Meet Stijn Geerts

Stijn is 27 years old and from the Netherlands

He did his BSc in Psychology at Tilburg University, focusing on Clinical & Forensic Psychology

His main interests are: addiction, cognitive/human bias, psychopathology, social dynamics, mixed methods & metascience, psychometrics, predictive modeling, natural language processing

You can reach out to him on LinkedIn

What inspired you to pursue the IDA Master program?

I wasn’t ready to give up studying psychology or to dedicate myself to a clinical career. I wanted to deepen and expand my knowledge and skills, and figure out whether a life in academia would fit me. I attended the Master’s open day, and was greatly impressed by the enthusiasm of the students and the course coordinator, who presented there. I had also heard that IDA had excellent ratings compared to other studies in the Netherlands. I liked Tilburg University, having done my BSc here. All in all, IDA became a natural choice. 

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

I enjoy getting to the bottom of topics I am passionate about, sharp discussions with peers, considering multiple perspectives, and adopting a critical stance. After my BSc Psychology, I was left with more questions than answers on the workings of the human mind and behaviour. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this gap has only grown during IDA — but I am absolutely loving the variety of substance and depth it brings. It stimulates me intellectually and personally. 

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

One great possibility would be to work as a researcher in academia and/or as a professor. However, I also consider using my psychological and data-analytical skills in the private sector, possibly in corporate work. For now, I hope to pursue a PhD, while remaining flexible to where passion and opportunity take me. It seems to me that the research field comes with a degree of unstructuredness that requires some adaptability and flexibility. If this is not your thing, but you are eager to learn this skill, IDA is a great place for you.

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

I am most excited about Extended Assessment Methods. At this point, I have encountered a lot of research articles and measurement methods that made me wonder, “Does this really measure what we are trying to measure?”, or, “Is it fair to use this measurement in this target group?”, and logically from there: “Wouldn’t there be better ways to measure this?” I am hoping this course will teach me about new measurement methods and how to address issues with common ones.

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

Absolutely! IDA is not a study programme where you can just cruise through. Especially the first semester was quite stressful. I’m lucky to have an amazing class, where I feel we can share about our issues in a safe, comfortable space. We found out most of us are dealing with the same things, and that realisation makes it all much more bearable. I do think, however, a certain level of genuine excitement for research and psychology is necessary to fuel through the programme. That’s not to say you have to be sure this will be your bread-and-butter for life, but don’t start if you think there’s no chance at all you will enjoy the journey. 

What motivates you to keep going when things get tough?

It’s just one of those things you wouldn’t forgive yourself for missing out on. The people, the content, and the experience are just amazing. I believe that wherever I end up, the knowledge, skills, and network I acquired in IDA will be invaluable and enduring. 

How do you see the skills and knowledge from the IDA Master being applied in the real world?

I think the easier question to answer would be where I do not see it applied in the real world. Everything we experience each second of the day is filtered through the lens of the individual. Both our personal life and every vocational field are, to some degree, related to human communication, decision-making, and experience. Thus, I see psychology, and therefore our individual differences, as the fundamental building blocks of human life, kind of like how physics is for hard sciences. A less philosophical addition: the academic skills and knowledge you acquire on methods and statistics will also make you valuable in fields less directly aligned with psychology.

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

I most enjoy the discussions with my classmates. We really don’t take ourselves too seriously and have great banter. Throughout my life, I can’t recall ever having been in a class where I didn’t dislike anyone until I got into IDA. 

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

It’s all very horizontal. There are no unpleasant hierarchical structures or power dynamics. It’s small, tight, down-to-earth, yet professional. I have learned to talk to professors in pretty much the same way as I talk to my peers. Our course-coordinator is a wonderful person, and my experiences with professors and supervisors were mostly pleasant and inspiring.

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

I love this question! I think many IDA students are a little ‘neurodivergent’ (sometimes perhaps self-diagnosed…), enthusiastic, intelligent, critical, and genuine. IDA students definitely are a bit geeky, but in the best way possible. They tend to be very authentic, friendly and social. In short, I would call them ‘cool nerds’. They can also be a little neurotic and obsessive. I find that the longer I am in this program, the more we discover that we have all these obscure, seemingly unrelated traits in common. 

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?

I would tell you that you really should make a plan and stick to it if you don’t want to burn out by cramming the toughest, most extensive content in a short period. It really is quite different from how you may have been able to study in the Bachelor’s. Then again, if you’re like me, you will likely not follow this advice and have to figure it out for yourself through experience! That’s fine, that’s what the program is for. You learn best by action, asking questions, and trial and error. These are things I sometimes struggle with: I want to do it perfectly from the get-go. Try to let go of this mindset. You will be in IDA to become skilled, not to already be.