Semester's Activities

Make sure that you get involve and participate in as many activities as possible. Good Luck!!

New Beginnings

New Beginnings...

As I sang the Auld Lang Syne and welcomed a new year, I was saddened and happy.  For many 2013 had its highs and lows, the laughter and the tears, the unforgettable moments, the challenges but also some successes.  All are in the past, gone, never to be experienced in the same way again. 

I look forward to another year: 2014, where I get to do it all over again.  Consider it a new beginning.  A chance to try something new and different, create new friendships, start an adventure, etc...  Remember every day is different, therefore try something different.  Start fresh (at the beginning), welcome this brand new day and year, in a very short while - 365 days later, you will have to start all over again.  On your mark, get set, go....

Survival skills to help you survive and thrive

The Holiday season is already upon us.  The semester is about to end and a new year will soon begin.  For many of us this time of year brings laughter, joy, trepidation and also stress.

While in school and also dealing with life’s stressors: work, anxiety, depression, abuse, addiction, financial problems, family discord, etc…  The list can be long for some, but it all equates to how do you function and maintain balance and sanity. 

How do you deal with life's stressors while trying to maintain a good academic record?  Some are able to deal with just 4-5 hours of sleep, piles of homework, and also work a part-time job.  If you are not superman or wonder-woman, (which most of us fall short of) then you may struggle with this load.  Consider the following:

1.      Seek professional help.  It is okay to do so.  Many in our society consider this type of help unnecessary.  However, they are not in your shoes and do not know your reality.  Our institution offers help for students and current employees, use it.  The MSU counseling center offers a range of services and referrals.  Also if you are covered through a guardian/parent health care (MSU HR), you may have access to mental health coverage.  Knowing when to seek help and support is important.

2.      Have an outlet where you can escape: physical exercise: yoga, running, boxing, go to a movie, knit, etc...

3.      Have a support/network system that can stand by you when needed.  It may be a religious experience, retreat, or organization. 

Whatever it may be for you, it is something that you should establish before the struggle begins.  It is a "human" process and, what really matters, is the ability to cope and come out on top.

Have a safe and happy Holiday Season!!!

Midterms are Here!!

It has been so busy, that time seems to have flown by.  The middle of the semester is upon us and we are barreling headlong for the holiday season.  I hate to put the breaks on, but some of us may need more time and are not quite ready for a thanksgiving feast or the holiday shopping frenzy.  Reality is here, right in front of us, staring right back at us: midterms!

This term evokes a variety of different emotions.  According to the dictionary, it has several meanings: a) the middle or halfway point in a school or office term. b) an examination or series of examinations at the middle of a term.

If we are talking about Capitol Hill - Ugh!, Then we think of gridlock, furlough, nastiness, un-compromising, and just plain stuck!!  It is a good thing college midterms do not conjure the same emotions. (If they do, the Counseling Center is a good place to visit. No Kidding, Seriously!!)

With school midterms, come the pressure of wanting to do well and establishing yourself for the semester. Some steps to help you along the way are: study time & study skills.
Study Time:
Make every effort to spend quality time in your studies.  Not just 1 hour, but 3-4 hours of in-depth review and  close examination of the subject matter.  It does pay off.  If you are a full time student with a minimum of 12 credits per semester, you should spend approximately 24 hours per week of study outside of the classroom.  Honestly, not too many students devote this generous amount to their studies.
Study Skills:
Another problem that may arise is difficulty in time management, or how to best study (approach the materials) for the Intro to chemistry, Intro to writing, etc...  Most of these courses would suggest and recommend different approaches to learn this information. Our institution has several resources that can help you before the exams.  Take the time to visit and utilize them: The learning resource center, The math help room, The writing center, and also let's not forget professor's office hours (check course syllabus for time and location).  Be well prepared, and give it your best.

If you don't do as well as you hoped, analyze what may have gone wrong.  You can change the outcome for the future: get additional help from your classmates and professors, contact the learning resource center specialists, and start studying and planning earlier. The responsibility is on you.  Good luck, hang in there!

