Hello, I am a graduating senior and I am writing to you about my experience in the psychology program at the University of Scranton. I want to begin by telling you that the program here is excellent. It prepares you well for your future in psychology. However, I must admit, that it is what you make out of it. I found that students here have to be as personable as they can. We are fortunate that the classes are not that large so you are not just a number, but you still have to be an active learner. For example, ask questions, talk with your professors, and get involved in the activities that are run. I did, to a point, and sometimes felt left out because of it. I always recognized the students that the teachers would talk to at personal and professional level because they knew them well. If you don't, than you won't feel a part of the faculty/student relationship. My point is to introduce yourself early, so that by senior year the staff will know and love you.

Advising, is also very important in this field. There are some professors that will do everything for you and others that really don't seem to have the time. I was unfortunate not to have good advising by my advisor. I found myself going to other professors to help me and they always did. You want to be able to just sit and chat with your advisor, as well as, allow them to guide you in the night direction. Feel it out. If he or she seems approachable and willing to help you, then you are in good hands. If not, I suggest you ask for a change.

Academically, the classes are not easy. I don't mean to scare you, but you have to keep in mind that they prepare you well. I never took an easy test, like in high school, where I just had to recognize a word and know the answer. They make you think. In this program you need to know your stuff because most tests require you to apply your knowledge that you have accumulated during the semester. However, if you budget your time and study the correct way, you will do just fine.

Finally, on a more social basis, you will find that the psychology students tend to bond together, especially during the class of Research Methods. I noticed that everybody wants to see each other do well and everybody supports each other. Sometimes, you might feel challenged and even in competition with other students. Do not let that get to you, because you are just as good. For the most part, the students depend and rely on each other, whether it be for notes or just having a study partner. You learn a lot from each other and develop great friendships. I am lucky because the students that I have met, have become my best friends.

All in all, your experience here at the University will be one to remember. Work hard and don't give up. If you feel like giving up talk to a staff member that you can trust in the department. Many are there with helping hands and shoulders to lean on. Good luck in your future endeavors and remember, make the best of it!

Well, you have chosen a great major, in my opinion. The University of Scranton has a really strong psychology department and the majority of the faculty are knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to the different courses.

As a freshman, you will be exposed to a variety of classes, but they will not necessarily be all psychology classes. You will probably take Introduction to Psychology and one elective. Your other classes will be mostly general education classes. Freshman year is fairly straight forward and a good introduction to college life.

Sophomore year is where it gets tough. All psychology majors should be aware of the time consuming and sometimes difficulty of these two semesters. Statistics and Research Methods were very difficult for me and may pose problems for you as well. However, it is good to know that there are tutors available and usually teachers and other students are willing to help. Also, there are always teacher assistants (TA's) around to help you out. The most important thing to keep in mind is not to wait to get help if you need it. Also, everyone has to go through these classes and you will feel a great deal of accomplishment when you finish this year.

Some tips to keep in mind are, make sure you shop around for the good teachers. There are many great professors at Scranton and some that are not so great, so make sure you talk to other psychology students. Also, there are some psychology courses that are more interesting than others. Again, talk to your peers, you will be glad you did when you sit in a class that you really enjoy. Also, use the professors you like as resources for other classes to take and for information about careers.

All in all, I had a really good experience here at the University of Scranton with the psychology department. Hope you enjoy your time here and I hope you do well.
 
 

Dear Incoming Psychology Student,

I would first like to welcome you to the University of Scranton and tell you a little bit about the wonderful world you have just entered. Many opportunities are within your reach, all you have to do is wake up each day with an open mind and grasp what is presented before you. There are so many activities you can get involved in, and I strongly urge you to find your niche in something here at the University. Participating in extra-curricular activities is a great way to meet new people as well as enjoying yourself in the process. I know doing well in school is important. but so is getting to know the people who will be a part of your life for the next four years. So make sure you balance your time so that you are able to do everything that you want to while you are here.

Let me give you a few hints on how to do well academically while you are here at the University. First, make sure you go to class. I know it seems like you have so much time to do everything you want and you don't have teachers breathing down your back about assignments due in class, but I Guarantee that you will miss a lot of important information if you don't show up. Second, you should try to keep up with all of your reading. It may seem like you will never get it all done, but I promise that you will fall into a routine where it won't seem so bad. You are always, going to have a lot of reading to do and if you let it slide until the night before the test you will never be able to learn everything you need to know. Third, don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are having problems in a class, consider getting a tutor or approaching your professor for more help. The professors are there to help you and most are very friendly and approachable.

There are also many things you should keep in mind as you join the psychology department. Your freshman year is an introduction to the field of psychology. It is a time to get acquainted with your fellow classmates and the professors of the department. As time goes on, you will learn which professors and teaching styles fit your needs but try to start out with an open mind.

Sophomore year will be challenging. Research methods will seem like the course from hell, but you will learn more from this class than probably any other course you will take. Try not to lose hope and take it one day at a time. Be proud of yourself when it is all over. You will have accomplished and learned a great deal.

Junior year is a great time to get involved in research. Many professors are involved in interesting research projects and are more than happy to have student help. Research allows you to build up your credentials for graduate school as well as gain a new perspective on the field of psychology. Many times research projects are co-authored by students and presented at annual psychology conferences. Junior year is also the time to begin to discover what your future plans will be after graduation. If you feel graduate school is for you, this is the time to explore your options. Go to the "Getting Into Graduate School in Psychology" workshop. It will help you form a timeline of what needs to be done along each step of the process.

Senior year is a time to savor every moment at the University. Your time here is almost completed so take advantage of everyday. Hang in there as you apply to grad school. It can become very tedious but it is well worth it in the end.

Hopefully, I haven't scared you too much. The University of Scranton is a great place to be, filled with fantastic people and limitless opportunities. Take advantage of your time here and enjoy yourself I know that if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.

I am currently a senior in the Psychology department at the University of Scranton. However, by the time you've read this, I will have moved on to a new stage in my life: the working world. As my final assignment in the department, I have been asked to write this letter to you. Hopefully, what I will have to say will be motivational for you as you begin your college career.

As a transfer student here, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity of finding a school that fulfilled every hope I'd ever had for my college experience to be. Frightened at first, I found the students at this university to be extremely down to earth, genuinely good-hearted people who were here to live their four years to their fullest both academically and socially. However, it was imperative for me to keep an open mind about each individual that I met along the way; no two people in this world are alike, and this means there will always be short-comings amongst one another that we need to accept to a certain degree. This also applies to professors that you will have. What is important here is to remember that they are not paid to be your best friends or to have sympathy for your troubles; rather, they are here to see that you grow intellectually into mature, knowledgeable adults capable of handling the challenges you'll be faced throughout life.

As a psychology major, you will experience a plethora of different types of professors. Some will serve as mentors for you, some will appear cold and distant. However, after my four years here, I can honestly say that some of the coldest, most frustrating professors I've ever had are the ones that have left me with the most valuable experiences to carry with me for the rest of my life; you too will believe this only after you've completed your time here as I have.

I wish you the best of luck during your years at the University of Scranton. I will never see you or know you, but do sincerely believe that I'll think of you often throughout my life, in hopes that your experience here will be as precious to you as it was for me.

A motivated 1997 Graduate

P.S. Remember these words: YOU WILL SURVIVE RESEARCH METHODS!

History of Psychology

14 May 1997

LESSONS LEARNED AS A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR -Choose the best teacher, not the easiest -Do well in research methods and stat. They are at the center of all psychology

Take a pro-active role with your academic advisor, and your future plans

-remain active in a community club, a sport, and try to work- a job (10 hrs a week)

this will show people that you can do more then be a book worm

-Try to be the leader of your clubs and activities

-GPA is not everything, but people do predict future potential from it

-Use tact when dealing with peers and teachers.

I.E. if you are going to be disrespectful use good judgement and take your time

-Start a good habit of planning and organizing

-Learn another language while at Scranton. Spanish will do.

