🍦 Today's Scoops: Psychology or Neuroscience, what's the difference? (Oct 7)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Link Lounge Refresh

2. School of the Day: University of Notre Dame

3. Major Matchup: Psychology vs Neuroscience

LINK LOUNGE REFRESH
New Resources & Scholarships!

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Robertson Scholars Program - Full-ride scholarship to Duke or UNC, if you get into either school

(NEW) Congressional App Challenge - Competition run by congress to choose the best student-made app in each congressional district

(NEW) Conrad Challenge - Innovation competition with thousands of dollars in scholarships

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
University of Notre Dame

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Notre Dame, IN
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 8,971
📊 Acceptance Rate: 13% (26,509 applicants)
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1500/34
💸 Cost: $59,794 (tuition), $16,710 (room & board)
📅 Admission Options: Restrictive Early Action (Nov 1), Regular Decision (Jan 3)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Accounting (#4), Business (#8), Political Science (#16), Engineering (#18) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Business and Management (20%), Social Sciences (18%), Engineering (12%) (Scoir)

Some Positives

🎓 Top-Tier Business School: Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business is consistently ranked among the best business schools in the U.S. Whether you’re interested in finance, marketing, or management consulting, Mendoza’s strong alumni network and resources like the Giovanini Commons for experiential learning provide a solid foundation for future leaders. Learn more about Mendoza.

💡 Commitment to Service and Social Justice: Notre Dame has a strong emphasis on service and social responsibility, aligning with its Catholic values. Students participate in service projects both locally and globally, supported by resources like the Center for Social Concerns that connects academics with service. Explore Service Opportunities.

🏈 Strong Athletic Tradition: Notre Dame is famous for its rich athletic culture, especially its football program. Saturdays during football season are a major event on campus, drawing thousands of students and alumni together for a unique sense of school pride and community spirit. Learn about Notre Dame Football.

🧠 Unique Interdisciplinary Programs: Notre Dame offers interesting interdisciplinary programs like the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, which provide opportunities for students to explore global issues through research and collaboration. Learn more about these Institutes.

Some Negatives

📚 Religious Influence: While Notre Dame’s Catholic identity is a core part of its mission, students who do not identify with the religion may feel out of place or uncomfortable with the emphasis on Catholic values in various aspects of campus life.

🌾 Location: South Bend, Indiana, is a smaller city, which may be limiting for students looking for a bustling urban environment. The town is quieter, and while Chicago is about 90 miles away, it’s not easily accessible for quick trips.

❄️ Cold Winters: Like many schools in the Midwest, Notre Dame experiences harsh winters, with heavy snowfall and cold temperatures. For students from warmer climates, adjusting to the winter weather can be a challenge.

MAJOR MATCHUP
Psychology vs Neuroscience

When deciding between psychology and neuroscience as a major, it’s important to understand how these closely related fields differ—and where they overlap. Let’s break it down:

🧠 Focus of Study

• Psychology: This field explores behavior and mental processes like emotions, cognition, and personality. Psychologists study how humans think, feel, and act, often with an emphasis on understanding behavior in different environments.

• Neuroscience: Neuroscientists study the brain and nervous system, focusing on the biology behind behavior. The emphasis is on how neurons, brain chemistry, and biological structures influence everything from movement to thoughts.

🔬 Research Methods

• Psychology: Uses tools like surveys, experiments, and case studies to understand behavior. The field often combines qualitative (observational) and quantitative (statistical) research methods.

• Neuroscience: Heavily leans into lab work, employing techniques like brain imaging (fMRI, EEG), cellular/molecular biology, and genetic studies to explore the nervous system.

🎯 Key Areas of Study

• Psychology: Courses may cover developmental psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology, and cognitive psychology, with a focus on understanding people’s actions and thoughts.

• Neuroscience: You’ll dive into neurobiology, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, and neurophysiology, studying the physical aspects of how the brain and nervous system function.

🔍 Careers

• Psychology: Graduates often go into counseling, therapy, social work, human resources, or pursue advanced degrees to become clinical psychologists or researchers.

• Neuroscience: Many graduates continue into research, medicine, biotech, or pharmaceuticals, focusing on brain disorders, mental health treatments, or neurological conditions.

💡 Overlap and Interdisciplinary Connections

• Psychology and Neuroscience: Both fields work hand in hand when it comes to understanding the brain-behavior connection. Cognitive neuroscience, for example, is where psychology and neuroscience meet, studying how brain function impacts cognitive processes like memory, decision-making, and learning.

🚀 Which Should You Choose?

• If you’re fascinated by human behavior, emotions, and mental health and want to explore more societal applications, psychology might be your fit.

• If you’re drawn to the biology of the brain, nervous system, and the underlying mechanics of behavior, neuroscience will likely be your path.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
8 days until UT Deadline!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
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