This is a blog written by Dave Sobel, Professor of Cognitive Science and Psychology in the Cognitive and Psychological Sciences Department at Brown University.
The goal of this blog is to talk about advising matters that are not obvious.
The content of this blog represents Prof. Sobel's opinion and are not the official opinions of the CPSY Department.
Please note also that this blog was started in October 2023, and continues to be a work in progress. Prof. Sobel is on sabbatical in Fall 2025. He is taking a hiatus from writing this blog from July-December 2025, other than to update the job listings.
Jobs for Graduating Seniors
Entry 34: Follow up on Entry 20 - a list of jobs one could apply (for graduating seniors). <--- Possibly the most important entry on this blog for graduating seniors who want a job.
Important for Spring 2025 and Beyond: New Concentration Requirements
Entry 45: Introduction to the New Requirements (Read this one first - Especially if you are in the Class of 2027)
Entry 46: New Requirements for Psychology
Entry 47: New Requirements for Cognitive Science
Entry 48: New Requirements for Cognitive Neuroscience
Entry 49: New Requirements for Behavioral Decision Sciences
Entry 50: Outstanding advising issues related to new concentration requirements
General Advising Matters for the Cognitive and Psychological Sciences Department at Brown University
Entry 1: Basic Issues in CPSY Advising and Introduction to the Blog.
Entry 4: What's the difference among the concentrations in CPSY?
Entry 19: Planning out your concentration
Entry 24: An important post to read if you are a concentrator in Semester 7
Entry 25: The only advise I have about applying to Brown (for seniors in high school).
Entry 28: The Brown Academic Code
Entry 29: The Academic Code (Part 2)
Entry 31: Taking courses S/NC at Brown
Entry 33: How long does it take for a professor to respond to an email?
Entry 37: What happens if my concentration advisor changes?
Entry 40: Advise before going on study abroad (or any transfer credits from another University)
Entry 42: On advising over the summer
Entry 43: Happy Start of the Fall Semester (Fall 2024)
Entry 44: Question Space for advising issues (Fall 2024)
Entry 52: Taking courses S/NC (Part 2)
Entry 53: Discovering Cognitive and Psychological Sciences late in your education
Entry 55: Popular Books in Psychology and Cognitive Science
Advising Matters about Graduate School in Psychology, Cognitive Science, or a related Discipline
Entry 22: Should I take a gap year?
Entry 2: Choosing among types of clinical graduate programs.
Entry 5: What's the NSF GRFP and why is it important for graduate school?
Entry 7: Should I take the GREs (Part 1)?
Entry 8: Should I take the GREs (Part 2)?
Entry 9: An organization that helps with personal statements
Entry 12: What not to do when writing a CV.
Entry 16: Writing a Personal Statement
Entry 26: Concerns in Personal Statements
Entry 17: Letters of Recommendation
Entry 18: Should I use AI for my graduate school applications?
Entry 21: What happens after I submit my application?
Entry 23: What to expect on an interview.
Entry 36: Choosing a graduate program after admission
Entry 54: What should I do after I get into graduate school (that is, when you arrive in the Fall)
Advising Matters about Research Opportunities at Brown and Beyond
Entry 30: Labs in the department and research opportunities as an undergraduate at Brown.
Entry 10: More information about REU-Sites
Entry 35: More about Research Jobs and wanting to take one before graduate school
Entry 39: A new(ish) research opportunity from APA. <---Super important for Juniors.
Entry 51: Another new opportunity for sophomore and juniors looking for summer research (updated November 2024)
Advising Matters about Random Things on Prof. Sobel's Mind