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Letters to Freshmen
from Seniors
May 7, 2007 Dear Incoming Freshman, Congratulations! You are about to
begin a very exciting four years in a wonderful place! Like anything else your experience here at
The University of Scranton is what you make of it. As a graduating senior with a psychology major
and counseling and human service minor, I am leaving Some general advice first: take full advantage of everything the university has to offer. Student government provides on campus activities very often that will give you the opportunity to meet new people and take a break from academics. Stick around on weekends if you can because there is always a lot happening on campus. Participate in the activities that you R.A. coordinates on your floor or in your building. Often the people on your floor become your best friends even after freshman year is over. The university also has several clubs and organizations to get involved with. From intramurals to volunteer work, these programs provide opportunity to get involved on campus and make connections with students who have similar interests to your own. I played for the soccer team for four years, and this experience has left me with great friends and memories. On the fifth floor in Saint Thomas Hall is the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. This is where to find help in any class you may have. The students working there are motivated and extremely helpful. The service is free and many students take advantage of it, especially freshman year. Don’t be too shy to stop in and get the help you need. They are extremely accommodating and ready to lend a hand. As a psychology major, you have chosen a department that is full of opportunities and people who care about you and your future success. The professors are amazing people, they are extremely approachable and easy to talk to. It is important to get to know your professors because these relationships will be valuable throughout your four years here. They are a great source of advice when you are getting ready to graduate and go on to a job or graduate school (which seems far, but will be here before you know it.) They also provide great opportunities to do research or become a teacher’s assistant. Also utilize your T.A.’s. They are in their position because they did well in the class that you are taking. They all have office hours and are available to answer questions or help you out with work that you’re having difficulty with. As of sophomore year, you will be assigned an academic advisor within the psychology department. It is beneficial to meet with your advisor more often than just scheduling time. They can help you research and learn about career paths and job opportunities that psychology majors have, and in return you can take the appropriate classes. Picking up an additional major or minor is fairly simple as a psychology major. There are several free electives incorporated into the program to make this possible. Don’t be afraid to ask your advisor questions when you have them, it is his job to guide you through your four years. I hope that
this letter has been somewhat beneficial to you. Remember that just because you are a freshman
it is not too early to start planning for your future. As I said before, the time in Sincerely, Class of 2007 Graduate Dear Incoming Freshman, Welcome to the Hopefully, in your four years you will find that psychology is the correct major for you. If you feel that it is not, do not wait until your senior year to have a change of heart. That would be my first piece of advice – pursue what you want to pursue, not what others want you to pursue. You are no longer in high school and you only have four to five years to figure out what you want to do. Therefore, use your free electives to take introduction courses in different majors. You may find another subject to be very interesting and decide to minor it. Also getting a minor in another major is an effective way to fill up your free electives and looks good for graduate schools (should you decide to apply). The next piece of advice is to get to know the professors in the psychology department. The university has provided you with excellent professors who are experts in their respective fields. It would be wise for you to take time and visit them during their office hours in order to learn their interests and research passions. It may turn out that one of your professors may have the same interests as you and ask you to be their T.A or a research assistant. Those two positions are highly coveted in the psychology major, and make your resume and CV much more impressive. Furthermore, these two positions provide you with valuable learning experiences that you will be able to utilize when you go into graduate school or your career. If you are thinking about becoming clinician or entering a practitioner-oriented career, you may want to consider taking the Field Experience course junior or senior year. In this class, you complete a 100 hour practicum at a local mental health facility. There are many different practicum options available and you choose the placement that fits what you would want to pursue. I found taking the field experience class to be a very rewarding experience and a great chance to apply everything you have learned in class to the real world. Along with getting to know your professors, make sure you get to know your advisor. It is your advisors job to make sure you are on track to graduate on time and to ensure your educational plan is appropriate for you. If you do not feel confident in your advisor, do not hesitate to get another one. If you cannot change advisors, then ask another professor, whom you feel comfortable with, to go over your schedule or discuss the problem at hand. All the professors are willing to offer their guidance and help to you if you should need it. Remember, they are here to help you succeed not only to grade your papers. My final piece of advice would be
