Welcome Week 2015: Work Hard, Study Smart, Stay Engaged
Wednesday marks the official first day of classes for Fall Term, and for the new students at Northeastern University-Seattle this can mean a change in their routine as they begin to balance graduate level coursework with their daily lives.
Yooree Chae, MS in Bioinformatics, said she noticed a difference from her undergraduate experience.
“You are expected to know things in greater detail. There is a lot more responsibility in managing your time,” she said.
Yooree Chae chats with Northeastern University-Seattle staff at the Welcome Week Center.
With this responsibility comes a flexibility and convenience to pursue a particular field of interest, said Aravindhan Eswaran, MS in Engineering Management.
Flexibility is key for Yooree who takes all of her courses online and recommends taking advantage of contacting her professors via Skype video chats.
“I can go at my own pace,” she said. “I can contact professors really easily. They’ve even extended sessions to make sure I really understand the material.”
Dr. Ian Gorton, Northeastern University-Seattle’s Director of Computer Science, says a primary difference between undergraduate and graduate work is that it’s more practical.
“Students get lots of experience putting theory and knowledge into practice with project-based work,” Dr. Gorton said. “It’s more fun. Less exam study, more building. More relevant to industry.”
Dr. Gorton said the University works to build strong links with local industry and encourages students to immerse themselves in courses, the local tech community and the city.
Faculty and students agreed that the keys to success involve fully engaging and careful time management.
Yooree said she prefers to study outside the house at a coffee shop or on campus at 225 Terry Ave. to avoid distractions and recommended attending campus events to meet fellow students.
“Talk to your classmates, get to know them, they’ll make life so much better,” Yooree said.
Paco Mesh, Faculty Cooperative Education Coordinator, echoed the importance of making connections.
“Get to know your instructors and the people you will be working with the most.” He said. “They are your support group as you get established.”
Advice from the International Student Panel
At Tuesday’s International Student Orientation, a panel of senior students gave advice to the new class on adapting to life and studies at Northeastern University-Seattle.
Keerthana, Karthik S., Karthik M, and Isabel gave advice from their NU-Seattle experiences at International Student Orientation.
“Be enthusiastic!” said Karthik Sambamoorthy, MS in Computer Science, advising students to get rid of preconceived notions and give equal attention to every component of a course, especially projects.
Keerthana Subramanian, MS in Engineering Management, echoed this encouraging new students to take full advantage of Faculty availability and the opportunity to ask questions.
“No question is a stupid question, just ask it,” Keerthana said. “You are competing with yourself and not anyone else!”
The importance of meeting deadlines and good time management were expressed by all on the panel, as well as learning to work with classmates with different schedules and even in different time zones.
Keerthana said while an online class can be a challenge, the experience working with classmates across the country echoes the real-world workplace.
“Think clearly, what do you want to do in five years? What do you want to do after graduation?” asked Isabel Su, MS in Computer Science. She advised students to set a goal on day one and take clear steps toward it throughout their studies.
Karthik Mannava, MS in Engineering Management, had a great tip for aligning education with career aspirations.
“All programs have electives, but don’t just pick anything,” he said. “Look at the current market and see what are the programs and subjects in demand.”
The panel also recommended study groups as a great way to stay motivated, connect with fellow classmates and gain a deeper understanding of course material.