Meet Nikola Novoselec!

Nikola is 24 and from Croatia

BSc Psychology, Tilburg University,

Major: Clinical Psychology
Minor: Methodology and Statistics

His main interests are: 

Psychopathology, measurement and treatment of mental illness, quantitative methods

You can reach out to him on LinkedIn

What inspired you to pursue the IDA Master program?

The possibility for clinical research within IDA was crucial for me. In addition, the emphasis on methods and statistics made me feel comfortable this master program will provide me with sufficient tools to carry out high level research.

What motivates you to pursue this field of study, and what personal significance or purpose do you find in it?

I think many of us started studying psychology to help people, which sometimes gets lost after years of academia. I wanted to bring back the attention to this core motive, because it is very gratifying to work with the belief if will impact a person’s life for the better.

Which field do you see yourself pursuing after completing the program? 

I see myself working as a form of scientist-practitioner which would likely entail working research institutes or private sectors. Psychology has the added benefit of being able to work on theory and practice, something I do not want to miss out on.

Looking at the program schedule, which course(s) are you most excited about and why?

For me, I am interested in learning more about statistical methods and modelling data, however the traineeships and first year paper is where it all connects. IDA makes it so that what we learn, we can also apply during these projects. .

Do you ever feel stressed or under pressure in your studies? How do you manage those challenges? Would you like to share some tips?

Sure it was at times difficult, but nothing too crazy. What’s important is to just take it one day at a time. Just focusing on daily goals makes everything much more manageable.

What motivates you to keep going when things get tough?

The reason we are all here, to learn and grow as professionals.

What do you enjoy most about collaborating with your peers, supervisors, or being part of the IDA community?

The IDA community is a joy to belong to. Peers and supervisors are all helpful and you really feel like you belong to a larger community. It is one of the best things in this program.

How would you describe your relationship with the faculty in the IDA program? How does this influence your overall learning experience?

The faculty of IDA have made my experience only positive. The faculty treats IDA students with respect, and as researchers, helping train us for our careers. It also reminds us of the importance of our studies and seriousness of the master program, which improves learning experience.

How would you describe an “IDA Student”? What common qualities do they share, and who do you think is best suited for this program?

You need to be curious and interested. You need to enjoy learning and enjoy thinking hard. If you are curious and study a lot, you can certainly prosper in IDA!

Is there anything you wish you had known before starting that would have made your journey smoother, and what advice (or tip) would you give to someone just beginning the program?

From what I’ve seen, statistics knowledge will make your life much easier in the first year. Coming in with little statistical background might be intense so keep that mind! However, do not let that defer you. It is still very doable and you will not regret it!