Career Roadmap
Scott's work combines: Science, Education, and Being Creative
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Psychology, General
Carnegie Mellon University
Bachelor's Degree
Human Computer Interaction
Carnegie Mellon University
Graduate Degree
Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
Cambridge University
Doctorate
Experimental Psychology
Yale University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Clinical & Counseling Psychologists:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Psychology, General
Bachelor's Degree: Human Computer Interaction
Graduate Degree: Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
Doctorate: Experimental Psychology
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I have an auditory processing disorder, so I was placed into special education classes as a child.
2.
In ninth grade, I decided to get out of special education and see what I was capable of achieving.
3.
My early experiences in school made me realize I wanted to drastically change the education system.
4.
During my sophomore year of undergraduate study, I took a cognitive psychology class with Anne Fay.
5.
When we got to the section on perception of intelligence, I realized this could be my life's work.
6.
I've published 2 books ("Ungifted," "Wired to Create") on perceptions of intelligence & creativity.
7.
I'm currently working on a new book of case studies on gifted children in special education.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
Why aren't you challenging yourself more?
How I responded:
All throughout my early childhood, I heard an awful lot of noise from my teachers; I finally realized that I absolutely had to get away from that in order to flourish, which is why I left special education. The turning point was in ninth grade, when a substitute teacher pulled me aside and told me I was far too bright to be in special education, and that I should start challenging myself. After that, I was inspired to get out of those classes and challenge myself in the "normal" classes.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I never did well on standardized tests (I’m too much of a daydreamer), and my SAT scores certainly did me no favors when I was applying to college. However, my poor scores just inspired me to express my intelligence and creativity in different ways.