Learning Objective: Examine resources for successfully navigating graduate school admission and courses Acclimating to a new environment or even a new process can be difficult. While pursuing an undergraduate degree presents its challenges, taking the next step to the advanced degree presents even more challenges. How can one navigate through the graduate school process as an early career graduate student? What are the tools needed for this transition? This seminar highlights the tools needed for the graduate school experience while addressing the factors that impact those experiences. This session also highlights the difficulties in STEM fields while discussing some solutions that can help to overcome the common challenges and hurdles that are usually encountered. At the end of the seminar, participants will be able to: a. Strategically plan each academic year for both short-term and long-term goals based on the identified impact factors. b. Tap into resources that help foster graduate academic and personal growth. c. Recognize the difference between a sponsor and a mentor and expand their academic network by fostering these relationships. d. Identify both personal and research goals to make the best of the graduate school experience while recognizing how to incorporate each goal set to find the right balance.

1. Dermawan
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2. Makingthe Most of Graduate School
February9, 2019

3. Carla R. Carter
Advanced Systems Engineer
Professional and Personal Experience

4. Dr. Thaddaeus Irby
Lead Program Manager, General Motors
MBA Adjunct Professor, Wayne StateUniversity
CURRENT
PAST

5. 2/22/2019 5
Dr. TalithaWashington
Science Day, 1995
Presented “Stability of
Difference Equations”

6. How to Find $$ for Graduate School
Fellowship
Amount and
Duration
Application Deadline,
Deadline,2018
Web Site
National Science Foundation
$34,000for 3 years
years
November 5 http://www.nsfgrfp.org
Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
Fellowship
$24,000for 3 years
years
December 13
http://sites.nationalacad
emies.org/pga/fordfello
wships/
National Physical Science Consortium
Consortium
$20,000for 6 years
years
November 30 http://www.npsc.org
National Defense Science and Engineering
Engineering Graduate Fellowship
Fellowship
$3,200/monthfor 3
for 3years
December7 http://ndseg.asee.org
Goins, Edray. How Do I Find Money for Graduate School? AMS Blogs, September 13, 2013.

7. https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310
U.S. Population, Ages 18-64: 2014
Working in S&E Occupations: 2015
NSF Report – 2017
Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in S&E

8. 8
The 2018 Status Report on
Engineering Education, APLU

9. Graduate: Recommendation 3.5
 ThegraduateSTEM educationenterpriseshouldenablestudentsofall
backgrounds,includingbutnot limitedtoracial andethnicbackground,
gender,stageof life,culture,socioeconomic status,disability,sexual
orientation,genderidentity,andnationalityto succeed,by
implementingpracticesthatcreateanequitableandinclusive
institutionalenvironment.
EnsuringDiverse, Equitable, and Inclusive
Environments:
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25038/graduate-stem-education-for-the-21st-century

10. Real World Experiences

11. Coursework WithinA FluidWork Environment
When Coursework Collides with a Busy Work Schedule
Pre-Planning
What can youdoahead of international
travel to submit team projects?
Communication
How do I maintain team
support?
Tools
What tools are available tomake
team work easier?
Course Load
How many courses can I take to
realistically maintain superior work
performance?
How do you accomplish your careerobjectives and courseobjectives,
while traveling internationally?

12. Reflectionsand Examples
Foundations:
• Undergraduate Schoolversus GraduateSchool
• Find Money(Scholarships,Grants, Tuition Reimbursement, GIBill)
• AcademicAdvising andStudentServices arecritical in agraduate student’s success,
especially early onintheirprogram.
As a Graduate School Student:
• Biggest Challenge: Work/ Life / SchoolBalance
• RecommendedTool: DailyTo-DoList andPlannedBreaks
As a Graduate School Professor:
• Biggest Challenge: AcademicAchievement(Ainclass)andProcrastination
• RecommendedTools:Communication,Syllabus,andStudyGroups

13. Dr. Willena Kimpson Price, Spelman C’65
Director of the H. Fred Simons African American Cultural Center
Dr. Young-Sze Choi
Dr. Joe McKenna
TalithaWashington
Navigating Graduate School

15. InteractiveScenarios

16. Scenario 1
April obtained her MBA while working as civil engineerat a designfirm. She learned a lot
about new software applicationsand process improvementduring her graduate program
that she believedwould be valuableat her job. April set up a meeting with her manager
todiscuss her ideas and how the company could benefit from her new skills. During the
meeting,she mentioned that she was interested in a leadership position that would allow
her to implementher new ideas. Her manager liked her ideas, but wasn’t sure how some
of the other leaders would accept the change.
Sharing New Skills Gained During Graduate School in a Work Environment

17. Scenario 2
Maxwell chose towork with Dr. Williamsbecause of his interest in this cutting-
edge research area. Little did Maxwell know, their personalitiesand working styles
would clash. Maxwell earned excellent grades before graduate school and was a
really hard worker. His classmates would invite him tothe café but he often
declined because of all of the work he had todo.He wanted tomake progress on
his research but he felt thathe was justspinning his wheels. Maxwell became really
frustrated and contemplated why he should be in graduate school.
Navigating Relationships with Advisors and/or Faculty

18. Scenario 3
Five students were put intoa pre-assigned group for the semester in anonlinecourse.
The group was tasked bi-weekly to research and develop a team paper for submission
tothe professor on varyinggroup dynamic topics. The work was tobe split evenly. A
few weeks intothe semester, Peter became more difficult towork with. He chose to
often disregard the project directions and tellthe other team members thattheir work
was wrong because he disagreedthe their viewpoints. There were several skype team
meetingswhere Peter lashed out at multipleteam membersby calling themnames,
talkingdown tothem, cursing, etc.
Team Conflict in Online Couse

19. Graduate Studies as a FullTime Employee
KeystoSuccess fromCarla
Financing
Explore your employer’s benefits
tuition reimbursement programs.
Networking
Find other students with a similar
background/employer toassist you throughout
your graduate career.
Leadership/Team Support
Be open with leadership and coworkers about
your graduate studies. Establish a consistent
schedule.
Resources
Trackand maintain coursework to
serve as a libraryforfuture work.
To become a successfulgraduate student, you have toremain consistentand
disciplined to achieve your goals. Determine yourmotivation for pursuinga
graduate degree to ensurethat you select the best program for yourlearning
style and lifestyle.

20.  Actively Seek out Support
 Maintain Your Well-Being
 Create Study Groups
 Develop Your Own (Reasonable)
Timelines
 Expand Your Network
 Be Receptive to Feedback
 Attend Seminars and Colloquiums
 Participate in Conferences and
Workshops
 Work through Failure
Tips for Success in Graduate School
from Talitha

21. Tips for Success inGraduate School
 Build a Life Roadmap
 ScheduleDistractions and Rewards
 Be Focused at the Task at Hand
 Usea Calendar and a Checklist
 Get a Good Night's Sleep
 Build a Team throughNetworking
fromThaddaeus

22. TITLE
Questions & Answers