PREPARING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
Department of Computer Science
Grove City College
The faculty have put together this brief introduction to graduate school in computer science or
computer information systems. Graduate school is an important and exciting opportunity, and
it should be considered by every student in CS and CIS. While many students think that
achieving a BS is the end of formal education, it is really just a point in a lifelong journey:
professional education never ends, it just changes form. Graduate school is one of those forms,
and it has many important benefits.
What follows is a FAQ of sorts, where we attempt to answer some common questions about
graduate school. This is document, however, is intended as a conversation starter: we want to
discuss graduate school with you, as well as your career plans in general.
Everyone’s graduate experience is different, so we’ll represent different perspectives here.
Professors Gribble and Adams have recent experience with graduate school and how it shaped
their lives. Professor Birmingham, while he attended graduate schools awhile back, will speak
from the perspective of a faculty member who ran a research group and graduated over a
dozen Ph.D. students (who are in both industry and academia) and was the admissions person
for The University of Michigan’s Computer Science Department (AI program) for many years.
What exactly is graduate school, anyway? Many of you will have some preconceived notions
about grad school, but there’s a good chance they’re wrong. So perhaps it’s better to mention a
few things that graduate school is not:
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Just more classes in computer science. While graduate programs will require additional
course work, graduate school is not just about taking more classes. Grad school is about
practical experience, and while classes are often an important component, they’re no
longer the main component.
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Just for students who want to become professors. While many PhDs do seek academic
positions, you’re not doomed to a life in higher education if that’s not what you want.
Graduate work is necessary for a number of careers in industry and government as well.
(Think about industrial R&D groups, or an upper-level position with the CIA, for
example.) Earning an advanced degree will often open doors that will otherwise remain
closed and allow you to get to know important and influential leaders in industry that
would be difficult if not impossible to meet in the normal course of work.
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Just a way to kill time while you decide what you want to do with your life. Thinking
about an advanced degree as something to do until the “perfect” job comes your way is
very, very tempting. However, treating grad school as a layover between graduation
from Grove City and the start of a fulfilling career is a dangerous mindset and not likely
to work out as well as you might hope.
There’s one last, very important point: graduate school is not easy. It is, however, manageable.
How do I know if grad school is for me? Maybe you are really enjoying the CS or CIS curriculum
at GCC. Maybe you’ve even sailed through your years here. Unfortunately, this does not mean
that grad school will automatically be a worthwhile endeavor for you. Interestingly, the
converse is also true: If you’ve struggled a bit, if making the grade doesn’t come easily for you,
or if you feel like you’ve had to work harder than your peers just to maintain, this is no
indication that grad school is beyond your reach. (In fact, it may mean you’re the ideal
candidate for graduate school!)
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Why is that the case? Technical abilities and natural intelligence, while important and at
times helpful, are not the only things success in a graduate program requires. Initiative,
tenacity, and flexibility; interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills;
creativity and drive—these factors will do more to make or break a graduate career than
technical ability or intelligence alone.
What’s the difference between a Master’s and a PhD? Peter Shirley, one of Professor Gribble’s
professors at the University of Utah, puts it this way: A Master’s degree lies on the path to
financial success, while a PhD leads to expert knowledge in some (very) narrow band of human
experience.
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To understand his point, ask yourself this: Do you enjoy working with computers? Do
you love working on a team to solve hard problems or build large software systems? Do
you dream of becoming a partner at a top consulting firm, for example? If so, you might
want to consider a Master’s degree. Typical MS programs last from one to three years,
and often require that you write a thesis. As a result, Master’s degrees are great for
obtaining a deeper knowledge of core topics in computer science.