explore everything the university has to offer. GET YOUR MONEYS WORTH!!! In
particular, look into service learning trips and studying abroad. I studied
abroad my second semester my junior year in Enjoy your time here because it will
pass you by before you know it. One day you are sitting if introduction to
psychology and the next day you are in History and Literature II, discussing
how your four have flown away and who you are bringing to graduation. Anyways,
welcome to the
First of all, I want to
congratulate you on choosing The University of Scranton. There is a lot of information that I cannot fit
all in one letter but I will do my best to help you with the basics! If you are going to remember anything that I
tell you in this letter please remember to always
stay organized. It is important
especially during your freshman year to stay organized because not only are you
adjusting to classes but you are adjusting to the whole college
experience. Staying organized can really
help you save a lot of time and effort especially during your first semester at
If there is another point that I can not emphasize enough is to get as high as a grade point average as possible during your first couple semesters. It is important because you do not always realize how hard you have to work to raise your grade point average after a couple semesters of slacking off. I personally experienced this. Just really try to do the best possible and eventually you will understand that all of your hard work paid off. The tutoring center at the University is helpful only though if you have a specific problem with what you are learning. If you are having problems in a class with the information my greatest advice to you would be to find someone in the class who is doing really well and ask to meet with them once or twice a week. This is not only beneficial to you to get your studying done but also it helps them go over the information for the test. I do this for classes that I am having problems with and it makes a lot more sense to learn the material from someone in the class who understands it then a tutor who may or may not have had the same professor and hasn’t had the class in a couple semesters. The psychology department is a really great department if you find yourself to be interested in it. They provide a lot of experience to work with professors and also to do a good amount of research. A problem that I found in the psychology department is really just a general problem. The fact is that if you want to make any type of salary in life with a psychology degree you really need to go for a doctorate. As a psychology major I have decided to use my experience but go down a different route and look at graduate schools for counseling. My advice to you if you are interested in the psychology field is to get to know the faculty and be active in the department. Whichever field you choose to follow and pursue please get to know the faculty and get involved in some aspect of what you may be interested in. Four years from now you may need some recommendations for graduate school or just to apply to different jobs. Besides academics, try to keep active on campus but have fun with what you’re doing. I know for me it was easier for me to join a club but also for me to keep active by going to the gym. It is important for me to make sure that I feel good since sometimes school work can be overwhelming (depending on your major). By joining groups on campus or even doing some physical activity it can help you also make friends. For me personally, I came here with a large bunch of friends from home. It was nice because I never felt alone but at the same time it would have been nice to venture out on my own during my first year. Meet as many people as you can from different groups and get to know each of them on a personal level. By meeting different people from different groups you will be able to figure out who you enjoy talking to and what qualities in a person you want in a friend. I hope that some information that I provided you can help you along your journey at the University. Please just always remember to follow your gut and just make sure that you are going to be doing something that you love to do. Good Luck and Have fun!!! First and foremost your decision to enter college with a program already in mind (assuming you stick with it) gives you a great advantage over others around you who are undecided or who end up changing their major two or three times. I officially entered the psychology program my Junior year of college after taking a few courses in it and greatly liking them. The psychology program is an awesome program here especially because its size, while sometimes seemingly large is just small enough to be able to establish a good rapport between yourself and the psych faculty. In respect to the psych faculty here most of them are excellent. The conditions necessary to make them excellent consist of an obvious dedication to their preferred area in psychology, an enjoyable classroom experience (not utter boredom), and their approachableness outside of class. It’s a good thing for you that most of these professors are very approachable as well as knowledgeable. These are the people, after finding those few upperclassmen in your major that know how to work the program to your benefit, you should have the most contact with. These faculty will be your keys not only to letters of recommendation for grad school, but also to getting a student teaching position, or outside of the