Senior Psychology Majors Discuss Plans after MU

Karen Kanyike

Three psychology majors already know their plans following graduation. Kailah Glock, a senior psychology major and communication studies minor from Brazil, Ind., senior Veronica Caudill, a psychology major with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational psychology from North Manchester, Ind., and Hannah Glenn, a senior psychology major and Spanish minor from Indianapolis, Ind., will be either going to graduate school or starting a new job.

Glock will commence her graduate studies at Ball State University in August 2016. She is planning to get her PhD in counseling psychology. “I’ve known that I wanted to go straight into graduate school before I even came to Manchester,” she said. “For me, it is important to keep my academic momentum going.” She also talked about how Manchester has prepared her for graduate school. “I had lots of research experience in the department, and for the honors program,” she said. “Manchester’s focus on diversity also helped set me apart.”

Caudill also talked about her plans to pursue further studies after Manchester. “So far, I’ve been accepted to the University of New Haven in Connecticut,” she said. She has applied to other schools as well and is still not sure where she will be going. She is planning to study industrial–organizational psychology once she settles on a school. “Manchester has prepared me for graduate school more than any other school I could have attended,” she said. “I have been involved in research projects and have had assistance every step of the way. Our senior seminar class for psychology majors really helps with preparing for graduate school.”

Glenn has been accepted to the Community Counseling MA program at Loyola University Chicago and is still waiting to hear back from two schools any time soon. “I want to go into clinical community psychology and study the effects of mental illness on inner-city youth,” she said. She also commented on how Manchester has prepared her for this next big step in her life. “The way Manchester functions is very similar to graduate level cohorts with the close relationships that are developed and the conversations those relationships foster,” she said. She has also done a lot of research and presented at numerous conferences.

Glock aspires to work in private practice as a therapist while Caudill would like to work in Human Resources once she earns her master’s degree. “I’m interested in employee selection, so possibly using psychological tests to select job candidates,” Caudill said.

Glenn is interested in earning a PhD and having a career in research. “I would love work at the National Institute of Mental Health, speak at conferences on a regular basis, publish articles and books, and make a difference in people's lives,” she said.

Glenn will begin right away because she has been offered a job as a research analyst at Vanderbilt University and will be working the cognitive-neuroscience lab which she terms as “one of the nation’s most elite cognitive labs.” She also adds: “Despite my acceptance to graduate school and the two programs I haven’t heard from yet, I’ve decided to take a year or two off. I will be very immersed in the research that comes out of the lab and I felt like it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up!”

The three psychology majors also talked about the co-curricular activities they engaged in at Manchester. All three have been involved with the psychological society and Psi Chi. “My first year I actually signed up for every club at the activities fair,” Glock said. “I’ve been most involved with psychological society and Psi Chi as an e-board member for both clubs.” 

Glenn has also participated in a number of activities. “I have been a member of Manchester Activities Council, the Psychological Society President, the Vice President of Psi Chi, a Spartan CHOICES Peer Educator [and] a member of Student's Today, Alumni Tomorrow,” she said. She sings in the A Cappella Choir and has worked as a Student Orientation Leader and was a Phonathon caller as a first-year and sophomore.

Apart from thinking about where they want to go and what they want to do, Glock and Caudill are also thinking about how they are going to finance their education, a major factor that is considered by students pursuing higher education. “I received a guaranteed assistantship for all five years, and with that I will get a full tuition waiver plus a stipend,” Glock said.

Caudill has slightly different plans for financing her education. “I’m hoping to get an assistantship wherever I go and I will probably have to take out loans,” she said.

Glock, Caudill and Glenn were of the view that their time at Manchester has been wonderful and exciting. “My most memorable moments at Manchester have been going on Jan term trips and experiencing things I couldn’t have anywhere else,” Caudill said. “I think that these trips really set Manchester apart from other universities.” 

Glock also talked about her memorable moments at Manchester. “Spending time with people on campus has been the best part of being at Manchester,” she said. “There is an amazing sense of community, belonging, and acceptance here that I know I will miss when I start at a larger university next year.” 

Glenn also thinks fondly of her Manchester experience. “Some of my most memorable moments of my time at Manchester have been on the two Jan-term trips I took to Spain and Hawaii and presenting research at the Society for Neuroscience, Indiana Psychological Association, Butler Undergraduate Research Conference, and the Student Research Symposium on campus,” she said.