Student Opportunity Lab (Session 1): Searching for a job in industry, academia or government? Looking for an internship or research opportunity? Thinking about continuing your studies? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the interactive Student Opportunity Lab (SOL) might be the session for you. Mentors and speakers will hold brief sessions at their own tables. Navigate your own path through the tables featuring topics of interest to you.

CRA-W Tables:

• Research Careers — What Are the Options?  How Do I Get There? Mentor: Rita Wouhaybi, Deb Agarwal, Amina Shabbeer, Brandeis Marshall
  • What does a research career in computing look like? What are the options in academia? Industry? Government? What can you do to best prepare yourself for one of these careers? How do you successfully apply for them? Come chat with researchers in academia, industry, and government about these questions and more
• How to Be Successful Post-Bachelor’s? Mentor: Heidi Ellis, Jodi Tims, Priyanka Gopalakrishna, Valerie Barr
  • You are well on your way to earning a bachelor’s degree (congratulations!). What’s next? Should you consider graduate school? Should you look for a full-time job? What are the pros and cons of these career decisions, and how can you set yourself up to be successful post-bachelor’s? Come chat with professionals about the types of doors that are open with a bachelor’s degree in computing.
• Is Graduate School For You? Mentor: Tanya Amert, Darakhshan Mir, Jici Huang
  • Is graduate school in computer science and engineering for you? What benefits do you get once you have a graduate degree? Come chat with students and professionals from industry and academia who will help you understand what it’s like to be in graduate school, and the options you’ll have when you finish.
• Master’s or Ph.D.? (2 Tables) Mentor: Mary Anne Egan, Bushra Anjum, Alexa Sharp, Ambareen Siraj, Martha Crosby, Diane Woodbridge, Adrienne Decker, Suzanne Matthews
  • Considering either a Master’s or Ph.D.? Not sure about the difference? Come chat about the main differences in career options and in graduate studies between a Master’s and Ph.D. degree. Topics include realistic goals and expectations for each degree and various strategies for deciding which degree to pursue.
• How to Successfully Apply to Graduate School? (3 Tables) Mentor: Sunita Chandrasekaran, Dilma Da Silva, Sara Sprenkle, Ying Lu, Monica Anderson, Lauren Wilcox, Jenny Walter, Boots Cassel, Jessica Wu, Soha Hassoun, Stephanie Ludi, Ursula Wolz
  • Considering either a Master’s or Ph.D.? Not sure about the difference? Come chat about the main differences in career options and in graduate studies between a Master’s and Ph.D. degree. Topics include realistic goals and expectations for each degree and various strategies for deciding which degree to pursue.
• What is Computing Research?  How Can Undergraduates Participate? (2 Tables) Mentor: Jeannie Albrecht, Maria Gini, Marie desJardins, Ellen Walker, Nanette Veilleux, Madeline Smith, Veronica Vergara Larrea, Amy Csizmar Dalal
  • How do you choose the right graduate school for you? Is there anything you can do during college to improve your chances of being admitted? How do you apply? What is the time line for completing the application process? What are the best kinds of recommendations? How can you fund graduate school? Come talk with graduate students, professors, and professionals in industry about how to apply successfully to graduate school.