Transcript Graduate School Survival Skills - CRA-W

Graduate School Survival Skills
Andrea Parker and Patti Ordóñez
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?
• About Patti
BA in HIS
at JHU
MS 2010
and PhD
2012 in CS
at UMBC
Who are we?
• About Andrea
– From San Jose, CA
– Training
• BS Computer Science
• PhD Human-Centered Computing
– Now
• Assistant Professor
• HCI & Personal Health Informatics
– How did I survive?
• Support Network
• Passion-driven research
• Prayer
– How do I survive now?
• See above!
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
• Figure out how you’re going to learn
that:
– Meetings with your supervisor
– Lab meetings
– Apprentice w/senior
students
– Classes
– Going to talks
– Reading papers
– Learn to write
– Take a course in
research methods
– Apply for funding
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
– Be strategic in the classes you choose
… but what if you’re not getting
what you came for?
• Sadly, fairly common
• Figure out what’s bothering you.
– Advisor problems
– You hate your research
– You hate your research group
• 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!
Finding the Right Advisor
• Ask important questions like:
– How many students have they graduated?
Are they like you?
– What kind of relationship do they have with
their advisees?
– Do they provide opportunities for their
students?
– Is your potential advisor a leader in your
field of interest?
– What is their style of advising? Does it go
with you?
• Identify and address problems early!
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.
– You must take care of yourself mentally,
emotionally, and physically.
– 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.
Tips for Success
• What you can do to avoid trouble:
– Find a support group
– Exercise or do something you like that is
not your research
– Network (Don’t just work all the time)
– Use all resources that are available to
you
– Distance yourself from difficult
relationships
Tips for Success
• Develop a mentor map
• Who do you know that can
– Help you develop your dissertation research ideas
– Point out internship/job/fellowship opportunities
– Help you learn what it means to go into
academia/industry
– Provide feedback on papers
– Introduce you to senior researchers/help you
develop your network
– Write letters of rec & speak well of your work to
others
– …
• Identify holes in map & make plans to fill in
Tips for Success
• Advisor/mentor relationship
– One person will not know everything
• You should have many mentors!
– Recognize strengths & weaknesses
– Come ready & prepared
• This is a partnership
• Bring ideas, questions, and potential
answers
Tips for Success
• Set goals
– Long-term: what do you want to do after grad
school?
– Medium: what do you want to accomplish this
school year?
– Short: this semester?
• Break goals into concrete steps
– These steps should be S.M.A.R.T.
• Track your progress
– Identify (& celebrate) success
– When you miss goals, make a plan to get back
on track
What to do when you run into
trouble?
• Ask for help from:
– 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!)
– Counselors
– Trusted Peers (in/out of your
program/university)
All set?
• Having said all that, there’s one thing
we’d like to leave you with
– BE BOLD. Put yourself out there.
Don’t be afraid to make an idiot of
yourself.
• So, with that in mind, it’s time for a
sing along:
To be sung to the tune of “I will
Survive”
At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Thinking I could never do research, I’d have to hide
I spent so many nights thinking all I did was wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to carry on
Now my groove’s back!
From a dark place.
I just walk in and people leave
with love of my research taste
I have changed the way I work
Now I know that was the key
And I know for just one second
Grad school doesn’t bother me
Once more with feeling!
And now I’ll go! Walk out the door
I’m turned around now
Doubt’s not welcome anymore
I used to feel so very hurt that I could cry
I thought I’d crumble
I thought I’d lay down and die
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to think
I’ll make it out alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my thoughts to give
And I’ll survive
I will survive!
Hey, hey!