-Avoid all group projects that may turn out to be individual projects

-Never poke fun at someone because they are having a hard time, it may be you in the future

-Play nice with others

-Strive to do everything right the first time
 
 

Dear Students,

Let me tell you about my years here at the University of Scranton and in the psychology department. I entered the University undeclared in the Humanities area. This is not a bad way to go. By the time I declared my major in psychology my sophomore year, I was very knowledgeable about my options at the University and confident in my decision to be a psychology major. It was not a decision I was pushed into or one that I desperately jumped into. First, I became acquainted with the many options available to me and what I was getting myself into. This process was a learning experience in itself. I not only became confident in my decision, I became confident in myself. I felt that I was in control of my present life as well as my future.

Declaring myself a psychology major was a wonderful decision. I truly found the place I belong on this campus, a place where my personal and academic interests came together.

Here's some advice that I hope will help you: *Learn about the professors teaching the courses for which you are planning to register. You might be given a choice among different professors. I must warn you, you may come in contact with professors that I believe should not be teaching anymore. Hey, tenure is a crazy thing.

Also, you might want to find the professors with teaching styles that complement your own learning styles. Although, at the same time you might want to experience an array of teaching styles. I suggest you find a happy medium. It all depends on what you are looking for in your college experience.

Along the same lines, if you are looking to be stimulated avoid that boring teacher, but accept the amount of work for which you are asking. At other times you might have a rough semester or you might be really stressed out. This might be a time for you to take an easy course. You have to look out for your own mental well-being as well as attempting to get the optimum level of education. Again, it is all up to what you want from your college experience.

*Get involved in activities on campus: student government, campus ministries, orientation, COCA, peer education organizations, etc. You will meet wonderful people, as well as learn a bundle. Join the psychology club, too. It is advantageous to be involved in an academic club as well.

*Keep in mind you will be needing references from your professors and supervisors, at the end of your four years, for jobs or graduate school applications. Start NOW! You can build a file in Career Services (in the Gallery building) throughout your four years. It makes life much easier for you in your senior year. You will be stressed out enough without worrying about recommendations.

*Take advantage of lectures, workshops, internships, and Student Faculty Research offered within the department. There is so much to learn. Research is tough and time consuming, but it will be well worth it if you are willing to put in the time and effort. In addition to doing the research itself you develop relationships with faculty members and students. Seriously think about it.

*Don't be fooled into thinking that you won't need to remember the information you learn in a course once the course is over. Most likely you will need to go to graduate school and GRE's are no picnic. Warning: you need to prepare way ahead of time. *Finally, Research Methods is scary and difficult, but you will learn so much and be very thankful that you did.

Take advantage of the opportunities the University of Scranton provides you. You must actively go out and get them. There is so much here for you. Congratulations for getting yourself this far. You are part of a phenomenal institution. Now take it for all its worth. Good luck!
 
 

Hello! First I would like to introduce myself I am a graduating senior psychology major of the Class of '97 who is looking forward next year to attending Villanova's masters degree program in psychology. As I look back over four years in the Psychology department I offer a few words of encouragement, wisdom, and advice...

To begin, I would like to congratulate you on your decision to become a psychology major. I strongly believe that the University of Scranton has a great program in psychology with a lot to offer. You have just placed yourself into a department that is caring, close knit, and very giving. The psychology department has become a place where I feel comfortable and enjoy being in. But now on to the hard part...

Your first two years in the department should be concentrated on doing well in your classes. I would suggest to you that you read the Psychology department handbook. I know that it might be a little boring at times but the more you know and more prepared you are, can only work for your advantage. For example you should organize yourself by actually writing out a list of the psychology requirements and electives you are going to take. After each class write down the semester you are going to take it, this is necessary because some classes are only given once a year. In creating this list of classes definitely talk to other students and get their recommendations about classes and professors. Take a class for the right reason, namely being, that you are interested in the topic. Take the class even if it is described as being' hard. It will hold your attention and you will like it better. Don't take a class just because the professor is described as easy; you will be bored, not learn as much, be turned off, and probably do worse in the class! Further don't be scared of Research Methods. This is a class that is demanding, but don't be scared of it. There are many benefits to the class and go into it with a open attitude and make your own judgements. After creating this list you'll have a rough plan of the next four years and what psychology classes you need to take each semester.

If I was to recommend one thing to you from my experience I would suggest getting involved in research. Research is a large part of psychology and it is also needed for graduate school. Research is usually started in your late sophomore or junior year. There are two choices in doing research. One is called Undergraduate Research where you receive credits for research. It is more organized and structured since you are receiving academic credit. The other choice is to do Faculty/Student Research. This is more like volunteer work where you help a professor with research. It is not as structured since you do not have to meet academic requirements. Both of these types of research have many advantages and benefits which I will describe in no particular order. Research gets you involved in the psychology department. You are in the department more. Your face is familiar, and most of all you get to know a professor outside of class. There are some great professors here who work with students and are looking, for help. The first step is to find those professors who get research done and who you have heard good things about. Not everyone does quality research. Some professors are more concerned with teaching or other aspects of psychology. Find those professors who do quality research and then ask them if you can help. This is where I would strongly recommend the University of Scranton Honors Program. You have to be admitted to the program but one of it's requirements is that you have to do original research. The honors program is a great way to do many things at once: gain research experience, meet the faculty, and be involved in a Honors program. Research is what connected me and made me love the department. I was also able to present my research project at both the University of Scranton Psychology Conference, and also the Annual Eastern Psychological Conference. These were great experiences which were a lot of fun, and it was also a nice pay back for all of your hard work!

Finally a couple of small, simple suggestions. Use the psychology department computer room. It is convenient and friendly, and I have to admit it has become my second home! Also take the time to get to know our secretary Betty she is a nice women and a second mother to us all! I would strongly recommending taking Dr. Norcross's seminar junior year on what to do after you graduate. Most of all you have to make sure that you go to at least one Happy Hour at Farley's with the psychology department!

To Incoming Psychology Majors:
Congratulations on being accepted to one of the best psychology programs in the country. Throughout the past four years I have come to realize that the University of Scranton's psychology program is outstanding. I know that when you were looking at the school they told you that the program was one of the best in the country, they were not lying.

What makes the psychology department so good is the quality faculty that you have at your disposal. Everyone of the professors that I had were great teachers. However, there are a couple who are easier than others. Some of the professors took everything very seriously, while others taught with a more laid back approach. No matter what their style of teaching was they were all brilliant. They amazed me by how much they knew and how well they conveyed the information to the students.

During your four years you will have your favorite professors and then you will have the professors that you will never want to take again I have formed a strong liking for certain professors, but then there were a few that I tried to stay away from. I do not want it to sound like there are poor professors because that is not the case. I just enjoyed some professors more than others. But no matter what course you take you will not be disappointed.

Another benefit is the great selection of courses that are available for you to choose from. There are so many courses and they all teach you so much. You'll hear a few things repeated between courses, but they will be topics that are the basic foundation of psychology. Just make sure you take as many different courses that you can, you do not want to cheat yourself out of a great experience.

One word of advice that I have for you is to talk with your advisor as much as possible. They are there to help you, so go talk to them any chance that you get. This is where I made a huge mistake, I did not visit my advisor unless it was time to register. And this is why I have to take another semester of classes. Do not make the same mistake that I did, go see your advisor!

Just remember, do not get to stressed out with your classes. Do all of your work and you will not have anything to worry about. This is going to be one of the greatest times of your life, enjoy it! You will have to work hard, but there 'II be plenty of time for all of that "fun stuff." Enjoy the next four years and Good Luck.
 
 
 
 
 
 

May 5, 1997

Dear Incoming Psychology Student:

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Psychology Department at the University of Scranton! As a new student, there is so much to look forward to and so many opportunities that you can take advantage of over the next four years. However, everything will not be handed to you on a silver platter as it may have been in the past, so you must actively engage yourself in your studies. In other words, get off your butt, get out there, and do something that will be productive and rewarding for yourself. You would be surprised at how many different ways there are to do this.