classroom research (all great for resumes). I mentioned older psych students in the last paragraph. Often you’ll find this rare educated breed sitting on or around the big black table at the top of the stairs in the psych building. If not there you can enter the computer lab nearby and more often than not can find someone to help you. The computers in that lab may become your most used computers besides the one in your dorm at the university as numerous classes will require last minute printouts or HW that’s way more interesting to do with others around you at the same time. Something not exactly related to psychology, but something I highly encourage is to study abroad. I contemplated doing it on 4 different occasions, twice actually planning out my schedule in another country, but I worried about what I would leave behind here and never went. Now graduating, I regret this decision. I cant fully describe why its just the one thing I wish I would have done in college. Finally, if you find something in the psych major, some area you greatly like stick with it and take extra steps in acquiring knowledge about it. Do research on your own time, develop a hobby of further educating yourself in that area you are interested. You might not see how it would help you then, but after you take a number of psych courses and had the chance to examine all the different information new applications for that information will click in your head. Most importantly, enjoy your time. Manage it so you get your work done but enjoy it as well. Dear Incoming Freshman, Congratulations! You are now
entering the world of psychology. From
behavior modification to Freud’s psychoanalysis, psychology has just as much a
rich history as it does a prominent future. Be prepared to learn one of the
most fascinating subjects offered at the Psychology taught me how to think critically about the world around me. The classes you take in Psychology form not just a basic understanding of the principles of the field, but also the ability to view people, situations, and institutions as more than just one-dimensional entities. To put it in simple words, psychology shows you how to think outside the box. Psychology is applicable to anything and everything in society. Cutting edge research in the field of psychology shapes the way people deal with a variety of problems in the world; from treating depression to treating a person paralyzed by a stroke, psychology is there to find solutions to practical problems that face the world today. I did not really get active in the psychology department until my junior year, but honestly, I wished that I started earlier. There are a multitude of activities that one can get involved, ranging from working with mice and mazes to being a teacher’s assistant. Don’t wait until the end of your four years to realize that you have just gone to your classes and didn’t get involved. Don’t worry, you can still have a social life and be active in the psychology department (and even have a part-time job). My favorite thing about the
psychology department at the You might not know if you want to
be a psychotherapist, a researcher, or maybe even both, but regardless of what
your plans are now, be flexible. Don’t be afraid to learn or try new things.
Get the most out of your college experience.
College is more than just keg parties and skipping classes without
getting in trouble. The I wish you luck in all that you
accomplish during your time at the Sincerely, A 2007 Graduating Senior
Dear Incoming Psychology Freshman, Welcome
to the Everyone will
tell you that college is over before you know it and it is true. In the past four years, I have changed so
much and I think that this has everything to do with the fact that I took
advantage of many opportunities that First
and probably most important, if you are thinking about studying abroad, GO! I
studied aboard in Second, as a psychology major, you are ahead of your peers. The psychology department’s curriculum allows you to double major or add a minor. Take advantage of this! I am graduating with a minor and I had no problem fitting in the credits. You are also required to take classes, like Junior Seminar, that will put you far ahead of your peers in the long run. For the most part, the professors in the psychology department are extremely helpful and caring. The professors are very approachable, so if you have a question or a problem, talk to the professors. Because we have smaller class sizes here, the professors will get to know you quicker and this will become helpful in the future. Also, become acquainted with the “black table” and the computer lab. You will quickly learn that these are both hot spots for psychology majors. Do not be afraid to talk to psychology majors that are older than you. I promise, they will have plenty of tips and suggestions about classes and professors. Also, this is your opportunity to take classes you have always had an interest in or something you think you may have an interest for. Do not be afraid to explore all areas to find classes to take. Do not feel restricted to taking classes only listed under the CAS catalogue. Explore the other colleges on campus. This is something I wish I did earlier. By doing so, you may find an interest in a subject you never thought would be interesting. My senior year, I was a Teaching Assistant both semesters. If you can, do not wait until senior year to be a Teaching Assistant or to do research. Start talking to your professors early about helping them out with either research or teaching. If you are interested in research, a lot of professors have waiting lists to get involved in research, so ask early! Personally, I loved the experience of being a T.A. Finally,
I recommend getting involved on campus.
