Transcript Graduate School Survival Skills - CRA-W

Graduate School Survival Skills
Rachel Pottinger and Nancy Amato
CRA-W
Computer Research Association Committee on the Status of
Women in Computing Research
Mission increase the participation and
success of women in computing research
www.cra-w.org
What does CRA-W do?
Individual & Group Research Mentoring
Undergrads: Undergraduate Research Experiences
Undergrads: Distinguished lecture role models
Grad Cohort: group mentoring of grad students
Grad Students: Discipline Specific Research
workshops
PhD Researchers: group mentoring of early & mid
career @ CMW, CAPP, Hopper & Tapia
600+ students and PhD researchers a year
Academic careers
Undergraduates
Graduate Students
Industry/government
www.cra-w.org
Who are you?
• How many of you are:
– Undergraduates
– MSc students
– PhD students
– Other
Who are we?
Why are you here?
No, really, why are you here?
• Why are you at this workshop? Why
are you in grad school?
• Turn to the person next to you and
talk it over for the next 3 minutes
Why people are here
YOU CAN’T GET WHAT YOU CAME
FOR UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT
YOU CAME FOR
If you came to learn how to do
research
• You need to figure out how you’re
going to learn that:
– Meetings with your supervisor
– Lab meetings
– Classes
– Going to talks
– Reading papers
If you came to get a job when
you’re done
• Figure out which job you really want:
– Do internships
– Teach
• Find out how to get the skills you
need
– Research (see previous slide)
– Writing
– Public speaking
… but what if you’re not getting
what you came for
• The most important thing is to realize
that this is sadly fairly common
• See if you can figure out how to change
what’s bothering you. Some common
ones:
– Advisor problems
– You hate your research
– You hate your group
• The biggest thing: find
someone to talk to
List the 3 most important
people in your graduate school
career
• Let’s get together in small groups and
discuss among yourselves who are the
important people in grad school.
• Be ready to share with the larger
group.
List 3 important people in your
graduate school career
• Surely, your graduate advisor is on
your list?
– For better or for worse, your advisor
holds the key to the next step in your
career.
– If you are getting a PhD, you will be
forever linked to your advisor.
– This is one of the reasons picking an
advisor is serious business!
List 3 important people in your
graduate school career
• Surely, you are on your list?
– You are important. You are to be
respected and valued.
– The way people treat you is a function of
how you expect to be treated.
– You have the most to gain and lose in
your graduate school career.
What to do when you run into
trouble?
• Don’t ignore it.
– The problem will only get bigger.
– Early detection is the key.
• Summarize the facts of the issue.
– Discuss the facts with a trusted friend.
– Develop a plan of action.
What to do when you run into
trouble?
• Consider the following source of help.
– Your graduate advisor – if they are not
the issue.
– Women groups in computer science and
engineering.
– Professors you have taken a class with
and had a good rapport.
– A trusted resource from your
undergraduate institution.
– Professors you met at GHC (here!)
All set?
• Having said all that, there’s one thing
we’d like to leave you with
• In order to make the most of grad
school, you have to be willing to put
yourself out there and be bold
• In short:
You can’t be afraid to make an idiot of
yourself.
• So, with that in mind, it’s time for a sing
along