To begin with, make sure that you are enrolled in the team taught Fundamentals of Psychology class. Not only will this class give you the basic background information that is essential for any psychology major to have, but it will give you the opportunity to meet and get to know all of the other psychology majors in your freshman class. This is definitely a good place to find some study partners, as well as some friends. In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet with and get to know most of the full-time faculty members within the psychology department. This is a great opportunity for you to get an idea of what your future professors will be like and whether or not you would like to take a class taught by them sometime in the future.

As you begin to take more advanced psychology classes, remember to consider the experiences you had in Fundamentals. Did a particular subject interest you more than others? Then take a course on it. Did you like a particular professor because of the way they taught? Then look a course offered by them.

One of your greatest resources in the psychology department is certainly the professors. Get to know them and as much about them as you possibly can, obviously they have a vast amount of knowledge about psychology or else they would not be here. While there is no doubt about it that some do have a better personality and are more helpful than others, in general they are a pretty good bunch. Do not be afraid to approach any of them with a question, thought, or concern about a point made in class, a test question, scheduling classes, etc. They certainly will not bite your head off, and in fact, most will appreciate it. Remember, that it is all part of their job. And if by chance a professor gives you any problems, there certainly will be another who is willing to help.

Another great resources as a psychology major is other psychology majors, especially those who are older than you or have taken other classes than you. They can give you very useful information (and warnings) about certain classes or professors. They can also help you by giving you some direction with papers, projects, and tests. This applies especially when it comes time to take Research Methods--you will soon discover that the TA's can become your new best friends.

Speaking about Research Methods, be ready for a semester that you will never forget and never regret. Probably more sooner than later, you will hear that this class is among the most difficult in the department. While this is certainly true, it must be considered how much you will learn, both about psychology and yourself. The point is to not give up right away if you are not doing as well as you would have expected or liked in this class, and in the couple of others which are nearly as challenging (Statistics, Neuroscience, Clinical, Testing). Instead, study a little bit harder or longer, talk to other people about what is going on in class, and approach your professors with questions if you are unclear about something. You might be surprised to find out how much a little bit of effort and perseverance will pay off in the end.

Aside from making an effort towards doing well in your psychology classes, you should strive to do well within the psychology department as a whole. By this I mean that you should get involved with the things going on with other students, the professors, and so on. In terms of organizations, there is the Psychology Club, Psi Chi, APA, and APSSC. They each plan several events through out the year that you could help organize or support by attending. You can also get involved by doing research on anything from the response of rats to stimuli to the cognitive abilities of children, as part of either your undergraduate courses or the Faculty Student Research Program.

Aside from that, the department also sponsors some interesting brown bag lunch lectures and discussions by both departmental faculty and outside guests. In addition, some faculty members have fun gatherings at their homes in order to bring students and professors together in a more relaxing atmosphere. You can also get involved outside of the academic atmosphere by volunteering or working during the year or over the summer in a position somewhat related to the field in which you are interested. Your participation in these kind of activities will probably increase your own interests, and it will show others (especially the professors) that you are interested in getting a little bit more out of your college years. This will be great when it comes time to make up resumes and get recommendations for graduate schools or employment in the "real world".

Lastly, remember that although it may feel like four years is forever at this point in time, the fact is that graduation (the dreaded "G" word!) is not as far off as it may seem. Taking this into consideration, be sure to make the most of the time that you have here at college, because they can certainly be the most rewarding years of your life. Do not let opportunities pass you by and make the most of your time. Good luck!!
 
 
 
 

Dear Freshman:

Hello! Welcome to the University of Scranton! I am sadly leaving, as I am a graduating senior Psychology major. I am writing to you to tell you a little about my experiences in the psychology department.

I entered college with my major undeclared. I was in the Social Science Area Sophomore year. I declared Psychology as my major, and now I have completed the program at the University of Scranton. If there is one bit of information that I would want to tell you, it's to get involved! The Psychology Club has a lot of potential. In the past three years, I have definitely seen the club grow and expand. Also, it is a wonderful experience to do research with a professor. I did FSRP, Faculty-Student Research Program, with a psychology professor. I had a wonderful experience because it was so interesting to actually carry out the steps towards producing good (valid and reliable) research. which you will learn about in your classes.

Classes! The psychology classes are interesting, and you will learn a lot. Sometimes, you may feel as though what you are learning is common sense. Trust me, read the book! Those tests are tricky!! You will learn a lot about psychology, and about computers in Research Methods (a class you will typically take in your sophomore year). The University of Scranton has a great psychology program, and it is a great school. I had wonderful experiences here, and I wish you the same!

To close, I want to wish you the best of luck! I'm jealous that you are here, and I am not! Talk to your professors, get to know them. And, take part in as much as you can. Research opportunities are excellent, you learn a lot, and it is good experience for your future in psychology. Enjoy your freshman year, good luck, and Have Fun!!

Sincerely,

A Graduated Senior Psychology Major
 
 

Dear Incoming Freshmen:

Hello. Now that you are finally here at the University of Scranton, I'd like to tell you what to expect from this school and the Psychology program.

First of all, I want you to know that my four years at this university were the best four years of my life. It is not so much what you expect from the university, but what you put into it. When you come in to this school or any school for that matter, you can't expect to receive anything without putting a little into it. I advise you to get to know a lot of people right from the start. Get involved in some kind of activity, whether it is student government, volunteering, or intramural sports, these are all ways of getting to know new people. I know that this school is not as big as Boston University or some of the larger schools, but I found it kind of funny that throughout my years here I kept meeting new people every year, people I had never even seen or heard about before. The more people you get to know at this school, the more you will learn about life. Everyone that you meet in college will have an effect on your life, more than you can ever even imagine.

This goes for teachers as well as students. The more that you get involved with your teachers the easier you will find it to ask for help and get advice from them. There are some teachers in the psychology department that you will find easier to talk to than others. Once you get into your sophomore year as a psychology student you will know what I am talking about. This is the year that you will learn more about the psychology program and teachers than any other. Let's talk a little bit more about sophomore year now that I brought it up. This will definitely be your most difficult year as a psychology student. The first semester you will have to take statistics. This is a very difficult class so don't get discouraged if you don't do that well. My one piece of advice for this class is to talk to older psychology students and find out who is the better professor to take. In the second semester, probably your hardest one, you will have to take Research Methods. Now, this is where a lot of people drop out of psychology program. If you make it through this class then you're cut out to be a psychology student. It is not so much that this class is hard, but it is so much work. My one piece of advice for this class is to never, I mean never, fall behind in this class or you'll be dead. You'll always have a chance to revise and correct your work in this class if you do poorly, you just have to make sure that you have your work in on time. If you have any trouble at all ask one of the TA's. This is what they are there for, to help you through this class. Don't be afraid to ask them questions.

Now that I have scared you, I want you to know that once you make it through your sophomore year you will feel like you can accomplish any thing at all. Believe me your next two years will be hard, but not as much work as you will have your sophomore year.

My advice to you as far as your last two years go, is to take classes that you think you might be interested in pursuing after you graduate from college. But I also should suggest that you take a few classes in other areas just to make sure that you are exposed to everything before you make the decision of what you want to do with the rest of your life. If you are not sure what teachers to take make sure you talk to other students because there are some that are harder than others. And if you are not sure what classes to take do not hesitate to go talk to your advisor. If your advisor does not help you (there are some that are not very helpful) than go to one that you heard was a good advisor. Do not be afraid to go talk to someone, this is your life your dealing with, do not waste it.
 
 
 
 

Dear Freshmen,

Hi there and welcome to the Psychology Department. Since I was lucky enough to receive wise upperclassman advice when I was a freshman, the least I can do is pass it along. The first was to become involved in the department and club activities. Its a great way to meet your fellow psych majors as well as your teachers. Bond! Check out the psychology handbook that you got a while back to find out all the different ways you can get involved. It really does pay off in the end. I can't believe how much I have learned on the side by doing stuff with the psychology organizations and annual psychology conference. And believe me, any bit of help you can offer is greatly appreciated by others.

