Frequently Asked Questions from Prospective Students
Compiled by Professor Orcutt's graduate students
What is Professor Orcutt's mentoring style and what is it like working with her?
Professor Orcutt always seems to have our individual goals in mind and makes her graduate students a priority. She always makes herself available if you need to meet with her about your thesis, dissertation or a side project. She encourages students to generate their own ideas regarding thesis and dissertation topics, though she certainly guides students in the right direction in terms of project feasibility. Professor Orcutt is timely with feedback and responses to questions, which is very helpful in a busy grad school environment. Overall, she is highly supportive, helpful and honest.
How would you describe the working environment of the Orcutt lab?
The environment of the Orcutt lab is collegial – people get along well and enjoy one another’s company. The lab as a whole has a strong work ethic and is productive, though we try not to take ourselves too seriously. The lab is supportive and accessible, and generally includes several undergraduate research assistants. Professor Orcutt and graduate students meet bi-weekly for lab meetings, but often participate more regularly in research-related meetings and events, such as the Trauma Journal Club and Trauma Brownbag. Students are also willing to help each other with various tasks and projects and collaborate on research projects frequently.
What kind of research opportunities are available in the Orcutt lab?
There are a lot of research opportunities available for those that are interested. Professor Orcutt is not restrictive in terms of writing manuscripts or collecting research data, though she does keep her students’ long-term goals in mind and will direct (or redirect) students accordingly. There is an abundance of data available for students to utilize, including longitudinal and physiological data. Students frequently work on research projects in addition to their thesis or dissertation. Lab members regularly present research findings at national and international conferences, as well as publish articles in peer-reviewed journals. There is plenty of data for students to explore, as well as opportunities to contribute to ongoing projects.
What kind of clinical training opportunities are available at NIU?
The clinical training opportunities at NIU are varied. The Psychological Services Center (PSC) is the graduate training clinic where students are exposed to a variety of cases from the university as well as the broader community. In addition to in-house clinical training, graduate students have the opportunity to gain other clinical experiences while on externship, including placements focused on the treatment of children and adolescents, undergraduate and graduate students, older adults, and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Some students also choose to seek out unpaid clinical training experiences in hospital and medical center settings following faculty-approval.
What is it like living in the area near NIU?
The cost of living in the DeKalb/Sycamore area is very affordable and many students enjoy being able to live in a quiet area while in graduate school. While there are not the entertainment options that you would find in a larger city, the DeKalb area has everything you need and everything else is easily within driving distance. All of the basic amenities are available in the area (there are numerous dining and retail options), and when students need a boost of city life, Chicago and the suburbs are easily accessible. If students come to the program with a partner who will be working, there are many opportunities in Chicago and the suburbs if you don’t mind a drive into campus (under an hour if coming from the suburbs), though many students prefer to live closer to campus.
