You’re a UC Engineering Graduate Student

Now what?

Edzel LapiraSeptember 13th 2011

Graduate Student Life

“Why am I doing this?”

Crossroads…

• Graduate school is a very different world from undergraduate studies.

• Most of the learning happens outside of the classroom.

• You select and complete a unique long-term research program

Graduate school is a different ballgame

My graduate school experience so far…ADMISSIONADMISSION

ORIENTATIONORIENTATION

GRADUATIONGRADUATION

COURSEWORKCOURSEWORK

QUALIFYINGEXAM

QUALIFYINGEXAM

RESEARCHASSISTANTSHIP

RESEARCHASSISTANTSHIP

TEACHINGASSISTANTSHIP

TEACHINGASSISTANTSHIP

INDUSTRY PROJECTSINDUSTRY PROJECTS

INTERNSHIPSINTERNSHIPS

PUBLICATIONSPUBLICATIONS

PROPOSALSPROPOSALS

DISSERTATIONDISSERTATION

CANDIDACYCANDIDACY

DEFENSEDEFENSE

It’s a balancing act…

• It is the most desirable job to most graduate students.

• RA is a job.

• Start out with tasks specific to a project but eventually become flexible to your own specific research program.

• Get exposed to state-of-the-art research

Research Assistantship (RA)

• Desirable Habits

• Communication is Key

• Advisor

• Topic

• Be Informed

• Social Life

What about Academics & Research?

• Be proactive– In coursework, reading, writing, etc.

• Organize yourself– Electronic tracking of important and relevant

works + summaries – Journal entries of thoughts, important works,

failures etc.

Desirable Habits

• Meet at least once every 2 weeks

• One-on-one, in person

• Prepare a list of updates and questions

• Be sure to talk about all of your issues (classes, research, graduation, etc.)

• Discuss your upcoming deadlines and/or goals

Communication is Key

Is a mentor who will:

• Motivate• Invest time on you & your

research• Give credit• Defend• Critique your work

Is an employer who:

• Will look out for your interests

• Will help you graduate• is respected in their field• Maintain connections• Will speak well of

you/your work

Vaughan Pratthttp://boole.stanford.edu/pratt.html

“A Good Advisor”

Be Informed!

• Get Involved– Join, Participate, Lead, Found

• Burst Your Bubble– Go beyond your comfort zone

Social Life

• @UC– Over 300 student-run groups

• Find them all at http://www.uc.edu/sald• Everything from local sections of professional organizations to

Cricket to amateur radio club to karate– Create your own group!

• 10 students + an advisor

• Volunteer & Give Back– Through student groups – In the college, university, Cincinnati, church

Get Involved & Make Connections

• Try something new– Sporting Events

• goBEARCATS.com ! Football, Soccer, Baseball, Volleyball …• Reds, Bengals, Cyclones, Crew (Columbus)

– Food• Culturally Diverse (Japanese, Korean, Indian, Thai, German, etc)• www.bearcash.com (coupons for food + misc stuff around UC)

– Experience(s)• Museums (Many are free / reduced cost to students)• Rec Center: Rock Climbing, Martial Arts, Swim in an Olympic Size

Pool etc.

Burst Your Bubble

“You got into graduate school because you have potential and skills that are not typical among most people.”

Keeping Your Perspective

• Mark Borowczak• Steven Turek

Acknowledgments:

Reference(s):• Azuma, RT “Everything I wanted to know about CS

graduate school at the beginning but didn’t learn it later.” Last accessed on (2011/09/11)

URL: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~azuma/hitch4.html

Welcome & Good Luck!!!