The next piece of advice I received from an upperclassman was to take as many labs as you possibly can. If you take two labs, they count as one psychology class, thus saving you some money. But the real reason taking labs is a smart idea, is that they really do help you learn the lecture material much more thoroughly. Plus you get to do first hand the stuff you read about in lecture. Really neat. I loved the labs the psych department offers, especially the Behavioral Neuroscience and Conditioning and Learning labs. If you have any desire to see psychology, and not just read about it, take the labs!!!

Finally. if you actually do take the above advice, here's a little more to go along, with it. Time management. Learn early on how to do it, because if you're going to be involved with clubs and labs, not to mention the normal lectures and research later on, then you have to find ways to do the most work in the least amount of time. Be prepared to give up Saturdays and to survive on fewer hours of sleep. In the long run, its all worth it.

So good luck to you. Hope you have a happy and productive four years!

Sincerely,

Class of 1997

Dear Incoming Psychology Major:

As a senior psych major I have been asked to pass on some words of wisdom to your class regarding the trials and tribulations of the psych world here at "Da U." As a freshman I did not realize how challenging psychology is as a major. I believed that it was all about type A personality, Freud and that psychology you learn about in high school or even common knowledge psych. My first hint for you is to take your major seriously. Get involved with the psych club, get to know the professors, don't be shy - if you have a question, ask it. If you are concerned about grades, seek help and advice from your teachers, upperclassmen and the resource center (which is in the psych building). College is all about active learning, you have to do your own work, nothing is handed to you.

Another hint I will share with you is to pick a tract, it will help direct you in which classes to take, when to take them and even the field of psychology you are most interested in. You should be informed about picking a tract around your sophomore year from your advisor. Your advisor is an important mentor for you when deciding which classes to take. Demand of your advisor that he give you all the attention you want and that he answer all your questions. You must establish a repoire with your advisor because for the next four years of your life he will be the one who knows the most about what to and not to take, and do with your future. If you do not get along with your advisor or feel that he doesn't give you the best advice, go to another professor whom you respect - they are all willing to help you

I also recommend that you do not take the easy road to graduation. If you intend to apply to grad school, med school, law school, etc. you can't have cake courses on your resume. Classes such as Neuroscience, Research Methods, Biology, Psych Testing, etc. are all challenging classes and require a lot of work, but they are worth taking, some are required. You 'll soon learn that college is about learning and not breezing through and these classes will make you learn and they teach you important study skills. When considering graduate school try and start around the middle of your junior year. Determine which teachers you know the best and ask them to write your recommendations. Give these teachers enough time to get it done, because they are busy too! Research the graduate programs you wish to apply to and make sure of your chances to get in as well as the classes required to apply to them.

College is a competitive environment, and at some schools very cut throat, but I have found here that people do strive to do their best and want the highest grade, etc. but most are willing to help each other. I highly recommend that you get to know the people in your major.Ask your peers about classes, teachers, etc., advisors give good advice but the kind of advice you are looking for comes from those who will experience what you will. Don't be shy, with your peers, your professors or your advisors - remember its all about active learning.

In brief, to make your college career as a psych major the most prosperous, get involved, don't be shy, study hard from the start and most of all have fun. Study hard but don't forget about your extracurriculars as well!!! Good luck!

May 7, 1997

Dear Incoming Psychology Students,

Congratulations and welcome to the University of Scranton. Here you will embark on the challenging life-long journey of self discovery. This journey may be cluttered with obstacles which seem inescapable. The university provides valuable advice and guidance, such as this letter, on how to overcome these obstacles. This letter contains some helpful hints on how to make your time here as easy as possible from someone who has already been through it.

Freshmen year is the time to explore new experiences, to discover what your interests are. Introductory courses are recommended, especially for those who are unsure of their major or what direction to take in psychology. My suggestion is to obtain the psychology handbook and read it thoroughly. This handbook provides general summaries of the job opportunities available in each field of psychology. It can also be used as a guide to further research into each discipline in order to discover what is compatible to your interests. Visit your advisor, utilize his/her experience and expert opinion. If you question your future in psychology, discuss it with your advisor or upperclassmen. They will aid and support you in your decision. Yet life at the university does not center on academia. Get involved with several different clubs and activities. Go to the activity fairs, sign up for clubs, attend the first meetings. See what the clubs' missions are, then decide whether or not to continue your involvement. If you are or are planning,, to become a psychology major. I strongly suggest that you join the psychology club. Most importantly, keep an open mind because your interests may change throughout the year.

Sophomore year is a time to explore the various fields of psychology. If you are interested in several different fields take the specified courses and become friendly with the professors. For instance, if you are interested in clinical psychology take the recommended courses and discuss your interests with the professor. He/she may direct you to the appropriate graduate programs and research opportunities. Do not wait until your junior or senior year to take these specialized courses. It may be too late, especially if you decide that what you have originally chosen is inappropriate and want to change concentrations. Changing concentrations or tracks during your junior year may put you behind making it difficult to graduate in 4 years. Often students worry about completing the core 8 psychology courses in the first 2 years and opt to take them before the specialized courses. Yet the core 8 courses are offered every year throughout the year. In other words, they can be taken at any time. Meanwhile, the specialized courses are limited, only offered during the spring or fall semesters. By taking the specialized courses you are able to enroll in a field experience course during your junior year; therefore, becoming involved with your future career early. I also suggest that you become involved with student-faculty research. If you plan to continue your education in graduate school, research experience is almost a necessity. Furthermore, a published article is looked at favorably during graduate admissions. I realize that this may be too overwhelming, yet it is paving the way to your future career.

Sophomore year is a monumental year. It is the year when you become the most involved in psychology. You learn research methods, hypothesize, and theoretically execute your own study for the research methods class. It requires a large amount of your time, but it is valuable and the feeling of accomplishment when it is completed is amazing (after completing research methods, any other class seems so easy). Although this year focuses on psychology, you should also be involved with extra-curricular activities. The goal is not to be solely a psychology student, you should be a well rounded individual.

Junior year is when you should take a field experience class. This is an internship at a company, counseling center, etc., where you gain practical experience. Furthermore. this year is your year to display your creativity and leadership skills. Run for positions in the clubs which you are involved in and continue your involvement in other activities. For instance, volunteer at the local counseling center or Red Cross. There are so many opportunities to get involved you just have to take them.

Junior year is also a time when you should get involved with research projects., attend graduate school seminars offered by the psychology department, and begin studying for the GRES. I strongly suggest that you take Sensation and Perception during the first semester and keep the book. This course will help you incredibly for the GRE subject test. Also, thoroughly review your introduction to psychology text. This will also help you with the subject GRE test. Take the GREs during your second semester even if you are unsure about going to graduate school. Your scores are kept for 5 years, so if you change your mind and wish to obtain an advanced degree, you do not have to take a standardized test when you have been away from the academic environment for a prolonged period of time. Inquire about testing dates at the office of career services while you are opening a file there (Hint, Hint). It is better if you are able to get the GREs out of the way as soon as possible because during your senior year you will be too busy applying to graduate schools or job searching to adequately study for them. Believe me, you do not want to end up taking the GRE general test and the psychology subject test in the same day in order for your grades to reach the graduate admission programs in time. I killed myself and regret the experience. Do not stray far from the psychology department and keep in touch with your advisor during this time. He/she can provide information to the best graduate programs or job opportunities in your field of choice. Call graduate schools and request applications or call companies or institutions for possible jobs positions. Throughout this process you should consider which professors or people you would like to write letters of recommendation for you.

