🧠 PsychMentor - How do I choose between grad school and working?

Inside this issue:
👉 🧭 Theme of the Week: Grad School vs. Work
👉 💬 Office Hours: Ask Joseph Anything
👉 💼 Career Spotlight: Behavioral Health Tech
👉 📚 Book Rec: Man’s Search for Meaning
👉 🌱 Mental Health Check-In
👉 🌟 Subscriber Spotlight
👉 📢 Free Webinar Announcement
👉 📬 Give Us Your Feedback

🧭 Theme of the Week: How do I choose between grad school and working?

It’s the end of the Spring semester, meaning there are decisions to be made for our subscribers who are thinking about grad school. Should you head straight into grad school, or take time to work first? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a framework that can help clarify the path that fits you best:

Ask yourself: what do I want — and what do I need right now?

🎓 Some Signs You’re Ready for Grad School:

• You have a clear goal that requires an advanced degree (e.g., becoming a licensed therapist or psychologist).

• You’ve already built experience during undergrad (research, internships, etc.) that strengthens your application.

• You’ve identified programs that align with your goals and are ready to apply confidently.

💸 Some Signs You Should Work First:

• You’re not 100% sure which path you want to specialize in — and want real-world experience to inform your decision on grad school.

• You need a break from school, financially or mentally.

• You want to build your resume, figure out what type of grad program (if any) fits, or explore other roles in mental health, research, or related fields.

• You want to be more competitive for selective programs down the line.

🔍 A few tips:

• Talk to people in the jobs you're considering (via LinkedIn, alumni networks, or faculty intros). People working in psych love to help students and will hop on a Zoom call from a cold email (I have done this multiple times).

• Consider post-bac jobs in research, community programs (residential housing, ABA, etc.), or and hospitals (Mental Health/Psychiatric Counselor positions) — these often help you both gain clarity and boost your future applications.

• Remember: taking time to work first doesn’t “put you behind” — it often gives you a leg up in grad school and beyond.

Bottom line: Grad school is a huge investment of time and money — it’s okay (and smart) to pause and gather more experience before jumping in. And if you're ready now? That’s great too — just be sure the decision is intentional, not rushed.

💬 Office Hours with Joseph

Real questions from real students — answered by your resident psych mentor.

This Week’s Q:
“I’m graduating next year and torn between going straight to grad school or working first. My advisor doesn’t seem to be much help. How do I decide what’s right for me?”
— Kayla, 21, junior at Uconn

Joseph’s Response:
Great question, Kayla — you’ve inspired this week’s theme! Neither option is “better,” but one might fit you more right now. If you’re clear on your goals and feel ready (mentally, academically, financially), grad school could be the move. But if you’re unsure or burnt out, working first can give you clarity and strengthen future applications.

Some of the strongest grad students I’ve mentored took time off to work in related roles like research, case management, or ABA. Others jumped straight in and thrived. Reflect on where you're at — your energy, finances, and direction — and you’ll find your answer. And if you’re still stuck, feel free to follow up!

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

💼 Career Spotlight: Behavioral/Mental Health Technician

What it is:
Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs) support clients dealing with mental health or substance use challenges, often working in residential treatment centers, hospitals, or outpatient clinics. Sometimes this job is given different titles, like Mental Health Associate or Assistant.

What you’ll do:

• Assist with daily activities of living, monitor behaviors

• Support treatment plans created by licensed clinicians

• Facilitate group activities or coping skill exercises

• Can vary depending on the setting

Average Yearly Salary (US): ~$42,000

Why it’s great for psych students:
It’s one of the most accessible entry-level jobs in mental health and gives you hands-on experience with real clients. Ideal for building clinical hours and deciding if you want to pursue counseling, social work, or clinical psychology later on.

Bonus: Many positions only require a bachelor’s degree and offer flexible hours for students or recent grads, there is high need in this career!

📚 Book Rec of the Week

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: A timeless classic in the field of psychology, this powerful memoir by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl offers a first hand account of surviving Auschwitz — while introducing his therapeutic approach, logotherapy, centered on finding meaning in life.

🧠 Why it’s great for students:
Frankl beautifully blends his lived experience with psychological insight, helping readers explore the role of purpose and resilience in the face of suffering. It’s both emotionally moving and intellectually grounding — a must-read for anyone studying human behavior and the mind.

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

🌱 Mental Health Check-In

Follow us on Instagram for more posts like this! @thepsychstudentmentor

🌟 Subscriber Spotlight

We love shining a light on the incredible students who make up the PsychMentor community — and that could be you!

Each week, we feature one subscriber and share a little bit of their journey through psychology. It’s a chance to inspire others, share your story, and show off your hard-earned progress!

You can fill out the form below, which includes:

• Your name (only your first name will be featured)

• A photo (selfie, grad pic, or even your favorite study spot)

• Your college or alma mater

• Your year in school

• Your career interests or goals

• One piece of advice you’d give to other psych students

• Social Media Tags (optional)

📢 Coming Soon: Free Webinar on Careers in Psychology

We’re hosting a completely free live Zoom event on “What Can You Really Do With a Psych Degree?” We’d love to see you there!
🗓️ Date TBA—stay tuned!

Keep learning, keep asking questions, and remember—you’re not behind. You’re just getting started.

With guidance,
The PsychMentor Team