Psychology Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2020

psychology

psychology

Ming Hua Chang

Hometown: Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
Graduate School: Penn State University
Field of Study: Ph.D. in experimental condensed matter physics
 
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
 
Dickinson has provided me the opportunity to receive an extremely broad education beyond classes directly relevant to my next steps. I completed a second major and a minor in fields completely unrelated to my primary major, physics. Further, I have been able to take many classes in philosophy, languages and music. I believe that this has provided me several different perspectives on my approach to life and the choices I make, and also help me better engage with a myriad of people and problems. My academic experience at Dickinson was not simply theoretical since I was fortunate to have been able to engage in experimental research across four distinct scientific disciplines, including two independent studies. Together, these have prepared me for the academic rigor of the Ph.D. program I will begin.
   
In addition to the academic aspects of Dickinson, the social aspects have been equally if not more impactful. I have encountered people, ideas and philosophy that have broadened my worldview and challenged me to be a better person. Many of these people have been fellow students, but I am both humbled and thankful that many have also been faculty, staff and members of the Carlisle community. Further, the skills I have acquired with regard to interpersonal relationships, managing organizations and overseeing residents is invaluable. While it is difficult to briefly describe the skills attained therein and impossible to measure them, I know that I can approach administrative and organizational situations with more confidence.
   
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I believe that my faith as a follower of Jesus has broadened, deepened and become more robust. Through my experiences inside and outside the classroom, I have come to understand faith as a way of life rather than a religious practice. All these things I have listed combine to make me a more wholesome person, capable of approaching the complex, multifaceted and sometimes intimidating world. I am thankful for the resources and opportunities that Dickinson has provided to facilitate this personal development.
 
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
 
I am looking forward to continuing to learn and live in an academic setting. I am stimulated by the depth and variety of discourse and the opportunities for learning that exist on a college campus. Additionally, college campuses are home to an extraordinarily high level of diversity, which makes life rich and interesting. In the long-run, I am most anticipating and motivated by the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to society through science.
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
  • Taking "Electrons in Materials" with Professor of Physics Lars English, because it helped me know that physics was what I wanted to pursue for my career.
  • Taking classes with Thomas Bowman Professor of Religion and Philosophy Ted Pulcini (retired), Associate Professor of Philosophy Jim Sias, Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology Grace Larson and Contributing Faculty of Music and Voice Jonathan Hays (all who were not physics faculty) because they were some of the most intellectually stimulating, enjoyable classes I've ever taken, and also because I got to know them personally and engaged with them beyond mere academics.
  • Being part of the Dickinson Christian Fellowship. Some of the best and most genuine people I met at Dickinson were in DCF. 
  • Being a resident advisor because of the people I met and the skills I acquired.   
  • Being inducted into the Order of the Scroll and Key because I was honored with the opportunity to be a part of something larger than myself that is dedicated to the common good of the communities we find ourselves in.   
  • Obtaining departmental honors in physics. My project and thesis together were the most challenging endeavors I undertook at Dickinson, but they prepared me for graduate studies and grew my love for physics.

Carly Turner

Majors: neuroscience, psychology
Hometown: Barrington, New Jersey
Graduate School: Villanova University
Field of Study: clinical mental health counseling
 
What was the most impactful academic experience you had at Dickinson?
 
The relationships that I had with professors and all the great experiences I had with them and their help both academically and in regards to my future. 
 
What was the most impactful social experience you had at Dickinson?

Meeting my best friends in my freshman dorms and us all being in the same pre-o groups/living in the same building/as roommates.
 

Mia Yao

Major: psychology
Hometown: Zhuhai, China
Graduate School: University of Southern California
Field of Study: digital social media
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
Studying abroad in Denmark was one of my biggest highlights while at Dickinson.
 
What was the most impactful social experience you had at Dickinson?
 
I was proud to work at CGSE where I met a group of positive and motivated people.
 

