Dear Incoming Freshman,

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Dear Incoming Freshman,

Welcome to the University of Scranton. I hope you enjoy your time here. It goes by fast...very fast! College was many things to me. Yes, it was fun. I met new friends and had great experiences. However, looking back, there were many things I wish I would have known, but I guess half of the battle was figuring things out for myself.

First, please do not get caught up in your freshman year. Going out, experiencing the party scene, and meeting new people are tons of fun yet it becomes too easy to forget the reason for attending this university. Inevitably, many do not return to Scranton for sophomore year after a freshman year filled with alcohol. Parents do not like to watch their money thrown away so you can party. Freshman year counts. The grades will forever be part of your GPA. No matter how many awesome semesters you have after a terrible one, it is very, very difficult to bring up a low GPA.

Second, get involved in the psychology department. The psychology department is very friendly. Yes, I know some appear unapproachable and even a bit intimidating. Nevertheless, look past this and befriend your professors. Let them know who you are on both an academic and personal basis. If you plan to continue your education in psychology, letters of recommendation and research with professors are very important. Try not to wake up second semester junior year to the reality that no one knows who you are and what your hopes are for the future.

Third, research methods was draining, difficult, and could be depressing but well worth the struggles. You will learn valuable lessons. Your writing and computer skills will drastically improve. After finishing this class, you will have a great sense of accomplishment and a wonderful work ethic. Do not be afraid of research methods but embrace it as a true learning experience, which becomes invaluable to your undergraduate career. To be honest, some become nervous and switch majors because of this course. That is ridiculous. It is very possible to complete this course with a great grade. Many of the teachers and older students will help you. Like all psychology course, classes are challenging but with effort, you could succeed and do well.

Fourth, use your credits wisely. In the psychology curriculum there is room for a minor; many minor in a language or business. I feel my minor in Spanish was a positive asset to my application when applying to graduate school.

Fifth, on a personal note, be careful of long distance relationships. I am not telling all of you with high school boyfriends or girlfriends to run and dump them but listen to yourself. Many struggle in their relationships and fight constantly while others do work out and survive the four years. However, If you are not happy now, and fighting to the point where you are depressed, it might be best to take time for yourself. This is the time to do it. NO matter how cliche this sounds, if it is meant to be it will be, please do not hurt yourself holding on to the past.

Sixth, if possible, go abroad for a semester. This was my most valuable experience. I enjoyed the change for five months and learned about myself and what I wanted for the future. It is not for everyone but if interested talk to the faculty Study Advisor very early on in your college career. Going abroad takes tons of planning to ensure you do not lose credits then in turn have to stay another year. Planning is key to a successful experience abroad.

Finally, listen to yourself. Never lose your gut feeling because at times it is all you have. Thank your parents. Make sure they they know you appreciate their sacrifices. I wish you all the best. Life is funny, it always works out in the end, but never be afraid to ask for help. I loved my time at the University; I would not change the difficulties for anything. In reality, the low parts of my life might have been the time when I learned the most about myself. Good Luck.

Dear Freshmen,

There are many things that you probably want to know about the University and deciding on a major. When I came to school, I started as a biology major. However, after two years of constant lab work and classes like organic chemistry, I decided that I did not want to be locked up in a lab for the rest of my life. I wanted to work with people and I was not quite sure if medical school was my thing.

So, I decided to try the Exploratory Program where you take classes in various majors to see what you might like to do. I ended up taking a few psychology courses and realized that I truly enjoyed these classes. I liked learning about problems people have and why they think and act the way they do. During second semester my junior year, I transferred to the psychology department. One thing that I am sorry about is changing majors so late because I did not want to stay an extra year so I had to take 18 credits every semester and did not have the opportunity to do research or take some of the other classes I wanted to. One suggestion I have for you then is to definitely get involved in research. I had done research in the Biology department, but could not find time once I switched majors to do psychology research because my schedule was too hectic. What I'm telling you is don't make the same mistake I did.

Another suggestion I have for you is to definitely register for Field Experience in a Clinical Setting during either your junior or senior year. Even if you are not sure if clinical psychology is what you are planning in the future, it is a great learning experience to be out in the field. You finally have the opportunity to see and work with all the things you read about and were lectured to in class. You are given the chance to observe therapy sessions and at some placements even run your own group session. You can read up on disorders that your “clients” have and see how people with such disorders that you were taught about act.

A concern of mine once I switched majors was sure I like the classes, but do I really want to be a psychologist. To be honest I still don't know exactly what I want to be. However, after having many interviews over the past few weeks, I realized that a degree in psychology is definitely a plus with many companies because the major is known for instilling great interpersonal skills in its students. I had been selected to interview with every company that I sent my resume to and the first thing they asked was why major in psychology. During each one, the interviewer commented on the fact that psychology allows students to get to know and understand people which are often the most important parts of the job. Employers want someone with good communication skills who can relate to people. Also, the major requires various writing intensive classes which help to strengthen your writing skills. Overall, the psychology major makes for a well-rounded student and future employee.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my suggestions to you. Make sure to get involved in student-faculty research. It not only looks good for graduate school and some careers, but it allows you the chance to get to know your professors better and see what area of psychology is of most interest to you. Also, take Field Experience if you can fit it into your schedule because experience is the best teacher. Finally, relax you chose a good major. Enjoy your college experience. It is the best time of your life.

Dear Incoming Psychology Major,

By choosing to become a psychology major at the University of Scranton you are starting off your first semester quite well. Four years ago I made the same decision and, as I look back, I am glad that I did.

I came to college with an undeclared major in the social science area. Truthfully, I had no idea what .1 wanted to major in or what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I soon began the process of reading about all of the majors the University offers and deciding which ones I liked best. The only major that I really liked was psychology. Since you have already declared the major, you are one step ahead of where I was four years ago.

Even though you have already decided on a major, you may not know what you want to do with your life after college. Not knowing what you want to do is a common problem among students. My advice to you would be to look into the various areas of psychology now and try to see where you interests are. Knowing this ahead of time should help you when you are registering for classes and it should help you reduce your anxiety when you are approaching graduation.

While I was a psychology major, I participated in a number of activities in the department. I participated in the Faculty Student Research Program and I completed an honors thesis as a requirement to graduate in the Honors Program. I was also a teaching assistant for two courses. Participating in all of these activities helped me in a number of ways. The most recent benefit that I have seen occurred this past semester when I went to graduate school interviews; having done all of these things gave me a lot to talk about. Graduate admission committees are looking for students who are active and show an interest in their work. More specifically, I noticed that the faculty at the graduate schools loved research. They were actually excited about their research projects and they were looking for students who share a similar passion. Knowing this, you should get involved in research projects with the faculty members at the University. Like many other students, I took the Research Methods course the second semester of my sophomore year. The course and lab helped me to learn about how research actually works and gave me enough knowledge to help me get involved in research with faculty members. The experiences I had were a great asset when it came to getting accepted into graduate school.

