Sandra Park gives us a glimpse into a day in the life of a brain and cognitive science major. Learn about the research Sandra does, and how a brain and cognitive science major spends their day going from classes, to labs, and to extracurriculars.
Hi, my name is Sandra. I am a senior studying brain and cognitive science, and I wanted to give a glimpse into a day in my life as a BCOG major. I am heavily involved in research, so if you are interested in the research route, here is what it can look like!
7:00 AM
I wake up to the sound of “Radial”. I usually press snooze a few times, and then finally get up at around 7:30 AM. I get ready for the day, fill my water bottle up, bring a snack, pack my lunch, and head out!
8:45 AM
I wait for the bus to take me to the Psychology Building, where I usually have my classes and labs.
9:15 AM
Lab meeting for the Vision Lab! We talk about ongoing projects, discuss any issues to look out for, and listen to different presentations given by graduate students, and more. I also present my research during these meetings.
11:00 AM
I head to PSYC 355, The Attentive Mind, taught by Dr. Simona Buetti (my PI!). We are currently learning about mindfulness and ways to improve mental and physical health. This class involves listening to lectures, working on group assignments, reading through different research papers, or working on lab assignments.
12:00 PM
Time for lunch. I will eat what I packed, or I will go on Green Street and pick from the numerous options there.
1:00 PM
I go to my other lab, the Brain and Cognitive Development Lab. I send out appointment reminders, schedule participants, and help run studies. We use EEG, electroencephalogram, and fNIRS, function near-infrared spectroscopy, and I support our lab’s researchers in carrying out studies.
3:30 PM
Break time! I take a short break to text, watch videos, or listen to podcasts.
5:00 PM
Dinner time! I will either cook something or meet up with friends and grab dinner together. I love to get Malatang or Bangkok Thai.
6:00 PM
I spend this time doing homework, studying, or working on research. I like to study at the Natural History Museum or the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. It is quiet, and Krannert has a cafe!
9:00 PM
I go to Gah Rahk Mah Dahng, GRMD, a traditional Korean percussion group. I play the Buk, and we are currently preparing to perform for AAA’s Fashion Show.
11:00 PM
I head home for the day and finally get to sleep! Long day, but a fun one!
I love my major because of how interdisciplinary it is. In my first two years in the major, I have been able to explore a wide range of classes and really figure out what I am interested in. From there, I was able to find what I wanted to do with the major. With everything I learned, whether it’s psychology, neuroscience, or statistics, I was able to apply everything, and especially to my research. I hope this shows you what a life of a student who does research in psychology is like!