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 as a student
• Tips to be successful in research
• 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 in learning
  outcomes. How?
• 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.
• GPA.
• Number of publication during study period.
• Job opportunities.

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Elements of Success in GS

• Understand requirements and expectations
• Degree requirements.
• Load requirements.
• Graduation requirements.
• Develop you degree plan early on first semester
• 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 as a mentor or advisor .
• 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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Develop Expertise

• Take essential courses in the area (most likely
  core courses).
• Support them by elective courses that develop
  your expertise.
• Have a coherent program.
• Do not take the easy path.

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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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Be Observant

• Keenly observe department norms and how people
  interact and work together for daily activities,
  departmental functions, as well as seminars you
  participate in.
• In your seminars, observe the types of questions
  asked and how senior graduate students (and other
  faculty that may be attending the seminar)
  approach issues.
•  Note items of special interest that may be good
  research topics for that seminar or for later
  research projects.

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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.
• See sample proposals
• ( Who can help Graduate Advisor, Mentors, etc)

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Success in Research Sources of Thesis/Proposals

• Keep a research/ideas journal
• Keep this focused on topics of most interest to
  you from seminars, discussions, and readings the
  seeds of your dissertation and further research
  might be in here keep your journal with you
  wherever you go.
• Sources of thesis or dissertation Review
  papers, Extension of term papers in courses,
  Department thesis and dissertations.

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Managing the Research Process

• Managing the process
• Know the graduate school rules, regulations,
  deadlines and forms
• Set weekly/monthly goals/ 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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Writing and Presentation Skills

• Develop your communication skills
• Take English writing course.
• Have a writing colleague
• Sharpen your presentation skills

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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

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Success in Research

• Join a research team group or project
• Networking One of the most important skills you
  should be learning in graduate school is how to
  "network.'' Breaking into the research community
  requires attending conferences, meeting
  established researchers, and making yourself
  known.

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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 KFUPM 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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Further Readings

• http//unlmcnair.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/how-to-b
  e-a-successful-graduate-student-by-william-bauer/.
  
• http//www.cs.ucdavis.edu/martel/293/
• http//hegis.umn.edu/res.htm
• http//hegis.umn.edu/res_gradstudent.htm
• http//www.siop.org/tip/april08/13tiptopics.aspx

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• Discussion and Questions