<p>I want to do graduate work in psychology, so how is the undergraduate program at UVA?
If it’s not terribly difficult, I might add math or statistics as a second major.</p>
<p>Also, how popular is the major at UVA? I heard that psych is considered the default major.</p>
<p>The graduate program is quite highly ranked–it’s number 21, but that’s a bit misleading, because a lot of departments are tied. UVA’s peers, according to USNews, include U of Chicago, UC Davis, Duke, and JHU. Anyhow, a strong PhD program is a good sign for serious students, because it suggests that there are faculty with strong research agendas to serve as mentors. Also, I’ve heard good things about quite a number of the “research stars” in the classroom: Angeline Lillard, Daniel Willingham, Jon Haidt, Charlotte Patterson.</p>
<p>In a big, popular major like psychology, you’re going to get a range of students, from those majoring in it because their friends are, to those who want to go on to graduate school. If you are in the latter group, get a good academic advisor in the department ASAP and listen to what he or she has to say. If you are aiming for a top graduate program you are going to want to do far more than the minimum. Any kind of research or honors program you could get yourself into would be a plus–not just because it constitutes a credential but because it would allow you to see whether you are capable of, and enjoy, the kind of things you’d be doing if you continued your education.</p>
<p>I would think that statistics would make an excellent double major with psychology.</p>
<p>Thanks for your insightful response jingle. I was surprised UChicago’s psychology department isn’t ranked much higher.</p>
<p>UC is better known for sociology.</p>