Vicky Yu | B.S. Psychology 2024
Minor: Spanish | Concentration: Business
Post-Graduation Plans: Ph.D.
Starting my day around 9:30am, I get ready for my 11am class. I prefer walking to class if I have a couple extra minutes to spare – it gives me a chance to get my steps in, take in the beautiful Atlanta greenery and fresh air, and run into friends along the way. While my current coursework leans heavily towards business classes to fulfill my business concentration, my previous semesters scoped psychology, Spanish, and general core classes. After class, I run to my apartment for a quick lunch and my midday matcha latte – a staple in my day-to-day.
Then I rush over to the CODA building by 1:30pm, where I conduct research at the Child Study Lab (CSL). I immerse myself in hands-on experiences, from interacting with human participants to diving into data analysis, as well as serving as a mentor to new research assistants. Although it was not initially a part of my career plans, the past 3 years I have spent at CSL helped me realize that my passion lies in hands-on research. Although I once was planning on working in HR, I am now working towards obtaining my doctorate and continuing a career in psychology research. Once research ends at 5:30pm, I juggle additional responsibilities, like my current pursuit of admission into Tech’s 5-year BS/MS Program in Psychology. I hope to continue the research I started at CSL by enrolling in the BS/MS Program and following that with applying to PhD programs.
Beyond academia, I prioritize meeting friends through shared meals, study sessions, and impromptu campus adventures. Evenings start at 7pm and are dedicated to either homework, social activities, such as organization events, or extracurricular pursuits, such as rehearsing for DramaTech’s musical. Even with my busy schedule, I try to make time for a quick workout before dinner. By midnight, I finish washing up and head to bed!
Mari Madera | B.S. Psychology 2024
Minor: Computer Science
Post-Graduation Plans: Industry in Engineering Psychology
I typically wake up around 7:30 a.m., which sounds early when I think back to freshmen year, but I like to give myself about an hour every morning to do something I enjoy like reading a fantasy novel or working on a craft or digital design project. I then get ready for the day and catch up on emails and messages from work, professors, group projects, and clubs. I make sure to check my calendar and get a good idea of what I have going on today and tomorrow.
Currently my week is neatly split between professional and academic pursuits. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I immerse myself in my role as a Learning Management System Intern, which I acquired through a recruiting program the School of Psychology hosted. My job aligns with my interest in Engineering Psychology, and I'm tasked with enhancing the user experience which I do by creating job aids, researching and implementing system features, and redesigning digital sites/workspaces. This work not only offers me invaluable practical experience but also grants me the creative freedom to innovate and improve the systems that support the company's global workforce.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to classes at Tech, where the curriculum in both my psychology and computer science classes are deeply intertwined with research. Professors will often discuss their research and applications to help explain a topic and if it interests you there's a good chance you can join their research lab and gain real-world experience. GT has been great as someone who wasn't sure what field of psychology they wanted pursue. By taking the introductory courses for each branch of psychology and working for or participating in research within various research labs, I was able to find the field of Engineering Psychology, (which is all about optimizing systems/technology for human use) and take several upper-level courses focusing on the field such as HCI and Human Factors Research Methods.
Between or after classes I will typically meet up with friends for lunch or a fun break in our busy schedules. In the evening, I'll attend a general meeting for Psychology Association or for the Human Factors and Ergonomics society, both of which provide me with a sense of community and are great ways to learn about what is going on with your peers or in your field of interest. Of course, during breaks and at night I'll work on homework, read for class, and study.
