1. Grad School and Research

2. Top 10 Reasons to Attend Grad School
Get to defer student loans.
Can defer dress code
Can defer contact with the “real world” – going to bed and getting up on time.
Significant other hasn’t graduated yet. Need to hang around town.
6. Want people to call you “Doctor” but faint at the sight of blood.

3. Top 10 Reasons to Attend Grad School
Love taking courses, want to take even more.
Want more letters after your name – hope it boosts starting salary.
Like doing research – discovering and inventing new things…
2. Want to be the world’s expert at something.
1. Need to for the job you want (e.g. professor).

4. Grad School Misconceptions (that are sometimes true)
Grad school is like undergrad work, but with more advanced classes
Grad school can always be a fallback plan, if I have trouble getting a job
I can get the graduate degree I want anywhere
2. Graduate degrees maximize my earning potential
1. Grad school will cost me more money

6. Top Issues Faced in Making Choice
Grad school or job – what is research?
Which degree - MCS, MS, or PhD?
Which school - TAMU, UT, Rice, Berkeley, MIT?
Which advisor – Dr. A or Dr. B?
Which research topic - what am I incredibly interested in?
Start by asking faculty questions!

7. Research Research is about the generation/creation of new knowledge
It is not looking up/synthesizing information
It is not just implementing something new
For most degrees, research is the key part of graduate work
Most admission decisions are made based on “aptitude for research”
Standards for admission are now higher
Grad schools want to see interest in research, and preferably experience

8. Experiencing Research
#1 grad school question – Do I like research?
Undergrad Research
TAMU USRG Program
Computer Science REU Program
Summer Programs Nationwide
CSCE 491 projects with faculty
Ask faculty who might have mutual interest
Most faculty interested in this, but might need to bug them at first
Some might have $$$

9. Applying to Grad School: Which Degree?

10. Master’s (Coursework Only)
Multiple names: MCS sometimes MS
Basically take several more advanced courses
TAMU’s MCS: 30 hours
Seen as a “terminal” degree – not intended to prepare you to go on to Ph.D.
Little actual research
Sometimes can be “fast tracked” with undergraduate studies
Most realistic option for “rapid” degree

11. Master of Science
Typically take quite a few courses, but usually less than coursework-only option
Complete a Master’s Thesis
Usually accounts for ~6 hours of credit, but more work
Thesis topics/depth vary, but usually have to show a research component
Will be far more in depth than any prior school assignments
Thesis defense
Typically take 2-3 years after B.S.

12. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
In depth, research focused
Usually requires a bit more coursework than M.S., but not a lot
Typically takes 5-7 years after B.S.
Cut 2 years off if coming from M.S. (maybe)
You finish when you finish
Major product is the dissertation:
A thorough exploration of some topic in which you make a significant contribution to your field

13. Applying to Grad School: Which School?

14. Choosing a Grad School Research Interests Reputation by Area
Acceptance Rates
Financial Issues
Post/pre Acceptance - Visits

15. What Grad Schools Look For
Are you likely to be successful at the graduate level?
Grades
Test Scores
Experience
Motivation
Letters from Faculty
Do your interests line up with those at that university?
Prior experience
Huge issue for Ph.D., less for M.S.

16. Life in Grad School: Progress over time

17. Coursework Varies significantly between schools, from undergrad
Usually ~2 years, but can be more or less
Ph.D. usually requires a little more coursework
Deeper, more specialized courses
Less hand-holding, more projects
Typical student takes about 9 hours/semester
Usually do other work, also – not full time coursework
If full time, sometimes take 12 hours (maybe 15 hours, in extreme cases)

18. Life in Grad School: Choosing an Advisor

19. How Grad Students See Faculty
Funding
Instructor
Ideas
“Parent”
Job finder

20. How Faculty See Grad Students
MCS
Like undergrads, but more knowledge
Help fill classes MS
Will do some research
Require moderate investment
Might or might not get much “return”
PhD
Will do lots of research
Require lots of investment
Guess which faculty prefer?
Make the right choice for YOU!

21. Life in Grad School: Paying for It All

22. Research Assistant Work on research for an advisor
Usually your own advisor
Usually on topics related to your dissertation
Research is paid through some funding source
Typically, these are government grants
Sometimes company support

23. Teaching Assistant Grading, running labs, holding office hours
Typically assumed to be 20 hours a week of work
Some schools require this (for Ph.D.s)
Work on research for an advisor
Usually your own advisor
Usually on topics related to your dissertation

24. Fellowships
A wide variety of sources, public, private, university-specific
Some are very prestigious (e.g. NSF)
Often have various restrictions
U.S. Citizenship
Underrepresented groups
Work requirements/options
Can vary in quality, from full coverage for several years to a small “extra” amount

25. Other sources Outside jobs
Some will work while pursuing graduate degree
Part-time jobs – e.g. other departments
Very difficult to do full time job and work on graduate degree, unless you tie your job closely into your studies
Loans
Not as commonly used in grad school, but do happen sometimes
Much more common in other fields
Company paid grad school
Less time/choice
Company wants a return on investment

26. After Graduation: What Good Was This?

27. Jobs for Grad Degrees Master’s degrees:
Tend to be the same “types” of jobs as undergraduates
Sometimes more advanced projects
Tend to head toward more leadership and advanced roles
Ph.D. degrees:
Usually more flexible, often research-based
Fewer jobs, but more interesting/advanced
Some people will go to postdocs
Not necessarily more money – might not be financially beneficial factoring in time spent