My advice for prospective grad students is to reach out to people. When I was looking at the CDE program, I reached out to a couple of graduated students in different fields to talk about their experience in the program. This information was very valuable and helped me to make a confident choice. If you have any questions about the program or my experience please feel welcome to reach out.
People are very friendly and kind, and respect each other's culture. I felt like I was at a home away from home. There is not the rush and noise that you find in most cities. Life is…perfect here.
I think a Graduate program is filled with opportunities for self-growth and self-improvement in a facet of skills, including research, academics, management, teaching, mentorship, public speaking, and networking. On top of that, it exposes you to a variety of workplaces including academia, research and development, industry, and government.
Most importantly, I believe it's not easy to do a graduate program and many others will agree. There will be many challenges and struggles throughout it but this is a normal part of your program and part of the beauty of science and research! I suggest to keep your mind open and find the opportunity in every situation, because your graduate program will only help you improve yourself both personally and professionally!
Do not be afraid to engage with your professors and fellow students. Professors want to help you succeed so do not be afraid to reach out to them. The people who best know what you are going through are you fellow students. Ask how they are doing, ask if they have any tips for the upcoming assignment. Doing this will help make you a part of the LANG community.
I would advise a prospective graduate student to do their homework before contacting prospective advisors. Check out their profile on the University website, read their most recent paper, and even reach out to a senior graduate student currently in the lab!