As I previously mentioned, I was a member of the Honors Program. Just being able to say that I was in the Honors Program seemed to be a help when I went on interviews; the competition for admissions into graduate school is tough and people need all of the help they can get. Above all, I think being in the Honors Program showed that I was a dedicated student. It takes hard work to complete an honors thesis but I am glad I did it. Just the experience of participating in a research project is important.

One negative thing that I experienced with regards to the Honors Program would have to be the three honors tutorials that I had to complete. All students in the Honors Program have to take a minimum of three tutorials, independent classes consisting of just you and the professor. I don't think I gained as much as I could have from these tutorials. One way I think I could have greater benefited from the experience would have been to pick better subjects to study or possibly even different professors to teach them. I was just so overwhelmed by the process of registering for tutorials that I ended up waiting until the last minute to decide what I wanted to do. If you do go into the Honors Program, start thinking early about subjects for tutorials you want to study and professors that you would like to work with.

Regardless of whether or not you decide to go to graduate school, start thinking about what you are going to do with the rest of your life early in your senior year. Entering the fall semester of my senior, I thought I was interested in clinical psychology and I had decided to go to graduate school to study that area. The summer before my senior year I even researched schools with clinical programs. Over the course of the semester, however, I realized that clinical psychology was not for me. I am so grateful

that I had that revelation before it was too late. When deciding what field to go into, you really have to be honest with yourself. There was a time when I wasn't and, if I had waited just a little longer to see the truth, I would be regretting it today.

Based on my experiences, there are just a few more pieces of advice that I can offer. The best course that I took was Field Experience in Clinical Psychology. It was better than my other classes because I found that I was able to apply what I had learned to the outside world. During the field experience practicum, you go to a site and observe what they do there. I found it to be quite interesting. Another great part about the class is that you get to hear what other students observe. In my field experience seminar a variety of placements were discussed and I learned a great deal of information.

Being a teaching assistant was another great opportunity that I had while at the University of Scranton. If a professor ever asks you to be a teaching or research assistant, accept the offer .It's a great opportunity to get to know your professors.

Sincerely,

Graduating Psychology Major

Dear incoming Psychology major:

There are a few things that I now wish someone had told me when I was a freshman. ' At the time I was so overwhelmed by what 1 thought the next four years had in store for me, that I didn't even know what kind of questions to ask. So here it is, bits of knowledge that have gained by falling on my face more than once. And because you are all freshman, I will try to be as specific as possible.

1. Get all of your core classes out of the way as soon as you can. Trust me, you don't want to be the only senior in intro to algebra.

2. Don't take classes because you hear the professor was easy. Take classes that interest you and that might help you decide what you want to do.

3. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There is a good chance other people are thinking the same thing you are.

4. Get involved with school activities. Though it sounds cheesy, you are only here for 4 years and they go quickly.

5. Start thinking about what you want to do after college. If you are interested in grad school, start looking the beginning of your junior year.

6. Go to the professor's office hours. Let the professors know who you are and what your are interested in. "Go see your advisor more than when he needs to sign your class schedule.

7. Don't be afraid to question a professor. Yes, this is a male dominated department but don't let that intimidate you. The professors are supposed to be smarter than you are. And don't tolerate anyone, professor or student, making derogatory sexual remarks about you.

8. Budget your time wisely. If you know you procrastinate, then at least make sure you can be up all night doing work, and sleep most of the morning.

9. Along these lines, morning classes are generally a bad idea. Be realistic, college isn't all work.

10. Don't get an apartment with people you don't know. It can be disastrous.

II. Always hand your work in on time. Whether you have to write all night or all morning, it makes the right impression on the professor .

12. Don't miss class more than l/2 the amount of cuts you get for the class. For example, if the class is 3 times a week, and you are allowed 6 cuts, don't miss more than 3-4 max. Attendance also makes a good impression. Also, find a buddy in the class and alternate your skips with hers, so you can trade notes.

13. Try to do all the reading: If that isn't realistic, at least just read for the quizzes and skim the rest.

14. Don't let parking violations pile up, because they really do come after you for them.

15. Don't walk around alone at night. I know Scranton isn't a real city, but it is better to be safe.

16. On the same note, don't go to parties alone. And be careful who hands you a drink, and whom you leave with. Boys 1ie.

17. Make sure after you check your email, or do anything personal on a computer on campus that you restart the computer to protect your privacy.

18. Don't obsess about your GPA. Take the classes you like, and do your best in them.

19. Always have a back up disk. Always.

20. It is completely acceptable to go to school in your pajamas. Trust me, by senior year, even the shower is optional. But to make sure you keep your friends, find where down wind in the class is and stay there.

21. Believe in yourself and keep your eyes on the long-term, overall goal- graduation.

22. Chant this before you get back every test;--'This is only one grade, (pause, deep meaningful breath) in a long series of grades, (another breath) that does not define who I am (one more breath) as a person." It is ok to not get an A in every class.

Hopefully, the knowledge I have gained and the mistakes I have made will help you over the next 4-years: Have fun and Good Luck!

Dear Incoming Psychology Major,

I cannot sit here and say that I was just where you are four years ago. In fact, I had no intentions of ever being a psychology major when I came to Scranton. I started off as a biology major, with the intentions of going into a health profession after graduation. However, my plans quickly changed when I was put on academic probation after my first semester. I was mortified! I had gone from a student who was on academic honor roll to a student who faced the possibility of failing out of school.

My poor grades were not for lack of trying either. I had tutors and I studied all the time. The problem was I was not interested in the subject matter. After all, there is only so much you can learn about cell production until you want to scratch your eyes out. I knew that I needed to change my major, but I did not know what I should do. A close friend of mine was a psychology major, and she was always talking about how much she loved her classes. I had taken a psychology class in high school, so I decided to try it. Right away I enjoyed my classes, and my increasing GP A reflected that.

I cannot say that it was not a hard transition though. I felt like I was abandoning my dream. I soon learned though, that I could accomplish my goals with a different degree. It was strange because I had always been one of those people who insisted that I would never change my major because "I had a plan." I was very wrong though. Not only did I change my major, but over the course of my four years here, I have changed my minor five different times! I was so interested in everything that the school had to offer that I was always taking a variety of classes. Once I took a class I liked, I felt that I should minor in it. I would change my minor when I became interested in another area. I would not advise declaring a minor simply because you like a class. However, I will say that I fully believe that you should take a variety of classes. You may learn that your interests' lie elsewhere, and perhaps your future would be better served by this. Also, do not be afraid to change your major! Less than half the students graduating with a degree in psychology this year actually started off as psychology majors. I know that I would have been very unhappy if I had remained a biology major.

There are so many things you should do now in order to do well. Talk to your

psychology professors. This may seem a little scary , but I can assure you that they are wonderful people who want to see you do well. They can offer you advice on what classes to take, how to study, or will simply talk to you if you need help with something.

