A giant brain spotted in Norwich
Psychology is sometimes shunned as a “worthless” degree. This may be partially due to the high volume of people completing it, or because a relatively large proportion of graduates end up in jobs that seem only loosely linked to the degree - see HECSU’s report on graduates’ employment for some interesting statistics on this!
However I strongly believe that any degree is worthwhile if you’re productive and try to learn new skills while at university. With this philosophy in mind, here are twenty ways to make the most of your psychology undergraduate degree!
1. Attend classes (and engage with them)
This seems like simple advice, but it’s so easy to slip into a routine of bad attendance and poor study habits. In reality, you should be treating your studies like a full-time job; aim for 35 hours of classes and studying every week, and at least 90% attendance. You shouldn’t skip out on work because you “don’t feel like it today”, so why treat university any differently?
You should also try to really engage with the content of your lectures. Take notes, spend time reviewing the content, and do whatever extra reading you can. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it come exam season!
2. Talk to staff
Going to lecturer’s office hours or discussing work with a seminar leader seems absolutely terrifying, but it’s so helpful. The staff in your department are there for a reason - because they love psychology! The vast majority are happy to help, and they all have excellent knowledge of their field, so don’t be scared to approach them. You’ll also get the added bonus of networking, which is very important if you’ll need references in the future.
3. Take part in research
It’s likely that you’ll be asked to take part in research as part of your degree. It’s tempting to do “easy” studies which just involve questionnaires, but I’d recommend trying out a range of methods to see what they’re like from the participants’ viewpoint. If you have the chance to take part in EEG or fMRI studies, absolutely do it! It’s also helpful to see what’s happening outside of your university. Websites such as Prolific* can be great for earning a little bit of extra cash while taking part in other universities’ research.
4. Get a part-time job
This may seem obvious but it really helps! I’ve found that getting relevant positions is much easier if you’re already working or have previous experience of working, regardless of what that work is. You might even be able to find part-time work which is linked to your future career; some part-time care work, support work and tutoring roles are available.
5. Volunteer for a charity
If you’re struggling to find a relevant job then volunteering can help. Charities are always looking for volunteers to help with their services, so look up what is local to you and what is relevant to your future career. If you’re interested in mental health, you could enquire at your local Samaritans, Nightline, Rethink Mental Illness or Mind.
6. Join a work experience scheme
Most universities will offer a work experience scheme which can place you in a local psychology service for one day a week. This is a great way to get more insight into the way that psychologists work in different fields, and help prevent you getting disappointed if you decide to pursue a career that isn’t what you expect. It's even better if you can get a year-long placement as part of a "year in industry" programme.
7. Become a member of a society
Joining a student society through your university’s student union is a great way to make friends through socials, but it’s also an important way to network. One day you’ll be graduating and leaving university, but keeping in contact with peers who have similar interests can be really important. You might find job opportunities or meet interesting people through them!
8. Run for a committee position
Being on a society committee was a great experience for me! A committee position can improve your writing, teach you management and organisation skills, and can put you in contact with people from charities and organisations outside of the university. For example, I managed to make contacts at Animal Free Research UK and Animal Equality!
9. Keep reading books outside of your studies
Don’t focus entirely on journals! There are some really interesting psychology books out there, and a little bit of “pop psychology” never hurt. Entertaining and educational books can help you maintain enthusiasm for your degree. I like to use audiobooks so that I can listen while I do housework or travel.
10. Get experience conducting research
Your university might offer opportunities to shadow a researcher, or even conduct the research yourself. Take the chance to do this before your final year because it will make you feel a lot more confident when working on your final research project. You might even discover a passion for academia!
11. Attend an extra-curricular conference or workshop
This is another great way to network, but also to learn more about the world of psychology in applied settings. The British Psychological Society advertises free events fairly regularly in most major cities.
12. Get a diary
This seems silly, but trust me when I say it really helps. I use a bullet journal setup because I like having the flexibility with my diary. It really helps to have a solid grip of your classes, events and deadlines. You can also use it to track good habits and your mood.
13. Spend extra time on statistics
A solid understanding of statistics will really help you throughout your psychology degree. Sometimes lectures don’t ‘click’ and office hours don’t help, so remember it’s okay to look to external sources. There are some great theoretical explanations and SPSS walkthroughs on YouTube.
