The campus is sort of separated, so you have to make a little effort to get out. Sometimes, I’ll go into New York for a concert or something. I’ve also made a lot of friends and friends of friends who live in White Plains, and we’ll do dinner.

A CHANGE OF PACE HAS ITS ADVANTAGES

I came to Purchase as a psychology major, and I did an internship in a White Plains hospital. I had a great time, but the pace in a hospital seemed too slow to me. I wanted a faster-paced environment, so I added a second major in economics.

Actually, Purchase makes it pretty easy to change your major, especially if you’re in the liberal arts and sciences. Of course, there’s always the “Purchase shuffle,” where they send you from office to office; but at least with the new Student Services building, you won’t get wet if it’s raining.

My major’s very unconventional—economics and psychology. I’m still trying to work out the mix, but I think I want to go into some area of management and finance. My senior project will have something to do with cognitive psychology—which deals with why people make the decisions they make—and how that relates to their general market behavior.

LEARN BY EXPLORING

To tell the truth, I came here planning to transfer for my second semester, but then things just started to click. Part of it was meeting more people and getting involved in things on campus. And part of it was doing some research and realizing that they have a really good experimental psychology program here.

In my first year, I was part of a Natural Sciences Learning Community. About half the guys in my suite and some of the girls at the other end of our hall were taking classes together. It was cool because I really got to know some of the other people in my hardest class.

I’ll tell freshmen “Don’t do what I did!” Which was to stay in my room and study my whole first semester. Read the bulletin boards; get out and do things. Talk to people. I never did anything until my second semester, and I didn’t start having fun until I got involved. I kind of like it that there is such a mix of people here.

IT’S ABOUT THE AVENUES

Purchase has really given me a chance to grow and explore. I’ve already had three internships and five different jobs on campus.

I’ve learned a lot, both in and outside of class, and I’ve been able to explore every avenue I’ve ever wanted to.

Presentation: The Effects of Positive and Negative Feedback on Short Term Memory Scanning (Powerpoint)

Research Paper: The Great Shakedown: The Socioeconomic Transition of Puerto Rico (Powerpoint)