Major: Cognitive Science, Language Track
Minor:
Year: May 2018
How did you decide on your major?
I was initially contemplating Linguistics or Computer Science but a friend of mine told me about this new major being approved that might incorporate my favorite aspects of both those fields. Once I explored the RUCCS site and perused the work of some of the faculty I decided to take some of the classes and found my new home.
What is it about your chosen field (and the department) that appeals to you?
I like the interdisciplinary nature of the classes within this department and the research opportunities offered. All the professors seem excited about working in their diverse specialties and their passion definitely spills over to the classroom making students eager to get involved. The growth of this field is what appeals to me the most. I feel that Cognitive Science will be at the center of some of the most fundamental problems our population will have to face in the coming years of scientific and societal advancement.
Do you have a favorite class/professor within your major?
I enjoy all my classes but my favorite, if I had to choose one, would be Cognition and Decision Making with Dr. Rigdon. We learn a lot of dynamic concepts from Behavioral Economics that have interesting applications to the everyday world around us. Not only that, but we also do experiments live in class to generate our own data and check the robustness of the theoretical models we are currently studying. The class discussions are thought-provoking and the entire class gets involved. Its informative and fun to see the science behind the choices we make.
What are your favorite academic experiences outside of your major?
Outside of the classroom my favorite activity has been serving as the Community Service Chairman for the Cognitive Science Club. Meeting with a group of likeminded students, discussing cool topics relating our major to popular culture or current events, and coordinating community service is extremely fulfilling. I'm excited to see the club continue to grow and be a space where students can come to learn and meet new people.
What are your other Rutgers activities?
I like to play intramural sports like soccer and flag football with my friends on the Werblin fields. I also DJ for university functions like the football games, Rutgers Day, and OFSA events.
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation I would like to use my degree to get a job doing User Experience Research. This is a field I think would utilize my creative and analytical skills. The principles of Cognitive Science would align perfectly with this type of role.