Undergraduate Competencies

There has been lots of talk in the national news recently about choosing a major.  Some of these discussions range from: career paths taken by students, satisfaction in their career, cost of major vs. salary after graduation, popular majors, (Of course, we all know the answer: PSYCHOLOGY!!), male vs. female dominated fields, etc…  (I digress, back to our scheduled topic)  What are some competencies that all students need regardless of your major?

Many PSY students start out with the premise that they are studying to become a clinical psychologist.  With this assumption, the next logical path is attending graduate school.  However, research has shown us that only 4-6% of graduating psychology students continue and enter a graduate program in psychology.  Of course, many choose to pursue other graduate degrees: MA, MSW, MBA, JD, etc…  However, these numbers still remain somewhat small.  These facts are not to discourage, but rather to inform you of the reality of your chosen academic path. 

The question then becomes what happened to the majority of these graduating psychology students.  (I am so glad you asked.)    Many graduating seniors don’t have much of a choice.  With the reality of the final cost of an undergraduate degree (bill statement in black & white), most students will need to be gainfully employed and start paying off these student loans.  Others may be unsure about where their interests lie, want to take some time off, or are not interested in a post-graduate education.  Whatever the reasons may be, looking for a job is the next step. 

There are certain competencies that are essential whether you are applying for a graduate program or a job.  These are some ideas for consideration:

What you can do in psychology is determined not just by completing a PSY degree but also by the following:

KSAO – knowledge, skills, abilities, & other characteristics.  Many companies are looking for students to have gained some major competencies while completing their undergraduate degree.

• Academic skills – you can show academic excellence through your major courses as well as other areas.  You have excelled academically in all types of courses.  Varied academic background in courses such as; logic & reasoning, language, physiology, culture, etc….
• Technical skills – the ability to use all Microsoft Office programs installed on your computer. (If you can not name them, then you have a problem.)   Proficient with using various technological and social media tools (professional not just personal usage) to get the work done: email, presentation, data-excel, etc…
• Communication – effectively communicate verbally and in written formats.  Know and understand how to write in full sentences.  Learn and express yourself using the proper grammar and the correct syntax.
• Problem solving skills – Demonstrate the ability to learn new tasks and to expand on knowledge given and received.  Working independently to research and solve problems that consistently arise. 

Who you know – networking

Networking is essential in making connections to different people and opportunities.  Networking is found to be the #1 source of finding a good job.  It is also the top source for job leads.  A person’s network can include but is not limited to friends, family, co-workers, professors, internship supervisors, etc…

What you are passionate about

Research and have a deeper understanding of what and why you want to pursue a particular field of study, or career.  Most employers are not looking for an emotional response on: “how or what you feel”.  This verbalization should be very factual and informative.

Professionalism – Show that you can function in a “work” setting.  What does this mean?  Punctuality - be on time, dependability, flexibility, self management, attention to detail, etc….  Your attitude and behavior indicate your aptitude to work in a diverse environment and group.  Body language can say much about what we do not say aloud….  As a soon to be graduate, think of the organizations that you are involved in.  Leadership roles are excellent ways to exhibit many of the above competencies.  Also do not forget to join professional associations and attend local or regional conferences.  These opportunities allow you to interact with experts in the field.

 

Stay tuned, maybe next time we will tackle, what you should know and do when opportunities come your way.

References:

KSAOs as well as most of the above subject areas are covered in many HR books such as:

Your Career: How to Make it Happen. Lauri Harwood

Staffing Organizations, 7^th edition.  Heneman, H. G. III, Judge, T.A., & Kammeyer-Mueller, J.D. (2012). 

Graduate Statistics from: American Psychological Association website.

Graduate School Preparation

We have 2 excellent events coming up.  Hope many will attend.  Don't miss out on these 2 opportunities.

Fall 2013 Seminars & Events

We have scheduled some events that we have found very beneficial.  Please take a look and attend as many as you can.