Another important thing to think about is this; if you are looking to be a counselor, this is not the major for you. Go to human services because these classes would better serve you. Psychology is a science and research-oriented major. There are only a few classes that give you a clinical feel. Right now you will take classes on theory and research. Clinical classes are reserved for graduate school.

This brings me to my next point. You must go to graduate school in order to work in psychology .There are no jobs in psychology at the baccalaureate level. Keep in mind also that you do not have to go to graduate school in psychology either. I am attending graduate school to become an occupational therapist.

My final and most important point is this; get involved! Do not wait until senior year when you are looking to build up your applications. Employers and admissions directors like to see consistency. You do not have to stay in the same clubs for four years, but certainly try and remain active over your four years, even if it is only in one or two organizations. I am most proud of my achievements outside the classroom. I had the opportunity to be the president of the psychology club for a year. I was able to organize service projects, fundraisers, and reached so many people that I would never have otherwise. I was also able to do research with a professor this year. I do not have the best research skills in the department, but my professor knew that I was really motivated, so he gave me this wonderful opportunity. I fully attribute my acceptance to graduate school to opportunities such as this.

College will be what you make of it. Like many other people, I can sit here and tell you what you need to do, but only you can do it. I can imagine how overwhelmed you feel right now. You are probably just realizing that this is so much harder than high school. You are probably wondering how you are going to fit extracurriculars in with all the studying you have to do. You are probably wondering why I am telling you why you should worry about graduate school when you just got here. My point is this; your four years will fly by. You do not want to regret missed opportunities. Slowly, you will start to see that things will start to fall into place. I hope you will have as much fun at Scranton as I have. Good luck, and enjoy your four years here.

Dear Incoming Psychology Majors,

The first thing I would like to tell you is that I was there. Four years ago I was sitting right where you are in room 212 AMH, Freshman seminar. Back then I felt overwhelmed by the thought of college, but also very excited. You should know that you made an excellent decision by choosing to pursue a psychology degree at the University of Scranton. The faculty, classes, and facilities will prepare you above and beyond the requirements of most graduate schools. I can say this without hesitation from my experience at graduate school interviews, where I realized that most of my peers from other schools did not have the skills I gained at the University.

However, I would like to stress early on that it is not a big deal for you to change your major. You may discover, as many people in my Freshman seminar class did, that psychology is not for you. One thing that I wish had been emphasized to me early on is that psychology is not human services. I fIrm1y believe that after you take your first human services class you will be convinced that human services is more what you expected from a major in psychology. Human services enables you to feel good, help people, counsel people, interact well with clients, reflect on emotion and it's easy to get high grades in these courses.

Psychology on the other hand, is about statistics, research methods, analytical thinking and writing. Psychology is hard work and for the most part less personal. I am not going to pretend that I did not struggle with the thought of changing my major a few times. My only advice is do not wait until after Research methods to make your decision. The Research methods class is the hardest class you will take as a psychology major.

After taking the Research methods class, and doing well, I was tom between majoring in psychology, pre-med, or human services. Yet, as much as I struggled with these ideas I ultimately decided that having invested so much time in the research methods class I could not change.

In retrospect, I am glad that I did not change my major. By remaining a psychology major, I had the opportunity over the past two years to participate in three exciting research projects with two faculty members. My advice about faculty and research is do not be afraid to talk to them and GET INVOLVED. I can tell you that the things I am most proud of now are not my grades but the extra-curricular events and activities in which I participated. After graduation my research project is going to be published in a journal, I have a good relationship with most of the faculty members, I attended the Eastern Psychological Association's annual Conference this year, and I volunteered at Clarks Summit State Hospital as a member of Psychology club.

Yet as I sit here writing this, three weeks until gradation, there is a long list of things that I wanted to do in college that I never accomplished. My suggestion to you is to write a list of things you want to accomplish now and actively pursue them without fearing the consequences or what your peers will think. I was so afraid after the first few weeks of school to meet other people outside my own group of friends. I believed that everyone was already in an established group of friends, but that is not true! The best thing you can do is meet as many people as you can freshman year. I decided to make a few very close friends freshman year and stick with them throughout my four years. This was a good plan but now as a senior I walk around and I am disappointed by the fact that I do not know most of the senior class and they do not know me.

Finally, I would like to stress that starting junior year you STUDY FOR YOUR GREs! After going through the application process for graduate school I realize just how important GRE scores are. Most of the schools I wanted to attend eliminated me right away because my GRE scores were not competitive enough. Also, do not wait until senior year to decide what you want to do with your degree. I was one of those people that floated through high school and college with high grades but didn't really focus on concrete career goals. Therefore, when it came down to senior year I had so many decisions and deadlines to make I wanted to cry .A little planning in advance will save you from having a nervous breakdown, trust me! Fortunately I did find a five- year doctorate program in school psychology that I wanted to attend. After everything, I was accepted but it was a long first semester.

In conclusion, I would like to leave you with three things I wish I would have know back then: First, pursue a major and a career that you like and want to pursue no matter what other people tell you. Second, get involved and make friendships with as many different people as you feel comfortable, but do not limit yourself because you fear looking odd, everyone feels that way especially freshman year. And finally, study for your GREs and plan for ahead for your future.

Dear Incoming Psychology Major: .

There are many things I would like to tell you about being a psychology major, but I will try to narrow it down to a handful. Entering into the University as a psychology major you are probably unsure of what to expect. But in time you will begin to understand how the department works and what consists of a major in psychology.

One of the first surprises I got as a freshman was that I was actually going to have to read the textbook. This is probably going to be a shock to you as well if you chose not to read your textbooks in high school either .Although we are not the English department, psychology requires a lot of reading. Almost every class you take will require you to read and learn the text. Many professors in our department also give what are called "read-ahead" quizzes. Here you are expected to read a chapter of the textbook before the professor explains the material in class. Then you take a brief quiz on the chapter in class. The point of the quizzes are to help you keep up with the reading and to encourage you to help yourself understand the material before the professor explains it in class. Most of the professors will also take exam and quiz questions directly from material in your textbook. So if there is one study skills tip I can give: Read the book!

Another idea you many not consider or want to consider is planning your academic career early. Another lesson that I learned early on, and proved to be unbelievably helpful, was to map out what courses I needed and wanted to take in the next four years. This sounds a bit overwhelming and it did to me as well when my advisor suggested it, but scheduling what classes to take and when you will take them is crucial. In our school and our department, certain classes are not offered every semester and some are not even offered every year .So in order to ensure that you take all the necessary classes and the ones you would like to take, planning your academic career in your freshman or sophomore year is a smart move.

