Neuroscience Program    Faculty    Students    Facilities    Curriculum    Research Handbook    Neuroscience Major    Psychology Deparment    Biology Deparment	Advice From Previous Neuroscience Students The week before graduation, senior neuroscience majors were asked, “What advice would you offer a first year student majoring in neuroscience?” The following is the advice offered. "I would tell the student to get as involved as possible in some type of research - EXCEL, LEARN, in dependent study. thesis, etc. As I have said, the lab experiences were most meaningful to me and they also help give a much greater appreciation for what the major can be used for after school." "Try to get as much out of the education as you can. Not just the academic part, but applying it and actively learning by internships or research, etc. " "To get involved in at least two clubs on campus. Stay active and engaged in your learning by participating." "Go into every class with an open mind and try to learn as much as you can. Don’t focus so much on the grades you receive, because in the long run it is the knowledge you obtain that is the most valuable reflection of your major. Also, don’t take things at face value as always being right. . . sometimes your professor is wrong, or a research article is wrong. Keep an open, yet critical mind when you approach any information. " "Definitely not to give up! It is not always easy and it is pretty easy to get discouraged sometimes with the tougher classes, but it is worth it in the end. " "Take Neurobiology EARLY! (sophomore year, if possible). And DEFINITELY take Philosophy of Mind—I thought that it was great to approach the mind from a non-scientific perspective. (But take Philosophy 101 first—that was a great course to get you thinking about the mind/brain from another disciplinary approach). Oh, and make sure you do research—that was also a great experience. A great way to take your coursework and apply it to investigations of your own design. " "Take Design and Analysis. " "Get into doing research, because you learn as much or more from working on a project as you do from classes. Also, make friends with the people in your major because you will be working with them consistently for the next four years. " "Pick electives that really interest you. " "Take intro bio and organic chem more seriously. " "The best advice I could give would be to take a variety of electives. Neuroscience can lead a person in various directions; there is not just one end point to the study of this field. By taking a variety of courses outside of the required ones, you can be sure you know what to do with this major. Also, for anyone thinking about graduate school, definitely take some molecular/cellular biology and get orgo done early!" "Take advantage of all of the experiences offered to you and try and work with a professor through an independent study or research. " "Get to know the professors in the different departments and they will be more willing to help you when the going gets tougher. Try an internship that involves neuroscience. Pat yourself on the back for declaring your major so early on. " "It is really not that hard, just put in the time and it will be lots of fun. " "Try to plan the classes that you’re going to take for the next four years all during the first year, leaving the opportunity to go abroad open. The way that the classes and pre-reqs are set up it is sometimes difficult to get into some classes. Having a rough idea of what classes you’ll be taking and when you’ll be taking them during the next four years will be helpful in planning schedules and your time at Lafayette." "Take orgo during a semester when you have a lighter than average class or work load. " "Pace yourself and get as involved as possible. " "Sometimes the courses are tough, but it is an extremely rewarding major! You get to sample courses from so many different areas and that keeps things interesting." "I would suggest that they get rid of all the basic courses first: such as chemistry/physics/biology as fast as possible, and then be able to concentrate on the really interesting classes. This would enable them to take courses that are not necessarily in the curriculum, but could be interesting, as well as work on an independent study, maybe a thesis, and/or work with a professor. Then it would give the student more of an opportunity to take advantage of what is offered on campus." "Talk to older students in the major and learn about different opportunities that are available." "Challenge yourself, go abroad, know that you may make mistakes, and most of all have fun - if it's not fun, its not worth it." "Just hang in there when the courses get tough. It pays off in the end. And don’t forget to use your brain (I had to throw a joke in there)."
	© Lafayette College - Easton, PA