Three Alumni Return for Successful Hybrid Psychology Graduate Panel
Lebanon, IL (02/24/2022) — On Friday, Feb. 18, Dr. Michael Hahn, assistant professor of psychology at McKendree University, invited three recent McKendree graduates and current graduate students to participate in a hybrid psychology graduate panel event. The panel consisted of Craig Tompkins '21, Raina Isaacs '19 and Rebecca Chicosky '20. The entire campus was invited to view the panel, learn from the graduate students' experiences and ask questions about the graduate school application process, expectations in graduate school, general advice and more.
The three former Bearcats shared their experiences and expertise with Dr. Hahn's class, including the biggest differences between being an undergraduate and a graduate student, which was hands-down the increase in responsibilities. "You have to wear a lot of different hats and also juggle a lot of different plates. Sometimes they'll fall, and that's okay - just pick them back up," said Rebecca. Raina highlighted some of the additional responsibilities graduate students have, including assisting with teaching, working in a lab, taking coursework and more, stressing the need for balance. Craig echoed the sentiment, adding, "From a counseling perspective, the biggest difference is the practice of knowledge instead of just coming to class and talking about it. It's more like training to do a job, and it's a lot more fun."
When it came to giving their undergraduate selves a word of advice, the three overall focused on becoming organized early. "Get a planner. It's life-changing!" said Craig. Rebecca added that students should learn how to properly read journals, especially if they're considering working in academia. "Get the big picture and then narrow it down," she said. Meanwhile, Raina stressed the idea of flexibility, saying, "You don't have to go to graduate school right after your undergrad. You can always go back! Definitely have a backup plan and know that it's okay if it doesn't work out. You'll get in eventually."
The trio also gave advice on how to prepare for the graduate record examination (GRE), how and when to apply to schools, tips and tricks to balancing the graduate school life and more.