CRA-W / CDC Alliance Distinguished Lecture Series Graduate School Information Panel

1. CRA-W / CDC Alliance Distinguished Lecture SeriesGraduate School Information Panel <Your Institution/Event Name Here> Private Foundation Unversity Departments www.cdc.org www.cra-w.org

2. CRA-W Computer Research Association Committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research Mission increase the participation and success of women and under represented minorities in computing CDCComputer Research Association Coalition to Diversify Computing

3. Why? Increase participation in jobs that shape our world and pay well *Source: ”Report on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce,” Anthony P. Carnevale, Nicole Smith, and Michelle Melton, Oct. 2011.

4. Industry/government labs Graduate Students Undergraduates Academic careers What do CRA-W & CDC do?Individual & Group Research Mentoring Undergrads: UndergraduateResearch 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

5. Evaluation Do CRA-W/CDC programs increase participation in computing?

6. Yes! Undergraduate CRA-W/CDC participants more likely than non-participants to attend graduate school

7. The Goal, History of your Event, agenda, etc.

8. The Distinguished Lecture Series Co-Chairs: Nancy M. Amato (Texas A&M), Carla Brodley (Tufts), and Cheryl Seals (Auburn) GOAL: Encourage students to apply to graduate school, educate them about the graduate school and fellowship application process, and exposure them to role models who have research careers ACTIVITIES: • Industrial and academic research presentations • Grad school information panel

9. Introductions Name of Moderator • Position, Organization • Ph.D. from School • Area of Interest Name of first Distinguished Visitor • Position, Organization • Ph.D. from School • Area of Interest Name of second Distinguished Visitor • Position, Organization • Ph.D. from School • Area of Interest

10. Introductions Grad student #1 • Year in program, B.S. from where, research interests,ugrad research experience, work experience, etc (any other panelists – don’t want too many) • as above

11. Stand Up … Sit Down Undergraduate Student? Faculty? Masters Student? PhD Student?

12. Some Questions • Why did you go to grad school? • Research is what the graduate school experience really is all about, so what excites you about the research you do? • How can you find out if you like research? • PhD or Masters? • What’s the difference? How long do they take? Do you have to get a MS first? • What are the career paths after a MS or a PhD? • Logistics: Getting in and Paying for it • How to apply to graduate school? Which schools? • How does funding work? • How to succeed in Grad School once you get there? • How to prepare for grad school ? • What are the myths and surprises in grad school ? • What was your biggest challenge ?

13. Grad School – What & Why? • To gain expertise & learn topic in greater depth • increased breadth (more classes) • Increased depth with research degrees (MS, PhD) • Meet career goals/requirements • Professional Degrees: MBA, MD, JD, … • required credentials in discipline or for management roles on the technical or business side • Masters Degree • Coursework only or Thesis (research oriented) • PhD • Thesis (also called a Dissertation)

14. Life in Grad School • Coursework • Varies significantly • Occasionally leveling required • Usually 1-2 years • Deeper, more specialized courses • Research • Start early and get involved • Identify a faculty advisor/research area • First assist others, then take your own direction

15. Undergraduate Research Why? Help you decide if grad school is for you and make you a more competitive applicant • Provide first-hand experience of what graduate school is really like • Give students a close mentoring relationship with a successful researcher (or two) • Increase competitiveness of applicant for graduate admissions and fellowships

16. Overview of CRA-W/CDCUndergraduate Research Programshttp://cra-w.org/UgradResearch

17. Grad School - Applications • Start Early!!! • Your Record - GPA & test scores are important as filters • GRE General Test, GRE Subject test • GRE Subject test requires - algorithms, data structures, OS, architecture and compilers • MCAT, LSAT, GMAT • Letters of Recommendation • Tenure track faculty (not lecturers) • Best, profs you did research with • Work-related letters • Not for grad school in CS, CE, MD, or JD • Sometimes for MBA if experience is relevant • Personal Essays • Statement of why you want to go & why they should want you as an applicant • Get others to read them and give you feedback (best faculty) • Other supporting information • Courses taken • Research projects/publications

18. Choosing a Grad School • Matching your interests & their strengths • E.g., UNC for graphics, UCLA Biz school for entertainment industry, Johns Hopkins medical school for biomedical engineering ties, etc. • Their reputation • what will that degree mean for you later? • Acceptance Rates • what are your chances of getting in? • Financial Issues • Evaluating your options • Post/pre Acceptance - Visits, contact with faculty, alumni, etc.

19. Grad School - Paying for it All • Assistantships • TA, RA, etc. • Fellowships • External (NSF, NDSEG, etc.) • Internal • Outside Jobs • Sometimes employers will pay for their employees to pursue advanced degrees • Loans… • Typically the only option for professional degrees such as MD, MBA, JD

20. Resources • Advice for Undergraduates Considering Grad School (Phil Agre) • http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/grad-school.html • Discusses what grad school is like, what to do as a ugrad to prepare, and the application process • CRA-W publication: The Graduate Student Information Guide • http://www.cra-w.org/sites/default/files/grad-guide.pdf • Discusses advantages of obtaining an advanced degree, choosing the right graduate school, the application process, and financing graduate study • Choosing A Ph.D. Program In Computer Science (Rachel Pottinger) • http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds6-1/choosing.html • Discusses the application process and financing graduate studies • How to Succeed in Graduate School: A Guide for Students and Advisors: Parts I & II (Marie desJardins) • Part I: http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.html • Part II: http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-3/advice2.html • Discusses strategies for succeeding in graduate school, the advisor-student relationship, what a graduate student should expect to accomplish, common problems and solutions • Financing Graduate School – Fellowships and Scholarships • http://www.cs.tamu.edu/academics/scholarships#national • http://pag.csail.mit.edu/~amy/fellowships.html • Internships & more: http://www.acm.org/crossroads/resources

21. Feedback • Please fill out Exit Survey before you leave. • More comments on how to improve this panel after you leave are also welcome: dls@cra.org

22. CRA-W/CDCDistinguished Lecture SeriesWrap Up Private Foundation Unversity Departments

23. Industry/government Graduate Students Undergraduates Academic careers CRA-W/CDC Programs Undergrads: UndergraduateResearch 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

24. Thank you Speakers, sponsors, CRA Staff

25. What should you do next? Completethe evaluation survey Apply your new knowledge Shareyournew knowledge at your institution Follow up with someone you met here Participate! join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58020017457 Visitour web pages www.cdc.org www.cra-w.org