SURE Student CommentsPatricia Moreno "The SURE program is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with research during the Summer and the included stipend conveniently covers your costs so that you can focus on gaining valuable experience. If graduate school is in your future, you cannot lose with this program!" Carlos Vargas "The SURE internship program is a great opportunity for students to learn more about the field of psychology and your future should you choose to continue on it. During the summer I had the opportunity to work in different labs with exceptional professors, graduate students and others that gave me a clear understanding of my future career options. Any student that plans to continue on a psychology degree should grab opportunities such as this one, it gives you experience and it helps you in the choices and challenges lying ahead. Great summer and a very unique experience." Melissa Flores A Door of Opportunity..."The SURE program was a door of opportunity into the research world. Not only did I learn copious amounts of information about the subject I wanted to research (clinical/community psych). I was able to make strong connections within the department at UT and in the outside world. I felt that everyday at work I had a purpose, whether it was meeting with graduate students in the clinical program or contributing to research being done. I was able to get experience doing a broad range of tasks including: project development, running participants, literature searches, and even working on manuscripts. I have truly enjoyed this worthwhile experience, and I now feel so much more prepared for graduate school." Ricardo Santos “Being part of the SURE program has made me understand what it takes and what you need to get into graduate school. Weekly meetings in which professors told us all about the application process like what to do and what to avoid helped me realize what I was suppose to do while applying to graduate school. A personal mentorship plan in which a graduate student matched with your own study interests shared their own experience in applying, getting into a good program, talk about general graduate life and help with any doubts concerning any aspect of graduate school is also part of the program. This helped me really understand what graduate school is like and what is expected from each student. Working in various laboratories was a very satisfying experience as I was running participants, entering data and analyzing it as well. All this was very closely supervised by graduate students and faculty members. I believe this has helped me enormously in understanding what my long term goals are and how to pursue them.” Tonantzin Juarez "Participating in the SURE program was one of the best decisions I could have made. It not only allowed me to network with graduate students and professors but it also gave me a first hand experience as to how graduate school operates. I got to see different kinds of labs and research projects which made me realize that I want to pursue my Ph. D in Psychology. Our weekly meetings with professors and speakers from the various fields and departments were very helpful in guiding my decision to pursue a doctorate in the Social Psychology field of Psychology. They were also very helpful in guiding us through the Graduate School application process. Additionally everybody from professors, faculty and even graduate students were open in answering questions we had and even eager to listen to our research ideas." Patrice Durden "I gained valuable experience and insight into the field of psychology that I know will help me make an informed decision about how I plan to use my psychology degree."
Living the life of a researcher..."Through the SURE program I was able to see research outside of the textbook - To give an analogy, it is the difference between reading about how to perform a surgery and actually cutting skin and tissue. Before SURE I did not know the logistics involved in creating and conducting a study or if I was going to like research. I also did not know the unconventional lifestyles of grad students and research psychologists. In SURE, I had the opportunity to live the life of a researcher. I contributed ideas in lab meetings, conduct experiments alongside grad students, analyzed data, and partook in the monotonous but necessary (and at times interesting) component of research - data entry. Additionally, the weekly speakers gave us insight on the variety of research, programs, and careers available in psychology. By interning with SURE, I have gained invaluable knowledge, exposure, and skills and with this foundation I can better identify my interests and be more confident in the direction I will take in the future." More comments from students:“The main thing that I got out of this experiences is that it has shown me that I enjoy research more that I thought I would. I am also now more aware of my options and what each profession is about and what it takes to get there. I feel that I am more capable of making a smart decision for myself. Overall, this was an incredible experience!!” “I have learned so much about the research process including all the important steps that it takes to simply begin a research project. I also feel so much more knowledgeable about the process of entering graduate school and what may await me when I get there.” “Overall this program was a great experience for me. It helped me to formulate relationships with people who are willing to help me, gain insight into the multifaceted discipline of psychology, and perform some research.” “With this experience, I am convinced that pursuing Behavioral Neuroscience is for me and I would gladly apply to the Delville lab here at the University of Texas.” |
Working with actual participants to conduct authentic research was a blast...
"I will never forget my time spent in the SURE program. It has by far been one of the best summers I have experienced. I was able to meet tons of amazing people and gain an immense amount of information about graduate school programs in psychology. Working with actual participants to conduct authentic research was a blast and an invaluable experience for anyone considering a future in research. The vast amount of knowledge that I was able to soak up while in this program will for sure put me at a great advantage - not only for applying to graduate school, but also for succeeding in any future endeavors I may plan to pursue. All in all, it was an amazing experience and I highly recommend this program to anyone considering a future in any field of psychology." A great learning experience...Sally Rochel
More than just an ordinary research assistant...
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Return to Program DescriptionUpdated 19 August 2008
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Sonya Crocker
Estelle Anuwe
"Being part of the SURE program was a great learning experience, I will definitely do it all over again! It allowed me to enhance my knowledge about various graduate programs, and the application process. The guidance and support that the professors, mentors, and other graduate students give you is very valuable and helpful. I was able to get direct research experience and develop my own research project. I also had the opportunity to interact and learn from professionals from diverse areas within the field of psychology. Before the program I was not sure about what I wanted to do, but this truly helped me define my interests and be more confident about the path I want to take. "
Tracie Pulido
Toni Wilson