“What is the process of transferring from another university into Western’s psychology program like?”
The answer to this question will differ between every transfer student. Based on your transfer credits, completed vs. non-completed prerequisites, and when you plan to start the new program (i.e. summer or fall semester), your situation will look very different.
As such, we HIGHLY recommend speaking to Ramona Fudge, the undergraduate program advisor for the department of psychology, before starting or even before accepting your offer. She will be able to walk you through what prerequisites you have already completed based on transferred credits, what you need to do in the upcoming semester based on what module you’d like to pursue, and so much more.
There is a chance, again depending on transfer credits, that you might need special permissions to enroll in certain classes. Ramona is the person to contact for that, too!
“What should I take into consideration when choosing an undergraduate psychology program?”
The decision you make will primarily be based on what path you want to follow after you graduate (e.g. enter the field, apply to graduate school, etc.). The following items might help you narrow down your decision:
The types of classes offered
While most undergraduate psychology programs parallel each other, universities may vary in the type of classes and amount of those classes. For example, Western has plenty of social and clinical psychology classes, but not too many forensic ones.
2. Statistics and Research Methods classes
If you’re looking to pursue graduate school, you’ll need some experience in both of these topics. However, just like graduate programs vary in the amount of credits they require in each subject, undergraduate programs will vary in the amount they offer. For example, while Western’s Honours Specialization module offers 2 credits in statistics, Carleton offers 1. And this is totally ok! Again, it depends on the graduate school’s requirements as well as how much experience you would like to have in these subjects before pursuing further education.
3. Research
If you plan on pursuing research in a particular field, make sure to check out the kinds of labs the university offers. Often times you can tell where they specialize based on the types of classes they offer, but make sure to visit the schools’ websites to find exactly the type of research professors conduct.
“Does it matter what university I choose?"
Yes and no. In principle, psychology programs (at least around Canada) tend to have a similar curriculum: at least one statistics class, at least one research methods class, the opportunity to do a thesis or independent project, and a myriad of classes based on different topics in psychology. Therefore, if you know you like psychology but don't know what domain you like best/what career you want to pursue, most universities are a safe bet! But if you do know, then it's recommended to find a university that offers the classes you want to take, has research/labs you want to contribute to, or provides opportunities that would interest you the most (e.g. internships, placement, etc.)
"Is psychology right for me?"
Psychology is a very fascinating subject to study, but it can involve a lot of work. Here are a few traits/skills I noticed I had to have or had to develop when I transferred into psychology:
Strong writing skills - this matters regardless of whether or not you are going to be pursuing research as you will have to write your fair share of essays/assignments.
Organization/staying on top of things - most classes will require a ton of reading, and it can be easy to fall behind. Ensuring you plan ahead and prioritize tasks is something I find super helpful in managing content heavy courses.
Interpersonal skills - yes, even if you don't want to pursue psychotherapy or a career where you are working with people, interpersonal skills are crucial! Getting along with lab members, fellow volunteers, and even your classmates goes a long way in helping you build your network, but also in meeting great friends along the way.
A love for the subject - this may seem quite obvious, but having a passion for psychology will not only help you pass your classes, but it will also make them enjoyable! Of course, we all end up having to take a course or two where the subject matter isn't particularly intriguing, but with a love of psychology you might find yourself engaging with the content outside of the class just because you want to know more!