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Advising Action Plan There are lots of things
for you to do to prepare yourself for graduation and beyond. Meeting with
your major advisor is among should be considered one of the most important on
your list! You can discuss your career aspirations with your advisor and work
out a class sequence which makes sense.
Your advisor can offer helpful advice, resolve problems, and maybe
even cut out some red tape in your life. One of the best ways to be a successful
Psychology Major is to get to know your advisor and let your advisor get to
know you! To find out your advisor and
to set up an appointment with him or her, talk to Aubrey Jenkins in the
Psychology Office (SS 370). Her phone number is 626-6247. What follows is a general
action plan for you in preparing for your future as a Psychology Major. It offers suggestions depending on whether
you are a freshman (0-30 credit hours completed) sophomore (31-60 hours),
junior (61-90 hours), or senior (91-120 hours). Freshman Freshman who already know
that psychology is for them will have lots of opportunities to plan a well
thought out and balanced schedule of courses.
Speak to your advisor about what opportunities might be available to
you by way of lower division research or reading courses, practicum, or other
activities. Sophomore Majors This
year you most likely will complete the majority of your Gen. Ed. courses,
particularly in Math. Math 1030, 1040, 1050, 1080, 1100, or 1210 is the
prerequisite for Psych 3600 (Statistics), which is a good course to complete
early on as a major. Junior Majors We strongly encourage
juniors to take Research Methods (Psych 3600). Of all the courses in the Psychology curriculum,
this one, along with Statistics, will help you “think like a
psychologist”. In the past, many
students have regretted waiting until their final semester of senior year to
take the course, recognizing how much easier their other Psychology courses
would have been had they already had Research Methods. Many students mention that taking Methods
early will make every other Psychology course much more valuable (and
easier). Junior year is a good time
to get involved in activities that will supplement your psychology course
work. Check with your advisor or other faculty members about such
opportunities as practicum, research, reading courses, etc. These activities are not only fun and
different; they will help you be competitive for jobs and/or graduate
school. Everyone with whom you will be
competing for a job or for a place in a graduate program will have completed
college with good grades. What will make you stand out from the crowd?
Non-class activities are a way to show your commitment and competence in the
field of psychology in a way that goes beyond course work. Junior year is also a time
to look carefully at your courses to make sure you are getting the ones you
need to reach your career goals. Talk
to your advisor or the department chair (Dr. Eric Amsel, 626-6658)
about your career plans and whether your preparations are adequate! It is not too early to
prepare for the GRE's, a required exam of those preparing for graduate school
in psychology or a related discipline. There are similar exams for other
professional schools include the LSAT (Law) and MCAT (Medicine). You could
begin a self-assessment and work on the weak areas. Everyone can boost scores
by building skills. Bookstores carry review and practice materials. Find out about test preparation
courses. The University of Utah has a
great one and one is being developed at WSU. Look into it. These tests are very important. Be prepared for them! Senior Majors One more year and you're on
to new horizons. By now, you should begin requesting applications for
graduate school or potential employment. Talk with your advisor and other
faculty members about ideas, possibilities and strategies. The more of us you
talk with, the better you are informed. Psychology students have
taken various paths after graduation. From talking to the students we can
assure you of one thing: If you have exhibited overall quality performance at
Weber State University, you'll be fine in graduate programs or related employment.
Our graduates consistently report they were exceptionally well prepared! A sample of graduate
schools that WSU psychology students have been accepted include: University
of Utah, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, Harvard University,
Bowling Green University, Clark University, Penn State, Radford College,
Vanderbilt University, Northern Illinois University, and University of
Washington.
1. Your resume. If don’t know how to write
one, contact Career Services. 2. A list of your accomplishments and positive
characteristics. 3. All relevant forms from graduate schools or
employers, with all appropriate
information filled out. 4. Stamped and addressed envelops for easy
mailing. Have all your materials in
a very presentable package. The folder should have your name on the tab. Type
everything and type it neatly. It is very important to provide your letter
writer with all relevant details of your goals and accomplishments. Finally,
give sufficient lead time to the person from whom you have asked a letter who
is probably very busy. Finally, check up on whether the recommendation
letters were completed. |