Looking back, I wish I was more involved in the campus activities. I feel like I lost out a bit by not being as
involved as I would like to have been. Whatever
your interest is, there is some campus activity you can be involved in that
relates to that interest. Do not be
afraid to meet new people. Most
importantly, make the best of your time here because before you know it, it
will be over! Enjoy Sincerely, A Graduating Psychology Major Top
May 7, 2007 Dear Freshman Psych Student,
Welcome
to the First of all do your reading. Not only do your reading but do it on time. It is very easy to get behind on your reading. Then sooner than you know it it is test time and you have about 5 chapters to read. Not only will keeping up with your reading help you when tests roll around but it will help you be prepared in class. Most teachers will give you reading assignments due the day they will be teaching that material. Having your reading done will help you understand better as teachers may not cover everything and sometimes go at a quick pace. Next, along with reading you want to manage your time well. You are going to have readings, quizzes, papers, and tests maybe all due during the same week or maybe the same day. It’s important that you keep these due dates all organized. Just like your readings you don’t want these projects to pile up. A good way to help keep organized is to purchase a planner. A planner can help you see what is due in the future and what you need to do. There is a lot to remember without writing anything down. Along with managing you school work it is also important to manage your time with school work, exercise, meals, and social events. It is important to be able to take full average of all the university has to offer. That leads me to my next word of advice: get involved. The university offers many different types of clubs and organizations. No matter what your interests are I’m sure that there is something here at the university that can meet your needs. Joining these clubs or organizations will help you make some friends with the same interests. Also by getting involved will help you in the future with getting a job and building your resume. Finally these clubs can help you take a break from school work and relax. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to your professors. They are there to help and will understand if you are having a problem with something in the class. Even if you aren’t having a problem in one of your classes get to know your professors. You should know there office hours and take the time to stop by and introduce yourself. These relationships will not only help you in your classes but in the future also. Finally it is important that you take advantage of your time here at the university. You are only here for four years and believe me that the time will pass very quickly. Just remember that no matter how hard a class might seem its never really that bad. You will get at least one thing out of every class you take here. At the very least you will learn that your might hate a certain topic and that’s not what you want to do in the future. Your time here is all about finding out about what who you are and what you want to do with who you are. Therefore, make the most of each class and event at the university and don’t take a minute for granted. Enjoy it, it will fly by and good luck! Sincerely, Top
May
7, 2007
Dear incoming Freshmen, I would
first like to say Welcome to the My first
advice to you is, be yourself. Do not try to act any different because you are
now in a new surrounding. College is about showing others what you are capable
of intellectually and socially. If you try to be someone you are not, you might
end up getting confused at why you are here and feel isolated. People here at
the university are very friendly and always there to offer you a hand. From the
administration to faculty and to the staff, the campus community follows the
standards of Jesuit tradition by carrying out their mission of “men and women
for others”. Join organizations on campus to get to know more people, the more
people you know the more you will learn about the university and liven up your
life. Volunteer whenever you get the chance; show the The second
advice that I have is, study do not procrastinate until the last minute. I know
that it is easier said than done. But do not let it get so out of control that
sometimes you end up handing in papers or projects late because you spent all
your time doing other things than school work. The library is find was the best
place to study and do your work. It basically depends on the person if they
like absolute quiet or a little background noise. The Pro Deo Room in the
library is a good place to do some late night studying and it never closes. When
you need a quick caffeine fix, My third advice is, take electives that you have interest in. The psychology curriculum gives you about 16 free electives that you can use to your advantage. You could either use them to further your psychological learner other than the mandatory ones that you have to take for the program. Or you could use them for a minor or two, or even the possibility of have a double major. Sometimes people make a minor or major out of something that relates to the program they are already in, but there are others who declare a minor or major straight out of person interest. I have a friend who is a biology major, but minors in theatre. Just pick what you think would be of the best interest to you. Do not pick electives just for the sake of picking one, please do it with some interest, or else you will end up taking a class you will be miserable with and it will not be as enjoyable as if you picked one that was interesting. My final advice to you is, find an internship early so you know that this is the right field for you. If you start early you will have experience to do other work in the field and know if you want to switch majors or not. Do not wait until the last minute to get an internship, do it as soon as you get the chance to. You do not want to have doubts during your senior year when it is too late to switch majors. I hope my
advice will help you on your four year journey at the Sincerely, A Member of the 2007 class. May 6, 2007 Dear incoming Psychology Major, Welcome to the Okay, now for my real
introduction. I'm a senior psychology
major at the University. I've been in
the major for two years now; I started out here at I guess I'll tell you all about