The process of applying to graduate schools or jobs will encompass the majority of your senior year. When applying to graduate schools consider whether or not you wish to intend to obtain a Masters degree or a Ph.D. If you decide to apply to Ph.D. programs, also apply to some Masters programs just in case. The applications need to be completed and sent by December, the latest. This means that you have to have all of the transcripts sent and ensure that your letters of recommendation where sent to the appropriate schools in time. Have additional writers of letters of recommendation in mind in case your original three fall through whether you are applying to a graduate school or a job. I personally had some problems concerning my letters of recommendation in which they were not sent to the appropriate locations or if sent, were sent one at a time. It is your responsibility that all the required credentials are received by the graduate admissions or the potential employers. Call the schools or employers which you have applied to ensure that everything was received and take a proactive stance. Periodically, call the schools or employers to voice your interests. From that point on wait to hear and enjoy the rest of your college career.
 
 

Dear Freshman,

Welcome to da U!!! Can you believe it? After all the hesitation and all of the worrying and stress, you are here sitting in front of a psychology professor in college. Your whole life is ahead of you and I figured I would give you a little help because I would have loved it when I was a freshman. There are a lot of things that you have yet to learn and a lot of things that you already know but I am here as a BIG senior to help you. First off, the most important thing that f have learned is that the next four years are going to go so fast. Please trust me on this. No matter what you get on your tests or what you do one night when you may drink, time is still going to fly by. If you are so worried about making mistakes, you are wasting the time that you do have. Guys, there is no way you can avoid making mistakes, most of your time is going to be devoted to worrying about if anyone found out about the night before or if you even remember about the night before. It isn't going to matter weeks from then. TRUST ME, I have been there one too many times but as I am walk down the aisle at graduation all of those memories are going to make me cry, not because I regret any of them but because I am proud of them. I learned a lot of lessons from them and I wouldn't change any of them. As for academics, you couldn't be a part of a better program. Our teacher's here are over qualified and extremely brilliant but the one thing that I do wish I would have done, is to have gotten to know them. They are not the ones who refuse to give you the bad grade or refuse to give you the answers to the tests (though some do). They honestly, hate giving some grades they give, so talk to them. You don't like a grade, go to them and even if your grades don't improve, they see that you are trying , and will consider that in the final tallying of your grade. They, are incredible professors who want you to talk to them. Some may seem unapproachable, but no matter what you may grow to think, they have hearts bigger than you have ever seen. A large lesson I learned and wished I would have applied is when I took Research Methods. You will be taking that your sophomore year and it is probably going to be one of the toughest. most advanced class you will ever take here. It is important that you keep up with your work and give your housemates the phone number of the psychology lab. Your entire life begins to revolve around Alumni Memorial Hall and everyone there become your housemates. You bond with people like never before because its like the saying that when you go through hell with people ,you share a tie that no one could ever understand. Also, it is possible to get above a 2.5 on your little quizzes but this is all not important until next year, so I am not boring you (please make a note to read this next year then.) There is so much more I want to say to you guys and so much more I want to warn you about or help you out with but I think the very best thing I could do for you is to not do anything but smile and wish you luck. First semester freshman year was a time when I hated it here, for no other reason besides I missed my family, did not find my real group of friends, and of course had a boyfriend at home 2 1/2 hours away. But then Intercession of Freshman year I met my sisters and met reality: there are guys up here who are just as nice if not nicer than my boyfriend. You will too! Just hang in there and you will get through. You have the strength inside, you just have to find it and I promise you it is in there.

Good luck everyone and I hope you find everything, in Scranton that I did. You are a very special class and represent it well!
 
 

To whom it may concern,

University of Scranton's Psychology program is quite beneficial. I have experienced the ups and downs. What should one expect as an incoming freshman declaring psychology as a major?

I recommend getting involved right from the get go! I personally took off too slowly. Make it a point to -get to know the staff. Hang around the department! Most of the professors will do whatever they can to help the student in succeeding with the exception of a few. Make it a point to introduce yourself in the beginning. Expect psychology to be a demanding curriculum, but, at the same time, it can be up to the college students level. I recommend doing as much as possible in seeing what psych. is about. There are many options such as the psych. club, psych. conferences, field experience. declaring a track or concentration, and taking a variety of professors. Get involved!!!

In all honesty, one dislike I had was not getting to know the staff all that well. I had the feeling at times that some, not all, seemed disinterested at times. I was strongly pleased with field experience. It was definitely the most exciting and best learning experience. Why? It was good because I received hands on experience outside of the classroom. I saw how psychology was applied in society.

As I begin to write this letter, I am asking myself the question: What do I know now that I wish I'd have known four years ago when I began my college career? In contemplating this question, I have come up with the following answers which I hope will be an asset to you in your upcoming four years at the University of Scranton.

One of the most important things to do in the beginning of your college career is to map out the next eight semesters academically. Your Psychology adviser will assist you in this task. If you're not sure that Psychology is the major for you, begin by taking some basic introduction classes to make sure that this is the field that you want to pursue. That way, if you decide that on want to change your major a few years from now, you won't lose any credits. By mapping out your semesters, you'll have a schedule to follow and you'll understand which courses are prerequisites for others. Therefore, you'll know which classes need to be taken before others and you'll be organized when registration time comes along.

Academic involvement is one of the keys to a successful college career, believe me. As a senior, I am scared to death of entering the "real world" after graduation. I feel that it would have been easier for me to get into graduate school if I had been more academically involved in the Psychology department. And, by the way, you really should plan on going to graduate school if you are a Psychology major. There are not many careers you can enter into with just a

Bachelor degree in Psychology. (So, it's not a good idea to be a Psychology major if these are the last four years of your education.)

Anyway, I know that as incoming freshmen, some of your main concerns are getting away from home, making new friends, and just passing all of your classes the first semester. Believe me, I worried about all of those things too. But I didn't realize that if I involved myself more in the Psychology department as a freshmen, all of those things that I just mentioned would have just come along with the territory. If I had been involved initially, I would have been very busy with schoolwork (and, therefore, easily passing all of my classes), I wouldn't have been so lonely (because I would have been to preoccupied studying to worry about it), and I would have easily made many friends who were also Psychology majors (just by being around the Psychology department all of the time).

To top it all off, through academic involvement you'll be able to form lasting relationships with your professors within the department. I'm not going to lie --- some of the professors you won't want any relationship with, but in general, most of the professors are very easy going. And these are the relationships you'll depend on when you become a senior. These are the people who will write your letters of recommendation for graduate school and for your future employment after you graduate. I cannot stress enough how important these relationships are to your future careers.

If you plan to going on to graduate school, academic involvement is even more important for you. This is because graduate schools look for the following things:

1.Sufficient GRE scores
2. Impressive letters of recommendation
3. Adequate GPA
4. Research experience

Therefore, if you plan on going to graduate school (which you should), learn early how to perform research (through research methods --- stick to it, it's not really as bad as it seems) and perform and undergraduate research project. This will demonstrate your research competencies and may even get you published! Then you'll definitely get into graduate school.

Well, that's about it. But there's one last thing ... these are supposed to be the best four years of your life. So HAVE FUN and enjoy your time at the University of Scranton. Oh, and good luck ... believe me, with a few of the professors here, you're going to need it!
 
 

Incoming Psychology Students:

I am a twenty-two year old female psychology major at the University of Scranton. I declared this major in 1993, my freshman year. I enrolled in the majors' clinical track. I would like to share some of my experiences as a psychology student.

The curriculum for the clinical track in psychology provides a wide range of exposure to the various disciplines of psychology. This allowed me to obtain a solid background in the subject. The cognates and other required courses served as an excellent supplement to the psychology courses. This curriculum has allowed me to obtain a wide variety of knowledge pertaining to psychology. This knowledge will be very useful in my future educational and career goals.

The majority of professors in this department are willing to help there students and guide them in making academic choices. I recommend that all students get to know their professors and not be afraid to ask them for help or advice.

The department also offers clubs and social activities that allows the students to get to know each other. One thing that I regret is not participating in these events. I missed out on meeting new people and having a really good time.

In conclusion, the psychology department offers an excellent curriculum that will prepare you for a career or further education in this field, the majority of professors are there to help you in any way they can, and there are clubs and activities that give you a chance to have fun and get to know others in your major.

