Alumni on Success

Andrea Bundon

Pursue things that excite you and trust the rest will fall into place. Finding the right job is a weird combination of opportunity and preparation–but you can only control one part of that equation so work on that. Don't underestimate the value of having good people skills...

Jane Yuexian Wang

I would like to encourage graduate students to pursue their passion and seize every opportunity to interact with the professionals with career paths that interest them. Showing your strong interest and willingness to learn goes a long way and you will be surprised where...

Dan Macmaster

Be open-minded. Make connections. Network while being a student. Go to as many conferences as possible and have business cards ready.

Jimmy Thomson

Don't think of yourself only as a student. Yes, you have schoolwork. But bridging that gap between school and your career will be all that much easier if you take the time to develop a portfolio of work that you can plunk down on a future boss's desk your first week out of...

Katie Hyslop

Networking is important, but it doesn't have to happen at cocktail parties or business lunches. Choose programs with professors who can help you make connections in your chosen field, and take all the internships you can get, even the ones at less prestigious or well-known...

Andrea Brooks

Find a way to blend your passion with your academic studies. This will serve you well in the long run.

Peter Caravan

To have an open mind to opportunity and to follow your interests.

Perveen Biln

My advice is to network, network, and network more. Ask people for informational interviews, ask questions and think outside of the box.

Suzanne Windsor-Liscombe

Finish your degree! Don't take time off! Write 15 minutes every day even if it seems like nonsense. Don't let time get in the way.

Michael Rauh

Find the best mentor and environment to complement your skills and interests, and challenge yourself to excel.

Paul Yong

Develop as many skills as possible, especially those that are transferable to other areas of study (e.g. statistics, unique experimental methods). Also, attend conferences and meet and get to know others in the field. Be confident and innovative, and dare to dream big....

Ryan Yuen

Work on things that you love. Only then you will keep the passion and thrive for success.

Jane Gair

Take all of the opportunities that you can to develop yourself outside of your lab. Although it is very important, there are so many other skills that you can learn outside of that environment. Attend journal clubs, take on leadership positions, become a TA, expand your...

Kristina Uban

Journal about your priorities in life before you begin training, as well as where you see yourself in 15 years, 30 years? Then, revisit that journal entry every year throughout your training and revise as necessary. This helps: 1. Maintain personal integrity, and 2. improve...

Tamara Bodnar

Graduate education teaches students how to learn and think critically. This skill then applies to a wide range of careers options. While the focus of your graduate education may seem narrow, remember that your training applies much more broadly, opening up career...

Ashwani Kumar

I work closely with several graduate students, and the advice I offer them is often dependant on their individual situation. Not every graduate student in education will go on to do a PhD. In fact, the majority of students I work with are primarily undertaking graduate...

Ryan van den Berg

Make sure you're able to communicate your academic work to the broader public. This means learning the skills and dispositions necessary to tailor an idea to the right audience, but it also requires you to reflect on why your work matters. Hopefully, this will sharpen your...

Randy Wollf

Keep your options open, connect with students and professors. They may be references, co-workers and even bosses down the road.

Luna Ferguson

In my Ph.D. work, I realized that my research area was beginning to parallel my process of exploring my non-binary trans subjectivity. I knew that pursuing a Ph.D. would provide me with the necessary time and the tools to think out my complex trans identity and to finally...

Kevin Johns

Be flexible with what you want to do. Consider all options. Don't burn any bridges. Network.

Kenneth Tupper

In the words of Joseph Campbell: "Follow your bliss" (i.e., find and pursue something you're passionate about).

Steven Maltby

Follow the path that inspires and motivates you and work hard. However, don't get lost in the details of your specific project. It is equally important to look around more broadly at what opportunities are available around you and what other skills you can develop.

Sharon Fortney

Do not graduate without practical work experience. If you cannot get a paid position, consider finding a day a week where you can gain professional experience while volunteering. It is helpful to have professional people write your reference letters for grad school and/or...

Julie Belanger

Keep an open mind because you never know where your career will bring you, don't close any doors too early. Take advantage of the students who are ahead of you by a few years - keep in touch with them to learn from their experience.