One of the things you as a psychology major are lucky to have is a close-knit, personable, group of professors. In fact, since we are a smaller university most of your professors will be quite approachable. What I mean to say is: get to know your professors. Don't ever be afraid to approach your professors to ask them questions inside or outside of class. Most professors will provide you with their office phone number, email address, and some may even provide you with their home phone number. This opportunity is truly unique and should be taken advantage of. Now I am not recommending you call your professor's at home when you need to speak with them. But I am recommending you email them, stop by their offices, or catch them in the hallway. Whatever way you want to communicate with your professors, it is important to do it. Get to know your professors and allow them to help you make decisions. Remember our professors all come from varied backgrounds and have different areas of expertise, use this to your advantage and ask them questions.

The next recommendation I have is to do research. You may not understand it now but our department is very science-oriented and our professors are always interested in conducting studies and collecting data. Especially after you complete the Research Methods class you will realize the importance of research in our field. It is an interesting and unique experience to conduct research with a professor in our department. It's not very hard to get involved either. Ask around the department and I guarantee there will always be professors doing research and eager to have students help them.

As you continue your education in our department, you'll begin to develop your own interests within the field of psychology. Since psychology has so many sub-areas it can be confusing to decide which area you would like to pursue a career in. This is where our professors and the variety of classes you take come into play. As I mentioned earlier, all of our professors are trained in a different discipline of psychology. If you know there is an area you are interested in, ask one of the professors whose expertise is in that area to talk to you more about it.

Unfortunately for us psychology majors, life after an undergraduate degree is not so cut and dry as it is in other departments. Although after obtaining your B.S. in psychology you can graduate and get a job, many students go on for higher education within a specialty of psychology. For certain areas of psychology it is almost paramount that you get a higher degree in order to work in that field. Some fields include clinical, counseling, and school psychology .Again, talk with professors and tell them what your interest is and decide if going on for a Masters or Ph.D .is beneficial. If going on for a graduate degree is something you decide you want and need to do, then this next section is quite important. If not, then it's worth listening to anyway.

Applying to graduate school requires much, much more time, energy, and dedication than applying to undergraduate school did. There are many more forms and paper work needed in the application and it all takes a great deal of time. If you decide to go to graduate school the summer before your senior year is the time to start choosing schools to apply to, obtaining the applications for these schools, and begin planning out what you will need to do for these applications. If there is one tip I can give on applying to graduate school it is definitely to plan early and be organized. The process of applying to graduate school can be confusing and the more organized you are, the easier the process will be for you.

Finally, a note not about academics! Get involved and get to know your peers. Get involved in student organizations and get to know your classmates. The best thing you can do for yourself outside of the classroom is to make connections and discover things that interest you. Being involved in student activities is a great way to become connected to the university and to your other classmates. Hey, college life wouldn't be any fun without friends! So reach out to people and take the initiative to become an active member of the university.

I apologize if I have overwhelmed with you information, but being a senior I guess I had a lot to say. I also want to remind you that what I have said are only recommendations and of course do not have to be followed at all. My ideas are only suggestions on how to make the most of your education and how to do your best as a psychology major. I wish you all the best of luck the next four years. I hope you come to love psychology as much as I have.

Dear Incoming Freshman,

I am passing along some advice in which I have been both given to me, and that I have learned on my own throughout my years as a Psychology major at the University of Scranton. First of all, I am a transfer student, I arrived here during the second semester of my sophomore year, so I did not take most entry-level psychology courses; Introduction of Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child Development, and Educational Psychology. I also never took the freshman orientation 1 credit course in which you will be required to take. Take this 1 credit course seriously! Most of the freshman I have spoken with in the past complain about this course and therefore do not take it seriously. This course will be very helpful to you in the future, it will teach you how to manage your time, give you better studying skills, give you tips on searching the web and utilizing all the web offers, and it will show you how to explore the library .I feel as if I am at a disadvantage because I have never taken this course. Trust me, it will be very helpful.

Second, stick to the suggested curriculum offered in the student handbook or given by your advisor as closely as possible. Obviously some courses have a prerequisite, but for the courses that don't, ask your advisor what courses will be beneficial to know before learning something new. It is very important to have Statistics and Research Methods within your first two-years. These courses are both intense and intimidating, but once you get them out of the way, everything starts to fall in place. Which brings me to my next point, try not to get frustrated if you feel confused anytime during your four years. There were so many times when I felt as if I was getting nothing from my education and the more I learned, the more I realized what I did not know. This is typical. Psychology is a very confusing subject, with many different theories, terms, and people; it is a lot of confusing information. But, when someone asks me a question, I surprise myself about what I know, you will too. So don't get overwhelmed by all the details, as long as you can recognize the material and the strong points about the subject, you will be fine.

As much as possible, stick with the professors in which you benefit the most from. There is a huge variation in the teaching styles among this department, so stick with who you learn (not the easiest) the most from. This is sometimes impossible because certain professors only offer certain courses, so if you're having difficulty, talk to that professor and see what you can do. As intimidating as certain professors may seem, they're really not bad. They want to see you do well, and they realize that they're performance as well, will be evaluated at the end of the semester. But, in the event that you do have a terrible experience with a certain professor, or course, do not let the negative attitude transfer to others. It will only make you miserable and it will inhibit you from learning up to your potential.

If you have the opportunity join the Psychology Club or help a professor with research, become involved in your major and with your peers. This will make your experience more enjoyable and it will look good on a resume. I myself have never done this, but now I wish I had. It is also a good opportunity to meet people.

And last, the next four years of your life are going to go by extremely fast. Make the best of it, but be responsible. It is very easy to get caught up in all that college has to offer outside the classroom, don't let this make you forget why you're here. You have the choice to learn as much as you can, or as little as you can. Please choose wisely.

Someone is paying big money for you to be here, utilize ever opportunity to learn. If you do you will feel much better about yourself when you graduate.

Best of Luck!

Dear Incoming Psychology Major:

Congratulations! You are about to begin a four-year journey as a student studying psychology. Realize how unique this discipline that you will be studying is. Realize that the educational experience you are about to receive is going to be filled with experience and opportunity. And, before you embarque on this long journey may I offer you a few words of wisdom.

To begin, prepare yourself for the major transition that you are soon to experience. Within the next year of your life your thoughts will change, your attitude will change, your friends will change, your sleeping patterns will change, even your eating habits will change. Moreover, your overall life as a student will change. And, by the end of your second year you will not believe anything anyone tells you until they can "prove it to you."

I became a psychology major my third semester at the University. I entered my first psychology courses with a naive overview of the subject. Believing that psychology was your typical billboard of a Freudian analyst trying to retrieve repressed feelings held by a client. Soon enough, I realized that Psychology is not simply about counseling. Psychology is a science, it is not simply about listening to others, it requires intelligence, it requires facts, and it leans completely towards a scientific approach. Along with this, I realized that if I wanted to study psychology I would have to prepare myself for future educational plans.

