organizations

Don't get in the habit of going to your classes and going home. Graduate schools are competitive so getting involved at school and in the field is a great way to shine on your applications and resumes. Here are some ways to get involved:

Peer Mentors: Peer Mentors hold office hours in H-515 and also do various outreach activities on campus. We help guide you through classes, how to seek advisement, proofread papers, help with homework and so much more. If you'd like to become a Psychology Peer Mentor, check out the FAQ page.

Psi Chi: The National Honor Society in Psychology - To be admitted into Psi Chi, a student must have completed nine semester units of psychology, have declared a psychology major or minor and have a 3.2 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in psychology. Graduate students must have a GPA of 3.5 or better in all graduate courses. Psi Chi hosts several evening discussions, workshops, film sessions and various social events and scholarships for members. Please check Psi Chi bulletin boards on the 5th and 6th floors or their website for upcoming events http://psych.fullerton.edu/psichi/

PDSA: Psychology Department Student Association - Every psychology member is automatically a member of PDSA. Meetings are held bimonthly and the organization sponsors speakers and other discussions of interest to students. These meetings keep you informed of what is going on in the Psychology Department and allow you to express your opinions. Besides sponsoring speakers and panel discussions, PDSA raises funds for various prokects, such as sending students to the Western Psychological Association conferances.

APSSC: Association for Psychological Science Student Caucus - Comprises student affiliates of Association for Psychological Science (APS). Membership is open to all students joining APS (information on APS available at any APSSC meeting). The primary purpose of the organization is to preserve the scientific base of psychology through the promotion of research-oriented activites

Participate in Research - Independent research/study (PSYC 498 Directed Empirical Research, and PSYC 499 Directed Library Research is a great way to get first-hand experience in some area in Psychology and to work closely with a faculty member who has experience in that area (later on these faculty members often write letters of recommendation for graduate school or jobs). If you want to enroll in an independent study, you should contact the factulty member with whom you desire to work to ask permission several weeks before you register for the units. Read over a description of faculty research interests and on-going faculty research projects that are kept in a notebook in the the Peer Mentors Office (H-515) and the Psychology Department Office (H-830M).