Storytime - Wooster student considers a Neuroscience and Sociology double major

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WOOSTER STUDENT CONSIDERS DOUBLE MAJOR

By MAX LEISTEN

Connections with alumni play a crucial role in guiding current students toward their career goals. As this first-year student navigates the complex terrain of academia, their pursuit of a psychology research PhD intersects with various disciplines. Seeking guidance from alumni who have tread similar paths becomes invaluable, especially in fields like clinical psychology and social behavior research.

Contacted Alumni: 25
Email Open Rate: 64%
Volunteers: 6
Alumni Data Updates: 3

Keep it simple!

Max

The "ask"

Hello! I’m a first-year student considering a Neuroscience (Psychology track) and Sociology Double Major with a Minor in Global Queer Studies.

I’m wondering how feasible it is to enter a psychology research PhD program right after senior year, especially as I’ll be competing against people who have a Master’s or have post-bac research application. I was also wondering what I could do during my sophomore year to help doctoral school applications. I’m co-authoring a psychology paper on romantic relationships and TA-ing a global queer studies course, but I want to do research in the intersection of clinical psychology and social behavior.

Thank you so much!

The "give" (1 of 6)

Thank you for reaching out, and good on you for using this resource! No one ever uses the alumni…but we love to help!

It is feasible to enter a PhD program directly after completing your undergraduate education. Research PhD’s like to see that you have previously done research prior to earning a PhD. You have an immediate leg up over other students because you will complete your I.S. while at Wooster. However, it is CRUCIAL to participate in more research.

Google “NSF REU Psychology” and find some programs. These are funded (paid) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Try to get into one of these for the summer after sophomore year, and GO TO THE WRITING CENTER TO BEEF UP YOUR APPLICATIONS WEEKS IN ADVANCE! These are only open to domestic students, so if you have a student visa you can create your own internship through APEX – go talk to them!

I will say, it is more and more common for people to do a post-bac or a masters program first before a PhD program. I went directly to my grad program after graduation and it sucked. I wish I had more experience developing and completing experiments before I came here, but I have found my way.Getting that extra research experience does help with applications and the actual experience of earning the PhD.

Congratulations on the paper you are writing now – that will totally help your application, and very cool to see you doing that in your first year!

Don’t hesitate to contact me with questions in the future, I am more than happy to help Wooster students.

Cheers!

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