Is School Psychology the Right Path for Me?

Inside this issue:
👉 🧭 Theme of the Week: Is School Psychology the Right Path for Me?
👉 💬 Office Hours: An Interview with Heather, a 2nd year School Psych Student
👉 💼 Career Spotlight: Paraprofessional
👉 📚 Book Rec: 
👉 🌱 Mental Health Check-In
👉 📢 Free Webinar Announcement
👉 📱 Share & Succeed Referral Gift
👉 📬 Give Us Your Feedback

🧭 Theme of the Week: Is School Psychology the Right Path for Me?

If you’re interested in blending your psych background in an education setting through supporting families, conducting assessments, and working with children, then school psychology may be a path for you. Demand for school psychologists is high, but this path isn’t the most popular for psych majors, and many don’t understand what they do.

Unlike clinical psychology PhD programs that we covered last week, school psychology offers a more direct route to practice while still incorporating research, assessment, and intervention work. It's a hidden gems in mental health that deserves more attention.

The Reality Check: School psychology sits at the intersection of education and mental health. You're not just working in schools, you're becoming an essential part of how children succeed both academically and emotionally. Think of it as being a bridge between what happens in the classroom and what's going on in a student's mind.

What School Psychologists Actually Do:

Assessment & Evaluation - You'll conduct psychological and educational assessments to identify learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and other conditions that can affect academic performance.

Counseling & Mental Health Support - Providing individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and helping students develop coping strategies.

Consultation & Collaboration - Working closely with teachers, administrators, and families to develop strategies that help students thrive in the classroom environment.

Program Development - Creating and implementing school-wide mental health initiatives and social-emotional learning curricula.

Advocacy - Ensuring students get the services they need through IEPs, 504 plans, and special education processes.

5 Signs School Psychology Might Be Your Calling:

1. You're drawn to working with children and adolescents - This field is all about supporting young people during crucial developmental years.

2. You want to make a systemic impact - You're not just helping one person; you're improving entire school communities, policies, and family systems.

3. You enjoy variety in your work - No two days are the same when you're balancing assessment, counseling, consultation, and crisis intervention.

4. You're interested in the education-mental health connection - You understand that learning difficulties often have emotional components and vice versa.

5. You want a clear path to practice - Most school psychology programs are 3-year specialist degrees (Ed.S.) that prepare you to work immediately after graduation.

The Path Forward:

Unlike the clinical psychology PhD route, school psychology programs typically accept 15-30% of applicants. You'll need strong academics (3.0+ GPA is often sufficient), relevant experience working with children, and genuine passion for educational settings.

Most programs offer multiple entry points throughout the year, and the application process is generally less research-intensive than clinical programs. Many students discover this field later in their undergraduate years and successfully pivot to prepare.

Job security is excellent as schools across the country are actively seeking qualified school psychologists, with many offering signing bonuses and competitive benefits packages.

💬 Office Hours with Heather, a 2nd Year School Psych Grad Student

Real questions from real students — answered by an experienced member of our community

This week, I got the opportunity to chat with Heather, a second-year school psychology student at Chapman University to get the inside scoop on what this path really looks like. Here's our honest conversation about the journey, challenges, and why she chose this field.

How’d You Choose School Psych as a Path after Graduating?

"I was pursuing an emphasis in neuroscience and a minor in leadership development, which were amazing and very relevant to my interests. I joined the Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab at SDSU and was a research assistant for Principal Investigator, Dr. Marinkovic, Cognitive Neuroscientist. I spent two years here analyzing time-sensitive indices of cognitive functioning in face processing, acute alcohol intoxication, and ASMR effects. My boss here was a Licensed Education Psychologist and a previous practicing School psychologist, which is where I discovered the field of school psychology.  Through these experiences, I was really intrigued in neuroscience and pursuing a Ph.D in clinical psych/neuropsychology; however, the road is long and daunting to get there. I did lots of research on how to get there, but ultimately chose an alternative path that wouldn’t take me 10+ years to achieve (AKA a Ph.D).   I also took a graduate-level seminar on Advanced Neuropsychology and fell in love with it (which has to do with diagnosing and treating neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental disorders)."

She started her undergrad journey thinking she wanted clinical psychology or neuropsychology, spending two years as a research assistant in the Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab at SDSU, analyzing cognitive functioning and leading EEG data acquisition. But the 10+ year path to a PhD felt overwhelming.

"Through talking to lots of professors, professionals in the field, researching a ton, and finding what felt right for me, I chose School Psychology because of the overlap it had with neuropsych, and I was drawn to being an advocate and supportive individual for children and families."

Anything you wish you knew before applying?

"Contrary to what I initially believed, having lab experience isn't a strict requirement for school psychology programs. While research experience definitely strengthened my application and led to a powerful letter of recommendation, it's not absolutely essential."

Her advice? Although research was an important step in her path, get some experience in school districts, work with children, parents, and educators. "If your interests lie in working within school settings, gaining hands-on experience in a school district, such as working with children, parents, and educators, is highly relevant and can be a major asset to your application."

What does a typical day look like in your program?

