As students have been submitting applications for graduate school, one question that I've been asked many times over is: "Should I waive my right to read the letters of recommendation on my behalf?"

Most of you are familiar with the light-side of science; designing empirical experiments, discovering new information, presenting data and crafting theories. But that is only half of the picture. The often ignored dark-side of science; correcting flawed experiments, criticizing inappropriate data analysis, and tearing down the ideas of fellow scientists. Yes, the peer-review process is a harsh mistress but is equally important to the scientific process (some might argue more so) as its light-sided counterparts. As such, developing a thick-skin to the criticism of others, is a vital step for any developing scientist.

First time authors of a Curriculum Vitae (CV or Vita) can easily be intimidated by the task. If you've never created a resume' (or even if you have) knowing what to write, and how to write, and even in which order to write your vita is a challenge. Hopefully this blog-post can point you in the right direction and by the time you submit your graduate school applications you can have a polished looking vita. Or if you are already in graduate school, dig out the vita you sent with your application and update it with all you've been doing; someday you'll be applying for post-doctoral fellowships or faculty positions and you'll want your vita to look its best.

A minor in a related area can be a great addition to your education if it is well planned. As APS Preseident John T. Cacloppo wrote in September of last year, "Psychology is a Hub Science." This means that psychology as a field integrates with a lot of other scientific disciplines. An academic background in these synergistic fields can make a huge difference in your graduate school applications (and thus your career as a research scientist). Adding in a second field of study is something that ideally would happen early in your academic career, however it is a rare thing to meet a college Freshman that won't change her major at least once during her college career.  Peter Vogt, a MonsterTRAK Career Coach, claims that 60% of college students will change their majors at least once before graduating. So what are some useful disciplines to tack on to a psychology major?

You've just finished your Junior year as a psychology major and you want to know what to do next. Get a Job? Go to grad school? Add another major or minor? Which is right for you?