In short, the major things that I recommend you do as a psychology major are as follows: Stick to the curriculum. Complete those courses which you are required to take. Then choose the courses which will benefit you most in the future. Make friends with your faculty. Get involved in research early in your college career. Be prepared to study to the extreme, psychology courses are difficult. Jump at the opportunity to be a teaching assistant. It looks great on your transcript and will help you learn even more. Get involved in the department. Workshops on graduate school, psychology conferences, all sorts of meetings relating to psychology will help you out. Maintain your GP A, mediocre grades will only prolong your future plans. Most importantly, make sure that you are studying something that you enjoy learning about.

The major things that I recommend you do as an overall student are as follows: Be prepared to fail but better prepare yourself to succeed. Avoid being reckless, its nothing more than a burden. Make friends that will help you through your career as an undergraduate. Keep away from those friends that may drag you down. Be social just don't become the poster child for every party! Mainly, I recommend you become a student and an individual.

I wish you luck with your studies. I hope that in the future you can look back and be proud of what you have accomplished at the University of Scranton. My academic background is one, which I hold much value to. Four years down the road, when your graduation day comes, I hope that you feel the same. Best of Luck! ! Enjoy yourself and take advantage of every moment of these four years.

Dear First Year Students,

I welcome you to The University of Scranton and to the field of psychology. Y our first year in college will be filled with excitement but will not lack hard work. As a psychology major you will study a wide array of subjects and have the opportunity to research some of your own ideas. I am writing this letter in the hope that my advice will service you in your future endeavors at The University of Scranton.

I became a psychology major my sophomore year. Sophomore year will most likely be your most challenging as a psychology major. In the fall you will take Statistics and in the spring Research Methods Lecture and Lab. Be prepared to work extremely hard in these two classes. My sophomore year I spend most of my week nights and Sunday evenings in the psychology lab working on various projects that were due. In order to earn a good grade in these classes you must work hard and keep up with the assignments. I have three suggestions to help you stay abreast of your work and to help you keep your sanity. First, I suggest you set a deadline that is a week before the actual due date. This helped me tremendously to hand assignments in on time and to keep my self organized. If you don't have some form of a system it is extremely easy to fall behind. Second; In order to write you final paper you need to do extensive research on your topic. I recommend that you purchase a binder large enough to hold the various journal articles you will be collecting. The binder saved me a great deal of time, if I needed to refer to a source or look up a certain fact it was easy to locate. Finally, I suggest you take Saturdays off.

Saturday was my day to go shopping, work out for a longer period of time or to just relax. I promise you that this day of rest will have you rejuvenated and focused to do work on Sunday.

The fall semester of my junior year I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. I would recommend studying abroad to any first year college student for many reasons. First, this is truly an experience of a life time. Not many college graduates can say they studied abroad and were able to .function within a foreign culture. Second; there are various programs that offer psychology courses abroad which is a great opportunity to see how psychology is viewed in a different country. Lastly, you'll be happy to know that the psychology department is extremely supportive of students that decide to study abroad. In fact, when I was in Madrid my advisor kept in touch and kept me in formed on what was going on within the department and made sure I was prepared for scheduling for the following semester.

I came into the field of psychology thinking I was going learn how to counsel individuals and diagnose disorders. My idea of psychology was that of a Psychologist sitting in their chair listening to their clients problems. Well a major in psychology is not the aforementioned. Psychology classes are not counseling classes rather they are courses that explore various theories and give examples .from published research. Psychology is heavily science based; a true psychologist searches for the research to prove the validity. You may often hear in a class or two “Show me the research!, show me the data!” Ask yourself this simple question and then you will have an idea as to whether you are in the right major. Do you want to counsel individuals right after college ? If you answered yes you should look further into a major in Human Services. In order to counsel clients you must have a Masters degree or a Ph.D. Many psychology majors ask themselves this question too late in their college career. Please make sure that psychology is a good fit for you. It is vital that whatever you chose to study is something that stimulates you and asks more .from you then just average. Lastly, I recommend you take the following courses, Clinical Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Psychology of Women, Adulthood and Aging, Sensation and Perception and Childhood and Adolescence. These were my favorite courses in psychology. I wish you four wonderful years here at The University of Scranton. My parting words of advice are to enjoy doing what ever it is that inspires you, hopefully it will be psychology.

Dear Incoming Psychology Major,

The task placed before me is a perplexing one: to sum up my college experience as a psychology major in two pages. I hope you realize that you are beginning what could easily become the best four years of your life. the most challenging four years of your life and the most memorable four years of your life. The realization that those years are coming to a close brings a tear to my eyes. but yours are just beginning. embrace them. I began my freshman year as a biology (pre-med) major with the intention of a psychology minor. It was not until the second semester of my sophomore year that I decided a major change was necessary. In the few psychology classes I had previously taken. I had found a "science.. that intrigued and challenged me to deep thought. I found professors who took time out of their schedules for their students. These were the realizations that led me to change my major.

So. what specific advice relative to psychology do I have to offer? First. take advantage of any opportunity that allows you to experience and observe what professionals in the field encounter on a day-to-day basis. Ask professionals about their career choice and whether they believe they made the correct decision for their future. Most importantly. sign up for the Field Experience class offered by the department during your junior year. This will allow you to observe and experience first hand what professionals in the field encounter daily. This will allow you to make an educated decision as to whether a job in the psychology field is the right decision for you before you are in the middle of the senior crunch. Know that there are other options open to you with a psychology major; research all of those areas. It is easy to obtain tunnel vision and believe the only opportunity available to a psychology major requires further schooling to become a doctorate level psychologist or a professional in the psychology field at the master's level. Explore all of your options; research on the internet, read books, speak with professionals and with the psychology department faculty (they know more than we give them credit for). Remember, it is important to educate yourself.

Also, another important piece of advice involves the faculty. Get to know the faculty . There is an amazing amount of intellect, talent and kindness in this department. Who knows. you may even make a friend The faculty in this department are interested in your lives and in your futures. Do not be intimidated by their position, remember they were once in your shoes. Anyway, one professor has some great advice on how to get away with sleeping in class. Relationships and connections made with people will last forever. The faculty in this department takes time out of their schedules to get to know you better, do the same with them. This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career.

In addition, get involved in all of the clubs, honor societies and trips that the department offers. The trips to Clarks Summit Mental Hospital are eye-opening experiences, go at least once in four years. The picnics and the dinners are more fun than most people expect them to be and they take a lot of time to plan, so make sure you attend as many as possible. Also. no other department's faculty are willing to put themselves out on the line enough to challenge their students to a game of basketball, but the psychology department does. Take them up on their challenge and show them how young blood prevails.

Finally, and most importantly. you are at this institution to obtain an education, one of the best that can be offered; work hard and all of your goals can be achieved. I began by telling you how your college years are the best years of your life. this does not mean they are all fun and games. Remember that one of the most gratifying feelings is success. Work hard, study well and you will succeed. What you learn at this University and in this department will remain with you for the rest of your life. Cherish these times, cherish your education and approach each situation with a drive to achieve. Most of all, know that you are envied by all of those students who have graduated before you. You are only beginning the experience that they choose to relive in their memories every day and every night. Enjoy yourself and I wish you the best of luck.

