Uncategorized

Use the Summer For Career Planning!!!

Jonathan Golding Uncategorized

Summer Break is starting, and although everyone needs to refresh, this break is a perfect time to work on career planning. Despite students having this free time, I keep meeting with undergrads (often in their junior and senior years) after the summer who have wasted their summer months and done absolutely nothing with regard to career planning Of course, these students have made a major mistake that typically leads to a great deal of anxiety and frustration with each passing day.

What should students be doing during the summer? Before anything, they need to get a better handle on the idea that career planning: (a) starts sooner versus later (e.g., immediately upon entering college); and (b) requires a lot of time and effort. In some ways career planning is a never-ending process until one really gets immersed in a career path (e.g., attends graduate school). It is unclear whether these individuals thought a career was going to be thrown into their laps.

doors-1767563_640Once a person gets a clue that career planning is a process that requires a lot of time and effort, they need to get off their butt (you heard me right!) and be an active participant in their career planning. There are people who can help with career planning, like Professors and careers counselors, but the real nitty-gritty of career planning requires a person to move forward on their own. In my mind, one can active in their career planning by navigating a series of “steps”. Keep in mind that these steps are not necessarily sequential, they can occur during the school year and in the summer, and they can definitely overlap. Here we go:

(1) Take certain courses

Whether you are taking formal courses on a college campus, or completing online courses, there are certain courses you should consider that go well beyond typical introductory courses, and that will group together based on your career direction. For example, someone focused on a career in mental health may select courses like Personality, Abnormal Psychology and Child Psychopathology. However, someone with an interest in Law may select Forensic Psychology and other law-related courses in other majors (e.g., Political Science, Criminology). I should note that if you plan on going to graduate school or professional school the selection committees will also like to see that you took challenging courses (e.g., math and science courses).

(2) Do well in your courses

Whether it is a graduate school or job, selection committees want to see good grades. It’s pretty simple, if you were choosing someone, who would you pick, the person with the higher or lower GPA. Remember that your record is evaluated on a number of grading dimensions: grades in certain courses, overall GPA, GPA in your major, GPA in your minor (if you have one), last two years in college GPA, and maintaining a high GPA from your freshman year on. I will add that if you do not get an A or B in a course you should probably repeat the course, especially if it was a course in your major.

(3) Don’t just go to class

It is important that you highlight your motivation and interest in whatever you hope to have a career. One way you can do this in college is to get involved in research, whatever your major. I can hear some of you now arguing that research is not what you want to do. The key is that getting involved in research (not even in the exact area as your main interest) shows you are motivated and interested in a specific area. Getting involved in research can also possibly increase your GPA if your research is part of a course. Finally, by conducting research you get to know a faculty member who can write you a strong letter of recommendation when you are ready to apply to graduate school or for a job.

Other ways to get involved in activities outside of the classroom are through an internship, involvement in extracurricular activities (e.g., volunteering), joining an organization tied in to your interest area, and/or work experience related to your area of interest.

(4) Develop critical skills

Whatever career path you take will require you to have critical skills over and above your general knowledge. It will be important for you to develop skills in computers, writing, and oral communication that will supplement what you already know. Such skills are invaluable for whatever you do in the future. Start developing these skills right away!

(5) Visit the Career Center

If you are on a college campus, is there a Career Center? Do you know where it is located? Have you ever visited the Career Center? For most students, it is sad to say that the answer is probably “no” to all of these questions. But, the Career Center is a definite place you should visit—probably more than once. The professional staff at a career center can help you write a resume, give you advice on cover letters and personal statements, and offer an amazing array of resources on career issues like internship possibilities, job openings, entrance exams, and graduate and professional schools. In most cases, you pay for the Career Center—use it!

goalplansuccess-1240825_640-1(6) Get on the Internet

We all know that the Internet is our friend. In the case of career planning, it is can be your best friend. There is simply so much information on the Internet that you should be spending a significant amount time searching out career-related information. First, you can read through various online career sites. Of course, I will plug my own site if you are a Psychology major (scoutiescareersinpsychology.org), because I think it can be really helpful. Of course, there are a variety of other online sites for other majors, but be wary of sites that emphasize a lot of for-profit schools. Second, there are government sites that give a lot of information on various career paths—one great site is the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Second, every school that has a graduate/professional degree program will have a site. Third, a lot of good sites exist about preparing for entrance exams (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.). These exams are not to be taken lightly, and can be the difference between getting accepted or not accepted to a school. One last thought on searching the Internet. Make sure you take your time searching–do not think you will accomplish everything in an afternoon. There is a lot of information you will have to read through, so plan accordingly.

(7) Interact with Professors (if in college) or your boss (if working)

To move forward with your career requires having the support of superiors. Gaining this support will require your superiors to actually know you. Think about it, how can your Professor or your boss write you a letter of recommendation unless they know something about you. Thus, start interacting with your superiors. Talk to them. For example, you might make a contribution in class or just visit your Professor during office hours and have a conversation about issues in their field of study. These interactions can lead to certain jobs, hearing about job openings, and (of course) a letter of recommendation. I know it might be tough talking to a superior, but it is really important to get over your fear and interact. You’ll be surprised how easy it is, and you will reap the benefits.

Now that you know the things that you should be doing, I hope you will start moving forward with your career plans. Again, I know you just want to have fun during the summer, but is an ideal time to get started planning for the future—your future!

Please note that the comments of Dr. Golding and the others who post on this blog express their own opinion and not that of the University of Kentucky.

Special Guest Writer–Amara Tanweer (undergraduate): Take Advantage of Education Abroad!

