Questioning whether to seek a postgraduate degree is common amongst graduating college students, but the decision is complex, involving a multitude of elements. I interviewed three QUEST alumni currently pursuing doctoral degrees to hear about their experiences, understand their perspectives, and listen to their advice about why graduate school was the right choice for them.
Haroula Tzamaras (Q26)
When it came to deciding whether graduate school was the right choice, the alumni I interviewed had various priorities to consider. Haroula Tzamaras, a member of Cohort 26, got her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering but after working as a product design engineer in the industry, decided that she was more interested in “how the humans were interacting with the products than the actual mechanical parts.” She desired a graduate program with looser course requirements so she could explore her interest in design while avoiding strictly technical engineering classes. This led to her attending Penn State for her degree after discovering their lab topics best suited her interests.
Laura Zheng, a member of Cohort 29, is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in computer science at the University of Maryland. Zheng enjoyed the workflow of research-based jobs more than traditional computer science roles such as becoming a software engineer. Both Zheng and Tzamaras considered how much their respective universities would fund them, ultimately opting for programs that offered them their degree fully funded.
Laura Zheng (Q29)
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, graduate school has been quite different than normal, but the experience and educational value are still significant. Charles Bond, a member of Cohort 27, has had a challenging and rewarding experience while working to obtain his PhD in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania. Bond has found the wealth of knowledge he has helped generate and getting to work on a daunting research question about the role of mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases to be some highlights of his graduate school experience. Zheng reflected on her first year of graduate school being remote due to the coronavirus pandemic, finding that she still feels like a first-year student but loves seeing faculty and grad students in person. She enjoys that her program is driven by her personal academic interests and has found tangible success in two papers she co-authored being accepted to various conferences. Tzamaras talked about how taxing graduate school has been on her mental health but her overall experience has been great and she likes the relationships she has formed with other students, getting to travel to Los Angeles and conduct a study with doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and mentoring an undergraduate student. Despite challenges, graduate school has consistently been a gratifying experience that has expanded their knowledge and given them new opportunities.
Charles Bond (Q27)
All of the alumni I’ve talked to have seen the skills and techniques they learned in QUEST carry over to their work in graduate school. Zheng says QUEST helped her with project management as few graduate school projects are done alone while Tzamaras discovered her love of design in QUEST which has carried over to her current interests. Bond said that QUEST made him a better speaker, and he recently successfully pitched an idea for a group that offers community and additional support to diverse students in his department using a QUEST-style presentation.
When it comes to current QUEST students considering a graduate program, our alumni gave great and encouraging advice. Zheng recommends going to graduate school events to be informed about making your decision, talking to faculty, and possibly trying to join a research project. Tzamaras emphasized there is no rush to go to graduate school right after getting your undergraduate degree and was grateful she waited two years to make a solid plan for herself. Bond recommends knowing that graduate school is a demanding commitment, and it’s not necessarily the right choice if you are unsure of what you want to do.
Choosing to pursue a postgraduate degree program was the right path for alumni I talked to, but only you can evaluate whether graduate school should be a part of your academic journey. There are more factors to examine such as the school’s advisors and faculty or if going straight into industry aligns with your personal career goals. If you’re struggling to make a decision, don’t forget to reach out for advice from these alumni, your professors, mentors, or anyone in the QUEST community.