Lauren Brumfield

Major: psychology
Hometown: Westfield, New Jersey
Graduate School: Boston University School of Social Work
Field of Study: clinical social work with a specialization in trauma and violence.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

My psychology professors taught me a lot of skills, such as data analysis, counseling techniques and client relations, which have really prepared me to work as a mental healthcare provider. I am also thankful for the Career Center and Writing Center, because they have helped me learn about professional writing and interviewing techniques. Overall, I have learned the value of interdisciplinary studies through all of the connections I have made between coursework in my major, minor and certificate.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I am excited to start my social work field placement this fall. As part of social work education, every student has a field placement where they spend part of their week, then they spend the other days in the classroom. I hope to have my placement at a community health center!

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

It’s hard to pick just a few, but holding an exec board position in Kappa Alpha Theta, participating in the Theater/Mermaid Players Pre-Orientation, becoming a First-Year Mentor, Take Back the Night each year, and forming close relationships with amazing friends and professors!

Internship Experience

I was an intern at Youth Villages in Memphis, Tenn., where I assisted in an inpatient mental and behavioral health facility for young boys. I also interned at Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocates in Carlisle, Pa., where I observed and took notes on court hearings, filed paperwork, updated databases and helped out at events along with many other tasks.

Guoxuan Chi

Majors: computer science, psychology
Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland
Employer: Ernst and Young
Job title: technology consultant
 
Job Responsibilities 

I will help improve clients' business performance through the implementation of technology. More specifically, I will be involved in the evaluation, design and configuration of business transformation through technology.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
 
Though I can't name a specific skill, through my four years at Dickinson, I became more confident in my ability to thrive in a foreign environment and my endurance for challenging myself outside of my comfort zone.
 
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
 
I am excited about combining my psychology and computer science knowledge to solve real-world business problems as a consultant.
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
In academia, my first classes in psychology and computer science were excellent experiences that made me decide to double major in these two distinctive fields. Outside of the classroom, my study abroad experience in Copenhagen elevated me from an international student to a global citizen. I appreciate the international connections I built through Dickinson and I would keep pursuing the infinite possibilities all over the globe.
 
Internship Experience
 
I interned at the Language and Cognitive Development Lab at UC Berkeley in fall 2019. I was a research assistant working with a graduate student in her research on how children perceive math. I spent a lot of time recruiting young participants at a museum and giving away cool stickers in exchange for them playing a game with me (experiments with parental consent). I also did data analysis and visualization for a poster presentation.
 

Lauren McCaffrey

Major: psychology
Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
Graduate School: University of Maryland School of Social Work, Baltimore
Field of Study: clinical concentration with a specialization in behavioral health or health
 
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
 
The inter-disciplinary nature of liberal arts prepared me to see people from all angles. We're existing in an ever changing environment and political system, and the individuals I'll be working with are necessarily working in and trying to do their best in this system. Dickinson encouraged me to think about the situation, the perspective and the standpoint of the person and to not make judgements about a person from a single interaction. This insight is priceless.
 
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
 
I'm excited to start working toward direct practice with individuals. I've wanted to work in therapeutic practice for mental and behavioral health since I was very young. The opportunity to continue my education in psychology in addition to beginning an immersive field practicum, which will allow me to engage with research, policy and my Maryland and D.C. community.
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
My friends are my defining moments. Through all the hardships, they've had my back. I learned more than I could've ever expected to at Dickinson because of them.
 
Internship Experience
 

I was a research trainee in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. In my position, I reviewed nearly 6,000 articles for inclusion in a systematic review of literature surrounding healthcare and transgender youth. I worked directly with a clinician who was passionate about making healthcare, including behavioral and mental health support, available and easily accessible to young transgender individuals.

Eliza Hunnewell

Majors: educational studies, psychology
Hometown: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Graduate School: Boston College
Field of Study: social work

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

I have a strong work ethic.
 
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
 
Living in the city.
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
 
Internship Experience
  • Intern at Alford Lake Camp in Hope, Maine. Tent counselor, head of swimming.
  • Intern at the Carlisle Autism school in Carlisle, Pa., observation, helping in the classroom.

Julia Snyder

Major: psychology
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Graduate School: Lancaster General Hospital, Penn Medicine
Field of Study: clinical pastoral education 

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
 
Dickinson has helped me take risks. Each semester has been completely different from the others and I valued this. From running Cross Country my freshman year, to joining Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, to applying for a community advisor role in Res Life-Dickinson has encouraged me to continue to try new things and step out of my comfort zone year after year. I am confident that in this way, Dickinson has prepared me to think outside the box, be innovative and try new things after graduation.
 
