Being a Psychology Student isn’t Easy: Advice For Success from Upper-Year Students

As much as one tries to prepare for the transition from high school to university, there is only so much one can be ready for. Coming from a fourth year, I can confirm that I was unsure of what to expect when it came to pursuing a degree in psychology, and had I known more then than I do now, the past few years would have been a lot more trouble-free. There is no doubt that the first and second years of university, especially as a psychology major, can be tough. However, in an attempt to make the experience smoother sailing, third and fourth year students have provided personal experiences and advice they would like to pass on to younger students seeking some guidance. We’ll be taking a deep dive into things students wish they knew before university, difficulties they faced and overcame, and personal advice they would like to give you!

What do you wish you had known before starting university?

I was glad to see that it wasn’t just me who thought pursuing a degree in psychology would be the end of math class (it was a large part of why I chose the major). Some students wish they knew more about how much statistics and research methods are involved in psychology, especially if you are completing an Honour Specialization, where statistics is required in second and third year. Of course, it can be daunting to have to take such classes when math and statistics are not your strong suit, but I would agree with other students that knowing about it prior to university would provide some more time to mentally process the fact that you will be taking it. At the end of the day, it is something you need to familiarize yourself with to do well, and the more you can practice and get comfortable with statistics, the more you will benefit later on in your academics and career.

A majority of students wish they knew more about how important research experience is in building on the methods learned in class and developing the skills needed to produce research in the future. Everyone says you need to join a lab, and while it may seem like an unnecessary thing to think about early on in your program, contributing to research as an RA early on allows you to try out different labs to discover what you enjoy researching, an asset when deciding on post-grad programs. Seeking research experiences may require networking with professors to gain such opportunities, and many are not familiar with it or feel too nervous putting themselves out there. Asking professors you are familiar with from a course you have taken can be the first step to getting there. They can not only provide you with some advice on networking, but they can also tell you about opportunities available in labs!

Finally, some mentioned that declaring a major was not something they knew much about prior to university. Did you know that alongside a major or minor in psychology (BA or BSc), Western offers Honours Specialization BA, Honours Specialization BSc, and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience degrees? I can tell you that I did not know that coming into university, and not everyone will. The different degrees focus on different facets of psychology, and depending on what you would like to pursue post-grad, like completing a masters in counselling psychology, you may have to complete an Honours Specialization as opposed to a major. Or, a major might be the exact degree you need for the career you have planned! It will differ for each person, yet having knowledge about what’s available can open the door to new opportunities you may not have known about.

Again, there is lots to think about and consider. Hopefully, you already have some knowledge that some students did not have prior to university. If you are in the same boat that other students were in and this is your first time hearing about some of these, keep reading and use this as an opportunity to start asking questions and look into it!

What are some difficulties you experienced, and how did you overcome them?

Making friends can be a daunting and difficult task that the majority of students experience in their first year. One student overcame this by pushing themselves to be the person who reaches out and makes the effort, because if you don’t, who will? This applies to being in a residence, too, where it can be even more intimidating. A key reminder is that making friends doesn’t happen overnight, and it requires consistent communication and openness (again, effort is crucial). Students also found that joining clubs helped them overcome the difficulty of making friends, as you are guaranteed to interact with people who have at least one similar interest as you. That being said, students found that keeping an open mind about who you make friends with connects you to even more people, and you may find yourself becoming good friends with individuals who have different interests than you. O-week, Res Day, and Faculty Day were some of the best opportunities to make new friends! Lastly, don’t forget that everyone is a student, and we are all in the same boat. Putting in the effort to make friends can start off by simply waving at someone and asking, “Hi! What’s your name?”

A difficulty some students shared that I personally related to was reaching out to professors when they needed help. It is no secret that some of the best students are always at office hours and getting assistance from TAs and professors when needed. What we don’t talk about enough is that asking for help is not an easy feat! Not many people can confess to the fact that they may not know something. However, simply recognizing that you are not expected to know everything is a major step toward overcoming the difficulty of seeking help. At the end of the day, professors and TA’s are there to aid students, and they are always happy to provide support. Many students found that moving past the nervousness to ask questions allowed them to reach out more often, when needed. Keep in mind that there is lots of knowledge and valuable insight to be shared. If not from a professor or TA, peers can provide aid and insight to each other when feeling stumped in a course or in need of mentoring, and some of the best ways to reach out or seek assistance is through Western’s Peer Leader/Mentorship Programs. You can even reach out to the WPA–there are many resources to share!

Finally, potentially one of the biggest difficulties faced in the first year is finding balance, staying on top of work, and finding the best way to study that benefits you. We do not talk about the jump from high school to university enough when it comes to the shift in workload. You go from maybe one assignment a week to four suddenly due on the same day, all while working, meeting other deadlines and making time for commitments. Among many students, blocking out your time (google calendar will become your best friend) is quite beneficial as it gives you a scope of where you need to be throughout the day/week, and ensures you are spending your time productively to stay on top of it all. Figuring out the way you find balance and learn best may not be solidified until one's second year, if not third. In psychology, multiple-choice exams that make up a good chunk of your final grade are very common, but it is not the easiest thing to study for if you’re not used to it, requiring that you develop a way to effectively study to do well. Making flashcards with Quizlet and Anki helps some students study, but for others, pen and paper notes might be the best approach. It takes trial and error, but you will eventually get there! Some more ways to aid studying are to make a study group with friends and fellow classmates, or to find a spot on campus that you can rely on for locking in to study. Switching it up here and there can be great, too, and it lets you explore more of our amazing campus!

It can be refreshing to learn that other students share similar experiences, and reassuring to know you are the only one going through it. I believe that students do not talk about the student experience enough, yet if we were to do it more often, we could gain so much more insight on being a university student. Students who shared their experiences to create this blog left tips all throughout their responses, and I hope that by reading through, you were able to jot down some things to try moving forward. Below, each student has provided a piece of advice they would like to personally pass on to you to make the most out of your time in university!

What’s some advice you would like to give to first and second-year students?

• Becoming a first year representative/exec or even a general member in a club is the perfect way to meet people with similar interests!

• Volunteering is a great opportunity that requires no prior experience and allows you to gain valuable skills that relate to the field.

• Go at your own pace and do what you need to do to learn. While reaching out to professors when you need help is encouraged, it may not always be what you need. University is all about learning about how you succeed and what you excel in. Take your time to find that out!

• Get involved with clubs, put yourself out there, and look for labs early! Try all the opportunities that being in university has to offer.

• Talk to upper-year students and reach out to professors and TAs; everyone is here to support you! Whether it's professors or upper years, everyone is or has been a student in the same shoes. They are a great source to gain advice from and navigate things related to a course or anything related to school and psychology in general!