I hope that your experience as a psychology major at the University of Scranton is as pleasant as mine has been.
 
 

Dear Incoming Psychology Student:

Welcome to the University of Scranton's Psychology Department. My four years here have been wonderful and I hope your experience will be the same. There is so much here for you to learn and grow from. Hopefully, you will use the next four years as a learning experience to become a more well rounded and worldly individual. On your journey through the University, you will meet with many detours. However, despite the challenges you will face, always remember to follow your heart. Stay true to yourself and your goals.

Honestly, my experiences in the psychology program have been very positive. Although I have made several mistakes, I have learned from them. Hopefully, I will be able to offer you enough guidance on how to avoid the same silly mistakes. First, one of the most important things you receive as a freshman or incoming psychology student is the department's handbook. From this point on, regard this book as your academic bible. Everything in the book is completely accurate. It displays what your life is going to look like for the next four years. What you will be doing in your junior year may not appear important to you now, but it is. Remember, you have to plan ahead or you will get lost in the shuffle.

I guess you are wondering about the courses you will be taking. I am not going to lie, some are harder than others. However, do not let that scare you away from them. In addition. believe only half of what you hear about either certain professors or certain courses. Don't let other people's reactions turn you away from classes. Be both objective and subjective when deciding on your courses. While it is important to take classes you are interested in, it is also important to have a well-rounded education. Therefore, branch out and try new things. I have found my experiences have been different than what others had led me to believe they'd be. In fact, some of my greatest learning experiences have been in classes others had condemned. Shying away from a difficult class or difficult professors only stunts your growth.

With that said, I would like to take this opportunity to dispel a myth about research methods. From the moment you enter the department you will hear older students talking about this course. Their comments are likely to scare you. However, I want to tell you I loved the course and found the experience invaluable. In fact, I obtained my future job because of the skills I learned from the course. Sure, you will be required to work to the breaking point, but the knowledge you acquire in the end is well worth the time and the effort. If you are scared of hard work then not only should you reconsider majoring in psychology, but also you should reconsider being a college student. The students you see registering for the easy classes and easy professors are doing a great disservice to themselves; moreover, they are devaluing their educational opportunities. The psychology department has wonderful professors which are willing to help you out. Use them as resources. However, none of the professors are easy. You will work hard for good grades but you will be rewarded in the end.

Use your freshman year to critically think about your goals in the field of psychology. Once you have a direction, plan the rest of your four years. That way if you have your sights set on a Ph.D.,you 'II be able to obtain all the skills and research necessary. In addition, if you decide to go clinical track, incorporate the human development concentration into your studies. This is worthwhile because only one or two additional courses are necessary besides your basic curriculum to fulfill the concentration's requirements. This brings me to another point, if you are going to declare a track, do so early. In addition, make sure all the paper work is in at the registrar's office. They are incredibly slow down there. Believe me, nothing is scarier than going to the registrar's office at the end of your junior year to find out they do not have you signed up for a track; moreover, missing fundamental courses. It is essential to periodically examine your transcript, making sure it is accurate. I have some regrets about my travels throughout the department. Most, I have to admit, have been my fault; furthermore, resulted from both my lack of knowledge and my lack of direction. First, take classes in some sort of order. This is very important in order to have everything finished in time to apply for graduate programs in psychology. For example, do not wait until your senior year to take psychological testing. It is quite a valuable class and I wish I had taken it sooner. Next, get involved in research. If I could go back and change one thing, this is the area I would change. You will get so much more out of your educational experience if you incorporate research into your curriculum. In addition, use your advisor for more than a schedule signer. The more support you have, the less mistakes you will make. Finally, get involved in everything. The psychology club is great! Also, take advantage of the applying to graduate school workshop. It is invaluable and I would have been lost without it. Make sure to attend the psychology conferences. This is a learning experience you will never forget. I guess what I am trying to stress is the more you get involved, the more you will get out of your experience.

I know what it feels like to be a psychology major who is involved and what it feels like to be not involved. Until my education was interrupted in the beginning of my senior year, I was involved in every aspect of the department. However, coming back I did not have the opportunity to participate in any activities other than the psychology conference. Now, everything seems twice as hard. My point, and I do have one, is the more you get involved the easier your life will be. You will have more fun and meet people going through the same experiences. You learn to help each other and that is what gets you through in the end. Coming back has made me miss the old times; moreover, I feel a void without them.

It is important to remember you are different then those who came before you. You need to travel your own road. Just remember everything you need to know can be obtained from either the psychology handbook or the professors. If you follow that book and get involved, you will have the best four years of your life. Good Luck!!
 
 
 
 

Dear incoming psychology students,

As I am preparing to leave the university community and set out on my own, you, my friends, are just beginning to embark in your undergraduate career. In fact, the next four years of your life will be dedicated toward adapting to the environment, interacting with new people, learning new study habits, working hard, and developing more fully as a human being. Basically, the college experience will make you as versatile and as flexible as you can be. By the time graduation rolls around, you will be ready to face anything that comes your way.

More specifically, four years of college will teach you how to make important choices which will affect the rest of your lives. Unfortunately, most of you will learn this lesson the hard way. However, you will learn from your mistakes. Although, I cannot really make college life any easier for you, I can certainly offer you some insight from my own experiences which may indeed guide yours.

I was accepted into the university as an education major with a concentration in foreign languages. Unfortunately, the education program here is not all that it's cracked up to be. In fact, the education classes really do not have any substance. So, much to my advisor's dismay, I transferred into the wonderful world of the psychology department, Even though the psychology program here at the university is very intensive at times, I do not regret my decision. In fact, I wish that I had made the choice earlier in my career.

In general, I've found the psychology department to be extremely helpful in preparing me for graduate school. My advisor provided me with all of the guidance I needed in order to get the most out of my college experience. One thing that I do regret, however, is the fact that I was a commuter throughout the entire five years I attended the university. Not even mentioning the extracurricular activities, living off campus has a great many consequences. It is much harder to be involved in student/faculty research and much more difficult to study together. As psychology students enrolled in the research methods class, it is pertinent that class members bond through working side by side. There is no way a student can do well in that class if he/she does not spend hours in the computer lab asking questions and learning from their peers.

So, as a tip, be as involved as you can be! You will certainly team more, plus it will make your college years more pleasant. Furthermore, make an effort to interact with the faculty, because they will become your mentors and guide you in your endeavors. Although some professors may be better than others, I've found that I have learned something from all of them. Most importantly, don't schedule your classes according to the professors who teach them. Taking easy classes certainly don't provide you with a sense of gratification. The only way to develop more fully as a person is to challenge your mind. So, don't be afraid to voice your opinion or disagree with a professor. It's all a part of the teaming process.

Furthermore, the psychology department provides excellent models of behavior. Especially through the clinical track, I really learned how to present myself as a professional. The psychology department also has various opportunities which provide excellent examples of professionalism in action. Some examples include the research methods poster fest, the annual psychology conference, various seminars with guest speakers, and student/faculty research.

However, the most important advice which I can possibly give you is to challenge your minds and don't attach limits to yourself You are here to learn, so what if you make mistakes. Nobody's perfect. Be true to yourself and you will make the night decisions. Just remember that every experience you have will be an opportunity for growth - no matter whether it is good or bad. Remember that your college experience will only be what you make of it. You have that choice. Some of you may just come to your classes and go home. Others of you, the brighter ones, will take this opportunity to enter another world.
 
 

Dear Incoming Psychology Student:

I entered the University of Scranton as a psychology major. The first psychology class I took was Fundamentals of Psychology and it was taught by five different professors. At first, I found this overwhelming because I had to get acquainted to the teaching and testing styles of each professor. When the class ended, I realized the benefits of this method. I got to know many of the professors in the department and I was more confident in choosing classes for the following semester.

