By Madeline Thomas, 3rd year Integrated MSci Psychology student
Balancing university life with multiple roles can be busy, but also incredibly rewarding. As a third-year Psychology student, my days are a mix of academic work, creative projects, and meaningful roles supporting young people.
Alongside my degree, I’m Secretary of the Psychology Society, a Digital Assistant within the Careers Service, a Youth Advisor for Ambitious About Autism, and part of a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) Participation Team. No two days look the same and that’s what I love most.
Getting organised
Preparation is key to staying on top of everything. The night before, I plan my day in 15-minute intervals, sort my outfit, and prep meals. It might sound intense, but it makes mornings much less stressful and helps me stay focused.
A typical Tuesday
My day usually starts around 9:30am after breakfast, checking emails, and packing lunch. I’ll begin with admin tasks, responding to emails, updating presentations, or filming short clips for projects linked to my Youth Advisor or CAMHS roles.
At 10am, I’ll have a quick catch-up meeting about academic work before heading over to the Careers Service (EWD). Here, I work on keeping the Job Shop engaging and up to date - this could include designing posters, refreshing the “Job of the Week,” or updating displays. It’s a creative part of my role that I really enjoy.
Tuesdays are often busy in the Careers Service, so I might also help with event preparation making sure everything is ready for students attending workshops or employer sessions.
Switching hats: society life
As Secretary of the Psychology Society, I also spend time planning events. This involves designing content on Canva, scheduling social media, and promoting upcoming activities. It’s a great way to build creative and organisational skills while connecting with other students.
Back to lectures
At 12pm, I head to a two-hour Research Design class. These sessions focus on progressing our research projects, whether that’s learning new data collection methods, refining proposals, or working in teams. It’s challenging but rewarding, especially seeing projects come together.
Winding down (or not quite!)
After class, I’ll usually meet my friend and colleague Teniola for a Boxfit session at Jane Holloway - my go-to way to reset after a busy day.
Evenings are more relaxed. I’ll spend time with housemates, catch up on assignments, or read, sometimes for my course, sometimes just for fun. If it’s quiz night, you’ll probably find me at the pub with friends!
My advice to students
If you’re interested in psychology or related fields, my biggest advice is: gain experience wherever you can.
Everything I’ve learned has come from saying yes to opportunities, whether that’s part-time work, volunteering, or joining projects. These experiences not only build your skills but also open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Don’t shy away from sharing your achievements. Be proud of what you’ve done! People may spot opportunities for you that you wouldn’t have considered yourself.
Also, make time for passion projects, even if it’s just an hour a week. Those small steps really add up.
Finally, volunteering is a fantastic way to build experience, especially in fields like clinical psychology or media. It’s how I got started and it made a huge difference.
Top tips for job hunting
- Talk to people – friends, lecturers, Careers Consultants, and tutors can all offer guidance.
- Use Careers resources – the Careers Service Moodle page has CV templates, application advice, and more.
- Network through societies – groups like the Psychology Society are great for learning from peers and finding opportunities.