Elise Belcher

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Major & Minor
Major: Psychology
Minor: Leadership Studies and Practices

Hometown
Spring Hill, KS

What made you choose your science major at Arizona? 

I have always had a deep interest in human behavior and wanted to expand my understanding in my undergraduate career. A degree in psychology offered me a place to explore this curiosity while providing me with a variety of career opportunities. I chose the U of A because many faculty members are working on exciting research and offer undergraduates opportunities to get involved in these projects. 

Do professors actually teach, or are most classes taught by TAs? 

A majority of my classes have been taught by faculty members, with only a couple being taught by doctoral students/TAs.

How easy is it to get help if you’re struggling in a science class? 

There are opportunities to get help everywhere! Every member of the teaching team holds office hours in each class, and if these times do not work with your schedule, you can receive free class help through the Think Tank. I frequently stopped by  Think Tank sessions for help on Spanish assignments.

When can students start doing research (freshman year or later)? 

You can get started the minute you step on campus, your freshman year!

How did you get involved in research or labs? 

My first lab was the second semester of my freshman year. I worked in a Human-Animal Interaction lab through the College of Veterinary Science and received class credit for my time. 

Are research opportunities competitive or fairly accessible? 

Finding a research opportunity is very accessible for the majority of students. Most professors who conduct research are very open to having an undergraduate student help with data collection or coding. You can apply for these positions or cold email a professor you are interested in working with. Paid positions and some specific lab positions are more competitive and harder to come by. I would suggest getting your foot in the door at an unpaid lab early on, as you can be more competitive when applying to selective positions.

Do students get paid for research or is it mostly for credit? 

Typically, you will start out in an unpaid position and receive research credit. This is not always the case, as some professors can receive additional grant funding to pay research assistants. After working for credits, some labs offer a pathway to pay (like working for one year unpaid before being offered pay). From my experience, unpaid lab work ultimately landed me my current paid position, as prior research experience was a prerequisite. Another caveat is that you will typically be paid for assisting with the lab's research, not for the work you do on independent projects. This varies by student and research area. For example, received only one semester of funding for an independent project, compared to the six unpaid semesters I have spent doing independent research.

What does a typical week look like for a science major? 

My weeks are a nice mixture of structured class times and meetings, as well as unstructured work time. In my first few years, most of my day was spent in classes, as I had to complete my prerequisites before moving on to electives. Now that I am in my electives, I have a lot of freedom in choosing my schedule. For example, this semester I only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The rest of my week I fill with my research (which I do from home on my own schedule), assisting with research projects, serving as a TA, and, currently, applying to graduate schools.  

How much time do you actually spend studying? 

I definitely spent more time studying my first two years, but my class schedule has lightened up recently. I typically spend about 2-3 hours outside of class working on assignments or studying per credit hour I take. Since this is my last semester, I have only 6 credit hours and spend about 14 hours outside of class on homework, readings, and other assignments.

What’s the hardest science class you’ve taken—and why? 

The hardest class that I have taken was the introductory neuroscience class that is required by my major. My research interests are in the social realm, so this area felt very foreign to me. In this class, I spent a lot of time reviewing materials before and after class and attending office hours to ensure I was on the right track. 

What do you wish you had known before coming here?

This may be a little niche for my career interests, but I wish someone had told me the heavy amount of statistics I would be encountering in research. If I could go back to the beginning of my undergrad, knowing I am applying to graduate school, I would get a minor in statistics and data science. Having the ability and confidence to handle a set of data will make you a more competitive candidate in grad school applications.

What clubs and/or organizations are you involved with? 

I have been involved in numerous campus organizations throughout my four years at the university. During my freshman year, I interned at the Women and Gender Resource Center and served as an Arizona Ambassador and tour guide. Currently, I am an ambassador for the College of Science and the President of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society.

What are your future plans after graduation?

Currently, I am in the interview phase of my graduate school application process. I have applied to many PhD programs in Organizational Behavior and have had two interviews so far. I will have an official decision about my next phase in April! After my graduate studies, I hope to follow the academic path and eventually become a professor in Organizational Behavior/Management.