As a freshman, my academic advisor was not from the psychology department. Although my advisor did not help me very much, it was only for the planning of one semester and it did not hurt me. However, I was extremely pleased with the extensive planning and advice given to me by my advisor from the psychology department the following years.

The psychology department requires each student to take a certain amount of the core eight classes. This aspect definitely helped me to get a good look at all the different perspectives of psychology. I would recommend everyone to take as many different psychology classes as they can. Specifically, I would strongly advise a psychology major to take Social Psychology. Many of the psychology classes have material that overlap but this class introduces completely new information. Taking classes will not only help you to find the area of psychology that interests you the most, it will also help you when you take the GRES.

Being I was sure I wanted to continue to be a psychology major, I thought it would be beneficial to minor in human services to expand my knowledge of the helping professions. I found many of the classes in human services to be a waste of time. They did not challenge me at all. The only classes from this department I would recommend taking are Case Management & Interviewing and Group Dynamics.

As you complete more classes, you will realize if this is the right major for you. I know I was surprised at first to find out psychology was a science. I had taken one psychology class in high school and we had only watched movies. Psychology courses at the college level are more difficult than the classes you may have previously taken. I also was surprised that we are required to take a statistics course. Following the statistics class, we had to take a research methods class. Although it may seem like to much to handle, it is possible to complete and is definitely worth the time.

One mistake I made as a psychology major is that I did not do research with a professor. If by junior year you are thinking about pursuing a career in psychology, you will probably have to go to graduate school. All graduate school doctorate programs look to see if you did research or published any articles. This applies to most fields of psychology such as clinical, developmental, and neuroscience. Fortunately, I decided to pursue a master's degree in school psychology and research was not a requirement. Also, most graduate schools require you to take the GREs which are similar to the SATS. I would strongly suggest studying the summer before senior year. As a psychology major, you are only required to take one math class and half of the GRE test is math. I was not prepared for the GREs and my scores showed this.

Although all of this advice might seem overwhelming or confusing, you will appreciate it soon enough. The psychology department provides each student with a psychology handbook and it explains some of the points I have mentioned in more detail. I would suggest you thoroughly read through it and refer back to it often.

I hope my advice will be of some help to you. Good luck in psychology or in whatever you may do.
 
 

Dear Incoming Psychology Student

How do I sum up my years here at the University of Scranton? I can say that they were both four long years but also four very short years. I can not believe that the time has come to graduate but at the same time I recall each long semester and remember thinking that they would never end. I think that this thought is the consensus here on campus. I hear everyone say how they cannot believe that graduation Is almost upon us, as they wonder where the time went.

My experience at the University of Scranton was full of confusion. It took me a longtime to finally decide what I wanted to accomplish here. Upon entering the University of Scranton- I as an undeclared natural science major. After my freshman year, I decided to declare biology as my major, which lasted for a very short time. The summer before my sophomore year I became interested in the field of occupational therapy. So for the next year and a half I took classes that were required in that field, but I was not in the actual program here at the University of Scranton. Following much debate about whether to transfer or continue my education at the University of Scranton, I decided to stay and become a psychology major. The courses required for the psychology program corresponded well to the classes that I needed to take in order to be accepted into an occupational therapy graduate program. I did not officially enter the psychology program until the middle of my junior year, but when I did, I finally felt like I had a plan and was not wandering around aimlessly trying to discover what to do with my education.

One thing that I like about the psychology department is its atmosphere. Everyone in the department is very helpful and focused on the students. Several of the courses offered require a degree of bonding to occur between the students which creates sort of a family environment. The teaching assistants (TA's) are also a fundamental part of the program. They are always around to help those in need. I also like the fact that the program is very flexible. You can pick and choose courses depending on your own interests. There is also a great variety of courses offered. Although you may not be able to get into a certain course as a freshman or a sophomore. just wait your turn like everyone else had to. You will met into it eventually.

Before I had taken any psychology courses, I thought that a psychology major could only lead to a job as a psychologist. Now, as I look back on all I have learned, I do not think that I could have thought anything that was more incorrect. There are probably more things you can do with psychology than just about any other major. I know this now as I am preparing myself for a field that is only indirectly related to psychology. Not only does it lead to a variety of professions, but it also saves you a foundation that is helpful in all areas of life. The most profound thing that a psychology student learns is how to think- critically. You learn to be objective and not always take things at face value. This is a very important thing that all people should learn.

Another misunderstanding that many people, including myself at one time, have about psychology is that it is not a science. That could not be further from the truth. When you enter a psychology program, you should prepare yourself to conduct and also learn about a great deal of science. Science is based on empirical evidence and objectivity and this is the core of psychology.. Since I came to the psychology department with a "traditional" science background of biology it was an easy transition for me. But I have seen many people struggle with the science side of the field. You should be prepared to deal with this science aspect of psychology when you enter any program in psychology.

I have several recommendations for anyone who is an incoming psychology student or anyone who is thinking about the field of psychology. The first thing that you will want to know is what classes to take. Everyone wants to know what professors are the easiest and what

courses require the least amount of work. I would not recommend basing your educational experience on what other students have to say about particular professors and courses. I have taken courses that people did not recommend that I really enjoyed and I have also taken courses that people did recommend that I absolutely hated. Each course leads to different experiences for each student. My advise is to follow your interests and goals when choosing courses. Do not always take the advise from one student who had a bad experience with a course or a professor. You may be passing by a great learning experience and a chance to discover your true talents.

I also recommend for all incoming students to get involved with clubs and organizations. This is one thing that I regret about my time here at the University of Scranton. I spent so much time trying to figure out what I wanted to do that time just passed me by. By the time I actually became a psychology major I was already half way through my junior year. I missed much of the bonding experience many psychology students go through. I feel that if I had been more involved I may have bonded more with other students.

Finally I would like to tell new students not to be afraid of research methods. I know that you will hear horror stories about how hard it is and how much work there is to do but do not judge the course until you have actually taken it. In my opinion it is the best course in the psychology department. You will probably learn more in this class than in any other you will take. So do not be intimidated by the enormous amount of work you will have to do. Just think of all you will have gained when you complete it.

As a closure, I would like to wish you lots of luck on your journey as a psychology student at the University of Scranton. I guarantee that it will be a time of your life that you will never forget.

Dear Incoming Psychology Student,

As a departing senior I have some final words of wisdom (so I think they are). First, embrace your school and your major. Take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented to you and seek those opportunities that you wish to have. For example, your psychology degree offers you a chance to chose a minor or two; I myself have bui1t two minors and a concentration into the Clinical Psychology Degree. These minors broaden your focus. The Human Development Concentration is practically unavoidable if you are part of the Clinical Track. However, it is up to you to fill out the paper work and make sure you have enrolled in all the needed classes. You need to act on this opportunity presented to you, if you so desire.

Secondly, declare a track. I myself, hesitated and finally in my second semester junior year decided on the Clinical Track. Don't wait that long. A track will give you a stronger focus and excellent experience for whatever you wish to do four years from now. Whether it be psychology, business, research, social work, etc., a track will help structure your psychology courses and in the end you will have a greater sense of continuity and knowledge.

Thirdly, there are some dedicated and inspiring teachers in this department, so don't lose faith when you come across what appear to be the meanest teachers ever. Furthermore, take those teacher's classes. One particular teacher that teaches Statistics loves teaching. Anyone in his class is eager to learn the material because of his enthusiasm for numbers, students, and life in general! He possess a charisma that truly makes learning fun.

Another inspiring teacher located in the department is incredibly bright yet knows how to relate the facts on a student level. He is quite humorous and is able to maintain focus to teach the class material. However, he does expect more work and a higher quality of work than the average teacher. I have to suggest you take his class because even though a lot of work is required for his classes, the retention rate of material learned by far exceeds any other psychology class.

Next there will be some classes where you question your major because of their difficulty. Take them anyway. In hindsight, the toughest, most challenging classes that I have taken in my psychology major have been the most rewarding for me. Furthermore, it was from these classes that I learned the most about psychology, myself, and my career choices.