what I've been involved with here as a As a biology major, I was a member of the Biology Club, and I continued to be a member as a psych major. Within the department of psychology, I am an officer of the Psychology Club, and a member of APSSC - the Association for Psychological Science Student Caucus. I'm student member of APA, APS, and EPA. These are all nationally recognized organizations and are great resources in the field of psychology. I also participate in the Federal Work Study program, where I work as a student assistant for a psychology faculty, as well as in another university office. I participate in FSRP- the Faculty/Student Teaching Mentorship Program, where I have had the pleasure of working with one of the Psychology Faculty as a student investigator on two projects this academic year. I would suggest everyone consider involvement in FSRP - it has been an amazing experience for me, and has helped me realize my interest in research. I also have been fortunate enough to be a Teaching Assistant (TA) for three classes as an undergraduate. Be a TA if at all possible. It is a rewarding experience to be able to guide your fellow students through challenging coursework. Speaking of challenging course work, here are my suggestions for classes. In general, keep an eye on your CAPP sheet. That's the form that tells you all of the courses you have taken, all that are in progress and what requirements you have left. Fulfill your general education requirements early. You don't want to be stuck, as I am, taking three humanities courses in your last semester. Plan your four years in advance. Know your handbook. Know what you need to take and when. Your advisors will help you somewhat, but ultimately, your schedule is your responsibility. Take the classes that will fit your schedule, fulfill your requirements and spike your interest. You can pretty much have your cake and eat it too as a psych major; there are a lot of free electives to fill, so take up a minor, or just take courses you find interesting. Just do what you want to do, while doing what you have to do. Field Experience is an amazing course that I highly recommend if you have any interest in clinical, counseling or school psychology. I'm currently taking that class and I have learned so much by actually being out in the real world applying my knowledge of psychology to actual situations. A few words of wisdom before I leave you. Know your options; find out when classes are being offered and what new ones are available. Do not be afraid of the faculty. No matter how scary they look, and I know some of them can be frightening, they are all amazing and will do anything to help you - they all have your best interests at heart. Never underestimate your abilities, however don't overwhelm yourself with courses and extracurricular. Believe me, I've done that - it's not fun. Utilize the opportunities that our department provides; take the courses that fit your needs and do the research you are interested in doing. Find your niche in psychology, and, in the words of a wise professor, get paid for your hobby. I wish you
the best of luck here at the Have fun! Sincerely yours, A Graduating Senior, 2007
Top It is important to also befriend or get to know people in your major. When you cannot reach a professor, it is helpful to have a peer for homework help, studying or even someone to help you get involved in clubs and activities revolving around your major or interests. It is also helpful to get to know your professors and or advisor. This can lead to countless benefits, such as being able to ask them for help with work, guidance in academic or career decisions, any types of recommendation letters or even possibly research opportunities. Your advisor begins as a person who at first suggests the required classes for you to take and signs off the approval sheet before you can register each semester. The secret is, over the years your advisor will become so much more. It is important to know and be in close contact with your advisor. Their knowledge is vast on classes needed, on how to manage your grades in each class, how to make sure your academic requirements and interests are met, ad that you are on the right track for your ultimate goal which extends beyond your four years at this school. An advisor is even good for troubleshooting and aiding in finding solutions to various academic problems you might encounter. If your advisor is for some reason not the most knowledgeable in the school or department for your particular interest or purpose, they may refer you to another faculty or you may seek another faculty member on your own for further aid. This is perfectly acceptable and recommended in many cases, especially those requiring more than one perspective. Research is possibly the best and most rewarding opportunity within the psychology major. The educational value of one research study is limitless. While research methods class and lab can seem difficult and a large amount of work, what you learn there will eventually pay off. What you learn in these classes is reinforced in much more interesting ways when it comes to actually running research. If you have any particular interest after taking a few psychology classes, speak to the professors which generally share those interests and ask them whether they have any studies with which they need student assistance. While the start of college may be rocky and rough, the underlying thought is that it becomes easier once you develop a study routine for various classes and professors. It is both exciting and difficult to juggle getting to know new people and new social situations as well as new academic situations and classes. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, you will most likely end up making quite a few just like any other human college student. Rather than dwelling on mistakes, look for the best solution and if there is none, take the lessons learned and apply them in the future. The best thing to remember is that there is always room for changes and improvements, and to speak out your mind and reach for assistance when you need it. Become involved in as much as you can, not only with other students, but with professors, groups, clubs and things such as research. You will not only be viewed as a qualified and involved person, but you will also be surrounded by people who can help you reach your goals and be more fulfilled personally and intellectually as well as grades-wise. Do not be surprised if when leaving the school, at the end of your years here at the university you feel that you have changed and learned so much you cannot possibly be the same person who entered the school however many years ago. Top I have to start off by saying that I hope you will enjoy your years here as much as I have. I know when I came into this school everyone told me that it goes by so fast. Of course as a freshman I didn’t believe them, because I knew everything. I thought that high school took a long time and so would