Carolyn Baer
Metacognition and Social Interaction in Children
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I've always been interested in learning and solving puzzles (I have a lot of family members who work in education). When I started conducting research as an undergraduate, I found out that research is essentially full-time puzzle-solving!
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
Picking a graduate school is all about fit. Developmental psychology at UBC is not only very well-respected internationally, but it was also the best fit for what I was looking for in a graduate program. We have a supportive group of faculty and students, an amazing system for recruiting participants that makes it easy to conduct our research, and it's hard to say no to living in Vancouver!
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I grew up in a mid-sized city in Ontario, so I am always amazed at how much there is to do in Vancouver. Beaches, hiking, street festivals, craft breweries, concerts, parades, and not to mention all the shops and restaurants - and all really close to home.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I was lucky to be involved in great labs as an undergraduate. I got to work on my own projects, which is probably the best way to see if you enjoy research or not. I also had a lot of support from the professors and graduate students in those labs who were happy to give advice and answer all my questions about grad studies.