Jonathan Golding Education Abroad, Study Abroad, Uncategorized ,

Like many students, I thought studying abroad was an experience I just was not destined to have. I only began to consider it towards the end of my sophomore year of college. There were several reasons for deciding to pursue this opportunity. First, it gave me an excuse to travel. I did not have a lot of exposure to other cultures, and I thought this had hindered my growth and perspective as a person. Second, studying abroad would assist with the pursuit of my career and educational goals. I am planning to get a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology, and I thought studying abroad would make me stick out from my competitors. Third, I would not be opposed to working abroad upon completing my advanced degree, and I believed that being exposed to other cultures and understanding a culture’s impact on psychological techniques, would prepare me to be a better psychologist. Finally, I wanted to challenge myself – to throw myself into the unknown and make the best of it.

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The logistics of selecting a program was not as difficult as I thought it would be. The Education Abroad Office at my university was a tremendous help with the application and payment process, and I utilized their assistance frequently. I decided to study abroad the Spring semester of my Junior year. I did not want to go during the Fall semester because there was a possibility of overlapping dates with some programs. That is, the end date of the study abroad program could go past the first few days of classes of the spring semester at my home university. I selected an “exchange” program, which essentially meant that I paid the same amount of tuition as at my home university. I am an in-state student, so this worked out in my favor. In addition, it was important that I chose a study abroad program that was affordable. I chose the cheapest program in terms of housing costs as well as overall cost of living in the particular region I was looking at. Related to this last point, I applied for and received several education abroad scholarships, which helped significantly. The study abroad program I selected was the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, England.

studyabroad2Overall, my education abroad experience was incredible, and I am humbled to have had this time overseas. I would highly recommend studying abroad as it provides valuable life lessons. I accomplished all of my goals, gained valuable insight into how culture can affect psychology, and was able to network with many professors and other students. I will end on this note: studying abroad is not an opportunity that is out of reach. There are many benefits, and with the help of your school’s Education Abroad office, it really is much more feasible than you realize!

Please note that the comments of Dr. Golding and the others who post on this blog express their own opinion and not that of the University of Kentucky.

Special Guest Writer–Amber Sexton: Preparing for Medical School–What Should Be Your Major?

Jonathan Golding Choosing a Major, Uncategorized, What Should You Do, What to do , , ,

From a young age, I was entirely certain of the career path I wanted to pursue- medicine. While I totally understand that everyone reading this might not say the same, I know some of you have the same career aspirations as myself. So, for those of you with every intention of going to medical school, this is for you!

Let’s rewind almost four years to the summer before my matriculation here at the University of Kentucky. Though on the edge of huge change in my life, there were a few things I was very sure would remain constant as I began college, one of those being my passion for medicine. So I knew what my end goal was, but I still had one important decision to make.

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What should I major in?

You all faced the same question with lots of inward reflection and thought, I’m sure. For me, and I imagine for you as well, the decision was multi-faceted. Of course, my biggest concern was “what major/degree would help me most in applying to medical school?” I considered which major would be impressive to medical school admissions committees, which major would “diversify” me in an applicant pool, which major would best prep me for the MCAT (the standardized test required of all medical school applicants), and which major would be best to juggle alongside the prerequisite courses I planned to take.

With these questions I couldn’t answer, I sought advice from my older brother who, at the time, was a fourth year medical student preparing to begin residency. I applied his advice to my own journey. Now, as I prepare to graduate from UK and begin medical school in the fall, I will pass the same advice given to me to you:

Truthfully, with respect to admission to and preparation for medical school, it does not matter what major you choose.

Now, with a surplus of options, here are a few helpful things to consider when narrowing your choice:

  1. First and foremost, choose something you have genuine interest in studying. This subject will be something you immerse yourself in for four years. Don’t choose to major in electrical engineering if you hate math but you think it will impress a medical school admissions committee. Not only will you make it much harder to succeed in your coursework, but also you’ll make yourself absolutely miserable. The two things that will impress admissions committees are a great GPA and a great MCAT score. To bust the myth of biology and/or chemistry degrees: while some of you choosing to pursue medicine may have a genuine interest in studying biology and/or chemistry in depth, these two majors are not one-way tickets to medical school. So, don’t feel pressured to choose one of them as your major.
  2. Understand that there are specific prerequisite courses that medical schools require you take prior to beginning medical school. Though these are mostly consistent from school to school, you should check with each specific medical school you’re interested in to ensure you take what is necessary. If you choose a major other than biology, chemistry, etc., also remember that it is your responsibility to work those prereqs into your schedule. You’ll want to have the bulk of these prerequisites completed prior to sitting for the MCAT.
  3. Be prepared to explain why you chose your major. If you choose to major in theater and vocal performance, for example, yet you want to attend medical school, you should have strong reasons for why you chose this major and, of course, why you want to be a doctor. If you major in something rather atypical for pre-med students, interviewers at medical schools will almost always ask you about it. Don’t worry- they aren’t necessarily trying to grill you, they genuinely want to know you and your interests.

operation-afamerc-medschoolAs for me, I chose to pursue a degree in psychology. After taking one psychology class in high school, I became incredibly interested in studying psychology in depth. I believe that as a professional expected to treat humans, it’s absolutely imperative to somewhat understand their behaviors and motivations. I wholeheartedly believe that my degree in psychology will help me to become the best physician I can be.

Best of luck with all of your endeavors!

Please note that the comments of Dr. Golding and the others who post on this blog express their own opinion and not that of the University of Kentucky.