14. Start a blog
I may be biased with this one! But having a blog can be a great way to showcase your writing, content management and social media promotion skills. You could do a “research digest” blog where you write short pieces about studies you’ve read, or it could be something completely unrelated to psychology. Just remember that you’re more likely to be consistent if you choose a topic you genuinely care about.
15. Complete an online course
You deserve to have a break over summer, but what if you do nothing academic whatsoever? It’s easy to forget about studying but you need to maintain your skills in order to progress in the next year. Doing a free online course (such as on FutureLearn) is a great way to maintain your study skills while learning something new.
16. Learn a language
You could also stop your study skills from going rusty over summer by learning the basics of a language. Knowing a second language can also make you more employable, especially if you’re planning a career in HR or business psychology. You could also try to refresh your ability in a language you previously learned.
17. Spend your down time watching relevant videos
You can revise while sitting in bed! It’s okay to have an off-night if you’re struggling with exams or deadlines, but you can make this productive by watching educational YouTube videos or Netflix documentaries. You can see a list of my favourites here.
18. Submit to a peer-reviewed publication
This sounds a lot scarier than it actually is - peer-reviewed magazines are still peer-reviewed. For example, The Psychologist is always looking for contributors. They also have a quarterly student magazine which can be a great step-up to the full magazine or even a journal.
19. Don’t overwork yourself
It’s incredibly easy to dive straight into university life and dedicate 50+ hours a week to everything listed above, but working too hard can lead to burnout and mental health problems. Make sure not to overload yourself, and cut back on your responsibilities if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Remember that you have three years to achieve your goals for university so don’t put too much pressure on yourself! If you feel like your mental health may be deteriorating, please seek advice and talk to someone about it.
20. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
It’s hard to be productive if your body isn’t functioning at its best. Try to include exercise, healthy foods and enough sleep in your daily life. Make sure to use reputable sources when looking for lifestyle advice, as there is a lot of misinformation online.
While caffeinated drinks and sugary snacks are tempting (especially during deadlines) they make you feel worse in the long-run, so try to avoid them. One coffee a day won’t hurt, but five probably will!
I hope these tips help you use your time productively. If you have any more ideas, please leave them in the comments below!
1. Attend classes (and engage with them)
This seems like simple advice, but it’s so easy to slip into a routine of bad attendance and poor study habits. In reality, you should be treating your studies like a full-time job; aim for 35 hours of classes and studying every week, and at least 90% attendance. You shouldn’t skip out on work because you “don’t feel like it today”, so why treat university any differently?
You should also try to really engage with the content of your lectures. Take notes, spend time reviewing the content, and do whatever extra reading you can. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it come exam season!
2. Talk to staff
Going to lecturer’s office hours or discussing work with a seminar leader seems absolutely terrifying, but it’s so helpful. The staff in your department are there for a reason - because they love psychology! The vast majority are happy to help, and they all have excellent knowledge of their field, so don’t be scared to approach them. You’ll also get the added bonus of networking, which is very important if you’ll need references in the future.
3. Take part in research
It’s likely that you’ll be asked to take part in research as part of your degree. It’s tempting to do “easy” studies which just involve questionnaires, but I’d recommend trying out a range of methods to see what they’re like from the participants’ viewpoint. If you have the chance to take part in EEG or fMRI studies, absolutely do it! It’s also helpful to see what’s happening outside of your university. Websites such as Prolific* can be great for earning a little bit of extra cash while taking part in other universities’ research.
4. Get a part-time job
This may seem obvious but it really helps! I’ve found that getting relevant positions is much easier if you’re already working or have previous experience of working, regardless of what that work is. You might even be able to find part-time work which is linked to your future career; some part-time care work, support work and tutoring roles are available.
5. Volunteer for a charity
If you’re struggling to find a relevant job then volunteering can help. Charities are always looking for volunteers to help with their services, so look up what is local to you and what is relevant to your future career. If you’re interested in mental health, you could enquire at your local Samaritans, Nightline, Rethink Mental Illness or Mind.