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Now, what about a PhD? Try these on for size: Are you the sort of person who loves to
dive deeply into a problem, to learn every detail, and to figure it out on your own? Do
you have trouble sleeping at night knowing that problem remains unsolved? If so, then
maybe a PhD is for you. Typical PhD programs last from three to six years (or more), and
require that you write a dissertation on the topic of your research. PhDs are difficult to
earn in part because you’ll be focused on that topic, you’ll work on it for a very long
time, and at the end of it all, you’ll know more than anybody else about it. And, along
the way, you’ll learn how to ask and to answer tough questions related to the field.
But graduate school costs big, big money, doesn’t it? Simply put: No! It is a commonly held
misconception that graduate school cost thousands of dollars. This is just not the case. Many
Master’s students and nearly all PhD students are actually paid to be research or teaching
assistants. On top of that, most grad students get a tuition benefit waiver—that is, someone
besides you is billed for the tuition each semester.
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
A closely related option is to get a job and “have the company pay for the degree.” This
is a viable option, and it works well for some students. Bear in mind, however, it is not a
panacea: some companies will require students to work on certain projects that are of
interest to the company and not necessarily the student, and some companies still
require some time from their employees while they are in graduate school for workrelated tasks that can lead to taking more time to get a degree. In addition, some
companies will require that a student work for the company for some amount of time
after finishing a degree, or will require students reimburse them for the money they put
out for tuition, stipend, and so forth. These things can limit your opportunities both in
and after graduate school.
Don’t graduate schools favor foreign students and make it harder for US students to gain
admission? Nothing can be further from the truth: U.S. graduate schools are open to U.S.
students, of course, and welcome U.S. students. In fact, the problem is that not enough U.S.
students apply to graduate schools to fill their ranks. While at The University of Michigan,
Professor Birmingham and his colleagues actively encouraged domestic students to apply (and
this is typical of all U.S. schools). Bear in mind, however, that good graduate schools draw from
excellent students around the world. This makes graduate schools a remarkably international
experience, giving students the chance to become friends with students from around the world.
Isn’t it true that graduate degrees lead to students who are overqualified and have trouble
finding jobs? There is no employer who wants under-qualified employees: it is simply not
possible to be overqualified for a job. Imagine this: would Walmart refuse to hire you as a
cashier simply because you are a CS or CIS student at GCC? Well, Micrsosoft won’t turn you
away because you have a Ph.D., neither will Google, Intel, TrueFit Solutions, PPG, EA, nVidia, …
Get the point?
Does being a professor require a Ph.D.? This is pretty much true. If you want to be a faculty
member at a college or university, then a Ph.D. is a prerequisite. It doesn’t hurt if you want to
teach high school, either.
Is it better to work first and then go to graduate school? None of the CS faculty pursued this
option (although Professor Birmingham did take two years off during his Ph.D. to work). For
some persons, it makes sense to take a few years off and work; for most students, however, it
usually makes the best sense to go directly to graduate school. This is the case because not only
are you already in “student mode,” but you can also get through while you’re younger.
However, Professor Bright observes: I actually worked between each of my degrees and found
it a very positive experience. My industrial experience (at IBM) made me a better student
because I had practical experience to balance the theory presented in class, I was mature
enough to participate more fully in classroom experiences, and I had a better sense of
responsibility to maximize my graduate experience. The downside is that you need to stay
focused on the education while you are working. Also, when I taught graduate school I
appreciated having a mix of pure students (those who went straight through) and students with
work experience. I found class discussions to be richer when both groups were represented.
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Can you have a family while you’re in graduate school? Well, why not? Plenty of graduate
students have a spouse and children. Although, at times it can be financial strain because
graduate students’ pay is not tremendously large. If a spouse is working fulltime, then balancing
work, graduate work, and family can be a delicate act. On the other hand, it does prepare you
well for the post-graduate school world!
Are there other benefits to being a graduate student? Absolutely.