Dear Incoming Freshmen Students,

First and foremost I would like to congratulate you on your acceptance to the University of Scranton. I know that right now you must be experiencing a large mixture of emotions ranging from excited to scared out of your mind. However, you have already made one of the hardest and most important decision, which is to continue your education and continue it as a psychology major.

Psychology is a major that is demanding yet rewarding. And if there was some advice that I could give you it would be to start working hard early and never give up. When I say to start working hard early I mean to not let your freshmen and sophomore years slip by you. Take your education at this time seriously. Though college is a time that is exciting and new you have to stay focused. You must remember that you are here for an education. And those beginning years are just as important as the last years at the University. So in my opinion and through my experience, I would not want you to reach your senior year and work very hard to get into graduate school only to realized the mediocre grades that you obtained as a freshman are now holding your GP A down and holding you back.

I would also say to you, never give up. At times you are going to love psychology and at times you are going to hate it, and I mean HATE IT! You are going to be in some classes that you wish would never end and you will be in other classes that the only thing you will do is count the minutes until they are over. But no matter how much you love or hate them, you will always learn from them. And believe it or not some of your most difficult classes will teach you the most. Don't shy away from classes that everyone says are too difficult. This is your education, don't let others influence it. Take the classes that are interesting to you and not everyone else.

I would also recommend that you get involved in the department and make friends with in it. These people can become the greatest support to you during the most trying moments. Also, get to know your professors because they are not just people that stand in front of the classroom and talk at you. They are also a great resource and support to your education. All the professors are always willing to help you and work through any problems that you have. Even the so called "toughies" have a soft part in their heart. You just have to take the initiative to get to know them.

Ok so lets get down and dirty. I am sure you are wondering what classes to take. But I can't tell you that because I am not sure what your particular interests are. However, what I can tell you is the classes that I feel that I got the most out of First, Research Methods, it was the hardest class of my life, yet one of the most fulfilling classes I took as a psychology major. The second class is Clinical Psychology. I loved this class, not only is it filled with information about how the field works as a whole but also how you will work within the field. The final class is, Field Experience in a Clinical Setting. It was the best class not only because it helped me get my first job within the field of psychology but it also let me get a better understanding of what part of psychology I wanted to specialize in and what kind of people I like to work with.

I would like to conclude this letter with one last thought. Being a psychology major is a huge commitment because it is not the type of major that just stops at a Bachelors Degree. It is the type of major where it is expected that at some point you will go on to some form of graduate school for either a MS, Ph.D. or Psy.d. But don't be scared of this commitment because if you really love psychology you will be willing to go the distance with it. Just don't give up on it. You'll make it through and when you do, you'll have a feeling of accomplishment that words can not describe. I do wish you all the best at the University of Scranton. Take care of my department for me.

"What you do in life, echoes for eternity"

Dear Incoming Psychology Freshman,

I would first like to congratulate you on your acceptance and your decision to attend the Psychology Program at the University of Scranton. I feel (although I may be a bit bias), that you have made a wonderful decision. You are entering a terrific program and university with so many opportunities to offer. During my four years at the university, I have come to know numerous individuals I will never forget, made even more friends, and grown as a person.

As mentioned previously, the psychology department offers so many opportunities that you need to take advantage of. There are three student organizations: the Psychology Club, American Psychology Society Student Caucus (APSSC), and Psi Chi. Each will help you get a better understanding of the profession you are entering. The Psychology Club is designed to raise awareness in psychology for anyone who is interested. It organizes many social events including the annual Holiday Dinner held at Chapman Lake, picnics, trips to Clarks Summit State Hospital, etc. APSSC is the local chapter of the American Psychology Society and provides opportunities for profession growth through an Outreach Program, brown bag lectures, guest speakers, and sponsoring the annual Psychology Conference at the University of Scranton. Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology.

Along with extra-curricular activities, there are also several opportunities to get involved academically. This department is very much research oriented. It is important to speak to the professors to find out their research interests and see if they match your interests. Doing research will help to get a better grasp on psychology by using statistics and implementing research designs. .It may also lead to poster presentations at national conferences and perhaps an article published in a psychology journal. Many professors have Teacher Assistance, which you may want to consider becoming.

Becoming an active member in the department will help to develop your career interests. This is something that needs to be done early in your college career. When you chose psychology as your major, you did not choose your profession. Psychology is divided into many sub fields including clinical, school, industrial, experimental, etc. Explore your career options early in you college career and seek internships in any branch that interests you early on. A field experience course is offered that I recommend taking. This will help in choosing which additional courses you need to take for that sub field of psycho logy. Experience early on is also beneficial senior year when it is time to apply to graduate programs and you have no idea what you plan to do with the rest of you life! Also, with regard to graduate school (which probably seems to far away to consider), prepare for the GRE's early. They are challenging and need preparation. Be prepared to continue your education after your Bachelor's Degree. Psychology is a field that requires graduate study.

College can and will be stressful. Realize you are not the only one that is stressed and if it becomes too overwhelming talk to your professors. They are there for any help needed and are always willing. Learn to manage your stress. Prepare early and do not procrastinate.

College may be intimidating at first. Relax and have fun! Remember to get involved in as much as you can. Learn to better manage your time. College is not always easy, but it will all pay om I hope my advice has been of some help. Once again, welcome to the program!

I cannot believe my four years at the University have come to an end. Your college years will go by so fast. Make the most of them and enjoy them!

Dear Incoming Psychology Freshman,

As you sit in your introductory psychology class, you probably have the same thoughts running through your head as I did four years ago. Excitement, nervousness, fear, and amazement were some of the thoughts I had. All of these thoughts were attributed to being in a new setting, meeting new people, and going to classes that were much more difficult than high school. After the first week however, my thoughts of fear and nervousness disappeared and the excitement and amazement of college life remained.

I was asked to give you some advice as you start your journey as a psychology major here at the University of Scranton. The first thing that comes mind is to get to know your professors. When looking back at my past four years, I regret not getting to know any of the faculty members. By getting to know your professors, it makes your life a lot easier. You will be less reluctant to ask for help and find that professors are more than willing to give you the help you need. Also, do not believe what you hear about professors because half the time it is not true. Take the time to get to know the psychology faculty because they are the ones who are going to be writing recommendations for you in the years to come.

