Graduate Open House Reveals
Secrets to Success

Deciding to attend graduate school requires weighing the costs and benefits of a major, multi-year commitment that is becoming increasingly valuable as engineering and computer science fields become more complex and specialized. The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science’s director of graduate recruitment and student success, Shaunté Alvarez-Minor, created a new open house event to provide a more in-depth look at the enrollment process for prospective students. Through the new Jonsson School Professional Success Center, students have access to resources they need to consider graduate school as well as career development.

“We are focused on graduate student success, which often means helping students prepare for careers and for life following graduation,” said Dr. Benjamin Carrion-Schaefer, assistant dean of graduate student success in the Jonsson School. “If you want to focus on some of the more interesting new problems, you must have an advanced degree. Four to five years for your bachelor’s degree is just not enough time.”

Current students as well as prospective students from external institutions attended the Saturday event to consider their options.

“When I first signed up for this event, I wasn’t sure how it would fill seven hours, but it was a lot more informative than I expected,” said Megan Grayson, a software engineering senior from UT Dallas. “I didn’t know anything about what a PhD was before attending, and now I’m starting to consider getting one someday.”

Mrigank (Mk) Maharana, a biomedical engineering junior, said, “My experience was great. As a current UTD student, it was a great opportunity to learn more about what graduate school is like while not feeling out of place or overwhelmed with information. The UTD open house was very welcoming.”

Graduate students need to have a different game plan depending upon their career goals and if they plan to pursue a master’s degree or a doctoral degree, said Schaefer, also an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. He noted that master’s degree students are paying their own way and need to consider the most efficient way to complete the coursework while working toward future industry careers. Some undergraduate students elect to complete a fast-track master’s program where they can take master’s level coursework concurrently with bachelor’s level coursework, then complete a master’s degree within about a year following graduation.

PhD students, on the other hand, are supported by their faculty advisors and do not need to pay tuition. Students who are research or teaching assistants receive a stipend, enough to pay for basic needs throughout their program, but they need to plan on a longer timeframe to complete their coursework since they will dedicate more time to research.

“Each lab is like its own startup,” Schaefer said. “My advice is to contact the professor who would become your dissertation advisor first before applying.”

Students who successfully secure a faculty advisor can then complete the University’s admissions requirements for doctoral students. While less than 2% of the global population and less than 1.2% of the U.S. population holds a PhD, Schaefer said, in the context of a lifelong career, the investment can pay off substantially, especially for PhD holders who become experts in areas of emerging technology.

“The event provided, at least in my opinion, a confirmation of my interest in grad school,” Maharana said. “The most important things for me as a prospective biomedical engineering PhD student are the PI’s mentorship, from the graduate student perspective, and their research projects.”

After a full morning of talks and breakout sessions, participants shared lunch and then met for another session on funding graduate school.

“To me, finances and time are the biggest issues,” Grayson said. “I’m an older student and already have a previous bachelor’s degree, so debt is a consideration.”

Alvarez-Minor notes that finances are often a primary consideration for graduate students, particularly if they carry any student loan debt. Nevertheless, with some careful budgeting and planning, graduate students can minimize debt and take advantage of affordable programs at UT Dallas.