Gus M.

Year: Junior
Major: Cognitive Science
Hometown: Schoharie, NY 

What activities are you involved with at Oswego?
I'm currently a member of the Oswego Outdoors Club and the Leadership Mentor Program which connects students one-on-one with a professor in their field or from the community.

Why did you choose Oswego?
At first, I was not sure if Oswego would be right for me, but once I actually came to visit the campus I saw how nice the students and staff were and I felt right at home. Guaranteed on campus housing, and allowing first year students to have cars was a big selling point for me too.

What is the best thing about your major?
I love every part of Cognitive Science. It really helps you notice things about everyday life that we all take for granted, and leaves you with a greater sense of understanding that can be extremely beneficial to the business world and beyond. Oswego has several classes available that specialize in cognitive and biological neuroscience and that was of particular interest to me

Generally speaking, what impact has the Oswego faculty had on you?
I have yet to have a bad experience with the faculty. Even at some of the most chaotic and confusing moments of orienting myself to campus, there was always a friendly faculty member to help me out.

Who is your favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor so far has been Dr. William Murphy. I had never really cared about history before taking Murphy's HIS-203 class. He has a very passionate way of relating the material to his students and every lecture is like watching a theater performance.

Describe your department's atmosphere and how it has enhanced your ability to learn.
I originally came in as an undeclared student and my advisor was beyond helpful in getting me through the declaration process. When I finally switched to Psychology, I found the staff and student advisors were surprisingly nice, and went out of their way to welcome me to the department.

What is the best thing about SUNY Oswego?
I love the perfect size of the student body and the unique resources available to us here, like the Compass. The best part, however, is the aesthetically pleasing campus. My first night here, my new soon-to-be-friends and I went down by the lake to have a bonfire. The next day we went hiking at the campus owned Rice Creek Field Station. There is so much to do here and I still haven't done it all.

Comment on how your Oswego experience has helped prepare you for a career.
I plan on working with soldiers suffering with PTSD, and Oswego's Psychology department has specialty classes dealing with trauma. Because of the smaller class sizes, I have had many opportunities to work one on one with my professors to really understand the material I am interested in.

What opportunities has Oswego given you that you never had before?

Oswego has really helped me branch out and meet new people. Coming from a small town, even a medium sized campus like Oswego has provided lots of fresh new personalities to come by. The Office of Learning Services and tutoring is there to help me with classes I struggle through, which is something I never even dreamed was possible when I was in high school.