isaiahISAIAH SYPHER
HOMETOWN:
 Jamaica, New York                              
HIGH SCHOOL:
 Queens High School for the Sciences          
MAJOR:
 Psychology
STUDY ABROAD: 
 Madrid, Spain (Full 2011-12 Academic Year)                  
ACTIVITIES:

I work as a senior interviewer, as a teaching assistant for Spanish 101, and as a department specialist at the Office of International Studies. In the past, I have been a TA for Elementary French and volunteered both at Woodrow Wilson Middle School and the Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown. On a more creative note, I sang with Ebony Singers for two semesters and am currently taking my second West African Dance class, which is as enjoyable as it is exhausting.
OUTSIDE
WESLEYAN:
 
 For the past two summers, I have worked as a psychology research assistant, first at Wesleyan in the Cognitive Development Lab and then at the Stanford Mood and Anxiety Disorders Lab. I also have interned at a number of cultural institutions throughout New York City. I enjoy music, film and trying new recipes on my current housemates.    
FAVORITE
CLASS:
 “The Neural Costs of War,” a psychology seminar that I took sophomore year with Professor Charles Sanislow. The class examined war-related post traumatic stress disorder from a variety of perspectives; we analyzed scientific journal articles, films, military policies, and other forms of media. The seminar solidified my interest in studying mental health.
FAVORITE WESLEYAN EXPERIENCE:
 WesFest (Wesleyan’s admitted student program) remains one of the most memorable experiences, during which I came in tocontact with more passionate, driven, and quirky people than I had met in my entire life. By the time the weekend was over, my decision was made to come to Wesleyan.   
AFTER
WESLEYAN:

I plan on doing a 1-2 year research assistantship with a focus on mental disorders, after which I plan to apply to PhD programs in clinical psychology.
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