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UC Choice

Keighley

13 October 2023

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Geography, and Spanish

HOW TO APPLY

What made you decide to pursue psychology at UC?

I was going to major in Geography and Spanish, and just took Psychology as an interesting paper. I realised that I actually really liked it! I decided to stay at UC for postgrad because I love the campus and love being at UC. It feels like home.

Was it easy to change your major?

With the Bachelor of Arts it鈥檚 so easy to switch around your majors, so I didn鈥檛 need to go back and take extra papers. I was able to major in Psychology and continue majoring in Spanish.

How are you finding your lecturers?

I鈥檓 constantly emailing my lecturers with questions, and they always have the most lovely and helpful responses. They make an effort to connect with students. They鈥檙e the most genuine, caring people and they emphasise putting your mental health first.

In what ways have your courses helped guide your future?

In my Psychology classes we have people coming in from the community, like the Eating Disorder Clinic, the DHB Anxiety area, Corrections. It鈥檚 so interesting to hear about their research and real-world experiences. They talk about jobs that I didn鈥檛 even know existed and it鈥檚 helped me pave how I want my future to look.

Tell us about the UC Bike club.

We run lots of mountain biking events, like trips to Mt Hutt and Queenstown or a bike-packing trip on the Paparoa Track. We also do weekly road and mountain rides, and a weekly girls鈥 ride, because riding with a bunch of guys, especially as a newbie, can be intimidating. We also do social events like the Tour de Rinse 鈥 a take on Tour de France where every flat has got a jump set up. It鈥檚 really cool; there's something for everyone.

I love the diversity of choice offered at UC. I was able to take Geography, Spanish, and Psychology papers. It鈥檚 always so interesting. I can learn about so many different things, but they鈥檙e all so interrelated.

You鈥檙e also involved as a mentor and tutor.

I鈥檓 a PALS mentor, which stands for Peer Assisted Learning Sessions. It鈥檚 run by students, and it鈥檚 a place for first year students in popular papers who might be struggling or want a place to study or get extra help. From there I got into tutoring for the CUP course, tutoring the transition students in Psychology. It鈥檚 nice to pass on what I鈥檝e learned and share my knowledge.

You did a summer internship with Oranga Tamariki in Wellington. What was that like?

I worked on a project that used spatial analysis to look at how far children move when they are placed into care. It was super interesting, and really showed me how I can use my Psychology and Geography skills together. I loved it.

How did you find that opportunity?

UC sent out an email about a seminar on the programme, and I decided to apply without thinking I'd get it. They had 500 applicants and only took about 30 interns. During the application process, a lecturer for the CUP course I tutor for helped me a lot 鈥 she's a superstar. She helped me with my CV, was my reference, and gave me lots of advice about being confident in myself.

Any words of advice for new students thinking about starting uni?

There鈥檚 a good whakatauk墨 that I love: t奴whitia te hopo, mairangatia te angit奴. The English translation is 鈥渇eel the fear and do it anyway鈥. That's something I really live by in my uni years. Just try everything, especially in your first year. Give anything you鈥檙e slightly interested in a go because there鈥檚 the flexibility to do that.

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