Think beyond

Major: Psychology

Q: Why did you choose Drew?
A: I really liked the campus. I was the first person in my immediate family to go to college so the process was a little scary but when I came to Drew I really liked the intimate feel of the campus.

Q: What is it about psychology that you like?
A: I enjoy cognitive psychology – learning about memory, how the brain works – and also abnormal psychology and all the things that can go wrong.

Q: Are you conducting any research?
A: I’m working with Prof. Patrick Dolan on how we learn from different sources. For instance, are you more likely to learn facts you read in a fiction work or in a textbook? We have volunteers read stories with facts in them and also a list with facts in it. Then we give them a general knowledge test and see which source they use more facts from in answering the questions.

Q: Which psychology professors have had the greatest impact on you?
A: All of them are really approachable. Professor Dolan has been very helpful. It’s a little overwhelming at first to do real research but he made it seem simple. Prof. C. Robin Timmons is my adviser and oversees my research. Prof. Graham Cousens has been very interesting and is a really good professor.

Q: Are there any particular skills you feel you’ve gained at Drew?
A: The research methods courses really prepare you to do research. Graduate schools want to see you’ve had that experience. I’ll probably go on to graduate school and continue to study psychology.

Q: What would you tell a prospective student about the Drew experience?
A: The professors really want you to talk to them. If you have any questions about your future and what you’re going to do in the field, they’re great about telling you about options you might not have considered. That’s been really helpful for me.