Why Go To Grad School?D. M. H. Walker

Graduate Advisor

Dept. of Computer Science

Texas A&M University

(Revised by Jianer Chen)

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Grad School

10.Get to defer student loans.

9. Significant other hasn’t graduated yet. Need

to hang around town.

10.Can defer dress code – wear iPod/hat/PJs…

11.Can defer contact with the “real world” –

going to bed and getting up on time.

6. Want people to call you “Doctor” but faint at

the sight of blood.

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Grad School

5. Love taking courses, want to take even more.

6. Want more letters after your name – hope it

boosts starting salary.

7. Like doing research – discovering and inventing

new things.

2. Want to be the world’s expert at something.

1. Want to be famous by discovering something

that are important and significant to everybody

Length of Graduate Programs

• MS/ME– ~1-2 yrs for MCS/ME– ~1.5-3 yrs for MS

• PhD– ~5-6 yrs after BS– ~3-4 yrs after MS

Your Mileage May Vary!

How Grad Students See Faculty

• Funding

• Instructor

• Ideas

• “Parent”

• Job finder

How Faculty See Grad Students

• MCS/ME– Like undergrads, but more knowledge

• MS– Will do some research

• PhD– Will do lots of research

• Guess which faculty prefer?

• Make the right choice for YOU!

Top Issues Faced in Making Choice

• Grad school or job – what is research?

• Which degree - MCS/MEN, MS or PhD?

• Which school - TAMU, MIT, Caltech, or UT?

• Which advisor – Dr. Chen or Dr. Walker?

• Which research topic - what am I incredibly interested in?

• Start by asking faculty questions!

Undergraduate Research (opportunities)

• #1 grad school question – Do I like research?

• Undergraduate Research Programs (REU, USRG)– Making some money while doing research– Experiencing some “real” research– Finding out your real interests

• CPSC 485 projects with faculty– Getting familiar with faculty– Most faculty interested in this– Some might have $$$

Experiencing Teaching

• #2 grad school question: Do I like teaching?

• Fun of Teaching at College– A couple of hours per day (at most).– Teaching people who want (or have to) learn– Teaching things discovered by yourself– Teaching people who are going to teach

others– Some of your students will become

significant

Graduate School:Relive the Moment – Graduate Again!