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
 
After graduation, I will be pursuing an education in clinical pastoral care at Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania. I am hoping this year-long educational program will be informative as I consider hospital chaplaincy down the road. I am anticipating hands on and reflective experiences that will be meaningful to my education.
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
My favorite experience at Dickinson has been working for Residence Life & Housing. I had the opportunity to be an RA for two years in Adams Hall and then a community advisor for Special Interest Housing on campus my senior year. During these years, I enjoyed representing the mission Residence Life & Housing by being a visible member in the community and displaying a positive attitude among my peers. And the best part has been the friendships I've made with professional staff members, past residents and fellow community advisors. I will forever cherish these life-long memories.
 
Internship Experience
 
In summer 2019, I served as an intern for the Summer Food Service Program at the Lancaster Recreation Center. As an intern, I supported the directors of the program to ensure that a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack were delivered to more than 30 camp sites each day. I also touched base with camp directors daily to collect the number of meals needed for the following day and communicated those numbers with the Food Service Department at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pa. This internship counted towards my experiential component of the Food Studies Certificate.
 

Chenyi Zhu

Majors: psychology, women's, gender & sexuality studies
Hometown: Changzhou, China
Graduate School: Boston University School of Medicine
Field of Study: mental health counseling

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
 
My professors and the advisers in the Career Center gave me a lot of suggestions and instructions about how to choose and apply for graduate programs.
 
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
 
I am excited about learning more knowledge about the field that I am interested in and preparing myself for a future career as a therapist.
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
I appreciate my academic experiences here, which prepares me for the future education and career.
 
Internship Experience
 
  • Feminist Voice, managing social media accounts (posting and writing articles), Beijing, China.
  • Zhejiang University, research assistant, Hangzhou, China.
  • Changzhou Activity Center for Women and Children, helped to manage the daily work of the center, Changzhou, China.

Morgan Silverman

Major: psychology
Hometown: New York, New York
Employer: Columbia University
Job title: research assistant

Job Responsibilities
.
I will be working with Dr. Amy Margolis who does fMRI research to look at how learning problems are related to underlying deficiencies in the structure and function of neural systems that are supported in learning processes. She also studies how exposure to neurotoxic chemicals may affect neurodevelopment and possibly manifest in learning and social problems. My role will be to assist in ongoing fMRI research and explore other projects she may be working on.
 
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
 
The liberal arts education that I received at Dickinson really allowed me to explore a wide range of topics and fields of study. It allowed me to get a more comprehensive education that was not just in my major but also in so many other fields. I was able to learn how to create strong professional relationships with faculty and professors, and I think that has really prepared me for my future career world. Dickinson gave me the confidence in my knowledge and abilities by providing me with an incredible learning atmosphere where I grew intellectually and professionally.
 
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
 
I am planning to be working at an fMRI lab with a researcher at Columbia University. I am hoping to work for a couple of years and gain some more experience in the field of neuropsychology. In about two years, I plan to apply to clinical psychology Ph.D. programs where I can focus on neuropsychology.
 
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
 
There are so many incredible experiences that I had at Dickinson; it is hard to narrow them down. One of them would be my experience in the Department of Psychology. I loved being part of the department because the professors and faculty were so amazing and they offered me a kind of support and intellectual growth that really shaped me into the student and person I am now. Another amazing experience is joining Pi Beta Phi, an organization that has an amazing group of intellectual and empowering women. Dickinson College provided me with so many incredible experiences, I really cannot express my gratitude in words for the time I spent at Dickinson. It is such a unique place that gave me the most amazing friendships, education and overall experience.
 
Internship Experience
 
I completed two internships during my time at Dickinson. In the summer of 2018, I was an intern for the Global Mental Health Program at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute. I was part of a cohort of 11 interns, and I was paired with a researcher who studies HIV associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI). I helped him in developing the NeuroScreen which is an app that is used to detect NCI. The next summer, I continued to work with the same researcher at Columbia University, as a research assistant and helped him to further his research with the NeuroScreen.
 

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS

 

 

Published April 29, 2020