Psychology Comps An overview for junior majors Kathie Galotti Comps Czar for February 19, 2008 An overview for junior majors Kathie Galotti Comps Czar for February 19, 2008

Get Ready….. Take 4 mid-level courses (200 level) Take Stats course and lab Take 2 lab courses Best if these are done before your senior year, though many students finish them during senior year Take 4 mid-level courses (200 level) Take Stats course and lab Take 2 lab courses Best if these are done before your senior year, though many students finish them during senior year

Get Set…. Spring Term of Junior Year Take 298 (3 credits) Review stats and research design Identify your main interests START DISCUSSIONS WITH POTENTIAL ADVISORS, especially if you want to pursue Thesis Comps Spring Term of Junior Year Take 298 (3 credits) Review stats and research design Identify your main interests START DISCUSSIONS WITH POTENTIAL ADVISORS, especially if you want to pursue Thesis Comps

Comps Tracks: 2 Choices Thesis Comps Year-long investment of time page paper Public presentation required Empirical projects OR Complex literature reviews Thesis Comps Year-long investment of time page paper Public presentation required Empirical projects OR Complex literature reviews

Comps Tracks: 2 Choices Essay/Exam Comps 10-page essay Faculty-written question or Your own question (with prior approval) Written during first two weeks of Winter Term Essay/Exam Comps 10-page essay Faculty-written question or Your own question (with prior approval) Written during first two weeks of Winter Term

Exam ETS constructed standardized achievement test Like the Psych GRE but not the same Two hours Usually administered on a Saturday, late in Winter Term Usually taken on-line ETS constructed standardized achievement test Like the Psych GRE but not the same Two hours Usually administered on a Saturday, late in Winter Term Usually taken on-line

BOTH Comps Tracks are eligible for DISTINCTION

GO!!! FALL TERM If Doing Thesis, Enroll in Psych 396 with your advisor (3 credits) (can enroll during Spring Registration) If Doing Essay/Exam, Decide if you want to write your own question or answer a faculty- written one If your own question, find an advisor and sign up for Psych 394 (1 credit) If answering a faculty written question, notify Comps Czar of your choices FALL TERM If Doing Thesis, Enroll in Psych 396 with your advisor (3 credits) (can enroll during Spring Registration) If Doing Essay/Exam, Decide if you want to write your own question or answer a faculty- written one If your own question, find an advisor and sign up for Psych 394 (1 credit) If answering a faculty written question, notify Comps Czar of your choices

Caveats Assignment of students to comps track is not automatic Advisors sometimes have to limit how many students they can take Advisors are most interested in working with highly self-motivated students, students who get an early start, and on projects for which they have relevant expertise Assignment of students to comps track is not automatic Advisors sometimes have to limit how many students they can take Advisors are most interested in working with highly self-motivated students, students who get an early start, and on projects for which they have relevant expertise

Caveats, continued Assignment of students to essay questions is also not guaranteed If you want to write your own question, move fast Decisions on which essay question you will write on are made EARLY in the fall term Assignment of students to essay questions is also not guaranteed If you want to write your own question, move fast Decisions on which essay question you will write on are made EARLY in the fall term

Still More Caveats Things generally work out There really is no need for panic Even if your first plan or choice doesn’t come through, most students end up pretty satisfied with their comps experience Beware the rumor mill--come ASK Things generally work out There really is no need for panic Even if your first plan or choice doesn’t come through, most students end up pretty satisfied with their comps experience Beware the rumor mill--come ASK

Winter Term Thesis comps: Be signed up for 6-credit independent study with your advisor, usually for a grade (number of credits is also negotiable) Essay exam students: Be signed up for Psych 400 (3 credits) with your advisor. Write essay (1st 2 weeks); Take exam (around 7th week) Thesis comps: Be signed up for 6-credit independent study with your advisor, usually for a grade (number of credits is also negotiable) Essay exam students: Be signed up for Psych 400 (3 credits) with your advisor. Write essay (1st 2 weeks); Take exam (around 7th week)

Caveat Dates are not set in stone; sometimes need to be adjusted. Comps Czar will inform you Communication with comps Czar is important! (Don’t automatically send her s to your junk folder) Dates are not set in stone; sometimes need to be adjusted. Comps Czar will inform you Communication with comps Czar is important! (Don’t automatically send her s to your junk folder)

Spring Term Essay/Exam students: You’re done! Thesis students: Be signed up for Psych 400 (3 credits) with your advisor for 2nd 5 weeks Get your winter term paper back in week 1 with extensive comments Revise your paper. Turn in 2 copies sometime in Week 3 Essay/Exam students: You’re done! Thesis students: Be signed up for Psych 400 (3 credits) with your advisor for 2nd 5 weeks Get your winter term paper back in week 1 with extensive comments Revise your paper. Turn in 2 copies sometime in Week 3

Public Presentations Required of Thesis students Optional (but encouraged) for Essay/Exam Students Give talk or poster at Super Friday (or, sometimes, at MUPC)--both in the Spring Term Required of Thesis students Optional (but encouraged) for Essay/Exam Students Give talk or poster at Super Friday (or, sometimes, at MUPC)--both in the Spring Term

Pass or Fail? Essay: 2 Readers (dept faculty) have to judge it pass Exam: Must score at or above 70th percentile of national norms Thesis: 2 Readers (dept faculty) have to judge it pass Presentation: Must do it in a competent fashion; otherwise not formally assessed Essay: 2 Readers (dept faculty) have to judge it pass Exam: Must score at or above 70th percentile of national norms Thesis: 2 Readers (dept faculty) have to judge it pass Presentation: Must do it in a competent fashion; otherwise not formally assessed

“What happens if I fail?” We expect this to happen RARELY If you fail the exam, get a second chance to take it spring term If you fail the essay or thesis, get a chance to revise it late spring term We expect this to happen RARELY If you fail the exam, get a second chance to take it spring term If you fail the essay or thesis, get a chance to revise it late spring term

Distinction? External panel of psychologists invited (one from each of our three areas: Bio/Behavioral, Cognitive/ Developmental, Everything Else Advisors (or 2nd readers) nominate papers--this info kept confidential Panel reads all nominated papers (Thesis and Essay), along with the criteria posted on the web site, and decides. External panel of psychologists invited (one from each of our three areas: Bio/Behavioral, Cognitive/ Developmental, Everything Else Advisors (or 2nd readers) nominate papers--this info kept confidential Panel reads all nominated papers (Thesis and Essay), along with the criteria posted on the web site, and decides.

Distinction? continued Distinction on exam: Must score at or above 90 percentile of national norms Distinction on comps and a minimum GPA in the major (3.50) needed for distinction in the major (only thing noted on transcript) Distinction on exam: Must score at or above 90 percentile of national norms Distinction on comps and a minimum GPA in the major (3.50) needed for distinction in the major (only thing noted on transcript)

Final Thoughts We WANT you to pass! We want this to be a meaningful, rigorous, important experience for you We want you to feel pride in completing this process We also take your feedback seriously We WANT you to pass! We want this to be a meaningful, rigorous, important experience for you We want you to feel pride in completing this process We also take your feedback seriously