how to survive as a graduate student francisco pereira, ted wong sean slattery, alma whitten, rob...

How to Survive as a Graduate Student

Francisco Pereira, Ted Wong

Sean Slattery, Alma Whitten, Rob Deline,

Brian Noble, Jay Sipelstein,

Jonathan Shewchuk, Benli Pierce, David Dill

How to Survive as a Graduate StudentFrancisco Pereira ?

Ted Wong IBM

Sean Slattery APR Smartlogik

Alma Whitten Google

Rob Deline Microsoft

Brian Noble U. Michigan

Jay Sipelstein Susquehanna

Jonathan Shewchuk U. Berkeley

Benli Pierce U. Pennsylvanya

David Dill Stanford U.

29 August 2003 http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~fpereira/ic.ppt 3

Why are we here?

• Learn how to survive and thrive

• Hear from the "experts"


Outline

• Getting started

• The early years

• The middle years

• Black Friday

• Fortune cookies


Format

• Question my authority!

• Focus on new students

• No names


Format

• Question my authority!

• Focus on new students

• No namesunlike other departments we could mention…


Getting started

• Getting here

• Attending the Immigration Course

• Picking your new advisor


Getting here

• You have the ability to graduate

• You are responsible for graduating


Attending the Immigration Course

• Go to lots of talks!• Find out what you're interested in• Find out who is leading what research• Find out who is looking for students

• Go to the social events• Get to know the other students• Get to meet faculty


Picking your new advisor

• Why is this so important?

• How do you choose?

• What do you look for in an advisor?


Why is an advisor so important?

• Your advisor is your mentor

• Your advisor is your manager

• Your advisor is your advocate


How do you choose an advisor?

• Talk to potential advisors

• Talk to current and former students

• Read their publications


How do you choose an advisor?

• Talk to potential advisorsAt worse they may come in handy later

• Talk to current and former studentsDon’t be afraid – they’ve had to do this too

• Read their publicationsOr abstract+introduction+conclusions…


What do you look for in an advisor?

• Approachability

• Compatibility

• Durability

• History

• Research



• Approachability• Can you talk to them?• Can you have discussions with them?• Can you talk about personal matters if they affect

you or the research?



• Compatibility• Do you have similar working styles?• What do they expect from their students at

different stages?• Hands-off, hands-on, hands-on-your-throat?• 40 or 60 hour work week?• What counts as research?• How do they react if expectations aren’t met?



• Durability• Will they be here for all of your stay?• Do they often go on leaves of absence?• Do they have a business “on the side”? Are there

rumors about one being prepared?• Are they near their tenure case decision?• Are they new faculty?• Are they established or a rising star?



• History• Have they graduated other students?• How long did that take?• Are they successful now?• Alive? Embittered? Divorced? Insane?• How successful are current students?• Have they “lost” a lot of students through advisor

changes or departures?



• Research• Are you interested in their research?• How far along is it (exploration, implementation,

paper writing)?• Do they have a large group working on one

problem/system, or individuals working on unrelated problems?

• Are there more faculty/students involved?


Choosing multiple advisors

• Pros:• Span research areas, skills, or styles• Combine strengths of each advisor• Parents v2.0

• Cons:• Must manage several relationships• Must balance demands• Must ensure they meet every so often


Changing advisors

• When to do it• If your research interests diverge• If your "styles" truly don't match

• What to look out for• Changing frequently• Changing right before Black Friday


The early years

• Building up your advisor relationship

• Taking classes

• Fulfilling requirements

• Avoiding common distractions

• FUD


Building up your advisor relationship

• Meet regularly with them

• Communicate openly with them

• Manage them

• Accommodate their needs


Doing Research

• Acquiring tools and concepts

• Learning how to survey an area

• Identifying a problem

• Solving it

• Dealing with yourself throughout

• Listen to Manuel Blum’s advice!


When advisors go bad

• (S)He doesn’t look at me the way he used to

• (S)He doesn’t spend time with me anymore

• (S)He falls asleep when we’re together

• (S)He never compliments me anymore

• (S)He never tells me what’s wrong

• (S)He never answers my calls/emails


Taking classes

• The old way (previous century)• Concentrate on research• Pass your classes (B-), get an A in your area

• The apocryphal new way (this century)• Do well in your classes (A) • Concentrate on research (?!)