"As a second-year school psychology student, a typical day is pretty long. I go to my practicum fieldwork site and spend the whole school day there with my supervisor (2-3 days a week). Then, on days I have class (2 nights a week from 4-10) I’ll go straight from practicum to class. On days that I don’t have practicum, I will substitute teach or just catch up on work."

What’s been the most challenging part of your program and how’ve you gotten through it?

"This whole year has been challenging due to the intensity of our classes and assignments, on top of the long days. Everyone says 2nd year is the hardest, and they were correct. I practiced a lot of self-care to keep myself grounded and reminded myself that these long, hard days are only temporary."

What types of jobs can you pursue after getting your degree? Do you feel prepared by your program?

“School Psychologist, Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) Specialist.”

"Chapman has one of the best reputations in Southern California for preparing their students for success; I absolutely believe Chapman is equipping me with all the knowledge, tools, and best practices to be a strong school psychologist."

What skills from undergrad helped you the most?

“Communicating and collaborating with lots of people through my lab, in classes, and at my Neurofeedback assistant job, tutoring a foster youth through my leadership development minor, and learning how to write well-developed research papers.”

What message do you have for psych students who are considering this path?

"Talk to people! Reach out to school psychologists and ask if you could interview them to get a feel for the job and if it’s right for you! Also, look at the coursework required for the degrees."

Got a question you’d like Joseph to tackle next week?

💼 Career Spotlight: School-Based Paraprofessionals

What it is: School paraprofessionals (also called educational assistants, teacher's aides, or instructional assistants) provide crucial support to students, teachers, and school staff. This role is an excellent entry point into educational settings and offers hands-on experience that's invaluable for future graduate school applications.

What you'll do:

• Provide one-on-one or small group support to students with special needs

• Assist with classroom management and instructional activities

• Support students with behavioral interventions and social skills development

• Help implement IEP (Individualized Education Program) accommodations

• Assist with crisis de-escalation and emotional regulation support

• Work in various settings: general education classrooms, special education rooms, or resource centers

• Collaborate with teachers, school psychologists, and other specialists

Why it's perfect for grad school prep: This role gives you direct experience working with diverse student populations, understanding school systems, and observing how mental health intersects with education. Something that admissions committees want to see for school psychology, counseling, or education programs.

5 Benefits for Future Graduate Students:

1. Direct Experience - You'll understand how learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, and mental health issues actually manifest in school settings.

2. Professional Network Building - Working alongside school psychologists, counselors, and special education teachers gives you mentors and potential letter writers.

3. Insight into Different Populations - Experience with students across age groups, ability levels, and backgrounds strengthens your application narrative.

4. Understanding of School Systems - You'll learn about IEPs, 504 plans, RTI processes, and special education law firsthand.

5. Flexible Schedule for Coursework - School hours typically allow for evening classes or part-time graduate study.

Qualifications needed: Requirements vary by state and district, but typically include a high school diploma or associate's degree. Some districts prefer candidates with college coursework in education, psychology, or child development. Many positions provide on-the-job training.

Typical salary range: $25,000-$40,000 annually, depending on location, education level, and experience. Many districts offer excellent benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, and the same holiday/summer schedule as teachers.

Career advancement opportunities: Many paraprofessionals use this role as a stepping stone to become special education teachers, school counselors, or school psychologists. Some districts offer tuition assistance or professional development opportunities to support career growth.

Hidden benefit: You'll often work with the same students over multiple years, giving you deep insight into child development and the long-term impact of interventions. This experience can make your graduate school essays incredibly compelling and authentic.

📚 Book Rec of the Week

"Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn" by Barbara Oakley, Beth Rogowsky, and Terrenc J. Sejnowski.

This book translates cutting-edge neuroscience research into practical strategies that actually work in real classrooms. If you're interested in school psychology, education, or just want to understand how learning really happens, this is a great read.

Why it's great for psychology students: The authors bridge the gap between brain science and educational practice, showing how memory, attention, and motivation actually function in learning environments. You'll discover why some teaching methods work better than others and how to apply cognitive science principles to help students succeed.

This reading fits with this week's school psychology theme, understanding how the brain learns is fundamental to supporting students in educational settings!

Got a book recommendation? We’d love to share and give you credit! Submit your book recommendation below:

🌱 Mental Health Check-In

Choosing a career path in psychology can feel overwhelming (as we continue to bombard you with options). Remember that it's completely normal to feel uncertain about your direction, most successful psychologists didn't have their paths figured out from day one.

If you're feeling pressured to have all the answers right now, try this: instead of asking "What's my perfect career?" ask "What problems do I want to help solve?" The specific role often becomes clearer when you focus on the impact you want to make.

Whether you're drawn to research, therapy, assessment, education, or something completely different, trust that exploring your interests isn't time wasted. It's essential preparation for finding your calling.

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📢 Coming Soon: Free Webinar on Careers in Psychology

We’re hosting a completely free live Zoom event on “Therapist Paths 101: Your Guide to Psych Grad School” We’d love to see you there!
🗓️ Date TBA—stay tuned!

Keep learning, keep asking questions, and remember, you can do anything you set your mind to.

With guidance,
The PsychMentor Team