college. But, I was wrong. First off, I highly recommend intersession. All you have to do is focus on one class for three or four weeks. This way it can boost your G.P.A a little bit and make it so you can take three less credits every semester. If you are worried about no one being here it really is not that bad, more people stay than you would think due to sports and other reasons. You should start to apply for internships sophomore year. I was late in trying to get an internship and I am regretting it a little now. The more experience you have the better. Plus it is really good for networking. As far as networking goes use facebook because I have been approached on facebook for various job positions. Which I find to be very funny, because I did not even want to join face book I just did it because I lost a bet. With that in mind make sure you take certain pictures off facebook when you start applying for jobs because the companies do check. Also ask around about professors (Unless they are Psychology professors because they are perfect of course). Some professors may not be suited for you or the way you like to learn. It should be easy enough to find out because I find that a lot of siblings come through this school and are already knowledgeable of who they would prefer to take or not. This school offers a bunch of extra curricular activities and such I recommend that you try and take advantage of them. One of my favorites was intramural sports. I have played in a good amount of them. I have to say though make sure you know the rules before you sign up because I found that some times they can be frustrating. My friends and I tried to play wiffle ball freshman year and we did not know it at the time but for the league you had to pitch underhand, and that took a lot of the fun out of it for us. Also if you have the chance, take Ms. Summeral’s class she cooks an excellent dinner for the class at the end of the semester. I also recommend that you take full advantage of good dinners that do not involve pizza around here. There is also a nice selection of restaurants if you take rout eleven towards Dickson city but stay to the left and get off just before Dickson city at the turn off on that side. In closing, remember you only come through here once make sure you take care of what you have to but still have fun. I haven’t talked to anyone who has not loved being here. My brother has come here to visit a few times and he has loved it and will be coming here to. Remember to try things and do not be scared of failure. The person who has never failed at anything has not realy tried for anything100%.
May 6, 2007 Dear Incoming Freshman, Freshman year may end up being the best and worst year of your life. You finally have a chance to make your own decisions, new friends, and discover who you really are. At college no one will ground you, giving you a curfew, or tell you to study. However, with tremendous freedom comes grave responsibility. Your life is in your own hands. If you spend your freshman year partying and disregard your grades completely it is evitable that you will regret it when you can’t raise your GPA as an upperclassman. You are responsible for your grades and your own well being, so make your decisions wisely. One of the greatest decisions you
can make are your friends. Most people
leave their family and high school friends when they attend college. Therefore, it is important that you develop
new a new support system at college.
Your friends at college become your family. You will eat with them, live with them, and
maybe even get into a little trouble with them (hopefully not too much trouble). The friends that you make here at the Freshman year, in itself, is a time of uncertainty. You walk in as a freshman thinking that you have the world and yourself all figured out. However, after a while you discover that you don’t have anything figured out and neither do most people. College should make you question your core beliefs. Some classes should leave you confused about who you are and who you want to become. It should shake the very foundation of your most heartfelt beliefs. It is a time when you have to think for yourself and discover answers for yourself. Do not let others think for you. At times you may end up feeling lost or confused. During those instances, don’t be afraid to seek help from friends, counseling, camp ministries, or mentors. Questioning your beliefs may be a hard path to take, but when you look back after your four years at the University of Scranton you will realize how much stronger you are as a person for doing it. You have already made one good
decision by becoming a psychology major.
Psychology is a major that you can apply to almost every aspect of human
life. Psychology can be a springboard
for business, advertising, law, criminal justice, and the medical field. The psychology curriculum at the
Another great aspect of the psychology major is the faculty. The psychology faculty at the It is up to you to get the most out
of your time here in the psychology department.
Get involved! Participate in
research. Join clubs such as APSSC and
the Psychology Club. Participate in
research. Become a teaching
assistant. I don’t know if I mentioned
this yet, but participate in research, especially if you plan on applying to
Ph.D. programs. I can not stress how
important it is to become involved in the major. It will open enumerable doors for you at the My final piece of advice is not to let classes, such as Research Methods or Behavioral Neuroscience, intimidate you. Students will tell you horror stories of these classes. Many students will switch majors in order to avoid them. As someone who is about to graduate from the major, I assure you they are not as bad as they sound. You will survive them. Some classes may take a little more work then others, but those classes are the ones you will get the most out of. My four years at the Dear Incoming Freshman,
Welcome to the
When I came to the You need to enjoy your major; it’s something you are choosing to be used for the rest of your life.
The best friends I have made throughout
my four years at the the people you can’t believe you ever lived without.” I believe this to be true. In the beginning of my college career I had the mindset that no one could ever replace my friends at home, but instead my friends from college have become just as important to me as anyone else in my life. The relationships you make here will last you a lifetime. When I think back now to my first meeting with my dorm floor and residence assistant freshman year, I remember meeting the girls that ended up being my best friends now. Value the friendships you make during your first year of college, you will never forget them.
