Graduate School Survival Skills

Rachel Pottinger and Tiffani Williams

Who are you?

• How many of you are:– Undergraduates– MSc students– PhD students– Other

Who are we?

About Rachel

• I’m an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (in Vancouver, Canada, eh)

• I got my PhD at the University of Washington and my BS at Duke

• I’m married to a tenured UBC CS teaching track faculty member, Steve, and we have a 4 year old daughter,Naomi

About Tiffani

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.

Graduate school isn’t all work. You must find time to play.

• We all know about Oprah’s favorite things. Here are ours.

• Rachel’s favorite things:– Spending time with my husband and

daughter, reading, cooking and eating• Tiffani’s favorite things:– Doing nothing, playing sports, reading,

talking, laughing, and eating

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

To be sung to the tune of “I will Survive”

At first I was afraid, I was petrifiedThinking I could never do research, I’d have to hideI spent so many nights thinking all I did was wrongI grew strongI learned how to carry onNow my groove’s back!From a dark place.I just walk in and people leave with love of my research tasteI have changed the way I workNow I know that was the keyAnd I know for just one second Grad school doesn’t bother me

Once more with feeling!And now I’ll go! Walk out the doorI’m turned around nowDoubt’s not welcome anymoreI used to feel so very hurt that I could cryI thought I’d crumbleI thought I’d lay down and dieOh no, not I!I will survive!As long as I know how to thinkI’ll make it out aliveI’ve got all my life to live I’ve got all my thoughts to giveAnd I’ll surviveI will survive!Hey, hey!