Am I totally lacking direction? Psych vs. journalism.

[LearnedHand]

Well...long story short, I plan on going back to school to become a psychologist. BUT...I've always enjoyed writing/editing, am good at it, and wrote for my college's paper. I'm currently working as a secretary at a hospital. It's easy, but boring as hell. I just saw an "Editorial Assistant" position open in our local weekly. It's mostly secretarial stuff, but some writing/editing is involved, as well as the potential to 'move up' - unlike my current position.

Should I apply? I'd need to get a car to drive there everyday, but it may be worth it. I haven't seen an entry-level position like this since I've lived here. It's not related to my 'end goal', but it's better than what I'm doing now.

Ah, maybe I should just go back to school next year and forget about this whole new-job thing. But journalism is a fantasy for me that will not die, and everyone I know is always telling me to go into writing. Help!

[Heroic1]

I say give it a try and apply for the job. I'm an '05 psych grad who has not used my degree (at least not yet) and won't for another year at least. I too love to write and sometimes have to tell myself that I made the right choice not going into journalism...anyway, if it doesn't work out you can always come back to your original plan. I've decided that whether or not I move on in psych isn't that important, even though I still find it fascinating...there are plenty of practical lessons in daily life.

[winneythepooh7]

There is still plenty you can do with writing in the psychology/human services fields.

[capella]

Does your journalism fantasy include working for 25K a year or so for a long while? If I had to do it again, I would not have studied journalism. I would have gotten a degree in something with a lot more practical career training and growth, $$ potential.

Do you know how much this position pays? I would venture to guess the salary isn't listed. If it's a stepping stone, and it's what you really want to do then... I guess sure go for it.

But journalism really isn't a field to go into if you don't have the passion for it. It's really not a tide-me-over kind of career.

I would say if your long-term career goal is to be a psychologist, working in a hospital will probably get you more connections and opportunities than journalism.

I would also say that working at a weekly paper is probably not the growth potential you're looking for. There really isn't a LOT of room for growth and you'd have to be in it for the long haul. I would recommend it only if you were trying to make it into a daily or something more prestigious.

[wordsmith]

There's no way it pays much, if that's a consideration. It's not for everyone, but if it's just something you'd wanna do on a lark, it may.

[CTGirl]

There's no way it pays much, if that's a consideration. It's not for everyone, but if it's just something you'd wanna do on a lark, it may.

Psychology doesn't pay all that much either. I'm in the highest-paying branch of psychology, and I certainly dont make that much.

[capella]

Yeah, but most weeklies pay in the low 20's. Journalism definitely pays less, especially if you aren't going to work your way to a top paper. And not everyone who even wants to do that are going to be able too.

[LearnedHand]

Thanks, guys. I've decided not to apply. I think I will try...really try...to go back to undergrad for psych classes. I'm also going to try to start that book I've always been saying that I'll write someday...maybe that will get it 'out of my system'. Thanks for the replies.:)