Some experienced parents or educators might have advice on this. Today, an M.D. buddy of mine and I were chatting about how each of our DC16’s anticipated first year in college might go. I mentioned that D16 would probably take a Psychology 101 type course for her major. Oh no, my buddy says, Psych 101 tests are too hard and tricky. She strongly recommended D16 wait maybe until the 2nd year of college to take it.
I was really suprised by this advice for my daughter. I hadn’t thought Intro to Psych would be too difficult for an average college freshman. I also thought an into psych course would be a pre-req for others in her major and so be important to get done right away.
Any ideas if the warning I was given is valid? Of course, my D16 would discuss her course selections with her academic advisor once in college, but I don’t want to share this tip with the kid if its not reasonable.
Perhaps your MD buddy attended a college where introductory psychology was a difficult course, even though it generally does not appear to have that reputation. Indeed, many colleges accept a high enough AP psychology score in place of it, and AP psychology is not generally considered one of the more difficult AP courses.
Of course, if she is a pre-med like your MD buddy once was, she will probably be stressing over grades in every course (easy or hard), due to the high GPA needed to even have a chance of being admitted to an MD school in the US.
Yes, I saw a lot of colleges accept AP and IB psych credits and permit the new student to go straight into a higher-level psych course. The only course I saw warnings for to wait until later was Research Methods.
She seemed to say that the tests are not simple definitions and the ilk. Rather more like applying concepts. I should probably inquire further about what exactly is the danger. D16 will be protecting her GPA and will need to be smart about course selection/timing.
There is going to be no universal answer for this as it will vary considerably from college to college (and even professor to professor most likely).
I knew lots of psych majors at my undergrad (psych was a common double major with my degree). I don’t remember any of them complaining that psych was too hard. But again, that’s ONE university.
If the intro psych course is targeted towards freshman, then I don’t see any issue with it. You could make the argument that tests are “hard and tricky” for nearly any college level class. If she’s planning on majoring in psychology (or a related major that requires her to take introductory psychology), then it’s probably expected that to take the introductory psychology class as a prerequisite for higher level psychology classes. If she doesn’t take that, then what will she take? In general, she shouldn’t be waiting until her second year in college before starting to take the prerequisite courses for her major.
If she’s jumping up to a course that’s designed for higher-level students, then it’s worth considering whether her background has prepared her for that course. For what’s it’s worth, I was a psychology major and knew many students who took upperdivision psychology classes in their first year of college. It was no issue, but that’s not the case for all students at all universities.
I wouldn’t let what he said rattle you or take it too seriously. Everyone’s experience is different, and it sounds like this is one person’s experience. Every school and class is different. There’s nothing universally terrifying about a psychology course.
Of course it depends on the institution. I think Introductory Psychology is a wonderful course as it gives you an overview of the whole field. As a pre-med student, having a bit of psychology in your basket may be quite useful.
Introductory Psychology is not Organic Chemistry. I would predict that most motivated students would A) enjoy the course, and B) do very well in it.
I was reading advice about teaching Psych 101 last night and that point was made: so much of the course’s content can be tied back to what freshman students are experiencing and that makes them very engaged, if the instructor uses that advantage. I think D16’s academic advisors are going to be able to steer her in the right direction for this. Also, I checked Rate My Prof for Psych 101 at her target schools and almost all raved about the courses/profs and a lot seemed to be from students that took it as freshmen. Considering bitterness seems to show up on RMP more than rave reviews, that was a comfort.
I loved, loved, loved Psych 101 at my large research university. One of the top 5 classes I took, IMHO. I found it easy – but because it was interesting, I had no trouble studying or remembering the material. So that could be why it felt easy!
Its a fine freshman course. That MD’s advise is outdated at best and off kilter at worst. Wonder if they get (depending on the school) to participate in grad student research experiments like in the old days?
At UW-Madison the required Intro to Psych class has a standardized curve such that only 15% of students taking it from any of several professors will earn an A. Maybe the MD buddy has something like that in mind.
Intro to Psych is a very typical freshman course. My D had no problem taking the class at her college freshman year. And you are correct – if someone plans to major in psych, it is best to take Psych 101 early on as upper level psych courses typically required that intro class as a prerequisite.
Agree with above, it depends on school/prof. S was premed and used intro psych and other UD psych courses partly because the material was very interesting, partly as schedule fillers, mainly because they tended to be easy As. Although it wasn’t his intent, he actually ended up with minor in psych
Anyone potentially interested in the social sciences should get Psych 1 out of the way early. It can help determine whether a kid is interested in the more quant disciplines- and will need heavy-duty statistics and programming, or the more qualitative subjects. I know parents grinding their teeth that their kid is taking an extra semester to finish up a social science major because the kid wasn’t aware that the “statistics for poets” class wouldn’t “count” for their major.
I took several psych classes and they were all relatively easy and very interesting. My college had a very strong cognitive psych reputation so I don’t think the quality was poor.
Now for tricky head games on exams, econ had to take the cake.
Physician here (MD). Can’t believe someone who has traveled that path would advocate the easy path. Good grief, of course your D should take any course she wants and is eligible for in college her first semester. I hate it when well meaning people make suggestions that students take it easy the first year of college, HS, middle school. Students are ready for whatever they are allowed to take the minute they start the school. They would not be there if they couldn’t handle it. The ones who take charge go places. The best students may even manage to get into classes without the supposedly required credentials- and do well. If your D wants the Psych course she should take it. So what if she, gasp, has to work hard? It does not matter if the school was a reach for her- she was considered capable by admissions.
Psych can be easy or hard based on several factors. One is any background knowledge. Another is aptitude. Then interest. Unlike eons ago psych has much more science behind it- I saw son’s AP textbook. Sounds a lot more logical than learning many theories that no longer are considered valid. Sounds less difficult than chemistry, calculus or physics- all taken by freshmen.
Wise to let your D travel her path at her pace without being held back by well meaning parents or strangers.