Why I chose to study Psychology
Seems like forever since I filled out my UCAS application, filtering through different universities and courses, unable to decide where to go and what to do. That was just under three years ago, and I eventually managed to make the right decision concerning course and location. I chose to study psychology at the University of Huddersfield.
But this almost wasn’t the case. I remember being torn between completely separate realities of psychology or marine biology. Looking back, I’m not sure how marine biology ended up in the race, but probably had something to do with my love for aquatic animals and the dream that one day I could ride a dolphin to work.
So, I started to think about it differently. Up to this point, I was thinking purely on the basis of ‘what would I be best at?’ and ‘what job I could get on the other side?’.
I decided to change my mindset to simply ‘what would I enjoy most?’, trying to not focus on life after university. Once I asked myself that question objectively, all the dots started to join up, and pointed a giant arrow towards psychology. It was the only subject in 15 years of education I couldn’t stop putting my hand up in and never moaned about once. Thinking back, I don’t know how I didn’t come to that conclusion earlier, but suspect it was due to the pressure of making the right decision and our head of sixth form constantly reminding us that ‘this decision will impact your life forever’.
How great is my Movember attempt?!
Once I had decided on my subject, it was time to choose which university to study at. I had been to a few open days at universities up and down the country, but the only one that stuck out for me was Huddersfield.
At first, I was unaware Huddersfield had a university, and the only things I knew about Huddersfield were the football and rugby teams. But after I learned of its extensive Psychology Department, I quickly signed up to an Open Day. On paper, Huddersfield was a strong contender to be one of my top picks, due to its high postgraduate employment rate and teaching quality. But the overall feel of the University confirmed to me, that this was where I wanted to be. From the poetry carved into the side of the Richard Steinitz Building, to students casually throwing a frisbee back and forth on campus, the reason Huddersfield felt different than any other university was because it felt alive.
Fast forward three years, and I still feel the same way walking through campus. Writing this blog, I feel incredibly lucky that after all the stress of deciding what course and which university to choose, I ended up on a course I love, in an area I love.
All the staff are friendly and supportive, which is great for someone like me, who is forever sending email after email about anything from assessments to further reading suggestions.
I’ve made some lifelong friends on the course and continue to be impressed by the University, even three years on. To anyone considering coming to Huddersfield, I couldn’t recommend it enough. You’ll not only fall in love with the University but the town itself.
Check out our Psychology BSc(Hons) course.
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