Nadia Yeo, Psychology BSc

Nadia Yeo, Psychology BSc (2023)

1. Why did you decide to study your programme?

I have always been very intrigued by the human mind and behaviour. Some questions I frequently pondered about were “Does one’s childhood experiences affect their behaviour later in life?”, “Are there differences between the brain of someone with and without mental disorders?”, and “How do we remember, learn, and forget things?”. Psychology also constitutes a wide range of disciplines, including cognitive psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, sports psychology, and organisational psychology. This means that I was able to explore different fields before deciding to pursue a specific career path.

2. Why did you apply to study at UCL?

Studying psychology at UCL was an obvious decision for me. Some of the most influential psychological theories were discovered by UCL alumni and professors. Additionally, UCL is ranked #1 in the UK for psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience research power. Hence, students are exposed to cutting-edge research facilities and received guidance from world-renowned professors.

UCL being in the heart of London was also crucial to my decision. As an international student, the diversity and wealth of opportunities available in the city was very appealing.

3. What did you most enjoy about your degree?

I truly enjoyed the research opportunities I was given throughout my degree. Even as a fresher, we were tasked to conduct research studies and even engage with ongoing real-world research by faculty members. We formulated our own research questions, sought participants to collect data, analyse our findings, and independently wrote lab reports. We very quickly became familiar with and acquired essential skills like scientific communication and statistical analyses. Although it may seem intimidating at first (I know how scary coding can seem!), you will receive helpful guidance and supervision by professors. For instance, there are optional weekly coding clinic sessions that you can attend if you find yourself struggling with your assignments! I have also come to realise from my internships that these skills are extremely useful and highly sought after.

4. What are your plans once you’ve completed your current programme of study?

My passion for mental health and neuroscience led me to the field of clinical psychology. Upon graduating, I intend to work as an assistant psychologist to gain more experience before pursuing a postgraduate degree in clinical psychology.

As a clinical psychologist, I hope to not only diagnose and provide psychotherapy, but also conduct rigorous research to better understand, prevent, and treat mental disorders. Passionate about working with vulnerable groups of people, I would like to work in a public hospital to support people’s behavioural, emotional, and mental difficulties.

5. What would your advice be for current students?

I would advise current students to make the most of your time at UCL. 3 years of university will fly by very quickly and you will be graduating in a blink of an eye. Keeping this in mind was a constant reminder to myself to make sure I would not have any regrets while walking the stage during my graduation ceremony.

University is the perfect time for you to join a society to develop your interests, study abroad, intern, and more! However, it can become quite overwhelming when trying to do everything while ensuring good grades. Making a list of the things that mattered to me that I could refer to when making tough decisions was extremely useful. I was thus able to prioritise and focus on the important things. Importantly, remember to be compassionate with yourself as you are navigating university life. You will be doing a lot of things for the first time so it is inevitable that you will stumble and make mistakes. It might comfort you to know that this is a common experience, and you will learn and grow from them. You are doing your best and that is the most important thing!