One thing I regret about my
experience at the As a psychology major, I really can’t complain about my four years as a student in the department. From the very beginning to the very end, a clear schedule and path of your four years is drawn out for you and I rarely ever felt unorganized or lost as to what is going on in the curriculum. There are many courses you are required to take as a psychology major which may seem intimidating, like statistics and research methods, but all in the all the guidance offered by the psychology department professors was exceptional and I completed the courses with a breeze. Also, get to know your professors and especially your advisor! They will be working with you personally for the next four years so it’s important to develop a good relationship with them. I know that in many movies about the characters being in college, the professors teach in mammoth classrooms and could care less about the progress or each student. Here in the psychology department, it’s just the opposite. Each professor cares about your improvement, progress, and journey through college and are always there to lend a helping hand and guide you through whatever you need help with. In addition, it may be a good idea to get involved in the Psychology Club. Although I didn’t, I do regret it and know that it would have been an opportunity for me to develop closer relationships with my fellow psychology majors.
By enrolling as a student at the
Dear Incoming Freshmen, First and
foremost, welcome to the For those of you that are away from home, I know how overwhelming this can all be. Different people, different food, different classrooms; it’s an environment unlike anything you have ever experienced. And I will not pretend that it’s easy to adjust to right off the bat, but I promise you, you will adjust. Of course you are going to miss your parents, your friends, your house, you’ll even miss your own shower, but the time that you have here is limited believe it or not, and it will get easier. I encourage you to try and work past all those feelings of insecurity and the unknown. The more you are here and the more involved with the school you become, the quicker those feelings of mystery and sadness go away. The people here are fantastic once you get to know them. I have met some of my best friends here and I never would have if I went home every weekend. Resist that urge. Be open to new experiences and people, and trust me you will learn so much about yourself and others. There are so many activities to get involved with on campus. I can almost guarantee that you will find something of interest to be active in. There are intramural sports, clubs, community services, sports teams and events, you name it, the University probably has it or something related to it. If you go home, you will miss out on all of it and on the chance to get to know people better. And believe me, having friends and people that you can go and talk to makes this place so much better and easier to deal with on those days when home seems a million miles away. Also, take care of yourself. You don’t have Mom or Dad around anymore telling you to brush your teeth, or take you to the doctors when you have a cold. It is so important that you get enough rest and exercise. I know, its very cliché and no one wants to hear it, but believe me, as the weeks roll by you will miss being able to sleep until Mom wakes you up. So just remember to sleep when you’re supposed to. As far as exercise, I will not sit here and pretend that my eating habits were the best when I was on campus, but I do know that exercise was a great stress reliever for me and it didn’t hurt go to the gym and run off that cafeteria food. You’ll feel better, and when you feel better, you think better. Now for the most important thing and the reason you are all here, your schoolwork. If you are a psychology major, which I’m assuming you all are, you are in for a great experience. There is a diverse course selection and even those classes that are in the “core eight” (which you will be hearing about shortly I presume) are motivating. You will soon find out that the professors and other faculty around you genuinely cares for your academic well being and wants so badly for you to be excited about what you’re doing. After all, psychology is their life! So if you find yourself struggling in any class, please go and talk to them. I know it can be intimidating, but most of them are just waiting for you to knock on their office doors. They are extremely knowledgeable in their own unique fields and want to get to know you and help you as much as they can. And, if you stay a psychology major for the next four years and make the efforts to be involved with them and the clubs in the psychology department, you will see that. However, if you find that you are not interested in psychology after taking a few courses, don’t be afraid to change majors. I changed mine a little later and I ended up having to start my psychology courses as a sophomore. It’s not a bad thing; I just had to work slightly harder to catch up. But I never would’ve worked that hard if I didn’t like the course material. Do what you’re interested in, it’s your life once you leave here and you don’t want to enter the work force in a field that you cannot see yourself staying in until you retire. There is so much more I would like to tell you about college life, but with the fear of boring you I will stop here. Like I said in the beginning, a lot of this is things that you already know and have heard before. But really take what you hear from these letters and apply it. We all know how you feel because we’ve felt it. We sat where you are right now and read these letters ourselves. Now that our time at the University has ended, all we can do is hope to give you advice that will make your time here as worthwhile as ours was. The rest is up to you. Good luck in the future and I hope that these next four years are the best times of your lives. Sincerely, A graduating senior Top Dear Freshmen, Entering
into the college life is a great transition.