• Culture shock, yet again


Fulfilling requirements

• Teaching• Teach a basic and an advanced class• Keep close watch on the clock (1/2-time)

• Writing and speaking• Practice these skills early and often• Get lots of feedback before trying to pass

• Programming• Talk to your advisor about expectations


Avoiding common distractions

• Zephyr is not research!

• Slashdot is not research!

• Community service is not a "distraction"!


Avoiding common distractions

• So what is Community service?• Traditional• Helps you meet many more people• Gives a warm fuzzy feeling

• What can I do?• DEC/5, Open House, Seminars, Coke

Machine, Espresso Machine, Software,The Guide To Living in Pittsburgh…


FUD: Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

• "I don't belong here": Impostor Syndrome

• "I'm the only person having a hard time"

• "I'm struggling in / failing a class“


FUD: Fear, uncertainty, and doubt

• "I don't belong here": Impostor Syndrome

• "I'm the only person having a hard time"

• "I'm struggling in / failing a class“

• “Hah, I feel none of the above! I scored 800 on all my GREs! I’ve published 10 papers!”


Beating FUD

• Talk to other students (or help them!)

• Talk to your advisor

• Talk to Shawn Butler, the ombudsperson.

• Talk to Jeannette or Sharon

• Talk to Counseling Services


Outline

• Getting started

• The early years

• The middle years

• Black Friday

• Fortune cookies


The middle years

• Becoming self-directed

• Beating pre-proposal FUD


Becoming self-directed

• Before:• External deadlines• Self-contained problems

• Now:• Internal deadlines• Open-ended problems

• Depth-first (aka obcessed by details)• Breadth-first (aka little butterfly)


Beating pre-proposal FUD

• "I'm not cut out for research."• It takes time to transition to self-direction• It takes time to find thesis topic• It is hard to figure out how to do research, let

alone do it…

• "I want to leave."• It is OK to leave• Leaving is NOT failure!• Staying out of stubbornness can lead to failure

37 http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~fpereira/ic.ppt 29 August 2003

Black Friday

• Don't panic!

• Ensure that you have an advocate

• Talk to your advocate before BF• What have you (not) done• What do you expect to do (be reasonable)


Black Friday: The process

• You fill out a form for your advisor (only!)

• Your advisor drafts a letter

• The faculty discusses and edits your letter

• You go to the Black Friday TG

• Jeannette signs the letter


Black Friday: The letter

• "We are pleased. Next semester:“• Keep up the good work!• Making satisfactory progress• Try to reach suggested goals• Alternatively, reach equivalent goals

• "To remain in good standing, you must:"• Reach required goals• No, really reach required goals

• "So long, and thanks for all the fish.“


Black Friday: The Whys

• Lack of communicationAdvisor might not be able to express disappointment…

Certain advisors may be less patient.

Language issues.

• Lack of fundsIn our socialist funding system, we are the means of

production, not the People…

• Lack of directionOnce classes and TAing are over, fewer excuses…


Fortune cookies

Never surprise or be surprised by your advisor.


Fortune cookies

Once an advisor, always an advisor.


Fortune cookies

Talk with other students and faculty to get an outside perspective on your research.


Fortune cookies

There is more than one partner in a marriage.

Being concerned with only one of them is a BIG problem.


Fortune cookies

You probably cannot write or speak as well as you can hack. Practice early and often.


Fortune cookies

Hacking is not research.


Fortune cookies

If you want to work, work.

If you want to play, play.


Fortune cookies

Work at least an hour a day.

Make that hour the first hour.


Fortune cookies

Keep outside interests and activities.


Fortune cookies

Your thesis has less to do with your career than you think.

What you can say about your thesis has more to do with your career than you think.


Fortune cookies

Be honest to yourself about your abilities and limits.


Fortune cookies

Be your own advocate.


Final fortune cookie

Have fun!

how to survive as a graduate student francisco pereira, ted wong sean slattery, alma whitten, rob...

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