When it came to picking a college, Lily Galenski’s guidance counselor suggested Farmingdale State College, telling her it was local, up-and-coming, and people who graduated from there were doing well for themselves.
“I felt that could be me,” said Galenski, now an FSC senior from Seaford, majoring in applied psychology.
Looking back, Galenski said she made the right choice. “I just love the program here,” Galenski said. “The advisors were great, helping me to graduate early, and making sure I kept my Excelsior Scholarship.”
Galenski long had an interest in psychology; she was always the “advice friend,” the one friends relied on to help sort things out. So Galenski decided to take an introductory psychology course her freshman year at FSC and was hooked. “I fell in love after the intro course,” she said. “Now I’m really passionate about it.”
Her passion is driving her to pursue a master’s degree in social work after graduation, with the goal of becoming an elementary-school social worker.
The hands-on work FSC requires for applied psychology majors—and all majors-- differs from the programs of friends studying psychology at other colleges. “They don’t have the same experience,” Galenski noted, adding that some are finding it harder to qualify for jobs and advanced degrees.
FSC applied psychology majors are required to do two 90-hour internships involving applied learning their senior year; Galenski also had to do a 10-hour applied learning activity for credit. She spent 10 hours tutoring a fifth-grade student and her first 90-hour internship working at a daycare/preschool, activities that popped on her graduate-school application. “I’m sure that experience helped me get into grad school,” she said.
“I definitely would recommend the psychology department,” Galenski added. “If it’s not applied (learning), you don’t have the same experience.”
