (multidisciplinary team working) – this may include linking in with GPs, schools or health visitors.
Shops
Experience with the public
Experience managing complaints empathetically
BPS – EPA Paid Actor for PWP Role plays
Experience role playing psychotherapy scenarios for assessment and treatment
Experience
Activity Worker
Experience offering therapeutic interventions for clients (this could include crafts or sports…)
Experience managing risk to self, risk to others and other risk (such as substances) (again this may be role dependant)
Experience working with clients (may want to specify in applications if this is a specific client group or multiple)
Experience using legislation and policies in practice (such as safeguarding, mental health act assessment, human rights act…)
Experience of MDT (multidisciplinary team working)
Clinical record keeping & use of clinical systems
Healthcare Assistant/ Support Worker
Experience offering therapeutic interventions for clients (this could include crafts or sports…)
Experience monitoring physical health and awareness of the relationship this has with mental health (this may be role dependent)
Experience managing risk to self, risk to others and other risk (such as substances) (again this may be role dependant)
Experience working with clients (may want to specify in applications if this is a specific client group or multiple)
Experience using legislation and policies in practice (such as safeguarding, mental health act assessment, human rights act…)
Experience of MDT (multidisciplinary team working)
Clinical record keeping & use of clinical systems
Research Assistant
Experience working with qualified researchers
Experience using statistical/ data analysis systems
Experience and understanding of academic writing
Your name may appear in the publication of the research
Grades
When at university our grades can feel like this weight looming over us. Often, we can set ourselves to a standard which leads us to feeling overwhelmed and disheartened if they are lower than expected. The first thing to remember is to be compassionate to ourselves and to try not to place excessive value on grades. I remember when I graduated, I was so happy just to pass my degree and then the fear began to set in as I realised, I was graduating with a 2:2. We often get told ‘you need a 2:1 to get a good job’ and often job adverts or universities request a 2:1.
I left my degree after graduating and decided to move on to a masters. I was worried that they wanted a 2:1 and I didn’t have this. I emailed the university to explain my passion and explain the circumstances that impacted upon my grades. This email reached the course lead, who emailed me and said that my passion was clear and that they would offer me a place on the course. Obviously if we are under qualified, we may not get the job or on the course but if you have a passion and additional experience, I recommend putting yourself out there and ‘don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game’ – Cinderella story (showing my age there)
I graduated - now what do I do?
As graduation approaches, it can be helpful to think of a future plan. This plan may include time away, considering and applying for employment, or may include applying for additional qualifications such as a master’s degree or qualification of some other kind such as CPD courses or diplomas.
I feel like the best advice I can give here, is to use this time following graduation to follow your passions, or to use the time to try different experiences, such as working in different areas.
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