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Willow McLarney has always found it hard to fully succeed in a field like psychology without having a skill set that is, at least, a little intersectional. That’s what led them to pursue the MaCSS program.
“I knew I wanted a career that was less academic or therapeutic, and more analytical and industry-focused, so I needed a degree that would give me the skills I needed,” they say. “The fact that MaCSS is specifically aimed towards students like myself was a wonderful boon.”
Unsurprisingly, attending UC Berkeley shed even more fresh perspectives. McLarney’s cohort was split between local and international students, allowing them to connect with people of different backgrounds, ages, interests, and experiences. They attended Digital Humanities meetings hosted at D-Lab and even got to know graduate students from outside their program.
“Attending office hours just to talk research gave me lots of perspective, both on what
research is, as well as what it could be,” they say. “Being in a smaller, newer program like MaCSS, you can really get to know your professors and benefit more from their attention and advice.”
In particular, the guidance of careers professor, Rachel Williams, helped McLarney better understand what job pathways are available for someone like them.