Originally posted by Sandistur:
I'm currently torn between choosing between doing
accountancy and psychology for my university course.
I have a passion for psychology, esp counseling since a young age.
Have been encouraged by both peers and seniors to carry out my
dream cuz they feel i'm talented in the area of undertstanding
emotions. It really satisfies me a lot being able to help others
through their problems.
However, I fear the consequence of not being able to get a steady
job esp in our realistic society if i do not complete the required
phd. I've come to the realisation tat I may not earn enough to
support a family in the future. How to offer proper help to others
if I cannot handle my own life.
On the other hand, I am also very strong in the technical expetise
required in areas, for example accounting. However, my interests do
not lie a single bit in the area of the competitive business world.
Money can be made in this area, but I have doubts my heart would be
able to carry me through.
I've made a temporary choice of majoring in Accounting and taking a
minor in Psychology in NTU. But i'm still having many sleepless
nights becuz I keep feeling tat I am going against my heart.
[b]Anyone who has done psychology b4 please help me clear any
misconceptions that I am having
Esp abt the area of job
prospects. Will I be financially unstable if I dont do my
masters/phd? I also do not have the means to study overseas.
Thanks, your sincere advise would mean a lot to me. I do not want
to make the wrong decision.[/b]
If you want to be in
the counselling field and if you look at the monetary returns, to
be truthful, it pays peanut and you will be demoralise by the what
I will be telling you.
For a counselling psychologist, you probably have to study until
Masters. If you pursue your education overseas, everything will
probably cost you about 200k to 300k, depending on where you go.
The education plus, say 2 years of working experience will easily
spent about 7 years before you could come back to Singapore and be
a registered Psychologist (currently, I think there is about only
80+ registered Psychologist with the local psychological
association)
100% of your client - 20% are generally rich or could afford to pay
you well. The other 80%, which are the ones in crisis, often don't
have and not willing to pay so much. The psychologist (he went
private after 15 years) I spoke to told me that he sometimes have
to go FOC, $20, $30, $40 or $50 per session. $80 - $100 and people
start to complain. You got to understand the counselling package
you are buying, is different from say Expression or SlimFit - you
probably can see some
results after the beauty therapy, but for counselling, you can give
a thousand session and some people still remain the same.
You probably get paid better if you are working in Government
sector or involved in other form of psychology - military
psychology? Sports psychology? Business Psychology? A lecturer? One
hour of lecture, you can probably earn $100-$150 per hour?
(Compared to one counselling case, which you spent maybe say 3
hours and your average returns is say $50?)
And if you look at the amount you spent on your education, with the
same investment say in Accounting, your earning will differ ALOT,
say you become an auditor in a respectable firm.
And to make things worst, counselling is VERY draining for the
soul. You face all sort of people: People with marital affairs,
relationship problems, suicidal cases, addiction,
army-wanna-chao-keng case, gay person and all sort of thingy.
On top of that, you still have to study and upkeep your
professional knowledge - It carries with you for life.
P.S: Only the intangible keeps counseller going. The psychologist I
spoke to wanted to move into corporate business. It pays better and
is easier on the soul. Give a stress management talk - it earns
much more than doing counselling cases and is so much easier.
P.S: What's your astrological sign? 
Cheers
