This presentation is based off my experience as a graduate student. I wanted to share my experience and tips on how someone can be successful in any career filed.

1. How to be Successful as a
Graduate Student
By: Katia Dean
Graduate Student
University of Maryland University College
(UMUC)

2. Katia’s Bio
 Graduated from Cleveland State University
in May 2013 with B.S in Electronic
Engineering
 Moved to Lexington Park, MD in Aug 2013
 Currently employed with Don Selvy
Enterprise as a Cyber Security Engineer
 Currently working on Security+ Certification
 Currently volunteering with young girls in a
program called STEMing (Science
Technology Engineering Inspiring the Next
Generation)
 Currently a graduate student at University of
Maryland University College
 Currently own and operating my own
business

4. Katia’s Academic Status
Currently maintaining 4.0 in the Masters
of Cybersecurity Program at UMUC
 Still have Goals
◦ Academic
◦ Career
◦ Life
 Still have “life” going on
◦ Volunteering in Community
◦ Working on Graduate Degree
◦ Working in my Career Field
◦ Operating my Own Business

5. Online VS Traditional
Online Traditional
From comfort of own home In the classroom on campus
Deadlines are very flexible Most deadlines are hard stop
Must utilize technology to interact
with professor
Face to face interaction with
professor
More self-research to learning More professor-led to learning

6. Distractors
 Lack of priorities
 Lack of time management skills
 Lack of career goals
 Lack of academic goals
 Lack of life goals
 Lack of motivation
 Lack of passion
 Life!

7. Key Points on Being Successful
in Graduate School
 Time Management
 Ask Questions
 Teamwork
 Embrace Technology
 Choose a Mentor

8. Time Management
 Is defined as the act or process of planning
and exercise control over the amount of time
spent on activities.
 Why Important?
◦ Most schools have went or is going to online
platform
◦ Most or all conveniences of traditional classroom
are not present
 Benefits:
◦ Helps you to not fall behind in class
◦ Most cyber programs are more technical than
before
◦ Ensures that you have time to learn and not just
rushing to finish a paper before the deadline

9. Ask Questions
 Ask as many questions as often as
possible
 If you don’t understand a topic or
assignment don’t be afraid to ask.
 Benefits:
◦ Increase your knowledge in area
◦ You can also assist other classmates that
may be stuck on the same problem.

10. Teamwork
 Team work will be important through out school
and your career
 You will always have group projects
 Analyze how you fit into the group by your skills
and abilities
◦ Are you leader?
◦ Great at creating presentations
◦ Editing guru
 If problems arise let the professor know ahead of
time
 Benefits
◦ Will be successful with group projects and group
interactions
◦ Will carry these skills into career

11. Embrace Technology
 Do not rely on email alone to
communicate with
professor/classmates
◦ Use online technologies to communicate
 Google hangouts, Skype, Webex, etc.
 Benefits:
◦ Give you multiple avenues to stay
connected
◦ Ensures that email goes to junk box, your
message will still get to intended audience

12. Choose a Mentor
 Having a mentor in college or starting out in your
career field is important
 This person will have a better insight of the field
 Choose a mentor that will push you
 Choose a mentor that is invested in your
academics as well as your career
 Never too early to choose a mentor
 Benefits:
◦ Will be able to guide you to making strategic choices in
your academics and career
◦ Can establish your network
◦ Opens up opportunities to networking with more
professionals in your field

13. Other Helpful Tips
 Create your LinkedIn profile
◦ Begin to grow your network
 Attend Cybersecurity Conferences
◦ Research free conferences
◦ Attend one paid conference per year
 Give Back to the Community
◦ Get involved in your discipline area
 Get Certified
◦ Aligns with what you learn in class
 Benefits
◦ Keeps you current in the field and with changes
◦ Shows your passion for your career

14. Contact Information
 LinkedIn
◦ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiadean/
IG
◦ Instagram.com/peacefulpawsnaturalcare