6. Join a work experience scheme
Most universities will offer a work experience scheme which can place you in a local psychology service for one day a week. This is a great way to get more insight into the way that psychologists work in different fields, and help prevent you getting disappointed if you decide to pursue a career that isn’t what you expect. It's even better if you can get a year-long placement as part of a "year in industry" programme.
7. Become a member of a society
Joining a student society through your university’s student union is a great way to make friends through socials, but it’s also an important way to network. One day you’ll be graduating and leaving university, but keeping in contact with peers who have similar interests can be really important. You might find job opportunities or meet interesting people through them!
8. Run for a committee position
Being on a society committee was a great experience for me! A committee position can improve your writing, teach you management and organisation skills, and can put you in contact with people from charities and organisations outside of the university. For example, I managed to make contacts at Animal Free Research UK and Animal Equality!
9. Keep reading books outside of your studies
Don’t focus entirely on journals! There are some really interesting psychology books out there, and a little bit of “pop psychology” never hurt. Entertaining and educational books can help you maintain enthusiasm for your degree. I like to use audiobooks so that I can listen while I do housework or travel.
10. Get experience conducting research
Your university might offer opportunities to shadow a researcher, or even conduct the research yourself. Take the chance to do this before your final year because it will make you feel a lot more confident when working on your final research project. You might even discover a passion for academia!
11. Attend an extra-curricular conference or workshop
This is another great way to network, but also to learn more about the world of psychology in applied settings. The British Psychological Society advertises free events fairly regularly in most major cities.
12. Get a diary
This seems silly, but trust me when I say it really helps. I use a bullet journal setup because I like having the flexibility with my diary. It really helps to have a solid grip of your classes, events and deadlines. You can also use it to track good habits and your mood.
13. Spend extra time on statistics
A solid understanding of statistics will really help you throughout your psychology degree. Sometimes lectures don’t ‘click’ and office hours don’t help, so remember it’s okay to look to external sources. There are some great theoretical explanations and SPSS walkthroughs on YouTube.
14. Start a blog
I may be biased with this one! But having a blog can be a great way to showcase your writing, content management and social media promotion skills. You could do a “research digest” blog where you write short pieces about studies you’ve read, or it could be something completely unrelated to psychology. Just remember that you’re more likely to be consistent if you choose a topic you genuinely care about.
15. Complete an online course
You deserve to have a break over summer, but what if you do nothing academic whatsoever? It’s easy to forget about studying but you need to maintain your skills in order to progress in the next year. Doing a free online course (such as on FutureLearn) is a great way to maintain your study skills while learning something new.
16. Learn a language
You could also stop your study skills from going rusty over summer by learning the basics of a language. Knowing a second language can also make you more employable, especially if you’re planning a career in HR or business psychology. You could also try to refresh your ability in a language you previously learned.
17. Spend your down time watching relevant videos
You can revise while sitting in bed! It’s okay to have an off-night if you’re struggling with exams or deadlines, but you can make this productive by watching educational YouTube videos or Netflix documentaries. You can see a list of my favourites here.
18. Submit to a peer-reviewed publication
This sounds a lot scarier than it actually is - peer-reviewed magazines are still peer-reviewed. For example, The Psychologist is always looking for contributors. They also have a quarterly student magazine which can be a great step-up to the full magazine or even a journal.
19. Don’t overwork yourself
It’s incredibly easy to dive straight into university life and dedicate 50+ hours a week to everything listed above, but working too hard can lead to burnout and mental health problems. Make sure not to overload yourself, and cut back on your responsibilities if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Remember that you have three years to achieve your goals for university so don’t put too much pressure on yourself! If you feel like your mental health may be deteriorating, please seek advice and talk to someone about it.
20. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
It’s hard to be productive if your body isn’t functioning at its best. Try to include exercise, healthy foods and enough sleep in your daily life. Make sure to use reputable sources when looking for lifestyle advice, as there is a lot of misinformation online.
While caffeinated drinks and sugary snacks are tempting (especially during deadlines) they make you feel worse in the long-run, so try to avoid them. One coffee a day won’t hurt, but five probably will!
I hope these tips help you use your time productively. If you have any more ideas, please leave them in the comments below!
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