WILL YOU SUCCEED IN PSYCHOLOGY?

To determine whether you will cope with this new area of study, it is vitally important that you
look at the description of the courses and the demands they place upon students.
Descriptions can be found on????
In addition, If you are considering studying Psychology at an advanced level it is important that you examine the questions below and think carefully about your answers.

• Are you thinking about studying Psychology because you think it is going to be a nice soft
  option, a 'pushover' after your GCSE's?
• Are you thinking about doing Psychology because you think it will sound cool to be taking this
  subject? Do you think that people will be impressed by it?
• Are you wondering about taking the course because it would make a good fourth subject?
• Are you considering Psychology because other people are telling you that it is in your interests
  to do so?

If the answers to any of the above questions are 'YES', then you are unlikely to cope with the
demands of the course.

Now have a look at the next set of questions you need to put to yourself.

• Are you thinking about taking psychology because you have a genuine interest in human behaviour
  and would like to further your understanding about what makes people do what they do?
• Do you want to study Psychology because you know that it is important as an 'A'-level
  qualification for the subject you intend to study at university?
• Are you prepared to commit yourself to an intensive programme of study, which will necessitate
  ongoing hard work both inside and outside the classroom?

If the answer to all these questions is 'YES', then it is highly probable that you will cope with
the course.

To succeed in Advanced Level Psychology you will need:

• COMMITMENT AND FOCUS
  You have to be motivated to work and capable of working inside and outside the classroom.
  Attendance at all lessons is mandatory. Homework is an integral part of the course and has to be completed twice weekly to consolidate and extend learning.
  
  
• AN INTEREST IN HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
  You need to be genuinely interested in scientifically understanding human behaviour. Do you want to know, for example, how to interview eyewitnesses to maximise the amount of accurate information they can recall? Do you want to know the importance of the infant's first relationship? Would you like to know more about research findings on the impact that day-care carries for a child's development, or about the forces which come together to precipitate eating disorders?
  
  
• ACADEMICALLY ABLE
  You need to be academically able. Without good grades at GCSE level you will struggle with the demanding concepts that are at the heart of the Psychology course. Human behaviour is complex and the laws governing our actions reflect this complexity. You will need to be able to understand these ideas fully.

THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO
EMBARK ON THIS DEMANDING, BUT REWARDING 'A'- LEVEL COURSE