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I majored in Interdisciplinary Social Science - Sociology and Psychology. I loved it, and it remains my passion to this day. I have a minor in English.
My best advice would be to study your passion - what you love - as an undergraduate.
Specialize in graduate or professional school.
Sociology and Social Work are different majors. Different subject. Sociology is theoretical. Social Work is an applied field.
To work is Social Work, you will need an MSW. Masters in Social Work.
You are not even sure that you want to be a Social Worker. That's a long way off.
I'd learn theory before practice.
Where in my thread did I say I wasn't sure if want to be a social worker?
All I said was since I'm already majoring in psychology, should I just avoid doubling up on Sociology and minor in something else instead?
So, this student should choose his major based on the topics of City Data threads?
The most useless thing I ever studied, for me personally, was Registered Nursing.
Why? I didn't love it. It was OK. So my career ended up being only 15 years long and I worked part time for much of that.
Nothing good ever come of trying to twist and contort ourselves into something we are not.
Over my life time, I have made more money using my gifts and talents that I did working as a somewhat reluctant nurse.
Why did I study nursing? So I could obtain a high paying job, Dumbest thing I ever did.
Please, City Data nurses, you know that I have great respect for what you do. I was just not cut out for nursing - or for any science oriented field.
Love what you do and money will follow,
I would say that depends upon the disparity between what you love to do, and how much you want to make.
If your passion is writing, then perhaps you can get a gig doing something that allows you to utilize your talents.
If your passion is playing jazz music, the $ definitely will NOT follow. Ever. So, you need to decide between playing music and struggling your whole life or picking a career that is OK to you and makes some stable $ while doing your passion on the side.
In the case of OP, I would assume he is going into Social Work because he genuinely wants to. Why would anybody who isn't semi-passionate about Social Work go into it? The pay is quite low. I'm sure he knows that.
I would say that depends upon the disparity between what you love to do, and how much you want to make.
If your passion is writing, then perhaps you can get a gig doing something that allows you to utilize your talents.
If your passion is playing jazz music, the $ definitely will NOT follow. Ever. So, you need to decide between playing music and struggling your whole life or picking a career that is OK to you and makes some stable $ while doing your passion on the side.
In the case of OP, I would assume he is going into Social Work because he genuinely wants to. Why would anybody who isn't semi-passionate about Social Work go into it? The pay is quite low. I'm sure he knows that.
Why does everyone assume that ALL Social Workers make a very low wage?
I feel like when people think of Social Workers, the first thing that comes to mind are the people who work for child services that make close to 40K a year (Which in fact is quite low, especially living in NYC). But Social Work has a very wide range; Specifically, I want to pursue a career in psychotherapy.
But one day I do want to own a nice house in a nice suburban neighborhood. Sometimes I contemplate dropping this major altogether, but there isn't really anything else I can do without being incredibly stressed.
Math = stress
Science= stress
English = TONS of work for LESS of what i would make in social work
I'm at a really awkward crossroads right now, and I don't know what to do. I thought I was so sure of myself but im not I suppose.
Last edited by Jonathanp219; 07-12-2013 at 02:06 PM..
Why does everyone assume that ALL Social Workers make a very low wage?
I feel like when people think of Social Workers, the first thing that comes to mind are the people who work for child services that make close to 40K a year (Which in fact is quite low, especially living in NYC). But Social Work has a very wide range; Specifically, I want to pursue a career in psychotherapy.
So young, so much living to do - I envy you.
My wife is a psychologist...PhD. She has a social worker or two in her practice. Their reimbursment rates aren't very high. And, why would I come to you for therapy when I can go to a psychologist? I'm not saying it isn't possible, of course it is but it's a weak education for a psychotherapist. You likely won't be among the competent professionals in that field and your caseload of patients will reflect that. If you want to help people with psychotherapy then consider taking a higher road.
Psychology is a tough field because everyone and their mother thinks it's up their alley. Then when they find out that first, getting into a good doctorate program is uber competative and second, if one gets in they realize it isn't what they thought it was. My wife is and was always brilliant, never scoring below the 99th percentile on any standardized test. She is cute and charming as well. That, mixed with some luck helped her get to where she is today. Be warned, a real psych doctoral program is very far from a touchy feely tell me about your mother kind of thing. There are of course PsyD's and things like that as well that you can look into. All of it really depends on your level of desire, commitment, intelligence, etc.
Why does everyone assume that ALL Social Workers make a very low wage?
I feel like when people think of Social Workers, the first thing that comes to mind are the people who work for child services that make close to 40K a year (Which in fact is quite low, especially living in NYC). But Social Work has a very wide range; Specifically, I want to pursue a career in psychotherapy.
But one day I do want to own a nice house in a nice suburban neighborhood. Sometimes I contemplate dropping this major altogether, but there isn't really anything else I can do without being incredibly stressed.
Math = stress
Science= stress
English = TONS of work for LESS of what i would make in social work
I'm at a really awkward crossroads right now, and I don't know what to do. I thought I was so sure of myself but im not I suppose.
That's kind of how the world is unfortunately. If you want reward, you have endure stress.
If you are picking a major based on comfortable pay and job security, I might argue that an MSW would be the wrong choice.
Regardless of what you pick as an undergraduate major, if you pefrom well, you should have some options at the end of it.
Math = stress
Science= stress
English = TONS of work for LESS of what i would make in social work
Academic math and science are ten times harder than the math and science you use in the work force. Engineers are doers, thinkers, problem solvers, crowd controllers, economists, organizers, meeting attenders, test setter uppers, report writers, and paper copiers.
Get in shape and hang out at the med school library - hook yourself a chick in med school.
I already have a girl, she's doing social work as well
like i said, im ****ed.
plus, last thing i want to do is mooch off my woman for the rest of my life
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Dumbest thing I ever did.