Another piece of advice I can give to you pertains not only to the psychology department, but also to your college career in general. Try to get involved in the many clubs and activities that are sponsored on campus. This allows you to meet other people, it gives you something constructive and fun to do, and it will look good on your resume. This university offers a wide range of activities for students; student government, athletics, liturgical and service programs, and departmental programs are just to name a few. The psychology department has its own club that is run by its students, Psi Chi, which is the honors society within the department, and APSSC, which stands for the American Psychological Society Student Caucus. During my four years here, I was a member of the Lady Royals basketball team for two years, participated in Habitat for Humanity, and joined APSSC. Participating in these activities helped me find my group of friends, improved my social skills and helped me to grow as a person. I recommend joining the psychology club because you get to meet the students and faculty in your major and these are the people you will be in class with over the next four years.

I have a few pieces of advice that pertain specifically to psychology classes. You should plan your schedule so that you finish your core eight psychology classes by the spring semester of senior year. This allows you more freedom in choosing your classes and gives you the chance to have an easy last semester of college. Also, your sophomore year will be one of the hardest years. You will be taking statistics for the behavioral sciences in the fall semester and research methods during the spring. I do not want to scare you by telling you about these classes, but I want to try and help make it easier . These classes are very challenging and require a lot of time and effort, but you will get through them. Perseverance will help you. If you are having trouble do not be afraid or hesitate to go to your professor or your fellow classmates and ask for help. They helped me through the course and they will be there for you too. Another suggestion I have for you is to take clinical psychology and psychological testing. These courses are very beneficial for you career as a psychologist. I regret not having taken clinical psychology because it would have given me a good foundation for my future studies in graduate school. I have taken psychological testing and it proved to be very beneficial. Also, if you have the opportunity to do research with one of the professors, I would do so. It will give you excellent experience in the field of psychology, you will gain a tremendous amount of knowledge in the particular area of research, and it will look wonderful on your transcript. The professors are always looking for research assistants and I advice you to grasp the opportunity while it is available.

I have given you a lot of information about life as a psychology major and as a college student, but I do not want you to be scared by what I have written. Hopefully, in some way my advice will help you as you embark on the next four years of your life. When you are in my shoes four years from now, I do not want you looking back and regretting things that you should have done. These next four years will be most likely be the best in your life. You are going to take as much out of college as you put into it. Therefore, my final piece of advice is carpe diem; seize the day.

To Incoming Psychology Majors:

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Scranton. Although Scranton may not be that appealing to the eye, the University is a fine institution which offers an excellent educational program. You should also be commended for selecting Psychology as your field of study. It is a very challenging major that offers many different types of career opportunities.

As a college student you have the authority to make a lot of decisions for yourself. Many of these decisions may not seem significant now, but I assure you that everything you do these next four years will have some type of impact on your life. For instance, taking the bare minimum of credits is not to your benefit. It definitely will not insure your graduation in four years, and it is likely that someone very close to you is paying a large sum of their yearly income for you to go to college, don't waste it. Taking 17 or 18 credits a semester is your best bet. This doesn't mean taking all your writing intensive and psychology classes together! Take some time to make your schedule and combine a hard class with a few that may not be as difficult.

It is very important that you get to know your advisor. He or she will help you in deciding a career path as well as next semester's schedule. They will get you on the right track early, to insure a timely graduation. In addition, it is important to become familiar with your professors. As a psychology major it is likely that you will see them quite often, so it would be beneficial for you to get to know them. Developing relationships with professors not only insures a more personable experience, but will also help later when it's time to get recommendations for graduate school.

As a psychology major it is true that a majority of your classes will be somehow involved with psychology , but you will also have the opportunity to use your discretion when deciding your elective classes. Take courses that are diverse and different. An important aspect of college is to learn and experience new things. The University offers many courses that may never have been available to you before, use the opportunity . Make sure you take classes that are outside of the psychology department.

I know that it is tempting to take the so-called "easy professors." Believe me I have done it myself. But through my experiences I have learned that the easiest way out is not always the smartest. You may bypass a lot of the work, but if you don't do the work you honestly don't learn the material. What's the point of spending a whole semester in a class where you don't learn anything?

Among the core psychology classes that you will be required to take there are others that are offered. Courses such as Psychological Testing and Behavioral Neuroscience are not part of your graduation requirements, but they are very interesting classes. My philosophy is to take as many psychology classes as you can. They can fill your elective requirements, and they can also help you in your decision of what branch of psychology your career will be in.

"Research Methods" will be a name that will haunt you before you even take the class. Don't stress! It would be a lie to say that it's easy, but the fact of the matter is that both this and statistics are the keystones to psychology. The class is very time consuming and there is a lot of work involved, but if you play it smart and lighten the rest of your credit load you should be fine. I can assure you that after Research Methods you will be confident when entering the library , and the hard work you put into the class will be well worth it.

In discussing Research Methods, I am brought to another important topic, which is student/faculty research. This is not required as an undergraduate nor do the professors expect it. But if you were planning on going to graduate school it would be very beneficial for you to get involved in a research project. Your best bet is to look into it early, maybe by the end of your sophomore year. Most professors are interested in different areas, so approach them and ask what type of research they are doing. The experience is priceless, it looks great on your resume, and it gives you additional practice in research.

In addition to doing research, it is also important to get involved with different activities that the University has to offer. For instance, the Psychology Club or Psi Chi are great programs to get involved in. In participating, you will build your resume and make friends with fellow psychology students. I know that I continue to mention your resume, but it is important that you begin to build it early so that you are not struggle your senior year to find something to get involved in.

My last and most important words of advice are to have fun. Not only should college be an educational experience, it should also be a chance for you to grow in all aspects of your life. Meet new people, develop new friendships, and try new things. There can and should be a happy medium between school responsibilities and having a good time. Finally, grades are not everything. Do not get discouraged because your not getting the A' s that you received in high school. College is very challenging, and the University of Scranton is not the easiest of institutions, but with your hard work, success can not be far.

I hope that some of my advice is of some benefit to you in the future. I know that it’s easy to say these things, but remember I have been through what you are just beginning. I made many mistakes and took some short cuts, but in the end I found that I just shorted myself. So enjoy your four years at the University of Scranton, and Good Luck!

Dear Incoming Psychology Major,

Have you stopped saying wow yet? Wow , I'm really here? Wow , What have I gotten myself into now? I remember those feelings, from way back in 1988. Yes, I'm on the 14- year plan. Don't do that to yourself. I learned the hard way to respect the money my family gave me...all I had to do was pay for my last semester senior year and I decided that saving money wasn't as fun as spending money. So who am I? Well, I'm 31 years old, on the management team of a local fortune 500 company, married to a wonderful man and have two children, ages six and three. I went to work full time after leaving school and only recently was able to return. Please hear me, stay in school. I wouldn't trade my family or my career for the world, but it is so much more difficult to study and devote time to school while you are running your "real" life. College is good practice for real life, but it is not the real world. Respect that, and use this time to practice being independent and smart. Make the people who sent you here proud. Take the time to thank them...think about doing it by mail. This electronic world we live in is so impersona1...people really enjoy getting a card or letter in the mailbox, you know, the one at the end of the driveway. Thank your parents, a teacher, or the loan officer, anyone, but take time to tell them you appreciate their support. Keep in touch with people from home. They know you best and can help keep you grounded.