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First, autonomy: graduate students are typically granted the freedom to study what
they want. If you’re like us faculty, then the prospect of being your own boss is very
attractive. Second, you may get to travel a lot. Grad students are required to publish
and present their work at conferences and symposia sponsored by organizations within
their field. As a grad student, Professor Gribble had the opportunity to present work all
around the US and Europe; each of his trips were paid for by the university. Professor
Birmingham had the same experience during his graduate studies. Third, you get to
meet and work with really smart people who love what you love. The daily routine of
graduate school will stretch your mind in new and unexpected ways, and therein lies the
greatest benefit of grad student life: you will learn more about computer science than
you ever thought you were capable of, and in the process, you’ll learn a whole lot about
the kind of person you are.
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The lifestyle is pretty darn good, no doubt. But remember: grad school is not easy. To
survive, you really have to know why you’re there. The hours are long. The pay is low,
and the benefits packages aren’t spectacular. So, you must have a rock solid reason as
to why you’re there. That reason might change along the way, but at the end of the day,
you must have something that keeps you going when the going gets tough. (Because it
will.)
What can I do to prepare for graduate work in CS or CIS? An excellent question! The following
paragraphs highlight some things you can do throughout your college career to have a better
chance of gaining acceptance to the program of your choice.

Freshman. Learn! Everything, everything, follows from learning (including grades). Learn
to study, learn all the material you’re asked to learn, and most importantly, learn to be
disciplined. For athletes and musicians, the need for discipline (e.g., the ability to study
when you’d rather play Halo) is without question: the same is true for CS and CIS
students!
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Sophomores. Continue to develop the habits you’ve established: learn, be disciplined,
and explore all you can in CS or CIS. In addition, begin thinking about what areas of
computer science excite you: Do you love playing with a new programming language,
pushing the limits of what it allows you to express? Perhaps the idea of an artificial
intelligence makes your skin crawl, but in a good way. Maybe you love video games, and
want to advance the realism in the graphics and the interaction. Once you’ve narrowed
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down your interests, come and talk to us, the CS faculty. We’ll do our best to introduce
you to the literature related to your interests, and help guide you to the important or
interesting results. It’s probably not too early to think about getting involved in a
research project either.
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Juniors. Continue to learn. Continue to read. Continue to write. And definitely get
involved in a research project. If you’re serious about graduate school, you need to
begin thinking about what you will want out of the experience—the type of degree and
the reasons why. You also should begin thinking about where you’d like to apply. Things
to consider include:
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reputation of the faculty in your area(s) of interest;
breadth and depth of the course offerings;
required examinations (see below);
average time to degree;
job placement rates and potential employers;
selectivity of the program; and
computing facilities, laboratory equipment, and student space.
In addition, most programs will require GRE (general and subject) scores for your
application.
We have had a lot of success encouraging students to spend the summer on Research
Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs funded by NSF. These opportuntiesgive
you firsthand experience with graduate research and labs.
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Seniors. Beware of senioritis: continue to learn and definitely get involved in a research
project. Although publishing is not typically a requirement for acceptance to most
graduate programs, demonstrating your ability to conduct, write about, and present
your work is an excellent predictor of success in graduate school. There are many
forums for presenting undergraduate research, and we’ll help you find them. Another
important consideration is that grades and GRE scores alone will not get you into a great
graduate school: you must have demonstrated ability in research projects and have
letters from faculty to attest to it. Remember, most students applying to graduate
school have great grades and GRE scores, so you need to separate yourself from the
crowd.
You also should decide on the number of programs to which you will apply, and narrow
down your choices accordingly. Applications are typically due in late fall, so start early.
There are a whole host of details during the application process that will require your
attention. One of the most important is the statement of purpose. While it will vary
from one application to the next, the statement of purpose is generally a short essay
detailing why you’re capable of graduate-level work. Leave yourself time to draft, revise,
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and re-revise your statement of purpose. And be sure to leave us enough time to write
thoughtful letters of recommendation, which will be required by all programs.
Preparing for work on an advanced degree as an option after graduation should begin sooner
rather than later. If you’re interested in grad school, or think you might be, make an
appointment to talk with us. We’ll be happy to do what we can.
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