The Graduate School Experience Eleni Stroulia Ramya Raghavendra Andrea Danyluk

Eleni’s Story EducationB.Eng. - University of Patras (Greece) 1989 M.Sc., Ph.D. - College of Computing, Georgia Inst. Of Technology 1992, 1994 Why grad school?Liked (and was good at) studying Wanted to leave Greece Jobs (post PhD) Research Associate with FAW, Ulm Post Doc with CS Univ. of Alberta Faculty with CS Univ. of Alberta What I liked What I didn’t like

Ramya’s Story EducationB.E., CS, India, 2004 Why grad school?Wanted to work independently in challenging roles, work on new problems Jobs (post PhD) What I liked What I didn’t like

Andrea’s Story EducationB.A., Math/CS, Vassar College, 1984 M.S., CS, Columbia University, 1986 Ph.D., CS, Columbia University, 1992 Why grad school?Wanted independence, creativity; Ability to set my own work agenda Jobs (post PhD) NYNEX Science & Technology, Williams College, 1994-present What I liked What I didn’t like

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

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!

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

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!

Grad School Time Allocation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 goodThe not so good

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

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.

Eleni’s Story EducationB.Eng. - University of Patras (Greece) 1989 M.Sc., Ph.D. - College of Computing, Georgia Inst. Of Technology 1992, 1994 Why grad school?Liked (and was good at) studying Wanted to leave Greece Jobs (post PhD) Research Associate with FAW, Ulm Post Doc with CS Univ. of Alberta Faculty with CS Univ. of Alberta What I likedIndependence; choosing the questions The competition: it is invigorating (and stressful) People; fellow students, mentors Traveling Atlanta What I didn’t likeInsecurity (research quality, funding)

Ramya’s Story EducationB.E., CS, India, 2004 Why grad school?Wanted to work independently in challenging roles, work on new problems Jobs (post PhD) (Expecting to graduate this academic year) What I likedMaking research contributions, advising students, Traveling and meeting people What I didn’t likeFocus on publishing a lot

Andrea’s Story EducationB.A., Math/CS, Vassar College, 1984 M.S., CS, Columbia University, 1986 Ph.D., CS, Columbia University, 1992 Why grad school?Wanted independence, creativity; Ability to set my own work agenda Jobs (post PhD) NYNEX Science & Technology, Williams College, 1994-present What I likedImmersing myself in a project. Conferences: meeting new people/learning about new ideas. NYC! What I didn’t likeThe feeling that there wasn’t a clear end point.

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