A Successful Graduate Student by

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A Successful Graduate Studentby

• Salih Duffuaa
• Professor of Industrial Engineering and
  Operations Research

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Outline

• Nature of graduate School/ studies
• Measures of success
• Elements of success
• Tips to be more successful.
• Concluding remarks.

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Graduate School Versus Undergraduate

• The Undergraduate
• Student
• Breadth over depth
• Recipient of knowledge
• Externally directed

• The Graduate
• From apprentice to expert
• Depth over breadth
• Analyzer and creator of knowledge
• Self-directed

Source of this slide is University of British
Columbia Web Site.
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What is the Purpose of Graduate Study?
The primary purposes of research-oriented,
thesis-based Masters programs (e.g., MS, MA
MSc) are

• To understand thoroughly and think critically
  about what is known in a particular academic
  field
• To learn how to conduct research in that field
  (and perhaps prepare for PhD study)
• To begin affiliating with the academic community
  of the field

Source of this slide is University of British
Columbia Web Site.
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What is the Purpose of Graduate Study?
The primary purposes of professional Masters
programs (e.g., MEd, MEng) are

• To understand thoroughly and think critically
  about what is known in a particular professional
  field
• To master skills (including research /
  experimentation) that are necessary for advanced
  practice in a particular professional field
• To enhance affiliation with the professional
  community of the field

Source of this slide is University of British
Columbia Web Site.
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What is the Purpose of Graduate Study?
The primary purposes of Doctoral study (e.g.,
PhD) are

• To master the knowledge of a specific academic
  field and become prepared to teach that
  knowledge at the university level
• To make an original contribution, through
  research, to the knowledge within a specific
  field (i.e. create new knowledge)
• To establish oneself as an expert and leader
  within the academic community of the field

Source of this slide University of British
Columbia Web Site.
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Graduate School (GS)

• Different than undergraduate. How? Personnel
  characteristics expectation
• Maturity
• Responsible
• Independence
• Motivation

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Graduate School (GS)

• Different than undergraduate. How? Personnel
  characteristics expectation
• discipline
• Enthusiasm
• Perseverance
• Imagination
• Creativity

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Graduate School

• Different than undergraduate. How? Outcomes
• Level of learning ( Blooms Taxonomy)
• Knowledge arrange, define, duplicate, label,
  list, memorize, name, order, recognize, relate,
  recall, repeat, reproduce state.
• Comprehension classify, describe, discuss,
  explain, express, identify, indicate, locate,
  recognize, report, restate, review, select,
  translate,
• Application apply, choose, demonstrate,
  dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret,
  operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, use,
  write.
• Analysis analyze, appraise, calculate,
  categorize, compare, contrast, criticize,
  differentiate, discriminate, distinguish,
  examine, experiment, question, test.
• Synthesis arrange, assemble, collect, compose,
  construct, create, design, develop, formulate,
  manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up,
  write.
• Evaluation appraise, argue, assess, attach,
  choose compare, defend estimate, judge, predict,
  rate, core, select, support, value, evaluate.

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Graduate School

• Different than undergraduate. How? Outcomes
• Level of learning ( Blooms Taxonomy)
• Knowledge arrange, define, duplicate, label,
  list, memorize, name, order, recognize, relate,
  recall, repeat, reproduce state.
• Comprehension classify, describe, discuss,
  explain, express, identify, indicate, locate,
  recognize, report, restate, review, select,
  translate,
• Application apply, choose, demonstrate,
  dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret,
  operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, use,
  write.
• Analysis analyze, appraise, calculate,
  categorize, compare, contrast, criticize,
  differentiate, discriminate, distinguish,
  examine, experiment, question, test.
• Synthesis arrange, assemble, collect, compose,
  construct, create, design, develop, formulate,
  manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up,
  write.
• Evaluation appraise, argue, assess, attach,
  choose compare, defend estimate, judge, predict,
  rate, core, select, support, value, evaluate.

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Graduate School

• Different than undergraduate. How? Research
  component
• Thesis
• Learn the research process.
• May contribute to knowledge
• Dissertation
• Perfect the research process
• Contribute to and advance knowledge

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Measures of success in GS

• For Graduate School
• Success rate
• Completion rate
• Publication rate
• Graduate student satisfaction rate
• Graduate student per faculty
• For Students
• Degree cycle time.
• Number of publication per year.
• Job opportunities.

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Elements of Success in GS

• Understand requirements and expectations
• Degree requirements.
• Load requirements.
• Graduation requirements.
• Who can help
• ( Graduate Advisor, chairman, faculty members,
  senior colleagues, university web)

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Elements of Success in GS

• Identify available resources
• Laboratories .
• Other departments offering
• Library.
• Faculty interest.
• Who can help
• ( Graduate Advisor, chairman, faculty members,
  senior colleagues)

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Elements of Success in GS

• Be Visible
• Department seminar .
• Department activities.
• Be available at and after working hours in the
  department .
• Hard work
• Nothing replace this quality.
• Read more
• Know more
• Do assignment on time
• Excite your professors ( Below expectation, as
  expected, more than expected).

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Elements of Success in GS

• Be Tolerant
• Be a good team player by tolerating colleagues .
• Do not be sensitive to faculty behavior.
• Tolerate additional assignment by the department.
• Living and office conditions.
• Attend seminars and conferences
• Departmental and related departments.
• Local, regional and international conferences.

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Elements of Success in GS

• Be proactive
• Identify your area of interest
• Seek a professor early .
• Seek additional work as a research assistant on
  projects
• Start preparing for your thesis early ( Use
  summers).
• Offer your help to the chairman.
• Present your work
• Who can help
• ( Graduate Advisor, chairman, faculty members,
  senior colleagues)

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Success in research

• The research component in graduate study is the
  major difference between graduate and
  undergraduate.
• It is crucial to click into research by
  understanding the research process and bringing
  your brain power ( imagination intelligence, etc.
• At the beginning stages the role of the advisor
  is crucial.

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Success in Research

• Understanding the research process
• Learn it early in graduate courses through term
  papers.
• Formulation of answerable questions and
  achievable extensions.
• Perseverance
• Start early on
• Second semester or first summer
• Learn library and search skills.
• Write review papers

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Success in Research

• Selection of the advisor
• Expertise
• Chemistry
• Interest
• Selection of the thesis/dissertation topic
• Clear objectives
• Realistic objectives Answerable questions

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Success in Research

• Managing the process
• Know the graduate school rules, regulations,
  deadlines and forms
• Set weekly/monthly targets
• Meet weekly with the advisor
• Get feedback early on by discussing your work
  with the advisor and presenting it to the
  committee early on

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Success in Research

• Bring a professional approach to your studies
  and interactions
• Take workshops through the college of Graduate
  Studies Professional Development Initiative.
• Learn about research ethics and scholarly
  integrity
• Attend conference
• Join a research team or project

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Success in Research

• Seek balance and support in your life
• Remember that you have friends and family outside
  grad school
• Seek out the many resources at UBC that can help
  you through the tough times
• Remember that this will be among the most
  inspiring and satisfying times in your life
• And, because your mother isnt here Get enough
  sleep, make time for physical exercise, and eat
  your healthy food.

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• Discussion and Questions