Boy, I feel like such a mom. Study, study, study and then study some more. A great professor, whom you will have the pleasure of meeting, once told us to study from the index. Start with the "A's" and highlight all the material from the pages you will be tested on and then make sure you know everything the author thought was important enough to list in the index. You really can't go wrong with this method. Another thing about studying, cramming is stupid. While cramming is very effective for testing and good grades it is not effective for long term retention. You'll learn all about that soon enough, but for know believe me don't cram. That reminds me of a fortune my son got the other night at dinner. He broke open the cookie and found the following saying "Sometimes two small jumps are better than one great leap." Think about it...slow and steady does win the race. Learn and practice time management skills. Get yourself a good day planner and use it religiously. Never procrastinate. If you think you do your best work under pressure, you've probably never given yourself the time to prove yourself wrong. Plan your work; don't let it plan you. Those things all sound cliche to me too, but I wish someone gave me that advice when I started at the University. Well, someone other than my mom. You get the point.

Remember to take care of yourself. Eat well and see a doctor if you are sick. Trust yourself, if you don't feel well and make sure you get better. Use the resources at school or home, just make sure you take care of yourself. Anything you ignore will probably get worse. On eating well, do you know how to cook? Learn...if you don't have a kitchen find a friend that does. There is more to life than fast food, pasta and pizza. Learn to cook for yourself. Guys, learn to cook for women. We love that!

So, what about social a life? Everybody needs one...but try and remember yours. For me, college was the first freedom I had and I let it show. The momentary fame you get from partying is not worth the hangover. Be social and be smart. Remember that the woman/man of your dreams probably is not the one funneling the third pitcher! Don't walk alone at night. This is starting to sound like a magazine article...but that's OK. Get involved in school clubs and become friendly with the professors. They are a wealth of information and contacts. They are all real people get to know them, I wish I had. Time .gives you perspective, as the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. So in closing, use your time wisely and enjoy yourself! The best is yet to come!

Dear freshman psychology major,

I would like to give you some advice that I hope will help you in your experience at the University of Scranton as a psychology major. Because of a class scheduling conflict, I was unable to participate in the Freshman Seminar class specifically designed for Psychology majors, so I probably did not have as much opportunity to get to know my fellow classmates as that class probably made possible. Since you are in this class, seize this opportunity to get to know your classmates because you will be in many of the same classes with them for the next four years and will probably need each other's help in various classes.

I would also advise you to join the Psychology Club this year. It's a great way to do service and meet upperclassmen in your major, and it requires very little time. Though I was not a very active member in the club, from being around the upperclassmen, I was able to get a feel for the way the department was run and who the professors were. When you are able to, apply for membership in Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society. Besides the sense of accomplishment it gives you, membership in an honor society looks good on a resume. Actually, being active in any society, or in clubs and sports always looks good on a resume, so be involved. However, don't just be involved to have a good resume; find things that interest you or that you care about and get involved in those things.

With regard to the professors in the psych department, don't be intimidated by them. Reputations follow some of them, and some of those are true, but most, if not all of the professors, are very approachable and willing to help you if you have a problem in their class. If you need additional help, don't hesitate to seek a tutor. I did this at the end of the semester in statistics, but the good help I got wasn't enough to pull my grade up at the end. I did pass but was not satisfied with my grade, so I took the class over again during another semester. Save yourself this trouble and seek help early on if you foresee a problem. Also, don't be intimidated by classes that you might hear are really hard, like Research Methods. Yes, Research Methods is a difficult class, but it is bearable. You will get through it fine if you believe that you will and if you stay on top of the work.

Get a head start on figuring out what you want to do after graduation. It may seem like a long way off, but it arrives surprisingly quickly. Find out about careers or graduate school programs that might interest you. If you do, you will have a better idea of which electives to take here and you will not be as stressed out, as I was, when the time comes to apply for schools and jobs. Also, if you have a specific area of psychology you are interested in or are probably going to pursue a doctorate, find a professor in the

department with whom you can do research. Again, don't be intimidated; get involved, and good luck!

Freshman Letter

As I am sitting down to write this letter, many emotions are running through my head at this very moment -- some happy and some sad. There is a lot to think about and to reflect upon and I find it hard to cram the past four years into one letter. All I can say is that I will try my very best to provide you with advice and give you an opportunity to share some of my precious memories here at the University of Scranton.

I guess I can start by saying that I wish I had the opportunity to read a letter like this

when I first came here. I remember freshman orientation and the first day of classes, and it was scary. It's a whole new world, with new people and new experiences, but I can honestly say that it is the best thing I have ever done in my life so far. There will definitely be good times, but you can't have those without the bad times too. Take each challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow and develop as a person. Going away to school was the best thing I could have done for myself. I have grown so much as a person and have learned responsibility, which is a very important lesson to learn. Be strong. Believe in yourself. You can do anything and accomplish anything if you really work hard. It sounds really cliche, but it's so true, and definitely in my case.

As a freshman, I came in here as a chemistry major, with plans to go to medical school after graduation. I did well, but after my first year, I began to feel as if something was missing. First semester sophomore year, I changed my major to biochemistry, thinking that this would fill the missing space. Well, I was mistaken. I found myself not wanting to go to class and hating every class I was taking. I had to make a decision, and thank god intercession was coming and I would have six weeks to think about where I wanted my life to go. After much thought, I chose psychology as my major and in four weeks I will graduate with a BS in psychology. I always knew I wanted to help others and work with others and I thought the only was I could do this was through medicine. I was wrong. In the fall I will be attending Fairleigh Dickinson University for an MA in industrial/organizational psychology and an MBA in human resources management. The point of my little story is that it's ok to be confused and it's ok to feel like you have no idea what you want to do with your life. You 're young and you have to feel things out to see what you like and what you don't like. In the end, it will all work out. This was one of my grandmother's favorite and most frequently used phrases and it's nothing but true. I truly believe that you have to be happy in what you're doing and you have to enjoy what you're studying. Of course you're not going to like every single class or every single professor, but overall, you must be happy.

Ok, now a little bit about psychology. Take as many different classes in as many different areas as you can. Psychology is a diverse field and there is opportunity for you to do almost anything. Try all of the core eight classes, even if you are only required to take five. You 'II be surprised at how much you actually learn and how different the specialty areas are. Definitely take Psychology of Women if it's offered. It's a great class, which isn't dry or dull and really makes you think. Another good class is Sensation and Perception. It's a bit more scientific, but really interesting when you get into stuff such as optical illusions. Oh, and don't get freaked out by Research Methods! It's not as bad as everyone says, but I will say that you'll be busy for that semester….be prepared to live in AMH! Look on the bright side though, it's all over in one semester and then you can relax again! It's a lot of work