Psychologists don't just help people with deep emotional problems. They help people who are unhappy in their lives or who can't cope with day-to-day activities. Learning to deal with the psychological difficulties of your patients requires years of education, perhaps including a doctorate. Choosing among psychology schools to find the right one is vitally important because you may well be spending seven, eight, or even more years of your life in school. So, how do you choose the right school? Here are some factors to consider:
Cost: Can you afford the tuition at a psychology school? Before you decide that you can't, bear in mind that you have many options you can use to fund your education. Many organizations, particularly the United States government, make grants, scholarships, and loans available to prospective students who can show financial need or who show particular promise based on their community college or undergraduate grades. Go to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) Web site to fill out the FAFSA form. It allows you to apply simultaneously for a large number of grants and loans. Student loans will need to be paid back after graduation (though the interest is usually low), but grants and scholarships are essentially free, so be diligent in researching those possibilities.
Location: Do you need to find a psychology school close to home? Perhaps you have a job that you can't leave or you need to take care of your family. In that case, target psychology schools within easy commuting distance - no more than an hour each way. (Remember that you don't want to use up all of your studying time driving to and from classes.) If you choose to move away from home, decide if the school is in a place where you'd like to live. It's possible you'll decide to start your practice there.
Prestige: Do the psychology schools that you are considering have strong reputations? Would you want that name on your resume? Will it catch an employer's eye? The more prestigious a school is, the more expensive your education will be, but the prestige of the school will also help you establish yourself with patients and colleagues in a way that will more than pay for the extra expense.
Staff: Are the teachers at the psychology schools considered experts? Remember, these are the people who will teach you the skills that will make you a good psychologist or one that may struggle.
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