2014 Graduate And Professional Student Research Conference Write-up

On Friday April 4th, I attended the 2014 Graduate and Professional Student Research Conference located in the design building of ISU campus. The session I decided to attend was titled "What is Graduate School Like?" This session was a panel of six undergraduate students of ISU, each of which were very knowledgable in their field of study and had a lot of good advice for the audience. One of the aspects I liked the most about this seminar, was the fact that each undergrad student had a slightly different "major" so the audience got to hear a lot of different similarities and differences between different options. Half of the time was spent with the undergrads talking about how they got into their particular program, what they enjoy about it, and what they are struggling with. Also discussed was how to go from a four year college to the next step, and how to prepare for it. The other half of the time was dedicated to the audience for asking questions and reviewing what we had gone over. I am really glad I had the opportunity to attend this conference seminar, because I gained key knowledge that I don't know how else I would have gotten. The six ladies who answered our questions were great and a valuable resource for a student like me to learn from and look up too.

Not that anyone will really understand unless you were there, but here are my typed notes I took during the seminar: 

continued because no jobs right out of college

continued because current job didn’t for fill passion

continued right out of college

continued so could  get the jobs that every one fights for

grad very different from undergrad school

only go to grad school if thats what you really want to do

continued because no jobs available that she really liked

nothing really prepares you for grad school

grad school is a marathon

continued because didn’t want to continue with job wanted to go back to school.

undergrad is 160 course credits and you get the degree

every program is different

dead-ends, go back, dead ends, go back

grad has to be self motivated

deadlines

What do you like about grad school?

like learning, finding out things that you wouldn’t know without grad school

gives more freedom to choose your future

feeling of being a grad school. the label. colleges with professors

first few years course work, but last few years = freedom to explore exciting to find your own results

research is fun to deal with, to direct your own research

How did you choose your major?

had the idea after college

note: choose a professor you can easily get along with

progression from undergrad to grad

pairing with boyfriend, waited for a good time for both. decided on isu. not going to know group dynamic from the beginning. figure out dynamic of lab. talk with current grad students. sooooo important. ask them if they are happy. social outlet. If offered a visit, GO!

how log does it take?

graduation rates?

where living?

How are students supported? educationally? emotionally?

Grad is HARD but REWARDING. buy you need the support from professors.

Time:

time not doing work is spent at home 

course work not always mon,tues,wed, etc. sometime intensive class days only twice a month and rest is done on own time

balancing research and courses, not treated as a student, expected to do well and self motivate 

first two years course work. 12 hours a week in class lot of assignments.

Find a hobby. there will be times you aren’t doing well.