I know this because from the moment I became a First of all your advisor is your friend and somebody who is paid to help you. During my freshman and sophomore years I rarely went to see my advisor. In fact, the only times I went to see him was when it was required. There were a few times that I was having problems with my social or school life and I really should have talked with my advisor. I never did but now when I look back on it I really should have. I was embarrassed that my advisor was going to lecture me or look at me as if I shouldn’t be having problems. These were foolish things to worry about. I learned later on that the advisors were hear to help and kids go to see them all them all the time and ask the most simple questions. Don’t ever feel embarrassed or shy to go and have a sit with your advisor to get some information, that’s what they are here for. Next, if you are having second or even third thoughts about your major don’t wait until senior year to come to the conclusion that the major you picked wasn’t right for you. This is your future in the making and nobody wants to get stuck doing something that they don’t enjoy. I have known plenty of people that have changed their major at least once. In fact, one of my best friends changed his major three times before he finally found what he was looking for. Once again, if you are having thoughts about changing your major go and talk to your advisor. He or she can really help you make such decisions. If you
haven’t learned or heard about studying abroad yet then you will soon. This is a wonderful thing to pursue,
especially if you have a particular place that you want to visit. I suggest that everybody does this and does
it early on in their college career. I
have learned that the longer you wait the smaller the chances get of you being
able to go. As semesters pass you might
fail a class, or drop a class, or something else that could put you a few
credits behind. If you fall behind it
gets a lot more difficult to stick studying abroad in your schedule. Money isn’t really an issue hear because you
would be spending just as much money in Lastly I would like to give you advice on something other than academics. I understand that when you come to college one of the things your looking forward to is meeting new and different people. This is all well and good as long as you are not too trusting of others. Don’t give out your dorm combinations to others or a key. I have had too many friends that claim that somebody who “seemed to be cool” stole half of their belongings because they trusted them. Top Dear Psychology Freshman, Welcome to The University of Scranton and congratulations on your accomplishments. Surely there are thousands of questions running through your mind. Just take a deep breath and hopefully my letter will answer some of your questions. Unfortunately, I did not come into The University of Scranton as a psychology major. I joined this department during the spring semester of my sophomore year and yes, I am graduating on time. I was even able to pick up a concentration in human development. I’m sure that should bring you some relief to the worries of finishing in four years. Coming into the department later than others, I was nervous because it was almost as if I was starting all over again. The faculty, however, are great. They may seem intimidating because of their high degrees, but they are very caring. All they want is what is best for you and their main goal is for you to walk away with useful information and knowledge. The psychology department is almost like a small family on our one-floor facility. Now, let’s get down to some major advice. One of the most important things with this particular major is to plan ahead. Many of the core classes are only offered during one semester, either fall or spring, not both. Some of the higher level courses have requirements before you can take that specific course. For example, you must take abnormal before you are able to take clinical or statistics must be taken before psychological testing. It may become frustrating but if you take your time and strategically plan out your schedule, you should be fine. Getting involved in the clubs and organizations that the psychology department offers is a great idea. You form closer relationships with fellow psychology majors and faculty. There are many clubs to choose from, such as the Psychology Club, APSSC, and more. The psychology department also has an honors society named Psi Chi. You can find out more about the clubs and honors society from faculty or Donna. She is our department secretary and will help you with anything you need. Another idea to become closer to faculty is to be a teaching assistant (or TA) for a course. I was a TA for the psychological testing course during the fall semester of my senior year. It was a wonderful experience because I formed a closer bond with the professor and also became more familiar with the course objectives. I also tutored other students which enabled me to meet more people in the department. If you ever need help in a course the faculty is there to help. However, if you still are confused, The University has a free program where students tutor students. I went there to be tutored for my previous major and I received great help. There is also a writing center to go over rough drafts of papers and help you better your writing. If you need help be sure to take advantage of these programs. Hopefully my letter has answered some of your questions. The psychology department at The University of Scranton has made my experience at college unforgettable. I never thought that with changing majors so late that I would fit in so well and feel as though I had been a psychology major all along. Just remember to think ahead when planning your schedules, get involved as much as possible with the department, use the resources provided if you need help and have a fun time at The University of Scranton. Good luck with your college years and welcome to the psychology department. Sincerely Yours, A graduating psychology major from the class of 2007 |