Lisa Applegate, Class of 2013

I started as a Sociology major at MSU in 2009 after leaving a career that I hated in banking. I felt a strong sense of urgency to figure out exactly what it was I was supposed to do with my life. During this time, I remember hearing a quote from a CEO that went something like, “I can teach anyone how to be an accountant, but I can’t teach them how to think abstractly.”

Five years after graduating with a degree in the Social Sciences, I can tell you this is true. I don’t have a computer science degree, but I write code almost daily (thanks, internet!). Aside from the practical skills of research methods and data analysis, my Sociology courses nurtured my ability to think critically, define problems, and question paradigms. I am often heard saying, “The Sociologist in me finds this very interesting…” If you have many interests and a love of learning, I would highly recommend MSU’s Sociology Program.

I am currently the Senior Research Analyst at the University of Maine in the Office of Institutional Research.