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Why did you choose your major?

I chose my primary major in psychology because of the boundless opportunities for psychology majors here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  As a psychology major, I value the importance of our mental health, and I have wanted to be a therapist since the beginning of my high school career. In addition, as a double minor in two cultural studies (Italian and Afro American Studies), I hope to bridge different aspects of culture and knowledge within therapeutic settings as a means to emphasize unity, understanding and identity in practice.

What are your classes like? Do you have any favorites?

A psychology major here at UMass Amherst has the potential to study various realms of psychology, be them social, cognitive, abnormal, behavioral, and more. When it comes to my classes, those realms I mentioned often surround the foundation of social psychology, and mental health therapy and counseling. Personally, my favorite psychology class I have taken here is a tie between Psych 380 (or Abnormal Psychology - which I also TA for at the moment!), and Psych 383 (Theory of Psychotherapy and Counseling), because both have a central focus of client-therapist interaction in and out of therapeutic settings. Furthermore, as an Afro American Studies and Italian minor, my classes in the humanities usually involve reading interesting historical documents, and having educated discussions afterwards. Personally, of these areas of study, my favorite class was definitely AfroAm 293C (Race, Sexuality, and Law in Early American History) because of its focus on intersectionality and identity in American history.

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What are the professors like?

The professors here are one word: fantastic. Why do I say a word so positively-charged and broad? Because it’s a perfect example of how the professors at UMass Amherst are both inspirational and well-versed in their field. Every professor I have had here has been so knowledgeable and kind. They understand that college is difficult, and they adhere to the needs of their students, all the while keeping classes engaging and intriguing!

How do you plan to use your degree? How have you prepared for this path?

After obtaining my degree, I hope to get some practice within the clinical field of psychology for a while, so I can obtain a base knowledge and understanding of therapeutic settings, clientele, organizations, and strategies. After a couple years living on my own and gathering more knowledge about positions in psychotherapy, I hope to enter grad school and obtain a master’s degree in couples and family therapy. I have prepared for this path by keeping a log of graduate programs I am interested in, and communicating with graduate student mentors here at UMass about the application process in regard to Masters/PhD programs.

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Any tips for incoming students within the major?

If I could give anyone a piece of advice, it would be to stop taking people’s advice. We are our own spokespeople! Follow your interests, what intrigues you, and what you enjoy. Also, if you’re interested, we have so much active psych research going on here - so start as soon as possible for an amazing experience.