Reflection Day 4

Alright, it has now been almost a week since I have been Iowa, and I must say it’s very hot here. I learned that the hottest it has been in this place was 118 degrees, this was a shocking discovery as I thought that because Iowa isn’t too far from Wisconsin the climate should be kind of similar.

But, let me get to the main point of this blog post. So, when I first arrived in Iowa, I had no idea how much it would challenge my perspectives and open doors to new possibilities, and it has only been a week. My time here thus far has given me the opportunity to reflect on my future in computer science and consider the path of graduate school.

To be honest, I hadn’t really given much thought to pursuing a graduate degree. Most people I know who studied computer science in undergrad immediately joined the industry workforce. It seemed like the natural progression, and I assumed I would follow suit. However, after the luncheon today, I am starting to reconsider my choice. After having the privilege of hearing about Dr.Oliver’s experiences in graduate school and the valuable insights he shared. It became clear that if I was going to try and pursue a master’s degree it would require a significant commitment on my part financially, (which I was expecting but it was one of the reasons that kind of made me not want to pursue a master’s degree.) It would demand research and an even deeper dive into the realms of computer science. But here’s the thing-I also realized that it could be an incredible opportunity to enhance my knowledge and broaden my horizons.

Like, if I pursue a masters right after undergrad I would get to delve into the intricacies of comp and it would enable me to specialize in a specific area of interest. And though I would have to do advance coursework and research and it undoubtably won’t be easy it would deepen my technical knowledge. And it would open doors to wider range of career opportunities. Now grad school is no longer an abstract concept to me, it is a tangible opportunity worth exploring.