View all articles in this issue
Psi Chi as Your Passport to Success
by Alvin Y. Wang, PhD, Psi Chi Society President
Categories: Presidents' Message
Psi Chi is now an international honor society,
but the passport I refer to in the title is not the
document that permits you to travel to other
countries. Rather, it is your gateway to even greater
academic and scholastic opportunities.
Your induction into Psi Chi is recognition of
exemplary achievement as a student scholar in
psychology. Including your membership in Psi Chi
on your resume and wearing Psi Chi’s graduation
regalia are highly visible means of showcasing
your success as a psychology student. However, I
hope to convince you there are many more ways
in which membership in Psi Chi can enhance your
opportunities and that you will consider Psi Chi as
more than just a resume builder or as a means for
accumulating academic “bling†at commencement.
Here is a list of some important ways in which Psi
Chi membership can enhance your success and
make you a psychology student of distinction:
» Become an active member. In other words,
attend events and take on a leadership role
in your Psi Chi chapter. Consider becoming
an offi cer or assume a leading role such as
committee chair for your chapter’s activities
such as fund-raising, guest speakers, socials, and
philanthropic events. By taking a prominent
role in your chapter, you will make yourself
known to other students and faculty within your
department. In so doing, you will be connecting
with like-minded people who are good at the
things they do. Th is can be a lot of fun and will
provide you with the opportunity to develop your
leadership skills.
» Apply for Psi Chi awards and grants. Each
year, Psi Chi sets aside over $300,000 to support
its student and faculty members. Receiving an
award or grant is one of the most important
ways in which you can distinguish yourself when
applying for jobs or graduate programs. Also,
these funds can be used to support your travel
to psychology conferences for presentations.
Many times undergraduates remark that they
do not apply for awards and grants because
they think their chances of winning are so
slim. However, while funding is competitive, a
high proportion of submissions are successful.
Don’t sell yourself short—instead, give yourself
a chance by applying. Moreover, if you have
completed research, why not publish your
fi ndings in the Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate
Research? I can’t think of a greater distinction for
an undergraduate, especially if you are thinking
about applying to a graduate program.
» Looking for a faculty mentor or research advisor?
Then mention you are a Psi Chi member when
introducing yourself to faculty. Approaching a
faculty member to be a research assistant can
be intimidating for some students. Here’s my
advice. When you show up for offi ce hours, bring
along your resume and introduce yourself as
a Psi Chi member. Your Psi Chi membership
will immediately impress the faculty member
and your resume will give you discussion topics.
And remember, a fi rm handshake and good
eye contact go along way in establishing your
credibility with faculty (or anyone for
that matter).
» Membership in Psi Chi is for a lifetime and this
serves as a reminder that we should all actively
engage in lifelong learning. I hope your passion
for psychology has nurtured your pursuit of
academic excellence as well as a sustained passion
for learning as a lifelong goal. With this in mind,
it is important to note that Psi Chi provides many
awards and grants to graduate students and
faculty chapter advisors on an annual basis.
I hope you are convinced that Psi Chi
membership is not just a reward, goal, or resume
builder. Instead, view your Psi Chi membership
as a passport to greater opportunities in psychology
and life.
The writer T.H. White—the author of The Once
and Future King—tells us that:
“The best thing . . . is to learn
something. That is the only thing
that never fails. Learn why the world
wags and what wags it. That is the
only thing which the mind can never
exhaust, never alienate, never fear or
distrust, and never dream of regretting.
Learning is the thing for you.â€