Senior Psychology (BS) - Human Services major Allie Cairelli transferred to Appalachian State University as a sophomore in 2013.
“Appalachian was not only incredibly helpful throughout the transfer process, but always warm and welcoming,” Cairelli said. “I already felt like I was at home and I hadn’t even been accepted yet.”
After her acceptance to Appalachian, Cairelli chose to pursue a degree in psychology with the help of Appalachian’s Career Exploration Office, a resource for students who need help choosing what major fits them best.
She realized that she enjoyed learning about every aspect of psychology and that she wanted to become a counselor after graduation.
The Department of Psychology faculty have helped her prepare for these post-graduations plans, Cairelli said. Faculty are there to answer questions, share their experience as counselors and mentor and advise students.
Cairelli has participated in multiple research opportunities with psychology faculty, including small social experiments for her social psychology class and a pilot study for an honors course.
By participating in research and working with experiment participants, Cairelli said her eyes were opened to the level of work and responsibility that psychologists as researchers face.
“It’s made me more excited to learn and try new things, and to answer questions in a more efficient way,” Cairelli said.
Cairelli is gaining a global perspective fall 2015 semester while she studies psychology at Keele University in the United Kingdom, the department’s signature study abroad opportunity. The best part, thus far, has been the opportunity to meet other students and work with the department’s study-abroad faculty supervisor, Dr. Will Canu.
Allie Cairelli plans to use her psychology degree to become a counselor.