Getting Involved in the Psychology Major

1. Getting Involved in the Psychology Major Jennifer Hunt, PhD

2. What Does It Take to be a Successful Psych Major? • Good grades • academic expectations likely higher than 2-yr degree • But good grades is only the starting point! • First-hand experience is just as critical • student organizations • applied settings • research • department activities

3. Student organizations

4. Psychology Student Organizations • Psychology Club • Open to all students interested in Psychology • Informational & social events, speakers • Spring research project • Advisor: Dr. Reid

5. Psychology Student Organizations • Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology • Eligibility standards: High GPAs, credit hours • Informational, volunteer, & social events • Advisor: Dr. Foraker

6. Psychology Student Organizations • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) • Open to all students interested in Human Resources • Network locally and nationally • Advisor: Dr. Delprino • Psychology Students Interested in Community Outreach (PSICO) • Open to all students interested in community service • Raise money to sponsor a charity or cause during the holidays • Advisor: Dr. DiPirro

7. Applied settings

8. Applied Experiences for Academic Credit • Field Internship (PSY 488) • Complete 150 hours (12 hours per week) at community setting • Weekly internship class • At least second-semester junior, at least 2.5 GPA • Information session about mid-semester • Fill out formal application • Need a faculty/professional recommendation • Must be approved before registration • Internship coordinator: Dr. Norvilitis

9. Applied Experiences for Academic Credit • Internship sites include: • school psychology in Niagara Falls Schools • school counseling at Gateway Longview • work with refugees at Journey's End, International Institute • work with serious mental illness at Transitional Services, Inc. • inpatient psychological care at Buffalo Psychiatric Center • substance abuse work at Northpointe Council • Center for Health and Social Research • Research Institute on Addictions

10. Applied Experiences for Academic Credit • Teaching Internship (PSY 488) • Assist a faculty member with a class in which you have excelled • Typical duties include • leading test review sessions • holding office hours • helping with grading • Statistics (PSY 306) • Research Methods (PSY 450W), other 300-level courses

11. Applied Experiences within Courses • Volunteer-Service Learning Courses • require service connected to course objectives & community needs • 15-40 hours, depending on course • can do in many departments (2 courses in PSY) • Volunteer and Service-Learning Center

12. Volunteer Applied Experiences • Volunteer for community organizations related to psychology • flexibility in # of hours • opportunities within walking distance • Psychology Club, Psi Chi • Active Minds chapter • Volunteer & Service-Learning Center • Career Development Center

13. research

14. Research Experience for Academic Credit • Independent Study (PSY 499) • 1 semester • work closely with a faculty a member • complete a research study • no minimum GPA • sample topics: • Body image in 6th grade students • How views of parents affect views of God • Gender bias in hiring judgments • Factors affecting road rage • What gestures reveal about thinking • opportunities to present and publish research

15. Research Experience for Academic Credit • Honors Thesis (PSY 496 & 498) • bigger research project – 2 semesters • work with advisor • committee with two other faculty members • must have GPAs of 3.5+ in psychology and 3.25+ overall • recent topics: • Social withdrawal in veterans with PTSD • Academic and social adjustment of students with ADHD • Prejudice against Canadians • Visual cues to language comprehension • Consequences of ecstasy use on social and nonsocial behavior • opportunities to present and publish research

16. Volunteer Research Opportunities • Psychology Club • research team • Research Assistant • work in faculty lab • Research Participant

17. Why Should I Do This? • Learn what psychology is really like • Gain valuable experience for jobs or graduate school • Get to know faculty members • Develop skills & learn about yourself • Have fun!

18. What’s Next? How to Get Into Graduate School or Get a Job

19. Graduate School in Psychology • Many careers in Psychology require a Masters degree or Ph.D. • Clinical, counseling, school • Academic researcher • Consulting • Very competitive – Need to plan ahead!

20. Undergraduate vs. Graduate Education UNDERGRADUATE • Broad education • Well-rounded • Class-based GRADUATE • Highly focused • Specialist • Research/experience-based with fewer classes

21. Admissions Process UNDERGRADUATE • large number admitted • 100s or 1000s / year • flexibility in final interests/major • form a good pool • general qualifications & experiences GRADUATE • small number admitted • Ph.D. programs: < 10/year • commitment to specific area • close match with program and mentors • look for specific experiences in that field

22. Finding a Job • Many parallels • lots of applications for limited positions • need experience as well as grades • work independently & as part of a team • “soft skills” • leadership potential

23. How to be a Competitive Applicant • Grades: as high as possible • >3.0 for MA, >3.5 for PhD • Solid course preparation • Likely exceed minimum requirements • Research!!! • Independent study, research teams, honors thesis • Applied experiences • Internship • Related volunteering or work • Teaching, tutoring

24. How to be a Competitive Applicant • Get involved in the department • Psychology Club, Psi Chi, SHRM, PSICOs • Leadership positions, club officers • GREs • Need to do well • Ongoing preparation: Read! • Specific preparation: books, courses (e.g., Kaplan), Magoosh

25. Final Message • As transfer students, you have less time, so start getting involved right away!