Finally, embrace the opportunities you have for research and learning. There are so many resources available at your fingertips professors, computers, research opportunities, etc. Take advantage of them. The one way to make the most out of your four years at the University and as a psychology major is through actively embracing the learning opportunities all around you. Welcome and good luck!

Dear Incoming Psychology Student:

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Psychology Department at the University of Scranton! As a new student, there is so much to look forward to and so many opportunities that you can take advantage of over the next four years. However, everything will not be handed to you on a silver platter as it may have been in the past, so you must actively engage yourself in your studies. In other words, get off your butt, get out there, and do something that will be productive and rewarding for yourself. You would be surprised at how many different ways there are to do this.

To begin with, make sure that you are enrolled in the team taught Fundamentals of Psychology class. Not only will this class give you the basic background information that is essential for any psychology major to have, but it will give you the opportunity to meet and get to know all of the other psychology majors in your freshman class. This is definitely a good place to find some study partners, as well as some friends. In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet with and get to know most of the full-time faculty members within the psychology department. This is a great opportunity for you to get an idea of what your future professors will be like and whether or not you would like to take a class taught by them sometime in the future.

As you begin to take more advanced psychology classes, remember to consider the experiences you had in Fundamentals. Did a particular subject interest you more than others? Then take a course on it. Did you like a particular professor because of the way they taught? Then look a course offered by them.

One of your greatest resources in the psychology department is certainly the professors. Get to know them and as much about them as you possibly can. Obviously they have a vast amount of knowledge about psychology or else they would not be here. While there is no doubt about it that some do have a better personality and are more helpful than others, in general they are a pretty good bunch. Do not be afraid to approach any of them with a question, thought, or concern about a point made in class, a test question, scheduling classes, etc. They certainly will not bite your head off, and in fact, most will appreciate it. Remember, that it is all part of their job. And if by chance a professor gives you any problems, there certainly will be another who is willing to help.

Another great resources as a psychology major is other psychology majors, especially those who are older than you or have taken other classes than you. They can give you very useful information (and warnings) about certain classes or professors. They can also help you by giving you some direction with papers, projects, and tests. This applies especially when it comes time to take Research Methods--you will soon discover that the TA's can become your new best friends.

Speaking about Research methods, be ready for a semester that you will never forget and never regret. Probably more sooner than later, you will hear that this class is among the most difficult in the department. While this is certainly true, it must be considered how much you will learn, both about psychology and yourself. The point is to not give up right away if you are not doing as well as you would have expected or liked in this class, and in the couple of others which are nearly as challenging (Statistics, Neuroscience, Clinical, Testing). Instead, study a little bit harder or longer, talk to other people about what is going on in class, and approach your professors with questions if you are unclear about something. You might be surprised to find out how much a little bit of effort and perseverance will pay off in the end.

Aside from making an effort towards doing well in your psychology classes, you should strive to do well within the psychology department as a whole. By this I mean that you should get involved with the things going on with other students, the professors, and so on. In terms of organizations, there is the Psychology Club, Psi Chi, APA, and APSSC. They each plan several events through out the year that you could help organize or support by attending. You can also get involved by doing research on anything from the response of rats to stimuli to the cognitive abilities of children, as part of either your undergraduate courses or the Faculty Student Research Program.

Aside from that, the department also sponsors some interesting-brown-bag lunch lectures and discussions by both departmental faculty and outside guests. In addition, some faculty members have fun gatherings at their homes in order to bring students and professors together in a more relaxing atmosphere. You can also get involved outside of the academic atmosphere by volunteering or working during the year or over the summer in a position somewhat related to the field in which you are interested. Your participation in these kind of activities will probably increase your own interests, and it will show others (especially the professors) that you are interested in getting a little bit more out of your college years. This will be great when it comes time to make up resumes and get recommendations for graduate schools or employment in the "real world".

Lastly, remember that although it may feel like four years is forever at this point in time, the fact is that graduation (the dreaded "G" word!) is not as far off as it may seem. Taking this into consideration, be sure to make the most of the time that you have here at college, because they can certainly be the most rewarding years of your life. Do not let opportunities pass you by and make the most of your time. Good luck!!
 
 

Dear Incoming Freshmen:

By the time you read this letter I will have graduated from the University of Scranton in the spring of 1997, with my BS in Psychology, and a minor in history. I entered the psychology department the second semester of my freshmen year. I'm telling you this so that you know you can enter the psychology department a later than those students who came in as psychology majors, have a minor, and still graduate on time.

I've found my experiences within the University, and within the psychology department both pleasant and educational. As a freshmen it's good to know about the Advising Center located on the third floor of St. Thomas. This center operates specifically for you to go there and ask the advisors any academic questions. I used them frequently, freshmen year to get help with my course selections. They also assisted me with the paperwork I needed to complete to declare psychology as my major. I strongly, advise you to ask any questions that you have to either the Advising Center Advisors or to your professors. If he/she does not have the answers to your questions. more often then not they will be able to send you to someone who can answer them.

It is also very important to follow the Psychology, Handbook. This handbook provides you with all of the necessary information to help you stay on track so that you can graduate in four years. If for some reason you cannot get into a class which you need to graduate you can ask .your advisor or another professor what you should do to alleviate this problem. (Sometimes strings can be pulled to help you get into the class you need.)

By being aware of what courses you need to take you will have a lot less stress in your life when it comes to your senior year.

I have also had some problems with my academic advisor not having the answers to some of my questions. Instead of forgetting about it, I just went to another psychology professor and kept asking different professors until I got the answer to my question. You need to be somewhat aggressive because there is no one here that will hold your hand through the next four years of your college experience. It's up to you to find out what you need to graduate.

It is also important that you know the objectives of the psychology department. The psychology major offered at the University of Scranton is more science and theory oriented. This means that you will not and be prepared without further schooling to practice psychology in a clinical setting as many might think. This program is on a baccalaureate level, and I think it's more geared towards sending you onto a higher level of schooling. If you have any questions about the psychology department's objectives ask one of your psychology professors.

I was also a part of Scranton's Varsity Women's Tennis team along with playing on different intramural sports. I think, it's important to join clubs or athletics because they can help you to not only manage your time better but then, expose you to different situations where you're able to meet more people. There's something out there for everyone, the hardest part is finding what you like to do.

I hope your next four years are both rewarding and educational. They will go by a lot faster than you might think, so get involved early. Good luck.
 
 

Academically the main things I call tell you about being a psychology major is that tile first thing you should establish is contact with someone in the department who can help you design your schedule to YOUR liking,, and your needs. Even if you have an advisor from somewhere else, you may save yourself precious time and heartache by having a member of the psychology department look it over. And don't be afraid to ask questions. You are here paying them to teach you. If they don't have time, find someone who does or pester someone until they give you help. You are not paying thousands of dollars for them to be comfortable.

Speaking of professors and class, don't be intimidated in class. You will be at first, by the difference between college and high school, by the depth of the topics you are talking about, and by other students. If you get confused or fall behind GET HELP!!! It doesn't cost anything extra, is friendly, and convenient and it will save you from failing a course. When dealing with professors, the professors in the psychology department are very knowledgeable, and can help you with most any topic. And since they make a living dealing with people, they are all pretty friendly.

The next pieces of advice I will give you are golden. Don't fall behind in statistics or research methods and if you do (I'm serious, there is not a faster way to bury yourself) do everything in your power to get back in the black. And one precious thing that they never tell freshman is that when you have a paper to do, and need a place to type it, or print it, there are labs all over such as AMH, the library. and the fifth floor of O'Hara hall. When you are in a panic, it is of great value to know of a less popular lab where you can be sure to avoid lines and waiting.

Lastly, have a good time. A huge part of the educational aspect of college is not graded by anyone but yourself. When you leave, do want to look back and say "I spent four years of my life in the library or do you want to say "I have good grades, and an irreplaceable memories. It's just my opinion, but you can easily have a good time, make lots of friends and have a good GPA.