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The Graduate School Experience

The Graduate School Experience. Eleni Stroulia Ramya Raghavendra Andrea Danyluk. Eleni’s Story. Ramya’s Story. Andrea’s Story. Grad School Basics. MS 8 -12 courses (mix of grad and undergrad) Exam/project/thesis PhD 8-12 courses Candidacy exam (oral or written)

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The Graduate School Experience

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  1. The Graduate School Experience Eleni Stroulia Ramya Raghavendra Andrea Danyluk

  2. Eleni’s Story

  3. Ramya’s Story

  4. Andrea’s Story

  5. Grad School Basics • MS • 8 -12 courses (mix of grad and undergrad) • Exam/project/thesis • PhD • 8-12 courses • Candidacy exam (oral or written) • Proposal and/or Defense

  6. So Much More… • Depth vs. breadth • Professors (and grad students) are cool!  • Soft skills • Working on open ended projects and teams • Writing and speaking • Critiquing • Fun classes: golf, foreign language, wine tasting, sailing!

  7. What does it take? • Courses • Good news: Fewer assignments than undergrad • Read research papers • Work on a quarter/semester long project • Research • Start with senior grad students/post docs • Ideas: brainstorm with advisor, lab mates, papers, conferences

  8. A typical day in the life… • Classes • Taking courses in the beginning • Teaching as a TA • Research Work • Read papers • Meet with advisor, colleagues • Implement, evaluate, write • Talks/Seminars • Service • Review papers • (Help) Write proposals • Have fun!

  9. Grad School Time Allocation

  10. But wait….How do I earn a living? • As a Ph.D. student • Tuition waivers • Fellowship • Research Assistant (RA) • Teaching Assistant (TA) • Additional teaching opportunities • Summer research opportunities • As a Masters student • Job pays for the degree • Possible RA or TA positions

  11. Why Grad School? (Pros) • Want more than a coding/entry level job • Work gets less interesting over time • Learn more skills, diversify • Is research for me? • Full of ideas and want freedom to work • Innovator: Want to do a startup • Professor: Teaching and Research

  12. Cons and Fixes • Grad school not my thing • Try MS, branch off (management, law?) • Don’t get along with advisor • Change is always an option • I could be working • In hard times, skills are valued • It’s too hard! • Study groups, support groups • Psychological help on most campuses • Hard work and commitment can get you there

  13. And after grad school?… • Industry • Startups • Product groups: dev, QA, manager • Collaborate with Research • Consultation, entertainment, biotech, law… • Research Labs • Teaching (non tenure) • Tenure track faculty

  14. Opinions from the trenches • Why did you do it? • How was it? • What happened in the end? • What would you tell someone else?

  15. Why did you do it? • I wanted to teach • I was tired of doing the same thing everyday... I felt like my brain was shrinking • I wanted to work on something challenging with smart people • I did not want to stay in Greece and get a “REAL” job

  16. How was it? Conferences (especially international) are fun I got to meet people I learned a lot I had the best supervisor I saw the world Finding a thesis topic is a challenge Putting words to paper is tough Everyone else is smarter than me I could not make my supervisor happy My personal life suffered I felt lost in a tunnel The good The not so good

  17. What happened in the end? • Money is not that good • I want to help people with my knowledge • I have the best job in the world, even though it is nothing like I thought it would be • Challenging • Flexible

  18. What advice would you give? • You have to practice independence • You are responsible for your progress and career • If you can go with your guts and don't fear failure because you can always start again, then do it • Maybe grad school is or is not for you, I don't know... but you will regret if you don't give it a chance.

  19. Eleni’s Story

  20. Ramya’s Story

  21. Andrea’s Story

  22. Questions? Discussion? Working with students Where in the world is the University of Alberta? CS Dept Hike Eleni’s family UCSB women in CS GHC 07

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