Meredith Mechanik, 2011

Senior Admissions Counselor, Florida Southern College

Professional Background

I had such a positive experience with P&N as an undergrad that I decided to stick around after graduation! I spent two years as the lab manager for the Marsh Lab, researching learning and memory. I then moved to Paris to work as an au pair before making my way back to Florida, my home state. For the past year, I've worked as an admissions counselor at Florida Southern College, assisting students throughout the entire application process. 

How has being a P&N graduate helped shape your professional success?

My varied experiences at Duke taught me to be adaptable and creative in every area of my life. As a research assistant and honors student in the Wilbourn Lab, I was able to design my own research study with 18-month-olds, experiencing all the joy (and stress!) of working with toddlers. Toddlers tend to be unpredictable, so I quickly learned to roll with the punches and make the best of whatever came my way. After expanding my research experience in the Marsh Lab, I've been able to use the results of our learning studies to suggest more effective study strategies to my students. Because standardized tests are such an important part of the application process, students often ask how they can improve their scores. By drawing on the test-taking and learning strategies that we studied in the Marsh Lab, I can better advise and reassure my students. My psychology coursework has also been beneficial in my work as a counselor, allowing me to connect with applicants and their families in what can be a stressful period for them.

 
Meredith Mechanik, 2011