Q&A with Navneet Kaur
Why did you choose to attend the University of Mississippi?
I chose UM as it felt like a place I could grow both academically and personally. I felt like I belonged here. The UM campus gives you so many opportunities to be involved in fun activities, and academic opportunities are everywhere. As a major in psychology and criminal justice I was drawn to the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Applied Sciences for their programs, I liked that UM allowed me to explore both my fun interests like wanting to join random associations such as ISA, and Children literacy, but at the same time it gave me access to supportive professors, a very strong student organization and experiences that would help me achieve my future career.
I chose UM as it felt like a place I could grow both academically and personally. I felt like I belonged here. The UM campus gives you so many opportunities to be involved in fun activities, and academic opportunities are everywhere. As a major in psychology and criminal justice I was drawn to the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Applied Sciences for their programs, I liked that UM allowed me to explore both my fun interests like wanting to join random associations such as ISA, and Children literacy, but at the same time it gave me access to supportive professors, a very strong student organization and experiences that would help me achieve my future career.
What would you tell a high school student about your major? What is most important for them to know if they are interested in pursuing that field of study?
I would tell a high school student that majoring in criminal justice and psychology is a great choice if you are interested in understanding both people and the systems that affect their lives. Criminal justice helps you learn how the legal system, law enforcement, courts, and corrections work, while psychology helps you understand human behavior, emotions, and decision-making. Together, these fields give you a strong foundation for careers that involve helping others, solving problems, and working within the justice system. I would also tell them that these majors can lead to many different career paths, not just one. Whether someone is interested in law, advocacy, counseling, investigation, public service, or graduate school, criminal justice and psychology can open many doors. If they are passionate about making a difference and understanding both people and society, this field of study can be very meaningful and rewarding.
I would tell a high school student that majoring in criminal justice and psychology is a great choice if you are interested in understanding both people and the systems that affect their lives. Criminal justice helps you learn how the legal system, law enforcement, courts, and corrections work, while psychology helps you understand human behavior, emotions, and decision-making. Together, these fields give you a strong foundation for careers that involve helping others, solving problems, and working within the justice system. I would also tell them that these majors can lead to many different career paths, not just one. Whether someone is interested in law, advocacy, counseling, investigation, public service, or graduate school, criminal justice and psychology can open many doors. If they are passionate about making a difference and understanding both people and society, this field of study can be very meaningful and rewarding.
Why is your department a special place?
Being a student at the College of Liberal Arts, I am not only learning important material, but I am also surrounded by supportive and welcoming professors, advisors, and fellow students who genuinely want me to succeed. That kind of support makes a big difference, especially for students who are still exploring different paths to figure out their goals and interests.
Being a student at the College of Liberal Arts, I am not only learning important material, but I am also surrounded by supportive and welcoming professors, advisors, and fellow students who genuinely want me to succeed. That kind of support makes a big difference, especially for students who are still exploring different paths to figure out their goals and interests.
What professor or class has had the most impact on you?
I was originally a Criminal Justice major only, but I took a Psych class during my spring semester of freshman year, and I knew this was what I wanted to do. I did my research on how it would help me in the future before applying to be a double-major in CJ and Psych, and I realized that those two majors get along really well. I've always found Psychology interesting, but did not know how to achieve a goal. I've also found law interesting, so why not combine them both and be a Criminal Psychologist? That's how I knew I wanted to be a criminal psychologist, all because of taking Psych 201 with Ms. Maddy. To this day, she is my favorite professor because of the way she taught and helped me through my process of decision-making.
I was originally a Criminal Justice major only, but I took a Psych class during my spring semester of freshman year, and I knew this was what I wanted to do. I did my research on how it would help me in the future before applying to be a double-major in CJ and Psych, and I realized that those two majors get along really well. I've always found Psychology interesting, but did not know how to achieve a goal. I've also found law interesting, so why not combine them both and be a Criminal Psychologist? That's how I knew I wanted to be a criminal psychologist, all because of taking Psych 201 with Ms. Maddy. To this day, she is my favorite professor because of the way she taught and helped me through my process of decision-making.
What do you hope to do after graduation? What are your career goals/plans?
I hope to work as a criminal psychologist for a couple of years before going to the UM law school, as I still want to achieve my goals for law.
I hope to work as a criminal psychologist for a couple of years before going to the UM law school, as I still want to achieve my goals for law.
What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you’d tell your past self (about the general college experience)?
It’s okay to be confused about what I want to do. Even though I was fixed on a major before college, it's okay to explore and change it.
It’s okay to be confused about what I want to do. Even though I was fixed on a major before college, it's okay to explore and change it.
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